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long with her the two Infantas, her daughters.

On the 2d of December a frigate was in readiness to take her Majesty on board; but a consultation of physicians, held for the purpose of making a report on the state of her Majesty's health, gave it as their opinion, that her life would be in danger, if she was compelled to undertake a voyage at that season of the year. In the face of this declaration these humane constitutionalists did not indeed venture to ship off the sick and refractory Queen; but on the 4th two royal decrees were issued, depriving her of all her civil and political rights, and ordering her to retire to the Palace of Ramalhao, till her health should be so far re-established as to enable her to quit the kingdom. On the same day a letter from the Minister of the Interior announced to the Cortes the degradation of the Queen, and the resolutions which had been adopted in consequence of the report of the physicians. This, together with a number of documents connected with the affair, was referred to a committee, which, a few days after, made a report to the Chamber, stating, in substance, that the law having been so far enforced, and its complete execution only suspended on good and sufficient grounds, the affair did otherwise not fall under the jurisdiction of the Cortes, and that it was only necessary to insert in their journals that they had been duly informed of what had taken place. This report was unanimous ly approved of, and here the discussions connected with this disgraceful transaction terminated. The unhappy Queen, denied the consolation which she so much required in the society of her children, had previously set out for the place of her temporary exile, where, however, she continued till the revolution of the month of June 1823.

With regard to the finances, there were no positive data for fixing accu

rately the amount of the public debt, which, including the paper money in circulation, was vaguely estimated at 112,500,000 crusados, or about L.15,233,750; while, according to the returns made to the Extraordinary Cortes, the public revenue had, from 1815 to 1819, averaged 9,758,940,000 reis, or about L.2,541,390 for Portugal and Brazil. But after the revolution it fell off so suddenly that the deficit for 1821 amounted to 1,200,000,000 reis, or L.312,500. The expenditure of the current year was estimated at 8,839,000,000 reis, and the income at only 7,232,000,000 reis, leaving a deficit of 1,607,000,000 reis, or about L.413,000 produced by the non-receipt of the usual revenue from beyond sea. If to this, therefore, we add the deficits of the former years, amounting to L.1,458,333, the whole sum to be provided for was L.1,871,333. In this situation an attempt was made to negociate a loan for 10,000,000 crusados; but foreign capitalists had no confidence in the stability of the present system, and the nation, already exhausted, was abandoned to its own re

sources.

The only other subject of any interest which occupied the attention of the Cortes, was the actual situation of Portugal in relation to foreign powers. Since the revolution, Russia, Prussia, and Austria, had discontinued all diplomatic relations with Portugal; and there was every reason to anticipate, that an attempt would be made to overthrow the present order of things in Spain. A proposal had therefore been made to raise the army to the establishment of 1814, so as to be able to take the field at the earliest notice. But the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a report made to the Cortes on this subject, stated that the proposed measure had been rendered unnecessary by the positive assurance given by Great Britain, that the change

which had taken place in the Government of Portugal had in no degree affected the validity of the treaties previously subsisting between the two countries; that should the independence of the latter be menaced by any power whatever, the former considered itself bound to afford it every assistance of which it might stand in need; and that this was only a repetition of former promises made in other terms, and at different periods. At the same time, he mentioned, that in answer to representations on the part of Portugal, France had positively disavowed all intention to interfere à main armée in the internal affairs or political institutions of the Peninsula; but that, observing the continued preparations of the French army, and the succours afforded to the factious, indisputable proofs of the most hostile intentions, the Portuguese Government had not hesitated a moment in acceding to the proposal of Spain, for entering into a treaty of defensive alliance against all aggression which had for its object to

subvert the existing political institutions of the two nations.

The frank and friendly declaration of Great Britain, at this critical moment, was undoubtedly calculated to inspire the Constitutionalists with confidence, as far as that could be effected, by removing all dread of foreign aggression. But they had difficulties of a more formidable nature to struggle with.

The state of the finances, already bad, became daily worse; the Government had neither resources nor credit; the interest of the public debt was unpaid, commerce had been annihilated, agriculture languished, industry had received a mortal blow by the separation of the Brazils, and a scarcity of corn began to be felt. The army was ill-paid and discontented, the people ignorant, superstitious, and incapable of the energy necessary for the support of a free Government, and the Ministry distrustful and discouraged. In a word, the revolution had not yet rooted itself in the Portugueze soil,

CHAPTER XIV.

GERMANY, HOLLAND, ITALY, AND RUSSIA.

Germanic Confederation.-Labours of the Diet.-Austria.-Prussia.-Bavaria.-Wurtemburg.-Baden.-The Netherlands.-Italy; Disarming in Sicily-Criminal Proceedings.-Affair in the Basilicata.-Measures adopted in consequence.-Change of the Neapolitan Ministry-Condemnation of the Conspirators of 1820.-Amnesty-Exceptions.-Measures of the New Administration.-Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom.-Roman States.-Piedmont.-Russia.-Negociations with the Ottoman Porte.-Conduct of Russia, in relation to the Greeks.-New Tariff.-Ukase against Secret Associations.-Russian Debt.-Loan.

THE affairs of Germany, during the present year, present little deserving the notice of history. The Diet, which assembled on the 11th of January, and continued its sittings till the 11th of July, was almost exclusively occupied with the discussion of the last five sections of the military constitution of the Germanic Confederation. These sections, particularly the articles relative to the organisation of the federal army, were understood to have met with considerable opposition on the part of Austria; which is rendered extremely probable by the circumstance, that this part of the constitution conferred very extensive powers on the Generalissimo, who, in the event of the assembling of that army, was to be named by the Diet, made responsible to it alone for his operations, and therefore placed in a situation of greater independence than consisted with the usual selfish, arrogating, and jealous policy of the

Austrian Cabinet. The only other subject which occupied the attention of the Diet, the cumbrous formality and slowness of whose proceedings are proverbial, were several new reports from the central commission of Mayence, (which had previously made no less than thirty-two,) on the political state of Germany. It is well known that this commission had been appointed for the purpose of watching the progress of liberal opinions in Germany, and of recommending, from time to time, to the Diet, such measures as they should deem most likely to prove effectual for the more complete subjugation of the public press, and the extinction of all political associations and political discussions. In this truly legitimate vocation, they laboured with the plodding perseverance of their country; and it must be admitted that the principles of absolute and unmitigated despotism were never exhibited in a more naked

and artless form than in the multitudinous reports that have emanated from this subordinate conclave. Their peculiar forte, however, would appear to consist in scenting out secret societies. Two new ones, called Arminia and Polonia, they were so fortunate as to discover in the very bosom of Berlin; but although the reports are occupied with little else, the only distinct information they convey is, that none but German students could be admitted members of these associations. At the next general meeting, a definitive resolution was to be adopted on the subject, to which the different reports of this commission referred.

Notwithstanding the great political influence of Austria in the affairs of Europe, her internal affairs, during the year, were, if possible, less interesting than even the proceedings of the German Diet. The finances were, as usual, in the most deplorable state. About the commencement of the year a loan of 18 millions of florins was negociated upon the most disadvantageous terms, notwithstanding the Emperor had declared that the issue of paper money having a forced or rather fictitious value would be discontinued; and an attempt made, towards the end of December, to create a new five per cent. stock, totally failed for want of subscribers. The sinking fund had made little progress in the liquidation of the public debt, which indeed was not possible, unless money possessed a self-generating power; for in no given year was the income equal to the expenditure. The Austrian financiers, however, appear to maintain an unshaken faith in the wonder-working powers of compound interest; never imagining that the excess of income above expenditure constitutes the only fund that

can be applied to extinguish the debt either of individuals or nations. But the great obstruction to the improvement and prosperity of the empire is to be found in the state of the currency, which is almost exclusively paper*, and which the Government have hitherto endeavoured to maintain at a forced value by penal laws. The consequence has been, that gold and silver have almost wholly disappeared; commodities have experienced great fluctuations in price; it has been found impossible to enter into contracts containing stipulations as to fixed money payments; and, for want of a measure of value, the energies of society have been utterly paralysed. The Government of the Austrian hereditary states is truly paternal; and were this radical evil removed, there can be little doubt that they would soon make rapid advances, both in wealth and population. We observe with pleasure, that measures have been taken to effect a progressive reduction of the paper in circulation.

With the exception of some financial operations, the Government of Prussia was this year chiefly occupied in endeavouring to arrest the progress of liberal opinions. In the reports of the central commission of Mayence, a great number of teachers and ministers of the reformed religion had been denounced as favourable to democratical principles, and as arrogating to themselves an influence in the affairs of Government, and the constitution of states, no less incompatible with the discharge of their peculiar and professional duties, than with the public happiness and tranquillity. Upon what grounds these grave charges were preferred, the commission did not think it proper to say; but his Prussian Majesty lost no time in issuing orders,

At the end of the year, the nominal value of the paper in circulation in the Austrian dominions, was stated at 265 millions of florins.

that all who had taken any share in the proceedings and intrigues of the democrats, should be deprived of their livings, and that in future the avenues to every kind of preferment should be closed against every person suspected of being friendly to popular liberty. At the same time it was decreed, that all ministers of religion should, at their ordination, take an oath " to defend the royal power and dignity at the hazard of life or limb; to disclose, with out delay, whatever they might happen to learn of plots tending to change or overturn the Government; and to teach their parishioners always to think and speak in a just and loyal manner of the civil government which God has established." About the same time, a passage was added to the public prayers of the Court and the Cathedral of Berlin, invoking the blessing of Heaven on the Holy Alliance; and several students, convicted of having belonged to the secret association called Armenia, were imprisoned in the fortresses. The death of Prince Hardenberg, which took place at Genoa, whither he had retired to repose from the fatigues of the conferences at Verona, on the 26th of November, was the only other event connected with Prussia, which we are called upon to mention. Some account of the life and character of this statesman will be found in the chapter, entitled, Political Biography.

The affairs of Bavaria, Wurtemberg, Baden, and the other smaller states of Germany, do not call for any particular notice. Notwithstanding it is in these that the people enjoy the largest share of liberty, very general distress was experienced from the decay both of agriculture and commerce; the former, from the entire glut of all the markets of Europe, and the consequent fall of prices; and the latter from the operation of the restrictive system, pursued by the great powers, which appears to have revived in its full vigour on the

Continent, at the very moment when this country was labouring, both by doctrine and example, to produce a return to sounder and more enlightened principles.

The session of the States-General of the kingdom of the Netherlands, which opened at the Hague on the 15th of October 1821, was in a great measure occupied with the discussion of a law for establishing a new system of indirect and personal contributions. The moral and political situation of this kingdom, created by the Congress of Vienna, appears not a little extraordinary and anomalous. In the course of the debates in the Second Chamber, on the proposed system of taxation, the measure was defined in two languages, (Dutch and Flemish), and attacked in a third (French), while not one of the parties appeared to listen to, or understand the other. The whole of the Belgian Deputies were in opposition to the Government, and strenuously attacked the proposed imposts both on account of the oppressive nature of the taxes themselves, and the inquisitorial manner in which they were to be collected: but their resistance, though equally persevering and animated, proved unavailing, though the Ministry carried their point by only a majority of 3 (54 to 51). Several other laws of a local nature were brought forward and discussed; but on every division the majority in favour of the Government was so small, that the Ministry were constantly in danger of being left in a minority. In the intervals between subjects of more direct and immediate interest, the discussions on the new civil code were continued, and some of the first titles were adopted by a considerable majority. On these, however, it would be premature to enter at present. The session terminated on the 24th of August 1822.

Sensible of the mischief, and even the absurdity of permitting the use of more

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