CHAP. 1808. on the Spanish throne. He had now divulged to him, and to him alone, the whole of his designs in regard to the Peninsula. The conversation in which these determinations were expressed by the Emperor is given at full length by Escoiquiz, and is one of the most valuable historical documents of his reign. Though doubtless extended and amplified by the Spanish counsellor, it contains all the marks of Napoleon's original thought; and Thibaudeau, Tor. i. 148, whose long acquaintance with the Emperor in the council of state had rendered him the best possible judge both of his ideas and expressions, has declared that it "bears the signet-mark of truth."1 * 1 Thib. vi. 357, 358. 149. Escoiq. 57, 59. Thiers, viii. 583, 590. His views as stated to Escoiquiz. From this embarrassment, however, Napoleon was soon * "I have long desired, Monsieur Escoiquiz," said the Emperor, " to speak to you on the affairs of the Peninsula, with the frankness which your talents and your position with the Prince of Asturias deserve. I cannot, in any situation, refuse to interest myself in the fate of the unhappy King who has thrown himself on my protection. The abdication of Charles IV. at Aranjeuz, in the midst of seditious guards, and a revolted people, was clearly a compulsory act. My troops were then in Spain; some of them were stationed near the court; appearances authorised the belief that I had some share in that act of violence, and my honour requires that I should take immediate steps to dissipate such a suspicion. I cannot recognise, therefore, the abdication of Charles IV., till that monarch, who has transmitted to me a secret protest against it, shall have confirmed it by a voluntary deed when freed from restraint. "I would say further that the interests of my empire require that the house of Bourbon, the implacable enemy of mine, should lose the throne of Spain; and the interests of your nation equally call for the same change. The new dynasty which I shall introduce will give it a good constitution, and, by its strict alliance with France, preserve Spain from any danger on the side of that power which is alone in a situation seriously to menace its independence. Charles IV. is willing to cede to me his rights, and those of his family, persuaded that his sons, the Infants, are incapable of governing the kingdom in the difficult times which are evidently approaching. "These, then, are the reasons which have decided me to prevent the dynasty of the Bourbons from reigning any longer in Spain. But I esteem Ferdinand, who has come with so much loyalty to throw himself into my power, and I am anxious to give him some indemnity for the sacrifices which he will be required to make. Propose to him, therefore, to renounce the crown of Spain for himself and his descendants, and I will give him in exchange Etruria, with the title of King, as well as my niece in marriage. If he refuses these conditions, I will come to an understanding with his father, and neither he nor his brother shall receive any indemnity. If, on the other hand, he does what I desire, Spain shall preserve its independence, its laws, usages, and religion. I do not desire a village of Spain for myself." Escoiquiz then endeavoured in vain to combat the Emperor's reasons for LII. 1808. 76. of Charles the diffi relieved by the arrival of Charles IV. and the Queen at CHAP. Bayonne. Such was the impatience of the royal travellers to reach the place of their destination, that they wrote from Aranda to Napoleon to inform him of their The arrival approach, and testify their anxiety to throw themselves IV. solves entirely upon his protection. So sensible were the coun- culty. His sellors of Ferdinand of the advantage which the French by Napo Emperor would derive from the presence of the late monarch, that they were no sooner informed of his approach than they again earnestly solicited passports for Ferdinand to return to Spain, which were refused; and it was soon apparent, from the movements of the police, that he was detained a prisoner in the hotel he occupied. Meanwhile Napoleon enjoined Murat to com holding the matter at Aranjeuz as constrained. Napoleon then added, "But suppose it were not so, can you deny that the interests of my house require that the Bourbons should cease to reign in Spain? Even if you are right in all that you say, I should answer, Bad policy." Having said these words, he took Escoiquiz by the ear, which he pulled in good humour. "Come, Canon, you are amusing me with real châteaux en Espagne. Do you really think that while the Bourbons remain on the throne at Madrid, I could ever have the security which I would have, if they were replaced by a branch of my family? The latter, it is true, might have some disputes with me or my descendants; but so far from wishing, like a Bourbon, the ruin of my house, they would cling to it in moments of danger, as the only support of their own throne. "It is in vain to speak to me of the difficulties of the enterprise. I have nothing to apprehend from the only power who could disquiet me in it. The Emperor of Russia, to whom I communicated my designs at Tilsit, which were formed at that period, approved of them, and gave me his word of honour he would offer no resistance. The other powers of Europe will remain quiet, and the resistance of the Spaniards themselves cannot be formidable. The rich will endeavour to appease the people, instead of exciting them, for fear of losing their own possessions. I will render the monks responsible for any disorder, and that will lead them to employ their influence, which you know is considerable, in suppressing any popular movements. Believe me, Canon, I have much experience in these matters; the countries where the monks are numerous are easily subjugated; and that will take place in Spain, especially when the Spaniards see that I am providing for the national independence and benefit of the country, giving them a liberal constitution, and at the same time maintaining their religion and usages. Even if the people were to rise in a mass, I would succeed in conquering them, by sacrificing two hundred thousand men. I am not blind to the risk of a separation of the colonies; but do not suppose I have been slumbering even on that point. I have long kept up secret communications with Spanish America, and I have lately sent frigates there to obtain certain advices as to what I may expect; and I have every reason to believe that the intelligence which I shall receive will prove of the most favourable description.”—Escoiquiz, 107, 135; Pièces Just. leon. April 25. LII. 1808. April 29. April 30. CHAP. municate to the junta of government and the Council of Castile at Madrid, the protest of Charles IV. against his resignation, which nullified the title of Ferdinand to the present enjoyment of the throne, and induced a sort of interregnum favourable to the designs of usurpation which he meditated. His instructions to Murat were not to expect any revolution of opinion in the capital in favour of the changes, but to restrain the common people by the display of force, and endeavour to win over persons of sense by an enumeration of the political and social benefits which the change of dynasty would confer on the Peninsula. On the 29th there appeared in the Bayonne Gazette the protest of Charles IV. against his abdication, and his letter of 23d March to Napoleon-publications which sufficiently evinced the tenor of the reception which he was to experience. On the following day the late King and Queen entered Bayonne, highly elated with the reception they had met with from the French authorities. Ever since passing Burgos they had been treated with royal honours: at the Bidassoa they were received by Berthier with great pomp, and at the gates of Bayonne by the whole garrison under arms. Soon after their arrival at the hotel, Napoleon came to visit them in person, having, in his eagerness to show respect, hastened there at the gallop. The old King met him at the foot of the stair, and threw himself into his arms: Napoleon whispered in his ear, "You will find me always, as you have done, your best and firmest friend." He even supported him under the arm as he returned to the apartments. Such was 1 De Pradt, the apparent kindness of his manner, that the dis92,94. Thib. crowned monarch burst into tears. "See, Louisa!" said Tor. i. 151, the old King, "he is carrying me." Never had the 50, 51. Emperor's manner appeared more gracious; never did 64. Thiers, he more completely impose, by the apparent sincerity 599. of his kindness, upon the intended victims of his vi. 359, 364. 152. Cev. Escoiq. 61, viii. 591, perfidy.1 LII. 1808. 77. is forced to Immediately after the arrival of Charles IV., Napoleon CHAP. had a private conference with him, the Queen, and the Prince of the Peace, in which it was resolved, by the united authority of the Emperor and the old King, to Ferdinand compel Ferdinand to resign the throne. He rightly resign the judged that, having once overcome that difficulty, it would crown. be a comparatively easy matter to extract the resignation of the crown from the former monarch, when reinstated in his rights. Ferdinand, accordingly, was sent for next day; and the moment he came into the room, May 1. Charles IV. commanded him to deliver to him, before six o'clock on the following morning, a simple and unqualified resignation of the crown, signed by himself and all his brothers. In case of refusal, it was distinctly intimated that he and all his counsellors would be proceeded against as traitors. Napoleon strongly supported the old King, and concluded with ominous menaces in the event of refusal. Ferdinand endeavoured to speak in his own defence, but he was interrupted by the King, who commanded him to be silent; and the Queen soon after broke into the apartment, with such violent and passionate expressions, that Ferdinand found it impossible to make a word be heard. He retired from the conference overwhelmed with consternation and despair. Similar threats of instant death were conveyed on the same evening by Duroc to the Infants Don Carlos and Don Antonio; and such was the impression produced by these menaces, that it was determined by the counsellors of Ferdinand that no alternative remained but immediate submission. A conditional resignation was accordingly written out and signed by them all on the following day, in which Ferdinand renounced the crown, on condition that he May 2 and his father should both return to Madrid, where the Escoiq. 64, Cortes should be assembled; and that, if Charles de- 151, 152, clined to return to Spain to govern himself, he should govern the kingdom in his father's name, and as his lieu- 602, 603, tenant.1 1 Cev. 50,51. 65. Tor.i. Thib. vi. 365, 367. Thiers, viii. CHAP. LII. 1808. 78. still refuses an uncondi nation. This qualified resignation, however, in which the Prince of Asturias still announced his intention of returning to Madrid as his father's lieutenant, and resuming there, in Ferdinand his name, the royal functions, was far from meeting the to agree to Views of Napoleon, who was irrevocably set upon obtaintional resig- ing from the young King such an unconditional surrender of his rights as might leave the throne vacant for a prince of his own family. He wrote, therefore, a letter, which was signed by Charles IV., and passed for his own production, though the depth of its thought and the energy of its expressions clearly indicated the imperial hand.* Ferdinand, however, was still unmoved, and replied, two days afterwards, in a letter, in which he vindicated his own conduct, and expressed his astonishment at the May 2. Letter of Charles to his son. * "What has been your conduct?" the old King was made to say. "You have spread sedition through my whole palace; you have excited my very body-guards against me; your own father became your prisoner; my first minister, whom I had raised and adopted into my own family, was dragged, covered with blood, into a dungeon; you have withered my grey hairs, and despoiled them of a crown borne with glory by my fathers, and which I have preserved without stain; you have seated yourself on my throne; you have made yourself the instrument of the mob of Madrid, whom your partisans had excited, and of the foreign troops who at the same moment were making their entry. Old, and broken down with infirmities, I was unable to bear this new disgrace; I had recourse to the Emperor, not as a King at the head of his troops and surrounded by the pomp of a throne, but as a fugitive, abandoned monarch, broken down by misfortune. I have found protection and refuge in the midst of his camp: I owe him my own life, that of the Queen, and that of my prime minister: he is acquainted with all the outrages I have experienced, all the violence I have undergone: he has declared to me that he will never recognise you as King. In tearing from me the crown, it is your own which you have broken; your conduct towards me, your letters, which evince your hatred towards France, have put a wall of brass between you and the throne of Spain. I am King by right of descent; my abdication was the result of force and violence. I can admit the validity of no acts resulting from the assembly of armed mobs; everything should be done for the people, nothing by them. Hitherto I have reigned for the people's good, hereafter I shall still act with the same object; when I am once assured that the religion of Spain, its independence, integrity, and institutions are secured, I shall descend to the grave, imploring pardon for you for the bitterness of my last days.' I can agree to no assembly of the Cortes; that is a new idea of the inexperienced persons who surround you."-Letter, CHARLES IV. to FERDINAND, 2d May, 1808. Unquestionably it was neither Charles IV. nor the Prince of the Peace who penned these vigorous lines. It is curious to observe the sentiment, "everything for the people, nothing by them," in the mouth of the military champion of the Revolution. |