DUNLOP'S MEMOIRS OF SPAIN.

THE revolutions of Spain have yet to be written. A work that should give a rapid accuunt of the leading events of the Spanish

monarchy, a striking portraiture of the principal characters who

figuied in the rapidly shifting scenes, a general view of the eco- nomy, resources, and people of the country. with a philosophic ex- position of the causes which created the sudden and rapid growth of the empire, and its slower but sure decline, would be a desirable addition to our standard literature. It would require much patient and laborious research to seek for the secret springs of action, and the essential causes of governing events—much sagacious discri- mination to detect them. It would demand genius, skill, and eloquence, of no mean order, to impart interest to a story whose incidents seem for the most part remote, resultless, or ephemeral— resembling rather the splendid, vast, yet ill connected and base- less fabrics of an enchanted tale, than the realities of life. The book too, should not be long ; for an English reader does not want to study Spanish history. But for such a work, though it be wanted, we must wait. No one but a "gentleman," or a dip- lomatist, could ajlbrd to write it. The man of letters, however willing, cannot give up his time to grore amongst those original authorities which are open to diligent inquiry,—or spend his money in journeying to Spain in order to pore over the public arebives,—when the produce of years of labour and of a little fortune would be one or at most two volumes.

We have mentioned such a work as desirable, not as altogether necessary. To those who have time, money, and perseverance at command, the history of the Spanish manarchy is pretty well com- pleted, though in detached works, and by unequal hands. RoneuTsorr has given us its early manhood and its prime; WAT- SON and THOMSON its "certain age ;" DUNLOP its decline; and CONE its dotage. Among these writers, Mr. DUNLOP is not the least meritorious, or `the least entertaining : he has grouped his subjects skilfully, told his story with clearness, and expressed himself in a studied and scholar-like style, which it' not exactly eloquence, very closely approaches it. His chief fault is diffuse- ness; be scarcely draws a sufficient distinction between important and secondary events; and though Memoirs certainly admit of a much greater minuteness of treatment than History, yet the reader does not always attend to mere nominal distinctions. Another point which struck us in our perusal, is rather a defi- ciency than a fault, and a deficiency which it was scarcely in his power to remedy. There is little in the tone of the work indica- tive of the people or the period. Having to draw his information chiefly from profe sional writers, and those of no very extraordi- nary mark or likelihood, he was rarely able to catch those slight yet truthful touches which often redeem the dulness of the mere chronicler, or the exact and specific characteristics which are pre- sented by the original documents of men earnestly engaged about the business on which they are writing. But whenever the op- portunity was afforded him, he has not neglected it. The events which Mr. DUNLOP has narrated extend over a period of about eighty years. They embrace the reigns of PHILIP the Fourth and CHARLES the Second; they chronicle the decline of the monarchy ; they terminate with the extinction of the Austrian-Castilian line. The author has expressed his apprehen- sion as to the "disadvantages of the subject—in which he shall have to record an almost invariable train of disaster, the imbeci- lity of kings, the corruption of courts, and the rule of worthless favourites, naturally terminating in the utter prostration and ruin of a once noble and splendid monarchy." But it is useful, if it be not pleasing, to mark the evils ofdespotism,—to have it proved by practical examples, that there is no other real surety for public happiness and prosperity, than free institutions, an instructed people, and a broad extension of the controlling and even of the general directing power. The attentive reader • of Mr. DUNLOP'S volumes will learn a further confirmation of a truth which all history teaches—that arbitrary power is not only fatal to the virtue and happiness of the people and the nobility, but destructive of the regal splendour it is supposed to exalt. We have also another impression left upon the mind— that whilst weak despots only tot ment states, it is able despots who ruin them. The Sardanapalus-like character of the Fourth PHILIP—the personal vanity, the selfish objects, the tortuous and inefficient politics of his favourite OLIVAREZ (the Olivarez of Gil Blas)—with the mental imbecility and the superstitious Weakness of the last and childless CHARLES—hastened the degra- dation of the Spanish monarchy, but did not, we conceive, cause ft. The seeds of the thtal disease were sown by the abilities of CHARLES the Fifth and his son PHILIP. Their vaulting am- bition prompted them to plan gigantic enterprises; their despotic power enabled them to acquire the means of undertaking them ; but even their success was failure. They bequeathed to their posterity an exhausted empire, with a splendour and a character which they could not maintain and would not forego—a destruc- tive reputation—a conceit of greatness which prompted impos-

sible attempts, whilst the memory of their power and ambition raised up enemies who atfarled the weakness of the state with

forces that might have coped with its strength. As it happened, these evils were aggravated by the personal qualitiea of their successors, Ignorance, inattention, ince:Itchy for affairs, with their accompaniments—worthless and dishonest minions—are sure in the long run to spring up in a despotic court : but the insanity of JOANNA seemed hereditary in her line, and more or less tainted several, perhaps all, of her descendants ; for .when not mad, they were melancholy.

A " further difficulty " our author alludes to in his preface— that of imparting to his subject "the interest of unity of action." This difficulty would be grievously felt in a History on the scale of these Memoirs. The historian. indeed, could only get over the obstacles by an exact and comprehensive view of causes, and a compressed apil rapid narrative of effects, indicating rather than telling " the multifurioua and complicated wars in Italy and the Netherlands—the protracted sieges of insignificant towns—battles of small armies—petty leagues and lengthened negotiations, of which the effect on the general issue is neither immediate nor ob- vious." lit Memoirs, where less of dignity is required, and where an epic consistency and connexion of story are not so much looked for, these matters are not indeed less wearisome in themselves, but they may be relieved by individual anecdotes and sketches of manners, and be varied by the introduction of interesting episedes. Both of these modes Mr. DUNLOP has attempted, and with good success. He presents some personal and interesting views of the Spanish court and courtiers, and of CONDE and TURENNE. The foolish visit of our Cir ARLES Prince of Wales to Madrid, the filtes and festivities tt t hich it gave rise, and the consummate hypo- crisy of the " Royal Martyr," are well brought out, with the in- solence of BUCKINGHAM, and the boisterous mirth and freedom of the English cavaliers. The revolt of the Catalans was an histo- rical passage not unworthy of distinct record ; and is well told by Mr. Duart.oe. The same remark may be applied to the Neapoli- tan insurrection, with the rise and fall of MASANIELLO, the tem- porary influence of his successor ANNESE, and the attempt of the Duke of GUISE upon the crown, with his indiffereot dinner and his bad night's lodging on his first arrival. The revolution of Portugal, by which that kingdom threw off the yoke of Spain and raised the house of' BRAG ANZ to the throne, is of more importance for its direct influence uponSpanish power; and is clearly awl r.ad- ably developed. The immediate causes of the Spanish decay—the long and wasting war with France—have less interest, and for the reasons already assigned. They were distinguished by no great event : and indeed Spain may be said to have sunk more from a break-up of constitution, than from any single disorder. Her public affairs were in that embarrassed condition, her government and no- bility so utterly corrupt, her people in such a state of bigoted igno- rance, that, like patients at the last gasp, she might take or do whatever she pleased: she was beyond cure and beyond care.

Mr. DUNLOP'S volumes are of that nature which require to be read to be appreciated ; but we will present a few detached speci- mens. We shall begin with the death and character of PHILIP

the Fourth. The first is characteristic of the Most Catholic King. His private morality had been of the laxest nature, his public !aches mischievous to his people; but his last thoughts were for the

Inquisition and his religious ascendancy, whilst even amidst his doubts of unworthiness, there was a lurking confidence in his faith,

—as may be guessed from his provision for the "contingent re-

mainder of the 100,000 masses. Upon the estimate of his public character, or rather upon its effects, we are ineined to differ with Mr. DUNLOP, for the reason already stated—that his predeces- sors had ruined the kingdom to his hands. A rebellion like that of England, or a revolution like that of France, which, by shaking

the whole mind of society, would have fitted it for the reception of new ideas and practices equal to the crisis, could alone have restored the kingdom. The experience of two centuries has sufficed to show that the Spanish character had not the stamina requi- site to throw off old disorders, and pass gradually from the old to the new, from the feudal to the popular state.

PHILIP'S DEATH.

At length, on the morning of the 12th September, after a sleepless night, he was attacked with a calenture, accompanied by a dysentery of extreme violence, though probably both were only symptomatic of the primary complaint. On the appearance of these accessory disorders, Philip gave up all hope, and became fully convinced that his end was approaching. A comet had been seen in the sky at the commencement of his serious illness ; but his attendants did not then wish to alarm him by announcing this prognostic of the fate of monarchs. When at length the appearance of the portent was communicated to him with all imaginable delicacy and reserve, he replied, that the calenture would be sufficient for him without the comet.

The dysentery in a short while produced such extreme weakness, that the physicians could not venture to apply the remedies proper for the calenture. Conscious that his debility was increasing, the King ordered a hundred thousand Inas-9es to be performed after his death for the repose of his soul ; observing, "that if he ceased to need them before the number was concluded, they would serve to assist his parents and other relatives, who might not yet have related heaven." On Monday the 14th, he issued orders that the eucharist should ba communicated to him • and by his own desire this religious ordinance was per- formed in presence of his household—the ecclesiastics and grandees of the Court. The Patriarch of the Indies, Alonzo de Guzinan, solemnly announced to l'bilip, that the king of Heaven was now about to be present with the greatest poten- tate on earth. Having obtained absolution, and concluded his creed in these words ".Lo creo y la conji.sso, y quisiere merit per defenderla," he received the chief emblem of his faith marl many tears and repeated protestations of his own unworthiness. On the same day, be ackuowledged before witnesses the validity of his last testament, drawn up some time before, by which he appointed the Queen, with four councillors, Regent of the kingdom ; and earnistly recom- mended his successors to protect the holy office of the Inquisitioti--excluding from the CTOWIS All who might fail in this sacred duty. In his testatnent, he further bequeathed to his son a close which the Emperor Charles had held in his hand at the moment of dissolutiun. To his Queen he left a small cruci- fix formed from the true Hyman crveis, which had been presented to him by the C.ount-Duke Ohl/urea, and whieh he styles a most estimable relic ; also all the relics which he had been accustomed to wear on his person, aud the precious images which mood at the head of his bed ; of which ehe WAS to reserve for her- self such as she thought proper, and divide the others among the children of the marriage. Oir the day after he had ratified this document, he took leave of his Queen and family, praying heaven that his infant son and successor might enjoy

reign more prosperous than he had himself experienced. lie enjoined to his daughter due care of her mother, and obedience to all her commands; and then entreated them to withdraw, that human affections might no longer interrupt the contemplations solely due to eternity. * •

Being now disburdened of all earthly concerns and occupations, the King re- ceived extreme unction, and the image of the Lady of Atocha was carried to his eliamber in solemn procession. The Duke of *Medina de las Torres having asked his Majesty if he wished that the relics of St. Isidore should he brought to his apartment, he returned an answer which, given at any other time, or pro- ceeding limn a less orthodox prince, might be tegarded as jocular or satcastic ; he paid that it teas more proper they should remain where they were, and that, if they felt disposed to intercede in his behalf, their distance from him could be no obstacle. In consequence of this reply, which seems to have occasioned some little ',caudal, he was spared any further visitations from relics or images; but he was exorcised, according to the most approved form, by his confessor and another Franciscan father ; who, while so many natural causes were hastening his decay, believed, or pretended to believe, that the apparent extenuation of his flame was but the effect of magical delusion. On the following day (16th Sep- tember), having expressed a wish again to communicate, tined his chaplains, Rodriguez de Montforte, who has left a circumstantial account of his decease and interment, entered his chamber to celebrate mass ; and from his hands he re- ceived the last sacrament of the altar. He also craved absolution from Burro- meo, the Pope's Nuncio, who was introduced for this purpose. He lastly re- quired that an image of our Saviour, which stood by the wall of the apartment, should be placed on his bed. His parting words were expressive of the confi- dence with which it inspired him ; and fervently embracing this emblem of the faith he followed and professed, he at length, after a series of convulsive parox-

isms, breathed his last. * • When Philip found his health beginning to decline, he made frequent excur- sions to the Escurial, in order to visit the Pantheon, and expedite some altera- tions and repairs which he had recently projected. It is said that Louis the Fourteenth quitted the beautiful sojourn of St. Germain, because the cloisters of St. Denis, which contained the tombs of the Kings of France, were descried from it, and estsblished himself at a distance, amid the deserts of Versailles. But his contemporary, Philip of Spain, shrunk not from the touch oi death's icy finger. Each time that he descended to the Pantheon, he fitted his body into the niche which was prepared for its final reception. Here, too, he at- tended the celebration of mass, and other religious rites; a chair being placed for him in the receptacle where his body was shortly to be enshrined.

HIS CHARACTER.

The annals of modern history have left no memorial of a reign so unfortnnate as that of Philip the Fourth. Other sovereigns may have suffered more indivi- dually, and he himself beheld contemporary princes perish by the dagger of the assassin, on the field of book, and on the scaffold ; but never in a public and national view was reign so unhappy. The loss of Rousisillon, Cerdena, a part of the Austrian Netherlands, Jamaica, and Portugal, with the capture or plunder by the Dutch of the settlements in the Indies, are miserable proofs of the imbe- cility of Philip's administration and the decay of martial spirit among the Spanish people. But the diminution of territorial possessions was the least evil of his reign. The decline of trade, the depopulation of the chief towns, the disorder in the finances, and the insurrections in the provinces, particularly Catalonia, ren- dered Spain, during half a century, more wretched than it had ever been since the first invasion of the Moors.

If the ministers of kings be alone responsible for the acts of their masters during their lives, posterity often demands from the memory of the monarch, with stern exactness, a long and severe reckoning. For much of the national ca'a May, Philip must be held accountable. He was clement, indeed, and benevolent, Lai loved his subjects with paternal affection. Amid disaster, he displayed a fortitude which never was surpassed; and he showed all the resignation of his grandeire, under misfortunes for mole fatal than the loss of an Armada. Nor was he by any means destitute of understanding and intelligence. Lord Clarendon, who was admitted to a lung and important audience in the year 1649, says, "that after the formal par t was over, the King asked many questions, and discoursed very intelligently of every thing ; so that his defects proceeded only from the lazi- ness of his mind, not from any want of understanding." But in this voluptuous indolence he was so sunk, that he entirely resigned the reins of government to favourites, who frequently deceived him or abused his confidence. From time to time, when struck by the reproaches of conscience, or alarmed by some signal disaster, or excited by the voice of his people, he made a feeble effort to throw off his languor, and to guide with his own hand the helm of state but, soon led away by his long indulgence in sensual gratifications he relapsed into his former listleseness. Hence, though he loved his subjects, he was neither beloved ia return, nor respected, because they knew that he never laboured or exerted himself for their felicity. Hence, too, the grandees sought not to merit, by use- ful services, the favour of a king who only judged of their deserts through the medium of others. They became, like their master, feeble and voluptuous. The indolence which had so long prevailed in the Court, soon infected the people, till scarcely a spark remained in the nation of that dignity, constancy, and valour, which, in the days of the Emperor Charles, rendered Spain the arbiter of the destinies of Europe. But though utterly deficient in the qualities of a monarch, Philip was graced by many of the accomplishments which shed elegance and dignity on private life. The Count-Duke, indeed, had early inspired him with a relish for literature and the fine arts, and for every thing that might abstract his mind from the concerns of government. He was thus thoroughly imbued with a taste for painting, music, poetry, and all sorts of dramatic exhibitions. Many volumes of his com- positions are preserved, it is said, in the Royal Library of Spain, as also transla- tions of G uicciardini's History of Italy, and Luis Guicciat dines Account of the .Netherlands, with an elegant introduction from his own pen.

Rover. GRAVITY.

King Philip was always elegantly attired, and on solemn public days he ap- peared loaded with gong, and usually arrayed in the splendid garb of the order of the Golden Fleece. This personal decoration formed part of his great stuly to maintain his royal dignity, of which he was peculiarly jealous. In prosecu- tion of this plan, he also invariably preserved an assumed and sustained gravity. Every movement, when he did move, was regulated with a view to appear dig- nified and venerable. So afraid was he of diminishing the respect of his sub- ject* by condescension or familiarity, that be seldom spoke to the gentlemen of his chamber, who attended him at his weals, though they were all grandees of Spain. He generally made his wishes be comprehended by signs, arid has been known to pass a whole week without once opening his lips.

REASONS FOR IT.

His gravity was accounted for in Spain by a popular snperstition Philip was born on Good Friday; and it was believed that those who came into the world on that day, whenever they approached a hurial-pluce i.r which any ere who had been murdered was interred, or passed a spot where it murdenhul been committed, saw the apparition of the deceased, all bloody, and in the same condition he happened to be in when he was slain. Now it was thought that the terror of the many ghastly visions which Philip had thus seen in hn youth, had given him a habit of casting his eyes upwards, and had imparted a solemnity to his general demeanour.

The length of our notice (though that notice has been delayed), aufficiently attests the value we attach to Mr. DursLop's work. Not attractive from the subject, it is pleasant from the way in which he has treated it; not dashing or-even striking in comp. sition, its execution reminds us of the writers of another and per. haps of a better school. In short, we may truly say, that no library possessing ROBERTSON'S History and WATSON'S Biogra. phies will be complete without DUNLOP'S Memoirs. It has also a temporary interest, springing from the march of events in Spain. The Bondholder looks towards the Peninsula with a regard which comes home to his business and pocket. The problem to be solved is a political question of some importance—whether a few indivi. duals can tone a state? The Castilian and the Bourbon lines left the country sunk in the deepest degradation, and reduced to the most abject weakness. The invasion of NAPOLEON excited rather than roused her : the fever over, she was herself again. She was —nay, virtually she is—a blank in Europe. If the Juste Milieu or the Liberals can renovate the monarchy by quiet and gentle restoratives, we shall have a higher faith, not in their practical sagacity, but in the heart and mind of man, however depressed by ignorance, sloth, and superstition, and shall become Optimists downright.