The Queen Regent opened the session of the Cortes on
the 16th. Unusual interest was excited in Madrid on this occasion. All the galleries of the Chamber of Procuradores were crowded with persons of distinction. The Amhassadors from England, France, the United States, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, and Por- tugal, and the Envoys from Venezuela and Mexico, engaged in negotiations for the recognition of the independence of these States, were among the spectators of the ceremony. MENDIZABAL stood by the throne, and presented the Royal speech to the Queen; who read it with firmness and fluency. After some preliminary remarks in the usual strain, her Majesty is made to say- " I have placed my confidence in the Ministers who are honoured with that of the nation. If the representatives of the Spanish Monarchy, who at this moment surround the throne of my beloved daughter, favour them equally with theirs, I hope, that without new loans or an augmentation of the taxes, resources will be found, not only to terminate the war of the factious and to prove sufficient for the other obligations of the State, but also to ameliorate the lot of its creditors, national as well as foreign, and to place public credit on a solid basis."
The good offices of England, France, and Portugal, the parties to the Quadruple Treaty, were then duly acknowledged-
" The Sovereigns who signed the treaty of the Quadruple Alliance continue to give us repeated proofs of their adherence to the principles therein had down; affording aid, as far as my Government considers proper, to the sacred cause which we defend. To this treaty any august daughter is indebted for the copious assistance, in arms and ammunition, afforded for the support of her throne by my august ally the King of Great Britain, and the authorization granted by that Government to English subjects to take up arms in her defence. Faithful to the same confederation, the King of the French, my august uncle, has authorized the removal from the shores of Africa to Cams Ionia, of the Foreign Legion, which has already begun to give to our just cause such essential services. We have to expect equal results from the concurrence of the 10,000 I'ortuguese, who, according to a convention made with her most Faithful Majesty, my much-beloved cousin, and as a consequence
of that treaty, have already commenced entering into our territory. Their Majesties'the Emperor of Brazil, the Kings of Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, and Greece, and the republic of the United States of North America, preserve towards us that powerful union and friendship which they have always pro- fessed to us. Our relations with the other Powers are conformable to the hue of policy which their Governments thus fad folow, and to the dignity and independence of our nation."
The negotiations in progress for recognizing the independence of the South American States were slightly alluded to. Great praise was given to the army in the North for its courage and fidelity; and then the measures about to be introduced by Minis- ters to the Cortes were stated.
" Three most important projects of law will be presented to your delibera- tion,—that of elections, the basis of the Representative Government ; that of the liberty of the Press, which is the soul thereof ; and that of the responsibi- lity of Ministers, which is the complement thereof, insuring and at the same. time rendering compatible the inviolability of the Monarch and the rights of the ration."
The reform of the criminal and civil codes was declared to be in progress ; and several measures for the improvement of the re- venue, and of the means of internal communication, were recom- mended to the attention of the Cortes. The speech concluded with the fol!owing passage-
" The Representative Government is that which is best adapted to the present civilization : my intention is, that this nation, so worthy of being free and happy, shall enjoy the liberties emanating from that system of government, in union with public order, which is a condition necessary for every grade of human society. Great sacrifices have been made, and continue to be made, by this magnanimous people, for the support of the throne of my augi et daughter. Illy name is associated, perhaps by a particular arrangement of Heaven, with those generous efforts; and I will therefore make no excuses for, and neither will I hesitate to offer, any sacrifices, in order that the Spaniards may receive their tit recompense in the consolidation of their liberty and of their happi- ness."
The session was declared to be formally opened, by MENDTZABAL; and the Queen withdrew, amidst the ringing of bells and roaring of cannon. She was extremely well received by people of all ranks ; and at night there was a grand illumination.
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