wild shouts of their pursuers, thirsting for their blood. The stone which had been erected in the Grand Plaza, commemorative of the Constitution, and before which (only a few weeks since) the people bowed in reverential joy, was now torn from its pedestal, the inscription defaced, and broken to pieces; the maddened populace contending for the fragments, which were dragged in savage triumph through the public streets, amidst shouts of "Long live the Absolute King!" "Death to the Constitution!" Those who took no active part in these proceedings were compelled to uncover the head and join in the cry, in order to protect themselves against the assassin's knife or the soldier's sabre. I dined at the Ambassador's that day, where, in the absence of his Excellency, his Secretary, Mr. Charles Vaughan, presided. The most marked reserve on the dreadful scenes then passing under every eye was preserved. Of all subjects, that which occupied every mind, and agitated every heart, was not once mentioned, even while the frantic cries from without seemed to make our glasses vibrate on the table; but such is the characteristic mystery of diplomacy. Sir Henry Wellesley arrived, in the course of the evening, with the information that the King would not enter Madrid until the morning of the 14th. On descending from the portico into the street, I found myself at once surrounded by thousands, whose wild uproar was suddenly checked by the first toll of the vesper bell. In an instant every tongue was mute, every head uncovered; the most profound silence reigned for some moments, interrupted only by the whispering prayers of this devout (yet murderous !) mob! During the last few days, my friend had never quitted the Posado, except for an hour in the morning, when he skulked out to snatch a hasty mass; and I could only prevail on him to venture with me to the ambassador's, on the 14th, by representing his danger if left unprotected at the inn during the excitement which the entry of the King would cause among the populace. The morning was passed in feverish anxiety on the part of the swelling population, augmented every hour by the thousands pouring in from all the towns and villages within ten leagues of Madrid. Oftentimes, in the course of the forenoon, the whole Prado appeared like a sea of moving heads, as the false intelligence of "Here comes the King !' agitated the dense mass. Bodies of troops continued to arrive every hour from Arunjuez, at which royal residence his majesty had slept and breakfasted. Amongst these many had, for the first time, appeared in their new and splendid uniforms. The King's regiment of hussars, dressed in embroidered scarlet jackets, with pelisses hanging to their shoulder, of sky blue, lined with lamb-skin in fleece, and mustering upwards of six hundred strong, (armed and equipped at the expense of John Bull,) caracoled about, showing off their finery, like jays in borrowed plumes. And then the ancient carabineros, looking as stiff and warlike as jack-boots, buff, and buckram could make them, smiled through their black and bushy whiskers, while on their tall and lanky longtailed stallions they gently forced a passage through the receding crowd; meanwhile their Birmingham swords glittering in the bright rays of a Madrid midsummer sun, proved to the astonished Spaniards the superabundant wealth of England, and her generous interest in the cause of Freedom! The evening had already commenced before the King reached his capital. Having to pass up the Calle Alcala, a better situation for seeing the procession than the balcony of the Hotel of Embassy, could not have been chosen. was numerous; and we had just concluded dinner, when the trumpets announced the entrance of the The company royal cavalcade into our street. Its progress was so slow, that we were nearly half an hour waiting, handkerchief in hand, before his Majesty approached near enough to receive our welcome. The mules of the clumsy state-coach, of which there had been several teams employed during the day, were as often unharnessed; and the people yoked themselves by hundreds to the carriage, for the last forty leagues of his Majesty's route; triumphal arches were erected in every town, while the whole female population, clothed in white, and decked with wreaths, marched before, strewing the roads with flowers, and distributing garlands. Thousands had kissed the royal hand, which was held out to all who sought that honor; and the familiarity with which the LifeGuardsmen (all of whom rank as subaltern officers) lolled into the royal carriage at every momentary halt, conversing with their monarch, formed a strange contrast to our ideas of courtly etiquette. When his Majesty arrived opposite the hotel of Sir Henry Wellesley, he himself gave the signal for a halt, and stretching out his hand, kissed it several times to the Ambassador, and the English party, which we, of course, returned with cheers, waving of handkerchiefs, and cries of "VIVA EL REY!" "VIVA ESPANA!" The King himself distinctly shouted “Viva Inglaterra!" more than once, (as well he might)! The carriage then proceeded on its route, drawn by women alone! to the amount of at least five hundred, who had attached ornamented ropes to the carriage, and displaced the men ! This sight was death to the hopes of my Constitutional friend, Don Alonzo, whose handkerchief absolutely fell from his hand, as with feeble effort he tried to wave it. To me alone his mental misery was perceptible. Spain ! his adored, heroic, regenerated Spain, licking the feet of the anti-constitutional monarch, the Beloved-the Absolute Ferdi nand! As soon as coffee had been served, he hurried off to the hotel, leaving me to undergo the degradation (as he termed it) of kissing the hand of the despotic king on my presentation that evening. I had that honor about seven o'clock, when the marked attention which his Majesty bestowed on all persons presented by the British Ambassador, proved the closeness of the amity which then prevailed between the two governments. Having been favored with a few words from the King on my presentation, I had a full opportunity of observing his Catholic Majesty's person and manner. The courtesies of a king are said to operate like magic over the strongest minds. Mine was not an exception to this almost general rule. When I beheld him smiling on all around, caressing this grandee, and embracing that; familiarly calling another towards him by the kind word "Tocayo," (or name-sake); bestowing grades of rank or titles of honor on his faithful officers; I almost wished to forget the Cortes and the Constitution, and cry out with the rest, "Long live the absolute King!"-candor requires me to say so much. His Majesty was dressed in the uniform of his footguards, with the embroidery which distinguishes the rank of a captaingeneral on the cuffs-a scarlet silk sash, with massive tassels of gold; he wore the ribbon and collar of the order of Carlos Tercero. his full black eye, then beaming with the delight of gratified power and absolute monarchy, there lurked the tiger's fierceness, which all his smiles could not conceal! His next brother, the Infant Don Carlos, stood on his right, and his imbecile old uncle, Don Antonio, on his left. I quitted the courtly circle at eight, hardly knowing at the moment whether to excuse or condemn the monarch's late proceeding. In On my return at night, I found my worthy Andalusian friend in a state of affliction, which I could in no other way account for, than his apprehension of some dreadful personal outrage; and it was not until after a quarter of an hour's entreaty to relieve my anxiety that he disclosed to me that his bosom friend, Don Tomas **** an Andalusian deputy, was that day condemned to death in council, as the most guilty of the senate; he having proposed in the Cortes, at the last sitting, that on the refusal of Ferdinand to swear fidelity to the Constitution, he should be declared as having "ceased to reign!" I endeavored to comfort my friend, by urging that it was a vain threat, as Don Tomas must then be far beyond the reach of his persecutors, having disappeared some days before.-"O! no, no!" replied my agonized companion; "he is not only still in Madrid, but his present hiding-place cannot afford him shelter beyond to-morrow's dawn—A price is on his head-his escape seems impossible. He has found means to communicate with me through an old woman, who is now in this house, imploring our assistance to aid his escape; but how is it to be accomplished? Although I would give all I possess on earth to secure his life, any attempt to do so in the present dreadful state of Madrid, would bring destruction on those who would move for his relief." I demanded to see the old woman, who was brought forth from an inner chamber. On seeing me full dressed as I had been to court, she imagined herself already in the hands of vengeful justice, and gave herself up for lost; but a little explanation appeased her fears, and after throwing off my dress coat, and putting on my pelisse, I desired her to lead the way. We sallied forth; and whilst closely following her weary steps, I passed through some turbulent crowds, responding, with apparent zeal, their horrid shouts. My white feather and British appearance proved my safe passport. Having, after many windings, through streets and lanes, uncheered by the light of one solitary lamp, at length arrived in front of a mean building, my guide, taking me by the hand, drew me to the entrance, pronouncing the words, "Follow me, and fear not!" We descended two distinct flights of cellar stairs, at the bottom of which she left me to my reflections in the horrid gloom. I unsheathed a long Turkish dagger, which I always carried at night, in a belt inside my pelisse, (it was a deadly weapon,) and groping for the wall, firmly fixed my back against it, ready for any attack. It is impossible to describe the current of thoughts and feelings that pressed on my agitated mind during this brief but awful period. At length the scarcely articulated sound"His, yu, his, yu," (the national mode of calling attention,) broke faintly on my ear, to which I softly answered-"Aqui, aqui," ("here, here.") Guided by my voice, the beldam approached, and grasping my outstretched and unarmed hand while, prepared for any event, I firmly held my dagger in the other she led me along what I considered a passage, at the end of which I was refreshed with a rush of cool air, and a momentary glimpse of the few stars which lit the firmament. Crossing this opening, still under her guidance, towards another part of the building, I felt myself suddenly stopped, but with expressions of courtesy, by two men; one of whom took from beneath his cloak a dimly burning lamp, which he held up on a level with my face; in an instant my dagger was raised, and as instantly dropped, when I beheld the taller of the two make the genuine sign of a MASTER MASON!!! I sheathed the weapon, and holding out my hand, bestowed the fraternal grip, which my masonic brother returned with fervency; and in a low whisper, directed the other to bring forward his friend. The glimmering light for a moment disappeared, and in less than a minute the unfortunate patriot came forth from an inner cellar, almost fainting under the conflict of his hopes and fears. He expected to have seen his old friend Don Alonzo, and his feelings on beholding me, with whom he had but a slight acquaintance, come to his relief, at such a place, at such an hour, and under such circumstances, so unmanned him, that a flood of tears alone saved him from sinking on the damp floor of his dungeon. After a mental struggle, he gained his self-possession; and when asking me to help him to liberty, added," Not to preserve my life by base flight, but to die with arms in my hand, in defence of the liberties of my afflicted country, instead of being butchered in the dungeons of the Inquisition!" My brief and unconsoling reply was,"Resistance is now useless-Spanish liberty is already strangled in its infancy-Of your friends, none remain to assist you; some, it is stated, have perished in secret-all your supporters are doomed to death, or ignominious exile-your cause is lost!-One chance alone presents itself to save your life-fly this night-this instant, if possible; with these faithful friends who have hitherto protected you, mix with the crowds who are even now returning into the adjacent villages, tired and satiated with the day's festivities, and who are allowed to pass through the gates in crowds, unquestioned by the guard; conceal yourself during the few hours of darkness in the Olive-wood, about a league from the Puerto St. Vicente, through which, one hour after daybreak tomorrow, my carriage shall slowly pass; and I SWEAR, come what may, to aid your escape.-Adieu ! On reaching the outer door, to which I ascended, leaning on the arm of my brother mason, at the moment of our separation, he revealed himself to me as a Captain of the Spanish Guards, a native of the Havannah, with whom, in the preceding year, I had sat in Lodge at Cadiz. I plunged once more into the dreary street, preceded by my former guide, whose footsteps I followed in silence, while she flitted before me like a dark phantom, until we arrived once more at the low, still and empty Puerto del Sol, where she took her leave with "Bendita sea sus obras !"* There was not a moment to lose-it was already past ten; I turned down the Calle Alcala, (in which was the Ambassador's hotel,) and found his party at supper. After an apology for troubling his Excellency at that late hour, I requested my passports that night, as it was my intention to start at daybreak next morning, on my route to Paris. It became necessary, to meet my plans, that two servants instead of one (as stated in my former passport) should be named, and also to insert the nation to which the second servant belonged. I mentioned France at the instant, as I recollected that Don Tomas spoke with fluency the language of that country. Whether the Ambassador entertained any suspicions of an indefinite nature, from my impatience to obtain my passports at that late hour, I know not; but he forebore to press the request he at first had made for my delay till ten the next morning, by which time he could prepare letters for his illustrious brother, then on his route from Paris to Madrid; my papers were therefore instantly despatched. I had for years been honored with the kindest attention and the friendship of that truly amiable man and in a few moments' private conversation which I had with him, previously to taking my final leave, I felt convinced that he suspected my additional servant was somé proscribed individual. Whatever were his thoughts, he confined them to his own breast; contenting himself with one sentence of kind advice, which deeply impressed itself on my mind, although it could not shake my purpose. "Take care how you commit yourself: should * "God's blessing on your good works!" 14 ATHENEUM VOL. 5, 3d series. this French valet of yours be discovered to be an improper subject, or one obnoxious to this government, you will place yourself and me in a painful situation." My only answer was, Sir, I shall be cautious." My respectful attachment to him was too powerful to suffer me to deceive him by assurances, which probably a few weeks would falsify; and he was of a nature too noble and generous to extort any confession from me. Hurrying off to the Posado, I found my unhappy friend still overwhelmed with affliction. My long absence had excited his alarm; and when I detailed my adventures, and the arrangements I had in view for the attempt, at least, to rescue the unfortunate Don Tomas from his threatened fate, it required my utmost powers of persuasion to reconcile him to risk his share in the enterprise. He condemned the plan as impracticable; and, resigning himself to despair, threw himself on his mattress in an agony of grief. Not that he was either morally or physically a coward; but he had lived too long under a despotic government, where the will of power was the law, not to tremble with apprehension at the dangers of detection in such an attempt. Leaving him to seek such repose as his sorrows admitted, and trusting to my own address to conquer all his scruples by the ensuing morning, I employed myself until midnight, with my servant's aid, in packing up all our luggage. I then snatched a few hours' sleep, after a day of great excitement, and a night of great anxiety. As early as four in the morning, the rumbling noise of our carriage, and the jingling of our mule bells, broke my sound and refreshing slumbers. Before five our luggage was stowed away, and my reluctant friend suffering himself to be led into the carriage with a heavy and a doubting heart, another quarter of an hour found us halted at the bar he rier. Thrusting half my body through the carriage-window, I held out my passport, a couple of cigars, and a dollar, to the officer of the gate, the moment I perceived he was but a sergeant. Waving the paper on his approach, I touched his ready palm, and cried, "Inglez, Inglez Senor CAPITAN."-“ Bueno, Bueno," cried the guardian of the gate, without looking at the passport, (which he probably could not have read if he had.) "Vaye vostra senoria con Dios!"*—“ Andar," ("go on,") to the mayoral, and we passed through the gate at a gallop! During this short parley, my fellow passenger was in purgatory; and when I exultingly asked him, "What do you think of that? We are out of Madrid, you see, with our heads on! faintly smiled for a moment, and then again sank into his corner. The first and greatest difficulty having been happily got over, our next object was to account to our mayoral for the no small addition of weight with which his tiro would so shortly be burdened; and for which he would, no doubt, require extra remuneration. He was the same we had brought from Andalusia, and although we could reckon on his fidelity, we might not be so perfectly secure of his discretion, or of that of the zagal. My own servant, whose shrewdness it was impossible to deceive, and whose fidelity was incorruptible, was partly acquainted with our plan; but knew not the object for whom we were interested. It became necessary, therefore, to repose entire confidence in him. When arrived at the Olive-wood I dismounted, and, taking him aside, explained all, and then placed him on the look-out. A thick exhalation hung over the surface of the earth, which obscured distant objects; but through the haze I discovered three figures, which I concluded were those of the persons we sought. Time was precious. The masonic * God be with your lordship! |