their esteem, formed a strong, however incongruous, body, hostile to the advancing liberties of Spain. And who would venture to affirm, that the Queen Governess, even while working in the service of liberty, did not verge to a policy favouring despotic power, if not exercised by herself, yet indulged in by her Ministers and their dependants? Who would venture to affirm, that Christina, by birth a foreigner, licentious in her propensities, giddy with the popularity she had acquired by departing from the line of government pursued by her aged husband, then deceased, unequal to control the ambition of those around her, or even disposed to return to that style of royalty in which she had been educated, did not favour, nay, promote the re-ascendancy of principles contrary to the wishes, and hurtful to the prosperity, of the nation? All this, and perhaps much more, was generally believed. The provinces took alarm. Many of them dismissed the Governors who had been set over them. In a few instances deeds of violence, even of murderous violence, were perpetrated by excited mobs, or at the instigation of demagogues, who made. good speculative principles the pretext for the vilest practices. Then ensued a struggle of parties of which it does not lie within my province to set forth the details. For about ten days Madrid was under martial law. But the intelligence, that the provinces in general had refused obedience to the men appointed over them by the Queen, and yet professed entire loyalty to her person, rendered further resistance impossible. A body of military surrounded the royal palace at Sant Ildefonso, whither Christina had retired; and a soldier, having obtained admission to her presence, presented a paper on which was written these few words : "As Queen Governess of Spain, I ordain and command that the political constitution of the year 1812 be published, until the nation, assem

bled in Cortes, expressly make known its will, or give another constitution adapted to its necessities. At Sant Ildefonso, August 13th, 1836." The Queen was startled at the extraordinary deputy, and his demand, and objected to have any thing to do with the paper; but he told her very coolly, that it was the will of the nation that she should affix her signature. She knew it to be so, and wrote at the foot, "Yo, LA REINA GOBERNADORA." The soldier hurried from her presence, held up the paper to the troops; and those nearest saw the signature still wet from the royal hand. The air was rent with Vivas, the intelligence was diffused over the kingdom swiftly as breathless couriers could convey it. The Provisional Boards of Government resigned instantly their temporary office. The Queen re-entered Madrid in triumph, hailed as "Mother of the Spaniards ;" and for that day Spain was happy. Cortes were convoked forthwith; the year passed away, and the next began during preparations for revising the constitution of the State. This constitution deserves our careful examination, and must be known and understood by all who shall be employed in promoting the religious welfare of the country.

CHAPTER VII.

1837. First Mission Establishment in Cadiz-Opposition of the Clergy-Favourable popular Feeling-School closed by Command-Re-opened by Authority-Closed again-Debate in Cortes on the Article of the Constitution relating to Religion-Case of the Priest, Don Pascual Marin, who visits Gibraltar, is persecuted, petitions the Cortes, and is protected.

OUR Schoolmaster commenced his labours in Cadiz by preaching every Sunday on board one or other of the merchant-vessels in the Bay, often to numerous companies of sailors. His time was occupied during the week by study of the Spanish language, and familiar conversations with Spaniards, in which he endeavoured to engage their attention to the truths of religion. He also gave attention to the distribution of Bibles and tracts, and that with encouraging success, although his peculiar position did not allow the use of those very public means which agents could employ who had not any other object to attain, and, having finished their work, could withdraw from the buzz of popular excitement to repeat similar operations elsewhere. After about six months he was able to proceed more directly to Missionary labours. Two or

three children attended daily to learn to write, and were formed into a Bible class. Besides these, a few persons assembled at his lodgings every Lord's day, with whom he read prayers and a sermon; and as his connexions increased, a small school was formed, which he taught gratuitously. In all this he was instructed only to accede to applications to teach, when made to him by those who observed that he was engaged with one or two children of the house where he lodged, but by no means to be the first mover in

SO

collecting pupils. This system was strictly observed in Cadiz, as in Gibraltar; so that in all cases the parents have been the spontaneous actors in placing their children under the instruction of Protestant Teachers; and we have not been open to the charge of aggression from our adversaries, although the aggressive mode of action might often be most consistent with our wishes, and might be fully borne out on the purest principles. But it ought to be stated, that, on this Mission, it has not been found necessary, as our hands have been well filled with work simply by using opportunities as they have been providentially afforded. The first organization of a Protestant institution in Spain, could not be witnessed with indifference. The Priests murmured, threatened, and spared no effort to alarm the few persons who attended those meetings, or sent their children; and although they were in general beyond those influences, here and there an individual drew back, rather to avoid trouble than from any other feeling. The Bishop was much annoyed. As Bishop, he was bound by oath to crush heretics and heresy together, if he could; and, independently of that obligation, his views were in irreconcilable opposition to reform of every kind, a circumstance which much weakened his influence to our prejudice. To the preaching he especially objected. "I have no objection," he said, "to the school, provided he teach nothing contrary to our doctrines; but to preach on Sundays is another thing. I wish I could put a stop to it." When some one observed, that he thought the Bishop had power to do any thing he pleased with respect to the religious education of the people, he replied, "O that I could! The civil authorities of Cadiz will not support me. They say it would prove that we are not yet free." The civil authorities, taken individually, were friendly to the innovation, and did not scruple to express their good

will; and it was, therefore, impracticable to proceed against him summarily. However, the laws of Spain at that time required, that no one should teach a school who had not been duly examined and licensed; and the examination was of such a kind as almost to exclude foreigners, and certainly to exclude Protestants, from the situation of Schoolmaster. This being the case, it was represented to him, that it would be imprudent to persist in open infraction of the law, (a law, indeed, to which our attention had not previously been directed,) and that it would be advisable to close the school, and to desist from preaching also, without allowing time for an order to be issued compelling him to do so, and that then he might submit the affair for decision to those who had power to assist him. But while this deliberation was going forward, he received an official order to close the school.

On hearing of this reverse, I rode to Cadiz, and found that there was hope that the difficulty would be overcome. While there, I preached on three successive evenings to as many persons as could be conveniently assembled in a large room. This was at special request; and on the Lord's day I conducted two services in our accustomed manner. On those occasions the word of God appeared to be accompanied by a solemnizing influence; and the freedom with which it was heard, even under the apprehension of impending persecution, tended to confirm my confidence, that God would arise and maintain his cause. And I had not returned to Gibraltar many days, when intelligence was communicated, that the Governor had given official permission for the school to be reopened, until an answer should be received from the superior authority at Madrid, to whom the question would be referred. This determination gave an enlivening impulse to the Mission. Several persons solicited admission for their children, and it was