The interests of the people were taken from a government whose sole aim it had been to prop up the last remains of its own decrepitude by betraying those whom it was its duty to protect;--withdrawn from such hands, to be committed to those of the people; at a time when the double affliction which Spain had endured, and the return of affliction with which she was threatened, made it impossible that the emancipated Nation could abuse its new-born strength to any substantial injury to itself .-- Infinitely less favourable to all good ends was the condition of the French people when, a few years past, a Revolution made them, for a season, their own masters,--rid them from the incumbrance of superannuated institutions--the galling pressure of so many unjust laws--and the tyranny of bad customs.

The Spaniards became their own masters: and the blessing lay in this, that they became so at once: there had not been time for them to court their power: their fancies had not been fed to wantonness by ever-changing temptations: obstinacy in them would not have leagued itself with trivial opinions: petty hatreds had not accumulated to masses of strength conflicting perniciously with each other: vanity with them had not found leisure to flourish--nor presumption: they did not assume their authority,--it was given them,--it was thrust upon them.

The perfidy and tyranny of Napoleon '_compelled_,' says the Junta of Seville in words before quoted, 'the whole Nation to take up arms and _to choose itself a form of government_; and, in the difficulties and dangers into which the French had plunged it, all--or nearly all--the provinces, as it were _by the inspiration of Heaven_ and _in a manner little short of miraculous_, created Supreme Juntas--delivered themselves up to their guidance--and placed in their hands the rights and the ultimate fate of Spain.'-- Governments, thus newly issued from the people, could not but act from the spirit of the people--be organs of their life.

And, though misery (by which I mean pain of mind not without some consciousness of guilt) naturally disorders the understanding and perverts the moral sense,--calamity (that is suffering, individual or national, when it has been inflicted by one to whom no injury has been done or provocation given) ever brings wisdom along with it; and, whatever outward agitation it may cause, does inwardly rectify the will.
But more was required; not merely judicious desires; not alone an eye from which the scales had dropped off--which could see widely and clearly; but a mighty hand was wanting.

The government had been formed; and it could not but recollect that the condition of Spain did not exact from her children, as a _first_ requisite, virtues like those due and familiar impulses of Spring-time by which things are revived and carried forward in accustomed health according to established order--not power so much for a renewal as for a birth--labour by throes and violence;--a chaos was to be conquered--a work of creation begun and consummated;--and afterwards the seasons were to advance, and continue their gracious revolutions.