History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)

Name: History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)
Author: Southey, Robert

Southey, Robert

Peninsular War, 1807-1814

its utter uselessness to Spain: then for the cession of the Pyrenean
provinces, he had dwelt upon the horror which the loss of their laws,
liberties, privileges, and language, would excite in the people, and
their abhorrence at being transferred to a foreign power; adding, that
as a Navarrese himself he never could sign a treaty for ceding Navarre
to France, and by such an act draw upon himself the execration of
his countrymen. But Izquierdo, who was but too well assured that the
French government demanded in such negotiations as these nothing which
it was not determined to obtain, qualified his objections by hinting,
that if there were no other remedy, a new kingdom or viceroyalty of
Iberia might be erected, and given to the King of Etruria, or some
other Infante of Castille. In reply to the point of succession, he
stated what the King had commanded him to say, and in a manner which
he supposed would counteract whatever calumnies had been invented
by the malignant in one country, and infected public opinion in the
other: ... these expressions probably allude to Charles’s intention
of withdrawing from the government, and to the reports that Godoy was
seeking to set aside Ferdinand from his inheritance. Lastly, with
something of a Spaniard’s feeling, he asked Talleyrand if it was
expected that Spain must be put upon a footing with the states of
the Confederacy of the Rhine, and obliged to furnish her contingent,
covering this tribute with the decorous name of a treaty offensive
and defensive? Being at peace with France, she needed not the help of
France against any other enemy, as Teneriffe, and Ferrol, and Buenos
Ayres, might bear witness. Izquierdo added, in his dispatch, that the
marriage was a thing determined; that there would be no difficulty as
to the title of Emperor, which the King was to take; that he had been
asked whether the royal family were going to Andalusia, and replied
according to the truth, that he knew nothing of their intentions. He
had in vain solicited that the French troops should evacuate Castille,
and he requested that not a moment might be lost in replying to this
communication, for the least delay in concluding an arrangement might
produce fatal consequences.

♦THE MINISTERS DECEIVED BY THESE DISPATCHES.♦

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)Southey, Robert

History

History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)

Southey, Robert

Peninsular War, 1807-1814

its utter uselessness to Spain: then for the cession of the Pyrenean
provinces, he had dwelt upon the horror which the loss of their laws,
liberties, privileges, and language, would excite in the people, and
their abhorrence at being transferred to a foreign power; adding, that
as a Navarrese himself he never could sign a treaty for ceding Navarre
to France, and by such an act draw upon himself the execration of
his countrymen. But Izquierdo, who was but too well assured that the
French government demanded in such negotiations as these nothing which
it was not determined to obtain, qualified his objections by hinting,
that if there were no other remedy, a new kingdom or viceroyalty of
Iberia might be erected, and given to the King of Etruria, or some
other Infante of Castille. In reply to the point of succession, he
stated what the King had commanded him to say, and in a manner which
he supposed would counteract whatever calumnies had been invented
by the malignant in one country, and infected public opinion in the
other: ... these expressions probably allude to Charles’s intention
of withdrawing from the government, and to the reports that Godoy was
seeking to set aside Ferdinand from his inheritance. Lastly, with
something of a Spaniard’s feeling, he asked Talleyrand if it was
expected that Spain must be put upon a footing with the states of
the Confederacy of the Rhine, and obliged to furnish her contingent,
covering this tribute with the decorous name of a treaty offensive
and defensive? Being at peace with France, she needed not the help of
France against any other enemy, as Teneriffe, and Ferrol, and Buenos
Ayres, might bear witness. Izquierdo added, in his dispatch, that the
marriage was a thing determined; that there would be no difficulty as
to the title of Emperor, which the King was to take; that he had been
asked whether the royal family were going to Andalusia, and replied
according to the truth, that he knew nothing of their intentions. He
had in vain solicited that the French troops should evacuate Castille,
and he requested that not a moment might be lost in replying to this
communication, for the least delay in concluding an arrangement might
produce fatal consequences.

♦THE MINISTERS DECEIVED BY THESE DISPATCHES.♦

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)

History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)

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