PRINTED FOR BALDWIN, CRADOCK, AND JOY; OTRIDGE AND RACKHAM; J. CUTHELL; LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, PREFACE. IN this, as in the preceding year, the subjects, which most forcibly attract attention, are the affairs of the Spanish peninsula, and of those regions of South America formerly connected with that part of Europe by the ties of colonial dependency. In Spain every hope has been crushed; and the worst anticipations, which the events of 1822 inspired, have been more than realized. If any thing were necessary to shew beyond the possibility of doubt the wretchedness of the system by which, and the want of principle and capacity in the men by whom, the Spanish revolution was conducted, surely this lamentable catastrophe would furnish the proof. To view the measures of the Constitutionalists with contempt and dislike, is not to be lukewarm in the cause of liberty; unless, forsooth, the love of liberty is admiration of ignorance, rashness, and cowardice. Deeming, as we did, the destruction of Ferdinand's tyranny a blessing to the world, and anxious that a great people, occupying a most important place in the political scale of Europe, should enjoy such a form of government as might give them both tranquillity and strength-it was for these very reasons, that, in our former volumes, we marked with reprobation the proceedings of the Revolutionists, because, during the period of their reign, their conduct was the reverse of that which it ought to have been, in order to build up a system of stable and tranquil government. The fruits of the tree have now been tasted; and bitter they surely are. Well may unbounded opprobrium be thrown on France for |