Año: 1836

  • Masacre liberal de los prisioneros carlistas sin resistencia por parte de las autoridades

    While the preparations for [the levy of fresh troops] were in progress, the liberals of Barcelona outdid even their former crimes by the perpetration of still more revolting horrors. The details of this insurrection show that it was not a sudden ebullition of popular frenzy, but the work of forethought and previous arrangement.

    On the 4th of January 1836, a crowd assembled in the main square, and, with loud imprecations and yells of revenge, demanded the lives of the Carlist prisoners confined in the citadel. Thither they immediately repaired, and, not meeting with the slightest resistance from the garrison, scaled the walls, lowered the drawbridge, and entered the fortress; their leaders holding in their hands lists of those whom they had predetermined to massacre. When the place was completely in their possession, the leaders of the mob began to read over their lists of proscription, and, with as much deliberation as if they had been butchers selecting sheep for the knife, had their miserable victims dragged forward, and shot one after another, in the order of their names. The brave Colonel O’Donnel was the first that perished. His body, and that of another prisoner, were dragged through the streets, with shouts of «Liberty!» The heads and hands were cut off, and the mutilated trunks, after having been exposed to every indignity, were cast upon a burning pile. The head of O’Donnel, after having been kicked about the streets as a foot-ball by wretches who mingled mirth with murder, was at last stuck up in front of a fountain ; and pieces of flesh were cut from his mangled and palpitating body, and eagerly devoured by the vilest and most depraved of women. From the citadel the mob proceeded to the hospital, where three of the inmates were butchered ; and from the hospital to the fort of Atanzares [Atarazanas/Drassanes], where fifteen Carlist peasants shared the same fate. In all, eighty-eight persons perished.

    This deliberate massacre of defenceless prisoners, and the worse than fiendish excesses committed on their remains, satisfied the rioters for the first day; but, on the next, they presumed to proclaim that fruitful parent of innumerable murders—the constitution of 1812. This was too much to be borne. Even then, however, two hours elapsed before a dissenting voice was heard; when a note arrived from Captain Hyde Parker, of the Rodney, who not long before, in obedience to the orders of a peaceful administration, had landed fifteen thousand muskets in the city. His offer to support the authorities against the friends of the obnoxious constitution was not without effect. The leaders of the political movement were allowed to embark on board the Rodney, and the tumult subsided, rather from being lulled than suppressed. No punishment whatever was inflicted on the murderers and cannibals of the first day ; their conduct, perhaps, was not considered to deserve any.

  • Dimite Espoz y Mina en protesta contra la ejecución de la madre de su enemigo Cabrera

    Vino también por aquellos dias á acibarar mas la disposición de su ánimo el suceso de la madre de Cabrera. Esta infeliz mujer habia tomado parte en una conspiración tramada para entregar á los facciosos la plaza de Tortosa, y facilitaba dinero para la seducción y enganche de los soldados. Juzgada y sentenciada por ello en la causa que sobre el particular formó el consejo de guerra ordinario de aquel distrito, fué con sus cómplices pasada por las armas en 20 de febrero de 1836, sin que el General tuviese mas parte que la de aprobar la sentencia del consejo en los términos de costumbre. Pero, como de pronto se ignorasen las circunstoncias de aquel acontecimiento y su verdadero carácter, solo se habló de la muerte de una mujer que era madre de un general enemigo, á quien se castigaba en razón de las atrocidades de su hijo; apareciendo asi como un acto de bárbara represalia lo que en realidad no era mas que un acto de rigurosa justicia. Con esta prevención se trató de este negocio en el estamento de Proceres del reino, y con la misma en el parlamento inglés, donde los enemigos de nuestra causa alzaron el grito contra nosotros, tratando nos poco menos que de caribes. Conocido después mejor lo que había pasado, y puesto en claro en el debate que se verificó en el congreso de Diputados españoles, el disfavor de la opinión se fué templando poco á poco, y el juicio del público trocándose de adverso en favorable. Mas en el ánimo del caudillo español duró gran tiempo el disgusto de que se le hubiese tenido tan poca consideración en el estamento de Proceres; y resolvió hacer dimisión del mando que ejercía, como lo ejecutó en 1 de abril del mismo año de 1836.

  • Se suprime una insurrección ultra-liberal con ayuda inglesa

    On the 4th of May, an insurrection broke out in the turbulent city of Barcelona; the governor-general, Parreno, supported by the troops of the line, and aided by the co-operation of several companies of English marines, who appeared with colours flying, in the streets, attacked the insurgents, consisting principally of the national guards, and dislodged them from some houses, into which they had thrown themselves, though not without a combat attended by very considerable loss of life. But the spirit of the ultra-liberals was not discouraged by this check, and without again resorting to open violence, they laboured steadily to disseminate their anarchical doctrines, and to enlist the surrounding towns and municipalities under the banner of revolt. They were so far successful, that various symptoms of sedition were displayed in different quarters of Catalonia, and even beyond the borders of that province. The national guards of six towns, including Girona and Rosas, signed an address to the queen, in which, premising their regret at the seditious conduct of the revolters at Barcelona, they told her majesty, that the occurrences in that city evidently proved, that the military agents in her service were but executioners, and that they could not behold without indignation, English soldiers, calling themselves allies, steeping their bayonets in the blood of Spaniards. » Those cruel auxiliaries had deserved the implacable hatred vowed against them by the national guards.» After proceeding in a strain of great violence, they » humbly begged of her majesty to replace the civil and military authorities of Barcelona, By men combining patriotism with humanity, and demanded, that the English vessels, stationed in that port, for the last two years and a half, might be immediately withdrawn ; or, at least, » that orders might be given forbidding a single man to be landed on the soil of Catalonia.» Meanwhile the two ringleaders of the late revolt, were seized, and one, Xandero, executed. But the city still continued in imminent peril, and General Parreno transmitted a melancholy statement of the condition and prospects of the place to the government. «The events of the 4th,» he wrote, » the favourable termination of which was solely due to the aid of the English corps from the Rodney, have so exasperated the people, that I apprehend at every instant the desertion of all my soldiers. I have already been abandoned by the national guard. The civil authorities though apparently wishing to second the measures I have taken to restore tranquility, are devoid of good feeling and courage. At the approach of night, they are no longer to be seen, and God only knows where to find them. Their example is followed by all the citizens, who have anything to lose.»

  • Llegan los coches fúnebres

    Establécense los coches fúnebres para la conduccion de los cadáveres.

  • Cosas que sobran (no se preve una muy importante), y cosas que faltan

    Sobran españoles con ganas de ser diputados á Cortes; y si los eligiesen faltarían diputados con resolucion de ser españoles.

    Sobran conservadores de abusos, porque pocos condenan lo que les da utilidad. Falta que muchos conozcan que, con el mismo derecho que unos quieren conserbar beneficios que tienen, otros quieren recobrar derechos que les usurparon.

    Sobran memoriales y falta razon. Sobran empeños y falta justicia.

    Sobra papel, y falta dinero. Sobran préstamos, y falta crédito.

    Sobran pretendientes, desde que la esperiencia acredita que un pretendiente puede durante su pretension vivir ya á costa de lo que pretende. Falta un no ha lugar muy terminante.

    Sobran casacas bordadas; y faltan hombres para llevarlas.

    Sobran empleos y sueldos: faltan empleados que los ganen.

    Sobra el ministerio de Marina; desde que no hay marina para un ministerio.

    Sobrará probablemente luego un Ministerio de Hacienda, porque falta hacienda que ocupe al Ministerio.

    Sobran rutinas, imitaciones serviles, y apegos á ridiculeces, y disparates. Falta docilidad para guiarse por la razon, la verdad, la esperiencia y el cálculo.

    Sobran nuevos hombres; y faltan hombres nuevos.

    Sobran en varios encargos amovibles siempre unos mismos hombres que se hacen inamovibles. Falta que se convenzan de que es ya hora de relevo; y que atiendan á que los que no tenian mas que doce años de edad, cuando ellos ya manipulaban en todo, tienen ahora veinte y cinco ó treinta, y son aptos para hacer algo.

    Sobran escuelas y cátedras: faltan maestros y catedráticos.

    Sobran verdades: falta escucharlas.

    Sobran jubilados, escedentes, cesantes y pensionados: faltan disposiciones para que los padres cuenten que sus hijos han de vivir de una carrera ú oficio; pero no á costa del Estado.

    Sobran murmurones apáticos, y egoístas: falta obligarles á que por algun tiempo den personalmente el ejemplo del acierto y de la actividad.

  • Trasládase el mercado de la Bocaría al local que fue convento de San José

    Trasládase el mercado de la Bocaría al local que fue convento de S. José.

  • Proclámase por segunda vez la constitucion de 1812

    Proclámase por segunda vez la constitucion del año 1812.

  • Sale en la prensa francesa la primera versión del cuento del librero asesino de Barcelona

    En el número 3465, correspondiente al domingo 23 de octubre de 1836, del periódico de París Gazette des Tribunaux, Journal de Jurisprudence et des débats judiciaires, Feuille d’Annonces légales, hizo su aparición por vez primera la relación del proceso de Fray Vicents, el librero asesino de Barcelona. La revista presentó este texto como enviado desde Barcelona por un corresponsal particular, que, evidentemente, no ha existido nunca.