“Letter XV (II. Writers of Spain)”

Autor del texto editado: Blaquière, Edward 1779-1832
Título de la obra: An Historical Review of the Spanish Revolution
Autor de la obra: Blaquière, Edward 1779-1832
Edición: London: G. & W. B. Whittaker, 1822
Paginación: pp. 496-524

Fuentes

Transcripción realizada sobre el ejemplar de la Biblioteca Nacional de Austria. (texto completo)

Información técnica

Encoding: Noelia Santiago López
Transcriptor: Carmen Calzada Borrallo
Editor: Mercedes Comellas Aguirrezábal

Edición preparada para el Proyecto I+D "BIOGRAFÍAS Y POLÉMICAS: HACIA LA INSTITUCIONALIZACIÓN DE LA LITERATURA Y EL AUTOR" (SILEM II) RTI2018-095664-B-C21 y C22 http://www.uco.es/investigacion/proyectos/silem/index.php

Este documento sigue los criterios y lenguaje cifrado de TEI http://www.tei-c.org/About/website.xml

Sevilla, 5 octubre 2020

While it was reserved for La Isla 1 to complete the arduous task so well begun by Feijoo, in reforming and exposing the bad taste and extravagance of popular preaching, and various idle ceremonies, Floridablanca, and more especially Campomanes, laboured, with no less talent than success, to introduce a knowledge of political economy, in all its branches, amongst his countrymen: his invaluable work on popular industry, which the ministers of Charles III. circulated in Spain and the Colonies with as much zeal and avidity as the Bible is distributed in England at the present moment, produced an astonishing effect on the habits and manners of the people, rousing them from the lethargy of centuries, and opening an inexhaustible field for their talents and industry. The efforts of Campomanes to promote commerce, manufactures, the useful arts, and the charitable establishments which he founded under the auspices of Charles III., place this able and learned writer on a level with the most distinguished philanthropists of modern times.

Jovellanos, whose name is synonymous with all that is good and amiable, may be said to have equalled the best of his European contemporaries, and gone far beyond most of them, in all those excellencies which constitute an eloquent writer, refined scholar, and profound statesman. It would be almost impossible to point out a gap in literature and political discussion, that was not filled, and ably filled, by this extraordinary writer, to whom the flattering compliment of Dr. Johnson to Goldsmith might be applied, with still more justice. It has been truly said, that whatever he did was well done; whether he unravelled the intricacies of political economy; traced the manners and customs of ancient times; prepared an essay on education or the fine arts; dwelt on some difficult point of historical research; composed a tragedy, or wrote an ode; all seemed alike familiar to his versatile pen; so that he never failed in any literary undertaking, however complicated and difficult. It is even said of him, that he succeeded in the above branches, as if each had been the exclusive study of his life. It will be an eternal stain on the reign of Charles IV., that this great and lamented character was consigned to imprisonment in a fortress, during more than six years of his valuable life, for his efforts in favour of virtue and truth; nor will it be easy for many persons, who might be named, to exonerate themselves for the part they acted towards him, in 1811; a treatment that no man ever merited less than Jovellanos, and which accelerated the loss of one, who might still have been, as he was before, the most brilliant ornament of his country. If the literati of Spain look forward with anxiety for a collection of this writer’s works, the Spanish people anticipate the day when justice shall be done to his memory by their representatives, and some atonement made for the persecution he experienced while living. As Jovellanos was amongst the few men of our time, who have written for posterity, so will the future legislators of Europe, as well as of Spain, not fail to profit from his immortal labours. 2

The patronage and protection accorded to Count Francisco de Cabarrus, by Charles III., and his prime minister Floridablanca, proves that their favours were not confined to native Spaniards. Though born at Bayonne, this enlightened states man, and able financier, had no sooner presented his plan for the establishment of a national bank, than he was taken by the hand, and until sacrificed to the intrigues of faction, like his friend Jovellanos, he continued for many years to aid in the reformation of abuses, being, himself, the restorer of public credit, which had been totally destroyed, by previous mismanagement. The letters addressed by Cabarrus to Jovellanos, like the latter's essay on the project of an Agrarian Law, ought to be familiar to every nation in Europe. 3

But the galaxy of genius and talent, which adorned the reign of Charles III., and most of whom lived to experience neglect and persecution, during the reigns of his two successors, has disappeared, giving place to a new set of men; who, if they do not lay claim to the solidity and learning of their predecessors, are neither deficient in talents nor patriotism.

Although the limits of this correspondence, which has already become much more voluminous than I had anticipated, prevent me from entering into a detailed notice of the living literati of Spain, I should be exceedingly sorry to be denied the pleasure of frequently returning to a subject, which opens so wide a field of panegyric and instruction, since there is no department of science or literature that has not been successfully cultivated by the existing writers of the Peninsula. Notwithstanding all the obstacles which have been thrown in the way of knowledge during the last six years of proscription and misrule, there are numbers here, who, in natural endowments, and solid acquirements, do honour to the age. It is impossible to repeat the names of such men as Lardizabal, 4 Toribio Nuñez, Cambronero, Herreros, Salas, Cabrera, Hermosilla, Reinoso, Vascons, Andujar, Clemente, Rodriguez, O’Farril, Fernandez, Moratin, Gorostiza, and a host of others, in the various branches of legislation, jurisprudence, science, politics, history, poetry and the drama, without acknowledging that Spain still possesses writers who require to be more generally known to be esteemed and admired. A list of those who have laboured in what are called the exact sciences, such as astronomy, chemistry, botany, medicine, and the mathematics, during the last sixty years, would occupy a large space, and prove that the professors of Spain have not been either idle or inferior, in point of talent, to the best of their contemporaries. But what could be expected in a country, where the works of Gassendi, Descartes and Newton, were excluded from the Universities, as late as 1771, because they did not “symbolize,” with revealed religion! 5

It is natural to particularize those, to whom I am more especially indebted for a considerable portion of the information sought for, during my visit to this capital. Most willingly would I dwell on the merits of Marina and Llorente, 6 two ecclesiastics, who have linked their names with the civil, religious and political history of their country so closely, that both must go down the stream of time together. It would, perhaps, be impossible to name any two writers who have such claims on the gratitude of present and future generations: both have rendered in calculable services to Spain, in elucidating the most complicated and important points of its former history. The theory of the Cortes, and annals of the Holy Office, are imperishable monuments of erudition and deep research: a knowledge of their contents is absolutely necessary to every Spaniard, who is desirous of forming a clear and unbiassed judgment on the past condition of his country: they will be permanent guides to Spain, nor should her legislators ever advance a step, without consulting these inestimable productions. 7

If the vacuum left by Trigueros, Melendez, Franciso (sic) de Salas, the elder Moratin, and Yriarte, in didactic and satirical poetry, or that of Cienfuegos in the drama, has not been filled up so effectually as might be wished, yet are there living writers, who bid fair to rival the most favoured of their predecessors. It cannot be too often repeated in praise of Spanish poets, that their muse is scarcely ever disgraced, by offering incense to power: it has, on the contrary, been almost invariably devoted to the cause of liberty, and in animating their country to cultivate and cherish the only real conservative principle of human happiness, civilization. Following the example of Cienfuegos, the Alfieri of Spain, his successors, particularly Quintana, Martinez de la Rosa, Saviñon, Gorostiza, 8 and other dramatic writers, in making their pens subservient to the interests of freedom, have done wonders towards spreading the sacred flame amongst their countrymen; a circumstance which will, of itself, give more chance of immortality to their efforts, than that which awaits numberless dramatic productions of other countries, in which it would be vain to look for either morality or patriotism. Impressed with the powerful and salutary influence, which scenic representation is capable of producing on a warm-hearted and generous people, these writers have taken full advantage of their position: it is a fortunate circumstance for Spain, that her poets are not influenced by those mercenary motives, which have induced contemporary bards to lend themselves to despotism: their conduct was doubly important, at a time when the progress of tyranny and superstition required all the exertions of the wise and good, to stem a torrent, that threatened the flame of liberty with total extinction. So long as the poets of Spain persevere in the admirable course they have hitherto pursued, there will be no cause to apprehend this worst of calamities, and so long will they be entitled to the first place among European bards. Surely there is no virtue so exalted, no praise too great, for men, who could thus, in the midst of poverty and persecution, brave every danger; who never raised their voices, except to impress their fellow-citizens with a due sense of what became the dignity of human nature; and, finally, who never forgot that poetry is a gift from the Divinity, composed for the express purpose of exalting the species, and inspiring a love of independence. 9

Conde, one of the most celebrated writers of his day, has illustrated the Arabic literature of Spain; although this amiable man, and refined scholar, is amongst the recent losses of his country, a posthumous work of his composition, which cannot fail to throw great light upon the interesting subject to which he chiefly devoted his talents, is in a course of publication.

The poetical literature of Spain is likely to be elucidated by one, who possesses the requisite talents for such a task in a most eminent degree. A residence of some years here, has afforded Mr. Bowring an opportunity of becoming thoroughly acquainted with the poetry of this country from its earliest periods; whenever my friend undertakes this task, he has the means of adding a precious acquisition to the stock of English literature. 10

Numerous and respectable as the Spanish historians were, in the reigns of the Austrian dynasty, when Zurita, Mariana, Herrera, Mendoza, and many other chroniclers illustrated the historical events of Spain, it is not without reason, that the want of a regular history, from the accession of the Bourbon family down to the present day, is complained of by the Spaniards themselves. But, since history was, above all other branches of literature, calculated to promote a spirit of reform, in exposing the truth, no wonder that the Inquisition should have taken such pains to prevent the circulation of any work that was not written in the servile spirit of the times. As no regular history has appeared subsequent to that of Ortis, whose annals of Phillip V.'s, reign contain a mere uninteresting detail of events, an important vacuum remains to be filled up in the literature of this country. Had they lived under a different system of government, such men as Isla, Jovellanos, and Cabarrus, would have performed that task to perfection: as it is, Spain has her Reinosos, Quintanas, and Llorentes, all of whom are too strongly impressed with the necessity of making history a prominent point in public education, to neglect such a fertile source of practical wisdom in morals and politics. 11

Quintana is, perhaps, the only living writer of Spain, who has endeavoured to approximate the biography of her great men to the object which Plutarch had in view: his lives of illustrious Spaniards, published in 1807, is one of the most valuable historical works in the language, and pre-eminently calculated to animate the youth of Spain, in the path of true glory. Although interrupted by the events of the following year, it is hoped that if the eloquent author should not continue this praiseworthy undertaking, it will be resumed by some other writer; for, as the interest we feel in the actions of ancient heroes, or those of foreign nations, is by no means so powerful a stimulus as the lessons drawn from those of native growth, it would be a pity to leave the mine presented in Spanish history unexplored. 12

It is needless now to enter into a minute examination of the Spanish language, or point out those qualities which give it a marked superiority over many other dialects; a task, which requires a much abler pen: yet, I may be permitted to say, that it would be difficult to name one more adapted to the purposes of dramatic poetry and prose. It is hardly necessary to add, that the productions of the Spanish stage have long been made tributary to the writers of every other country. Lope de Vega, Calderon and Moreto, are names which belong to Europe rather than to Spain; for, who has not profited by their labours? The plays of Cienfuegos, who should have lived to see his country free, 13 are no less distinguished for elevation of sentiment, than their pure poetry and nervous style. Nearly all the tragedies of this popular writer are founded on the early historical annals of Spain; and, consequently, full of allusions to its former glories. Zorayda, La Condesa de Castilla, and Idomeneo, are fair specimens of the claims of Cienfuegos to the first rank amongst dramatic poets: they are full of passion and pathos, which would not be disowned by the Drydens, Otways, and Rowes of our own country. The same qualities may be traced in the Pelayo of Quintana, and la Viuda de Padilla of Martinez de la Rosa: the first composed, to celebrate the actions of Spain's earliest christian hero, is extremely creditable to the patriotism and talents of the author: as to the second, it would have been impossible for any writer to select a more happy subject, rendered doubly interesting, from being performed during the war of independence. 14 The author was equally fortunate in the choice of a model, in Alfieri, justly styled the poet of liberty, as our own immortal bard is termed that of nature. When the vast and magnificent arcana contained in the plays of Shakespeare, still too much a secret to the European continent, is thrown open to the literati of Spain, a new impulse will be given to the minds of her thinkers and philosophers, and an inexhaustible mine afforded to her poets. 15

It is only by a thorough reform in the system of study pursued at the universities and public schools, generally, as well as a long intercourse with the literature of other countries, that the writers of Spain will lay aside that disposition to prolixity and inflation, from which her most popular authors are not exempted. Many illustrious names might be quoted, to prove that there are abundant exceptions to this rule, and that the Spanish language is not less susceptible of eloquent conciseness and laconism, than any other: it may be regarded as without a rival, in all that relates to humour and satire. Galliardo, in his “Dicionario Critico Burlesco,” has given some excellent specimens of Spanish satirical humour: M. de Mora is also celebrated in the same line; but it would be, perhaps, impossible to find a writer in Europe, equal to Miñano, whose essays are published under the assumed appellation of “El pobrecito Holgazan, Don Justo Balanza,” &c., in which he has attacked the failings of his countrymen, exposed the vices of the late system, and suggested hints for improvement in the happiest vein of satire and seriousness ever adopted by any of his contemporaries. It is greatly to the praise of this charming writer, that his portraiture of manners and character is drawn in such a way as to produce the desired effect without wounding personal feelings, or injuring private character. If M. Miñano were to make the early literature of his country an object of research, there is no writer here so likely to reform prevailing defects. Were he to study the Spanish chroniclers, and prose writers of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, as sedulously as the anonymous author of Waverley and Guy Mannering has those of England and Scotland, the latter would soon have a formidable rival; for, Miñano, not satisfied with a mere delineation of manners and customs, draws the attention of his reader at once to some important moral conclusion, instead of either wholly neglecting such a tendency, or concealing it in a labyrinth, which most readers neither will nor can take the trouble of penetrating. 16

In noticing the living writers of Spain, I ought not to omit the names of Florez Estrada, and Puigblanch: both these distinguished patriots resided in England, during the reign of terror here, and both published works, which enabled the British public to form an accurate opinion of the condition to which the people of this country were reduced, under the Servile faction. I have already had occasion to quote the former's eloquent representation to Ferdinand, in which he united the reasoning of an able publicist to the acuteness of an experienced politician. The “Inquisition Unmasked,” by Puigblanch, though not so ample in its details as the “Critical History,” is admirably calculated to expose the real character of the sacred tribunal. The conduct of the two patriots thus shortly noticed, as members of the Cortes, to which they were elected by the unsolicited suffrages of their fellow citizens, has realized the most sanguine expectations of their friends and constituents.

As the most glorious epoch of Spanish literature is, unquestionably, that in which her writers have been called upon to celebrate the restoration of liberty, it is to be hoped that those blossoms of bright promise, elicited by the new order of things, will, ere long, ripen into maturity, and that science, literature and the arts will keep pace with those institutions which are so indispensable to their successful cultivation.

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