53

Had  it  not  been  for  the  absolute  denial  of
any  hostile  intention  on  the  part  of  the  French
Government  towards  Spain,  fears  might  have
been  justly  entertained  for  the  ultimate  desti-
nation of  this  army ;  but  when  a  declaration  of
pacifick  policy  was  ostentatiously  and  unneces-
sarily put  into  the  mouth  of  the  King  at  the  close
of  the  session  of  the  Legislative  Chambers,  it
was  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  the  pious  de-
scendant of  St.  Louis  would  have  lent  himself;
even  for  state  purposes,  to  the  gratuitous  asser-
tion of  what  he  knew  to  be  false.  But  what-
ever might  be  the  assurances  of  the  French
Monarch,  it  was  impossible  not  to  fear  but  that
the  presence  of  such  an  army  on  the  Bidassoa
would  be  a  cause  of  umbrage  to  the  Spanish
Government.
