energies of England. So
she invested Gibraltar. A garrison of only a handful of men astonished
Europe by the bravery of its defense. Gibraltar was not taken by
the Bourbon allies, neither were the English driven out of the West
Indies. But it was a satisfaction to Spain to see her humbled by her
victorious colonies!

So Carlos III. had indirectly assisted in the establishment of a
republic on the confines of his Mexican Empire; apparently unconscious
of the contagion in the word _independence_. But he quickly learned
this to his sorrow. The story of the revolted and freed colonies sped
on the wings of the wind. And in Peru a brave descendant of the Incas
arose as a Deliverer. He led sixty thousand men into a vain fight for
liberty. Of course the effort failed, but a spirit had been awakened
which might be smothered, but never extinguished.

Carlos III. died in 1788 and was succeeded by his son Carlos IV.

During the miserable reign of this miserable King, France caught the
infection from the free institutions in America. The Republic she had
helped to create was fatal to monarchy in her own land. A revolution
accompanied by unparalleled horrors swept away the whole tyrannous
system of centuries and left the country a trembling wreck--but free.
The dream of a republic was brief. Napoleon gathered the imperfectly
organized government into his own hands, then by successive and rapid
steps arose to Imperial power. France was an Empire, and adoringly
submitted to the man who swiftly made her great and feared in Europe.
She had another Charlemagne, who was bringing to his feet Kings and
Princes, and annexing half of Europe to his empire!

Spain, all unconscious of his designs, and perhaps thinking this
invincible man might help her to get back Gibraltar and to drive the
English out of the West Indies, joined him in 1804 in a war against
Great Britain; and the following year the combined fleets of France
and Spain were annihilated by Lord Nelson off Cape Trafalgar. Family
dissensions in the Spanish royal household at this time were opportune
for Napoleon's designs. Carlos and his son Ferdinand were engaged
in an unseemly quarrel. Carlos appealed to Napoleon regarding the
treasonable conduct and threats of his son. Nothing could have better
suited the purposes of the Emperor. The fox had been invited to
be umpire! French troops poured into Spain. Carlos, under protest,
resigned in favor of his son, who was proclaimed Ferdin