CANGA, ARGUELLES, JOSE, a Spanish statesman and author, was born in the Asturias about 1770. He was a conspicuous member of the Cortes of 1813-14, and on the overthrow of liberalism by the return of Ferdinand in the latter year, was for some time banished, or according to Galiano imprisoned. In the second constitutional period of modern Spain, commencing with the outbreak of 1820, he wee Minister of Finance; proposed some measures interfering with church property, and in 1822 resigned with hia colleagues on a con stitutional question. He was obliged in the next year to take refuge in England from the second triumph of the Absolutists backed by the arms of France, and resided in London for the seven years which followed. "After having been engaged io some periodical publications in defence of the constitutional cause," says Galiano, also a refugee, "ho suddenly became the apologist of Ferdinand, wrote against his fellow-exiles, and strange as it may appear, spared not invectives against his own acts as a minister, by strongly protesting against the recognition of the Cortes' bonds by the Spanish government, although the loan entered into by the first Cortes was contracted by himself in his official capacity." He was soon afterwarda permitted to return to Spain, and after the Eatatuto Real,' was for the third time a member of the Cortex, but not a conepicnous one. He died in 1843.
Canga Arguelles was the author of numerous works, of which two produced during the leisure of his exile In England era by far the most Important. One of these the 'Diccionario de Hacienda,' or Dictionary of Finance' (5 vole. 8vo, London, 1827.28, afterwards
reprinted at Madrid), is abundant in information ou matters of Spaniah finance and taxation, not easily found elsewhere, but unhappily bears the reputation of being far from accurate. The other, 'Observaciones sobre Is II istoria de Is Guerra de klepalia,' or 'Observations on the Hiatoriee of the Peninsular War, written by Clarke, Southey, London derry, and Napier,' is interesting as showing the views of the great contest taken by a Spanish liberal who was a near witnesa of the events. It would be unjust not to remember that at the time of writing it, the author was smarting under the somewhat cavalier tone in which Colonel Napier thought fit to speak of his couutry, but it should also not be forgotten on the other hand, that the strong accu sations which this work contains of selfishness on the part of England towards Spain were published in London by a Spanish refugee, who was then in receipt of a bounty pension from the British government. The publication of this work had no doubt a share in procuring its author leave to return to Spain, as an edition of it which was issued at Madrid bears in the earlier volumes an intimation that it is pub lished 'by permission,' and in its later 'by order' of the Spanish government. The favour it copciliated seems to have extended even to the printer, for the first edition (London, 1829-30, 5 vols. Seto) is executed by 'D. M. Calero.' Frederick's-place, Goswell-road, and the second by' Don Marceline Calero ' of Madrid.