ARGUELLES. Hegfil•tts:, A VG U STINE ( 1770 1844). A Spanish politician of the liberal school. lie was born at Rivadisella, in Asturias. On the breaking out of the War of Independence in 1808, he went to Cadiz, where he agitated for the organization of a regency with a free con stitution. In 1812 he was sent as representative of his natlie province to the Cortes, where Ile was appointed one of the members of a commit tee to draft a constitution. His splendid talents as a public speaker soon won him the admiration of the Liberal party, who used to call him the Spanish Cicero. But on the return of Ferdinand V11., Arguelles fell a victim to the reactionary spirit which ensued. On May 10, 1814, he was arrested, and after a trial that was a mockery of justice, condemned by the King to ten years' imprisonment in the galleys at Ceuta. The revolution of 1820 restored him to freedom. Ar guelles became minister of the interior, but soon resigned, provoked beyond measure by the nar row bigotry of the court. He continued a con
stitutional Liberal always. In the Cortes held at Seville, in 1823, be voted for the suspension of the royal power; but after the violation of the con stitution he fled to England, where he remained till the amnesty of 1832. On his return to Spain he was repeatedly made president and vice-presi dent of the Chamber of Deputies, and always showed himself a moderate but unwavering re former. In July, 1841, in the discussion of the law regarding the sale of Church property, he delivered himself strongly against all concordats with the Pope. Next to Espartero, he was the most popular man in the kingdom with the en lightened party. During the regency of Espar tero he was guardian to the young Queen Isa bella. In his old age he still exhibited the fiery eloquence that marked his youth. Consult: Eva risto San :Miguel, Vida de D. A. _Irgaclles (Ma drid, 1851).