George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Major-General United States Army
George Gordon Meade, Ed.

[6] large amounts of moneys and supplies, and in this way contributed materially to the support of the Spanish cause, Spain becoming largely indebted to him for funds and merchandise. Morally, too, his presence in Cadiz, at the critical period of the siege of that place, was recognized as valuable by the Supreme Junta organized for its defence, not only for the supplies that his house was known to be able to furnish, but for his cheering personal presence. In consequence of these services, the Cortes of Spain, assembled in Cadiz in 1811 and 1812, offered to confer upon him the full citizenship of the country, but he publicly declined the offer, stating as his reason that, while he fully appreciated the honor, nothing could induce him to relinquish his position as an American citizen.

The intimate relations existing between Mr. Meade and those in power, the valuable assistance he had rendered, his affability and knowledge of the world, conferred upon him a high social position among all classes of men, both native and foreign. Thus personally attractive and prominent, nothing more was needed but what he possessed in his wife, noted for her beauty and charming manners, to cause his house to be the resort of all that was most cultivated and refined in the society of Cadiz. His large wealth enabled him to surround himself with all that was luxurious; his gallery of paintings, collected at this period under the most favorable circumstances, was well known in after days in Philadelphia for the number of its choice works of art.

His family, during the period over which we have passed, had been increased by six children, the youngest of whom was George Gordon Meade, born in the city of Cadiz on the 31st of December, 1815.

The return of Ferdinand VII to the throne of Spain so complicated and delayed all matters of business, especially such as related to contracts with the various local governments, that Mr. Meade was greatly embarrassed and delayed in obtaining a settlement of his claims. Both he and his wife were most anxious to return to America, where several of the older children were at school. She had already made one voyage to Philadelphia, in 1810, believing that her husband would be able shortly to follow, but, disappointed in this, she had returned to Cadiz in the following year, leaving three of the children behind her.

To add to Mr. Meade's embarrassments at this time, he became involved in certain legal complications arising from administering the