rejection of vain illusions of peace and harmony from the minds of all-to preserve them from the effects of a conspiracy even now brewing against the independence of Spain-a conspiracy more terrible still than that which had lately exploded in the capital and the Basque provinces.

This speech produced its natural effect on the national spirit of its auditors, and at its close rather unusual marks of sympathy and approbation were manifested in the assembly.

Senor Gonzales (Minister of State) appeared to feel its force, and rose immediately to remind the Chamber that in discussions of this nature the utmost latitude was allowed to individual opinion; and that it was rather the part of the Government to patiently hear and receive the opinion of the senate than to attempt to influence its judgment on such an occasion; that the duty of the Government was to attend to the actual well-being of the country, while individual senators had the privilege of making charges and accusations against them and their policy with the utmost latitude.

The only point which the Minister made in reply to Senor Marliani was, that he declared that M. de Salvandy had protested in the conference which he had with him (Senor Gonzales) that he had brought no particular instructions from Paris respecting the presentation of his credentials, and that his Government was animated with the most friendly intentions towards that of Spain. He (Senor Gonzales), in conclusion, prayed the Senate not to anticipate charges against the Government till they had had an opportunity of seeing the documents

connected with this question of credentials.

Next day the discussion of the reply to the Royal speech was resumed, and the first eight paragraphs were adopted the first without discussion; the second gave rise to a conversation respecting the promotion of native industry, in which Senor Ferrer complained of the prejudice experienced by the nation with respect to the contract entered into with the house of Rothschild for the working of the quicksilver mines of Almaden; and the Minister of State expressed his determination not to allow the nation to lose any advantage which might be fairly derived from them in future, for the sake of any immediate benefit which the contractors might offer.

The third paragraph, in which the rebellion of October was alluded to, called up the Minister for the Home Department, who made a long defence of the policy of the Government, founded chiefly on the excellent antecedentes of the troops which garrisoned Bilboa, Vittoria, Pampeluna, and Madrid. Senor Heros (the Intendent of the Palace) also bore testimony to the zeal and foresight of the Government in that unfortunate affair, declaring that Her Majesty and her sister were absolutely prisoners from the month of August till the insurrection broke forth; for the Government were so much alarmed for their personal safety that they were not permitted to drive outside the gates of Madrid.

The fourth paragraph, relative to Barcelona, gave rise to a long speech on the part of the Minister of War, in which he defended the imposition of the state of siege as a matter of necessity in the critical position of things in that city; and

Senor Gomes Becerra (at the invitation of the Minister of State) declared that the paragraph had not in the least been edited by the Committee of Reply in a spirit of hostility to the Government.

The remaining paragraphs of the reply were afterwards read and approved.

On the 13th of January M. Olozaga presented to the Chamber of Deputies the draught of the address in answer to the Regent's speech. This document was written in a spirit highly favourable to the Government; it approved of all the measures and general ameliorations announced by the Regent, but blamed the Cabinet for its improvidence and apathy at the time of the last insurrection, and for the proclamation of martial law in Barcelona. The following were the most important passages in that address:

"The Chamber of Deputies has experienced the most complete satisfaction at seeing your Highness open the Cortes by virtue of the power vested in you by the fundamental laws of the kingdom, and at seeing the solemn act enhanced by the presence of our beloved Queen, who so fortunately escaped the dangers to which the dearest objects of the Spanish nation were exposed during the interval of the session-a nation which has made so many sacrifices in defence of the constitutional throne now more firmly established since the suppression of the scandalous rebellion of October.

"It has been likewise most agreeable to the Chamber to hear from your Highness's mouth the favourable state of our foreign relations, and that the occurrences of last year have been the subject of explanations as satisfactory as

the Chamber could desire. The Chamber trusts that every incident which could disturb the harmony of two great nations may be terminated in a similar manner, and that those nations may respect their mutual independence and good name, and never to be unmindful of the immense and mutual advantages to be derived from drawing closer the bonds of political union."

The proceedings of the Cortes this year possess little general interest, and until the latter part of the year the tranquillity of Spain remained undisturbed by any actual outbreak, although the opponents of Espartero lost no opportunity of intriguing against him and spreading disaffection. In the month of November a formidable insurrection broke out at Barcelona, the originating cause of which has not been clearly ascertained, but discontent amongst the cotton-manufacturers contributed greatly towards it. On the 12th and 13th an uneasy feeling displayed itself amongst the populace on account of the arrest by Juan Guttierez the political chief of Barcelona of some individuals connected with a republican newspaper-and as large crowds had assembled in the different squares and public places, the troops were ordered to disperse them, but the National Guard rushed to arms and drove back the soldiers. Next day a furious combat took place between the troops under the command of General Van Halen, and the National Guard aided by the populace, the result of which was, that the former were compelled to retire into the citadel, and the insurgents remained masters of the town. A supreme popular junta was immediately formed, which

assumed the conduct of affairs. Espartero finding that the insurrection did not subside, resolved to repair to Barcelona in person, and in order to prevent inflammatory speeches in the Cortes during his absence, he took the prudent step of suspending the sittings of that body by an order dated the 21st of November. The Catalan deputies had already began to palliate and justify the revolt, and their treasonable harangues might have done much mischief to the cause of tranquillity and good order. Before he left Madrid Espartero harangued the National Guard who were drawn up on the Prado, and loud "Vivas" rent the air at the conclusion of his speech. The Regent, on his arrival at Barcelona confirmed the order given by General Van Halen to disband the newly raised insurgent battalions, but the republicans in their ranks excited them to prolong the revolt. The Junta then determined to arrest one of the principal leaders of the republican party, and imprisoned him in the fort of the Attorazanas, garrisoned by the urban militia, who had consented to surrender to the Regent. The free corps, however, would not lay down their arms. Out of six battalions three determined to resist the orders of the pacific Junta. This Junta waited upon the Regent in the morning of the 30th ult., and demanded as conditions, that the garrison to be introduced into Barcelona should be composed of other regiments than those which had been engaged against the people, in order to prevent future collision; that the institution of the National Guard be maintained in the city; that the Captain-General Van Halen should be changed, on account of his arbitrary proceed

ings; that the political chief should be removed; that General Zurbano-odious to men of all parties on account of his brutal despotism

should not enter the city; and, in fine, that no person should be prosecuted for his conduct during the insurrection. The Junta like. wise claimed a guarantee in favour of the cotton-manufacturers, who had chiefly fomented the discontent in Catalonia and the insurrection of Barcelona. The Regent listened with patience and attention to the representations of the Junta. He replied in moderate language, but granted none of the conditions. He stated that the law, of which he was the organ and the defender, admitted of no treaty with illegality and revolt; that the battalions of factious operatives should immediately lay down their arms, and that the National Guard should evacuate the citadel as well as the forts; that it was for the guilty to save themselves, if they could, from the sword of justice, and not for him to guarantee their safety; that no one had a right to dictate to the Government the choice or exclusion of public functionaries and generals; that, in fine, with respect to manufacturers, the Cortes ought to deliberate

The bombardment of the city therefore commenced on the 3rd of December, and a great number of shells were thrown into the town. The Somaten or tocsin bell was rung, and excited the populace to an extraordinary degree of fervour. But the resolution of the insurgents did not continue long, for on the evening of the 4th, Barcelona surrendered, and General Van Halen and his troops entered the city.

Before the bombardment had begun, the British Consul pub lished a notification that he had ordered the British vessels in the roads to hoist the national flag and to admit on board all foreigners who should apply for admission with the exception of Spanish subjects.

General Van Halen immediately on entering the city issued the following proclamation:

"Art. 1. All military men, of whatever class and of whatever rank, who have yielded obedience to the revolutionary Junta, or who have taken part in the insurrection, are to present themselves to the governor of the city, or the chief who performs the functions of that office. Those who belong to the marine are to present them selves to their respective chiefs. The public officers of all the different civil administrations are also to present themselves to their respective chiefs.

"Art. 2. The persons to whom the previous article refers will be tried by a military commission, which will be immediately formed. "Art. 3. The persons alluded to in Art 1, who shall fail to present themselves as there directed, within twenty-four hours, will be put to death.

"Art. 4. The same punishment

shall be inflicted on the proprietors of houses in which any persons may be found concealed who are amenable to the provisions of the former article.

"Art. 5. All military, of whatever class, who did not recognise the revolutionary Junta or take any part in the insurrection, but remained in the city since the 24th November, and who were allowed to leave the city by the revolutionary Junta to join the army, are also to present themselves to the military governor. Those persons under government, in civil offices, who are similarly situated, are also to present themselves before their respective chiefs, as set forth in Art. 1.

"Art. 6. Individuals comprised in Art. 5 are, from the fact of their remaining at Barcelona during the insurrection, suspended from their situations, without prejudice to their justifying themselves, by proving that it was impossible for them to leave the city, in consequence of the orders of the Junta, published on the 24th November."

Shortly afterwards Carcana (or Carcarra), who had acted as captain of the insurgents, was shot by the orders of Van Halen, and on the 12th, thirteen soldiers of what was called " The Free Corps," suffered death on the Esplanade.

A contribution of 12,000,000 reals (120,000l.) was levied on the city, and it was compelled to repair the citadel, which had suffered during the revolt. The privilege also of coining, and the manufacture of tobacco, were taken from the inhabitants, who, in other respects, had no cause to complain of the use made by the Regent of his victory.

PORTUGAL. On the 19th of

December, 1841, the municipal elections commenced at Lisbon, and the result was looked forward to with great anxiety by the two contending parties, the Moderados and the Septembristas. The former were the supporters of the Ministry and friends of the constitutional order of things; the latter were Revolutionists and Republicans; and, inasmuch as the municipal elections in Lisbon exercise a most important influence upon the Cortes returns, and, in fact, may be said to determine the result, the present contest was justly considered as decisive of the fate of the government. The Moderado party had been very desponding, and regarded with apprehension the probable triumph of their opponents; but the event of the elections completely falsified their fears, and appeared to prove a reaction in the public mind, most gratifying to all the friends of good order and constitutional govern. ment. The entire number of the constituency entitled to vote amounted to about 7,000, and the number of the municipal officers was thirteen. Of these the whole were elected from the Moderado party. The presence of two British men-of-war in the Tagus contributed not a little to strengthen the hands of government.

But the ephemeral nature of political power in Portugal was strikingly shown soon after this event; for at this very time, when the Ministry seemed to be stronger than ever, a change was preparing which might almost be dignified by the name of a revolution. At the latter end of January, a revolt broke out at Oporto, attended by important consequences. The Minister of Justice, Senhor Costa Cabral, together with the Military Commander and Administrator

General of Oporto, proclaimed there, on the 27th of that month, Don Pedro's charter, and formed a provisional government in the name of the Queen, in the presence of the municipal authorities and the troops in the garrison. There was a general opinion that all this was done in secret accordance with the wishes of the Court. The government, however, at Lisbon, appeared to act vigorously in opposition to the movement. Costa Cabral was dismissed from his office, and a Royal proclamation was issued against the insurrection. Twenty-two deputies, however, amongst whom were three colonels, commanding regiments in the garrison, refused to sign a protest which was drawn up against it.

On the 7th of February a Cabinet was formed by the Duke de Palmella, the Minister of War being Viscount Sa de Bandeira, who dismissed several of the colonels commanding regiments in Lisbon, as they were avowed advocates of the Charter. The Governor of the Castle St. George was also dismissed, but the garrison there declared for the Charter, and the outbreak became general. The populace and the troops both combined in demanding Don Pedro's Charter; and next day (Feb. 8,) the Cabinet tendered their resignations to the Queen, accompanied by a letter, stating that they were unable to put down the popular movement. In this emergency it was resolved to give way; and, perhaps this determination was not disagreeable to the Court-and on the 10th, a Royal decree was issued, proclaiming that the Charter was once more the law of the land. Three days of public rejoicing took place, and the Queen went to