gence and activity. I have the satisfaction of seeing the circle of my family enlarged by the marriage of my son, the Prince de Joinville, with the Princess Francisca, the sister of the Emperor of Brazils, and of the Queen of Portugal. This union, by insuring the happiness of my son, adds one consolation more to those which God has reserved to me.

"Our domination in Algeria will soon be universal and tranquil. Under the command of experienced leaders, among whom I am proud to reckon one of my sons, our brave soldiers unite with admirable constancy the fatigues of war and the labours of peace. "The necessary measures for the execution of the general system of railroads, and for various enterprises of national utility, will be submitted to your deliberations. A Bill relative to secondary instruction will satisfy the wish of the Charter for the freedom of instruction, by maintaining the authority and action of the State over public education.

"I behold, Gentlemen, with

deep gratitude to Providence, the state of honourable peace and of increasing prosperity which our country enjoys. Always guided by our devotedness and our fidelity to France, I and mine have never had any other ambition than that of serving her well. It is the assurance of accomplishing that duty which has given me strength through the trials of my life, and which will, to its end, be my consolation and my firmest support."

The speech was read distinctly and deliberately. The allusion to Spain was slightly applauded; the allusion to England more loudly. When speaking of the marriage of the Prince de Joinville, the King turned round towards his son, and inclined slightly. At the conclusion, loud cheers and cries of "Vive le Roi!" arose from all parts of the Chamber.

The oaths were administered to the Prince de Joinville, as a Peer of France; to M. Teste and M. Passy, as Peers; and to some Deputies. The session was then declared to be opened.

name, and with the advice of the Ministers, and in virtue of the prerogative granted to me by the 26th article of the Constitution, I have decreed the following

"Art. 1. The Chamber of Deputies is dissolved.

"Art. 2. Agreeably to the 19th article of the Constitution, onethird of the members of the Senate shall be renewed.

"Art. 3. The new ordinary Cortes are convoked at Madrid, for the 3rd of April of the present

year.

"DUKE OF VICTORY. "Madrid, 3d January, 1843. "To the Marquess de Rodil, President of the Council of Ministers."

At Barcelona-the focus of discontent and rebellion-the greatest opposition was made to the collection of the contribution which had been levied in the city, in consequence of the outbreak that took place there at the end of last year. The particulars of this will be found detailed in our preceding volume, On the 26th of January in the present year, the CaptainGeneral, Seoane, apprehending a popular explosion, issued a bando, denouncing death against every individual, who by speeches, writings, or even songs, should excite the people to revolt. Notwithstanding the menacing attitude of the military authorities, the agitation continued to increase. The soldiers quartered on the 200 wealthiest inhabitants were hooted wherever they appeared; and the people in several instances removed the numbers from the fronts of the houses in order to annoy the military. M. Borel, a rich proprietor, refused to admit them into his house; and they were afraid to break in the door. On the 27th, the twenty-five alcaldes who had

been summoned by the Governor to accompany the soldiers to the houses, having declined to perform that duty, were arrested and confined in the citadel. But, after detaining them for two hours, General Seoane, dreading the consequences of that act of violence, ordered them to be set at liberty. The provisional deputation of the inhabitants, on the other hand, positively refused to assess the or. dinary taxes; grounding their objection on their not having been voted by the Cortes. M. Kock, a rich and influential citizen, who had soldiers billeted on him for eight days, was arrested on the 27th, and conveyed to Montjuich for refusing to pay his quota of the contribution.

In conformity with the decree of the 3rd of January, the Regent opened the Spanish Cortes in the presence of Queen Isabella II., on the 3rd of April. In his speech the Regent stated, that no change of importance had occurred in the relations with foreign Governments. He promised laws to reform the legislature and the administration of justice; and several economical measures of civil and military improvement. The army was complimented for its discipline, loyalty, and valour during the late insurrection; and the National Guard for its cordial cooperation in checking revolution. The concluding paragraph exhorted the Cortes to prepare, by good legislation, for the near approach of that time when Isabella the Second would assume the reins of Government.

With the view of endeavouring to revive the credit of Spain, Senor Calatrava issued a decree, the object of which was to provide for the punctual payment of the in

terest on the New Three per Cent. Stock. For this purpose it was proposed to devote, first, the whole proceeds of the quicksilver of the mines of Almaden and Almaduegos: secondly, twenty millions of reals on the Treasury of the island of Cuba: and thirdly, four millions of reals on the department of the Cruzada.

On the 12th of April a discussion arose in the Chamber of Deputies which had an important result, for it terminated in the defeat and resignation of the Ministry. The subject was the returns for Badajoz; which the Opposition contended were invalid, because officers in the army and some of the Preventive Service had voted for the successful candidates. In the course of the debate, S. Sanchez Silva laid on the table an original letter, written by S. Cardero, the political chief of Badajoz, to S. Infante, one of the candidates, informing him of what he had done to promote his return, and that of his friends, Messrs. José Maria Calatrava, (an ex-Minister,) Gonzales, and Lujan. The Opposition were aware that S. José Calatrava would be proposed as President; and, fearing that if he were, many of their own friends would support him, they were anxious to disqualify him. After a fierce discussion, the elections were declared illegal, by 80 to 55. The Infante Don Francisco de Paula voted with the Opposition. In consequence of this defeat the Ministers tendered their resignations to the Regent, which were accepted, but the greatest difficulty was experienced in constructing a Cabinet. As Senor Cortina had been elected President of the Chamber of Deputies, he was invited by Espartero to form

a Government, but the attempt failed, and subsequently a like ill success attended the endeavours of Senor Olozaga, and at first those of Senor Lopez. The latter, however, did at length succeed in forming an administration, which was officially announced on the 10th of May. The new Cabinet was composed of the following members:

S. Lopez, President of the Council and Minister of Justice; S. Aguila, Minister for Foreign Affairs; General Serrano, Minister of War; S. Frias, Minister of Marine; S. Ayllon, Minister of Finance; S. Caballero, Minister of the Interior.

This Ministry, however, did not long continue in office. They demanded of the Regent the dismissal of General Linage and General Zurbano from the army, and the immediate removal of the garrison of Madrid, to be replaced by such troops as S. Lopez should select. General Serrano, however, said that he would resign rather than dictate such terms to the Regent. The Regent refused, and the whole Cabinet resigned. No sooner was it known in the Cortes on the 19th of May, than a messuage was sent to the Regent by the Chamber, praying him to continue Regent till October, 1844, but on condition of his acting constitutionally. The Regent replied, that his acceptation of Lopez's resignation was constitutional. The Congress also declared unani. mously, with the exception of three voices, that the Ministers who had resigned had up to the last moment merited its confidence.

It was now necessary to construct another Cabinet, which was effected with little delay by Senor Gomez Becerra, President of the

Chamber of Deputies. This Ministry contained the following members: S. Gomez Becerra, Minister of Justice and President of the Council: S. Mendizabel, Minister of Finance; S. de la Serna, Minister of the Interior; General Hoyos, Minister of War; S. Cuetos, Minister of Marine.

By a decree of the Regent, pub. lished shortly afterwards, all Spaniards sentenced for political crimes committed since September 1, 1840, were set free, whether in prison, presidiarios, &c., whether exiled or transported: but this did not include those Spanish emigrants who had not undergone a trial.

On the 20th of May the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies was marked by unusual excitement. S. Gomez Becerra, the new President of the Council, and General Hoyos, entered it, the President in his official dress, the General in uniform; they were both members of the Senate, and entered the Chamber in their official right. A Deputy rose, and demanded the expulsion of " that man," General Hoyos; whose appointment had not been officially notified to the Chamber. The General retired, and the Chamber became more tranquil; but the tumult renewed when S. Becerra read the decree of the Regent proroguing it to the 27th. S. Olozaga, after a speech violently attacking the Regent's measures, exclaimed, in a threatening tone, "May the Almighty save the country and the Queen!" When S. Gomez Becerra and General Hoyos left the palace, they were assailed with cries of "Down with the Ministers and the Ayacuchos! Liberty for ever!" The windows of S. Mendizabel's carriage were broken with stones

during the day, and he deemed it prudent not to repair to the legislative palace.

It was evident that the friends of the late Ministry had attempted to get up an outbreak; but the firmness of the National Guard and the Municipal authorities maintained tranquility. On the 26th, the Cortes were dissolved, and the new Cortes summoned to meet on the 27th August

But the unsettled state of the public mind in Spain was soon evinced by an alarming insurrection,which rapidly spread throughout the provinces, and ended in the overthrow and exile of the hitherto successful Duke of Victory. As on former occasions Barcelona took the lead in disaffection; and this city and Malaga soon made themselves conspicuous for their determined opposition to the Gomez-Becerra Cabinet. On the 5th of June, General Zurbano who commanded a brigade of troops in the neighbourhood of Barcelona, having entered the town, was surrounded by the populace, who cried out " Death to Espartero and Zurbano." He was rescued by a body of dragoons sent by the Captain General Cortinez, who ordered martial law to be proclaimed. The troops were ordered to clear the Rambla, but as the Commandant of the place was about to do so, the Alcaldes entreated him to pause; and the crowd crying " Long live the Queen and the Army-no martial law; a deputation was sent to the Captain-General, to demand the revocation of the état de siège. After the lapse of half an hour, during which the population and soldiers never ceased crying "Long live the Army!" the deputation brought