6 opening of good roads-a work now gradually but energetically carried on-is needed to augment its quantity to any conceivable extent. The agricultural products of Spain,' says Loudon, 'include all those of the rest of Europe, and most of those of the West Indies, besides all the grains for the production of which some provinces are more celebrated than others, and most of them are known to produce the best wheat in Europe.'* The immense central plateau of the Castiles is more than 2000 feet above the level of the sea, and many extensive tracts are only adapted for grazing. The prevalence of sheep-farming is not the result of any deliberate preference for an idle and roving life, but necessity. 'People,' says Southey, are apt to attribute to the indolence of the Spaniards that neglect of cultivation which is generally the effect of natural causes. The plains of Castile and Leon, for example, though containing in many parts a soil naturally rich, are scarcely capable of cultivation, being from continued rains a perfect slough in winter, and from want of springs entirely parched up in summer.'t the Spanish ports increased from 303,402 in 1850 to 429,069 in 1857; and of foreign vessels the tonnage increased from 270,232 in 1850 to 790,337 in 1857; while the coastingships which left Spanish ports amounted in 1850 to 250,507 tons, and in 1857 to 446,955 tons, and of foreign ships to 304,362 tons and 527,945 tons respectively. Catalonia has hitherto been the principal seat of Spanish manufactures, but it has been forced by high protective duties into an importance not merited by any natural advantages. The Asturias and Galicia are, by reason of their beds of abundant and excellent coal, and their water-power, much more adapted for manufacturing purposes than Catalonia. If we are to credit a writer whose statements we have found no reason to doubt, a large proportion of the cotton fabrics sold in Catalonia is manufactured in England, and smuggled into Barcelona with the names of the ostensible makers on the bales.* The article of the greatest importance to Spain, in her present state, is iron; and of this mineral she possesses abundance, and of the finest quality. In 1832 the iron manuThe revival of commerce has been most facture could scarcely be said to exist. There conspicuous. The Anuario Estadístico de are now foundries of great extent, which Espana' affords full information on this im- will soon fully supply the wants of the portant subject for 1859; but the subse- country. The iron required for ship-buildquent advance will, we believe, be founding and other purposes in the royal dockeven more remarkable. The imports and yards is at present entirely obtained from the exports of Spain for the year 1850 were mines of the country.t valued at 1,166,624,389 reals; in 1858 they amounted to 2,475,917,879 reals. France and England are the two principal customers of Spain; and it may be interesting to compare the amount of their respective transactions. The imports from France had risen from 212,438,525 reals in 1850 to 538,806,433 reals in 1857, and the exports to France from 133,040,079 reals in 1850 to 342,663,931 reals in 1857; while the imports from England were of the value of 117,194,263 reals in 1850 and 325,060,550 reals in 1857, and the exports to England, which in 1850 amounted to 141,312,261 reals, were in 1855 419,669,943 reals, but fell in 1857 to 252,377,308 reals. The commercial intercourse of Spain thus appears to be more active with her immediate neighbour than with ourselves; although we have lately exported to Spain an increased quantity of iron for her railways, and of coal; and have imported in 1861, whether in consequence of the diminished duty or of a recent superior vintage, an increased quantity of wine. The tonnage of native ships which entered *Encyclopædia of Agriculture.' Letters from Spain,' p. 177. 'Situation Economique et Industrielle de l'Espagne.' The tariff being the most restrictive in Europe, of course encourages contraband traffic. We are informed that smuggling is so completely systematised that a French joint-stock company undertakes to deliver prohibited goods in Spain for a remuneration of sixteen per cent. on their value. The number of articles charged with duty by the tariff exceeds 1300, and the system is beset with the most arbi * Wallis's 'Spain,' p. 339. collected by a glance at the following Table of The productive resources of Spain may be Exports for the years 1856 and 1857, and their value: ARTICLES. Wine and grapes Fruits 1856. 1857. REALS. REALS. 406,315,664 460,237,985 161,919,234 104,264,443 50,904,850 63,041,510 54,829,933 36,538,811 Other produce of the soil 25,638,045 29,060,973 52,505,695 70,634,974 33,504,730 38,328 306 2,276,584 5,168,345 118,655,244 139,977,667 16,093,757 15,485,477 Articles of re-exportation. 15,898,592 128,548,237 species of industry. . .128,067,794 82,290,403 trary and vexatious formalities. Nothing more is needed to prove the elasticity of Spanish resources than the simple statement that, notwithstanding this obsolete and oppressive fiscal system, the revenue has more than doubled itself in fifteen years without the imposition of new taxes or any increase of existing ones. We believe that the Government only requires the support of public opinion to enter upon a course of complete commercial reform. An association for this purpose has been formed at Madrid, composed of senators, deputies, and men eminent in various professions; it invites discussion on questions of economical science, and diffuses sound information through the medium of pamphlets and journals. The true sources of the future prosperity of Spain are the teeming fertility of her soil, and her inexhaustible mineral wealth. There are numerous districts in which the vine, if cultivated with care, will produce pure and generous wines of many varieties, and adapted to all tastes; and when roads are opened to the coast, there will scarcely be any limit to the consumption at the moderate prices for which they can be exported. The marbles of Spain are of great variety and beauty. Lead is found in the greatest quantity. Copper, although its mines are not much developed, is known to exist in abundance. The oxides of iron are so rich as to produce 75 per cent. of metal. Tin is found in the granite formations, both in veins and among the alluvial detritus, although the sterility of the tracts in which it exists is so great that they are destitute of population, and have been hitherto little explored. It is well known that the Romans derived a large portion of their supply of gold from Spain; and there are remains on a large scale of their extensive workings among the alluvial sands of Galicia.* Spain, by a very singular fatality,' says Gibbon, was the Peru and Mexico of the old world. The discovery of the rich western continent by the Phoenicians, and the oppression of the simple natives, who were compelled to labour in their own mines for the benefit of strangers, form an exact type of the more recent history of Spanish America.'t It is probable, considering the imperfect means possessed by the Romans for extracting the metal, that much gold may yet exist in these ancient workings. The commercial intercourse between Spain and her old province of the Netherlands is now considerable, and all remembrance of *The mineral produce of Spain, which was in 1839 of the value of 150,000,000 reals, had increased in 1857 to 395,564,100 reals. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,' vol. i. p. 258. former injuries appears to be effaced. A remarkable proof of this is to be found in one of the publications which we have prefixed to this article. A Belgian economist of eminence, desiring to draw closer the commercial relations between the two countries, has proposed an exposition of their industrial products-those of Belgium to be exhibited at Madrid, and those of Spain at Brussels, in the hope that it will be seen to be the mutual interest of both to exchange freely their respective productions. That Spain will always be a great consumer of the fabrics of the loom, whether produced at home or imported, there can be no doubt. The love of ornament and of dress is universal. To glitter for a few hours in a gay costume, under his blue sky and brilliant sun, on some saint's day, is a passion of the Spanish peasant for the gratification of which he will half starve himself, and be content with a crust of bread and an onion. The present imports of Spain indicate her real wants, and also her inability to supply them herself. They are classed as follows, in reference to the duties which they pay :- The tariff, moreover, is practically prohibitive of a great number of foreign products. It is earnestly to be desired that these impolitic commercial restrictions will before long entirely disappear. The still imperfect state of the communications is sufficiently attested by the fact that, notwithstanding the existence of 665 coal-mines, there is a large importation of coal both from England and Belgium. Only a few years since, the Queen and her escort, on their way to Burgos, were obliged to turn back, in consequence of the bad condition of the road. The Government expended on roads from 1800 to 1854, 860 millions of reals, of which 580 millions were appropriated during the last two years of the period. It is surprising that so much has been already effected in a country sparsely peopled, long vexed by civil discord, distracted by invasions and foreign interventions, with an impoverished agriculture, a shattered industry, and an almost bankrupt exchequer. In 1848 a section of the first railway constructed in Spain was opened from Barcelona to Mataró. The impulse thus given to railway undertakings was arrested for a time by insuperable obstacles. In 1854 these grand agents in the work of national regeneration were resumed, and they have since been prosecuted with unabated energy and success. At the commencement of 1861 there were 1500 miles of railway in actual operation, | aspires seems to be the reconstruction of her 800 in the course of construction, and con- navy, and it is upon that she chiefly relies for cessions had been granted for as many more.* the recognition of her right to resume her The movement, unless it should be checked place among the great powers of Europe. In by unforeseen causes, will increase from year 1859 a financial scheme was adopted for raisto year, until Spain is provided with as many ing a sum of 2,000,000,000 reals, or about lines of iron road as she can need. They 26,000,000l. sterling, for the prosecution of may reasonably be expected to modify the public works, of which sum one-half is apnational character, by destroying that isola propriated to railways and roads, and the tion to which some of its peculiarities are other half is divided between fortifications attributable; and by bringing foreign visitors and ship-building, the whole expenditure to into the country, and enabling native Spani- be spread over a period of eight years, thus ards to extend the range of their travels and enabling the country to spend between ideas, they will probably break down those 600,000l. and 700,000l. annually in shipbuildmoral and material barriers which have ing. Several fine 60-gun frigates are now in hitherto so completely separated Spain from course of construction, and two iron-plated other nations. The eagerness with which frigates of the first class are about to be conthe rail is resorted to for purposes of business tracted for, to be ready with the least possiand pleasure is shown by the returns. In ble delay. The existing naval power of the year 1859 five millions of passengers, or Spain, although but the shadow of its former a number equivalent to one-third of the popu- greatness, is respectable. Inclusive of packlation, availed themselves of railway accom- ets and guarda-costas, and other small vessels modation, and the receipts amounted to such as gunboats, it numbers 256 vessels, with seventy-four millions of reals. The present 942 guns. Among the larger class of ships year is likely to produce still more remark- are 2 of 84 guns, 4 sailing frigates mounting able results. The telegraphic wire is now 156 guns, and 4 steam-frigates carrying 147 established over eight chief and twenty branch guns, and 26 smaller steamers carrying 142 lines. The increased intellectual and com- guns, besides 4 heavily-armed corvettes carrymercial activity is proved by the number of ing 100 guns; and numerous ships of smaller letters conveyed by post. In 1846 they armament, all well equipped and provided amounted to 18,851,555; in 1858 to 42,394,- with disciplined crews. 755, or 24 letters per inhabitant per year. The further commercial progress of Spain will much depend upon the freedom with which she throws open her ports to the ships of other nations. No part of Europe has superior facilities for the development of a mercantile marine. She possesses 560 leagues of Mediterranean coast, with 64 ports; and 300 leagues of ocean coast, with 56 ports; while France has only 160 leagues of Mediterranean coast, although she has 470 on the ocean, or fewer by one-quarter on the whole than Spain. The mercantile marine recently consisted of 6878 vessels of all sizes, to which may be added 9971 fishing-boats; capable conjointly of supplying the country with a numerous body of hardy and effective sea men. The great object to which Spain now *The railways now open in Spain are the following:-From Barcelona to Saragossa, 226 miles; Barcelona to Tordera, 41 miles; Barcelona to Pamplona, 111 miles; Barcelona to Hostalrich, 44 miles; Barcelona to Martorell, 17 miles; Alicante to Madrid, 282 miles; Valencia to Almanza, connected with the line to Madrid, 72 miles; Cordova to Seville, 80 miles; Madrid to Jadrisque, 65 miles; Santander to Barcena, 34 miles; Alar del Rey to San Chidrian, 139 miles; Cadiz to Seville, 94 miles; besides several short branch lines. Situation Economique et Industrielle de l'Espagne en 1860.' The prominent part taken by the Spanish army in all the pronunciamientos of the last twenty years is well known. In the face of such frequent interpositions of the military in politics, true constitutional government cannot be said to have existed. The energetic and, we admit, frequently patriotic, men whose influence over the army gave them a commanding position have generally, after some brief conflict with another portion of the national force, concluded their enterprise by seizing the helm of the State. There can be no doubt that civil wisdom and administrative ability of a high order often have been found united in men whose antecedents had been exclusively military, and that they have conferred benefits upon their country which probably no ordinary statesman could have bestowed. They have repressed faction by the force of their character, and restored order to a distracted state. The present peace and prosperity of Spain are undoubtedly owing to the firm and vigorous administration of more than one military chief, but especially to the eminent person who now presides over the councils of the nation. The regular Spanish army, according to the latest accounts, consists of 159,666 men of all ranks and arms, including 44,000 provincial militia. The infantry includes 20 battalions of chasseurs, recruited from the mountain districts, and sup plied with armes de précision, which proved | After the recent annexation of half of San extremely formidable in the late war with Domingo, the earliest acquisition of Spain in Morocco. All the equipments of this force the New World, the object may appear to are supplied entirely from the great arsenal of be within her grasp. We do not believe in Seville. the possibility of forming any stable govern-. ment out of the degenerate race which has reduced the finest territory on the globe to a state of utter barbarism. The experiment has been proceeding for nearly half a century, and has résulted only in a spectacle which is a scandal to civilization. The rule of military dictators has passed away, leaving no traces but of desolation and blood; democracy has run its short career, but only to exhibit its own inconceivable corruption. To be governed Mexico must be occupied, probably for a lengthened period, by a foreign force, and such an intervention will be probably welcomed as the only possible escape from the most intolerable of evils. What the ultimate position of the Spaniard may be in Mexico, or what the position of Mexico may be in relation to its neighbours, time alone can determine. Even while we write, important events are probably occurring, upon the consequences of which we forbear to speculate. Spain may be assured that she cannot serve her own interests better than by acting with all loyalty towards the allies with whom she is associated. The military enterprise recently undertaken by Spain against Morocco is understood to have been forced upon the Government by public opinion. It seemed as if Spanish ambition and fanaticism had kindled into new life. The army was anxious to show to Europe that it possessed the military virtues for which it had once been respected. It has acquired confidence and reputation in its short and decisive campaign; and Spain has proved both her ability and inclination to take the field for any cause in which her honour and interests are believed to be involved. We must, however, state our opinion that the harsh and onerous terms she imposed upon a brave but unmilitary enemy were unworthy of her generosity; and the desire evinced to acquire additional territory in Morocco is as much opposed to her true interests as it is inconsistent with the declarations made before the commencement of the war. The revenue of Spain has of late years greatly increased. In 1851 it amounted to about 12,493,0337., and it was considerably exceeded by the expenditure. In the year 1858 it amounted to 20,833,633., the expenditure still being somewhat in excess of the receipts. The revenue of 1860 shows a further increase; but the Spanish Government, desirous of urging on the public works on which the further progress of the country greatly depends, has felt itself justified from year to year in proposing supplementary estimates of considerable amount. The interest on the public debt amounts to about one-fourth of the revenue; the ordinary expenses of the army are about 3,000,000l.; of the navy a little over 1,000,000l. It is natural that Spain should, in her renovated strength, turn her thoughts towards those vast countries, once her colonies, the misgovernment of which was one of the causes of her decline. Certainly these republics have hitherto found little in their freedom to compensate them for the loss of Imperial government, tainted as it was with grievous oppression and wrong. The hopeless condition of one of these countries has impelled Europe to intervene, ostensibly for the purpose of obtaining compensation for a long series of injuries, but substantially to rescue from anarchy a nation in which the very elements of society seem to be dissolved. We know not what the hopes of Spain may be of acquiring such an influence in Mexico as may lead to an acquiescence in, or a desire for, the resumption of her ancient dominion. The recent annexation of one-half of the island of San Domingo to the Crown of Spain is one of the most remarkable events of an age full of startling changes and surprises. On the 21st of March, 1861, the Dominican Republic ceased to exist, and the country became a portion of the dominions of the Queen of Spain. The island of San Domingo, or Hispaniola, as it was named by its Spanish discoverers, is unsurpassed in beauty and natural productiveness by any in the Antilles, but its history has been a series of destructive revolutions. It was discovered by Columbus in 1492, and was soon filled with adventurers, but was abandoned for the superior attractions which the great discoveries on the continent held out, and, instead of yielding a revenue, it became a burthen to Spain. The eastern half of the island was ceded to France by the Treaty of Ryswick, and, all commercial restrictions having been removed, that portion of the country became extremely flourishing, and continued so until the outbreak of the French Revolution. The contest for ascendency which raged between the whites supported by France, and the revolted black population, forms one of the most thrilling episodes of modern history. A desperate struggle for independence was terminated by the overwhelming force with which France supported her colonists. The whole. of Hispaniola became again subject to Spa wards an envoy of the President of the Republic appeared and repeated the offer in the same terms. Marshal Serrano declined takany decision until he should be fully convinced that such was the free and express desire of the whole of the Dominican population; and the envoy having assured him that such was the irrevocable determination of the Republic, he consented to send to Santo Do for; but upon condition that not a single Spanish soldier should put foot on shore until, by means of the municipalities, by universal suffrage, or by some other clear and distinct manner, a " plébiscite," or something equivalent, decreeing the annexation, should have been voted; and that even in that case he would not accept it otherwise than ad interim and ad referendum to the decision of Her Catholic Majesty. After this declaration he despatched the ships with 3000 men on board to lie off the coast of Santo Domingo." nish sway in 1814; but Spain being unable to keep an effective garrison in the colony, a revolution broke out, which terminated in the expulsion of the Spanish troops, and the islanding declared its independence under the title of the Republic of Hayti. Then succeeded one of the most grotesque imitations of an European coup d'état that it is possible to conceive. An adventurer, who rose from the position of a menial servant to a black gene-mingo the ships and troops that they asked ral to a command in the native army, overthrew the 'liberties' of his country and proclaimed himself emperor. This man, better known as Solouque, founded a dynasty' under the title of Faustin I. One of his first acts was to create an order of nobility, composed of dukes, marquises, counts, and barons, and an escaped galley-slave was made a prince of the empire. The Spanish part of the island revolted from this contemptible domination, and remained nominally under the protection of Spain until 1844, when it threw off the allegiance of the old country The Dominicans are described in and proclaimed the Dominican Republic. a despatch from the Captain-General of Cuba Solouque endeavoured to recover the revolted to the Spanish Government as raising the portion of the island in 1849, but was re- flag of Castile from one end of the country pulsed in his attempt by a small force of 400 to the other with the enthusiasm of a people men. There is no reason to doubt that the which, after long suffering and with a gloomy offer to Spain of the resumption of her domi- future before it, resolutely sought for relief, nion over her old colony was a free and spon- tranquillity, and security in a long cherished taneous act of the President and people of measure. It appears that not only all the San Domingo; for in truth the condition of towns of Santo Domingo spontaneously dethis fine country had become extremely de-clared their renewed allegiance to Spain, but plorable. Forty consecutive years of war some places on the frontier of the Republic and revolution had destroyed even the germs of Hayti followed the example. of prosperity, and reduced one of the most fertile islands in the world to the necessity of importing the productions in which it was once eminently rich, and even much of the food required for the subsistence of its inhabitants. Marshal O'Donnell has assured Mr. Edwardes, our Chargé d'Affaires, that the Dominican Republic had made repeated overtures to be taken under the protection of Spain, or to be annexed, but that he had invariably rejected them, saying he did not consider such a step to be for the interest of either of the two countries; and that at the time the Spanish dominion was proclaimed in San Domingo, there was not a Spanish vessel in any of the harbours, or even off the coast, and that the intelligence had to be conveyed to Cuba in a small coasting vessel. In the course of the last month,' wrote Mr. Edwardes from Madrid, 'the Spanish Consul at Santo Domingo presented himself to the Governor-General of Cuba, and stated that the Dominican Republic had decided upon annexing itself to Spain, requesting his Excellency to accept this spontaneous offer, and to send officers and troops to incorporate it with the Spanish dominions. Shortly after Every interest in San Domingo had, on the testimony of the British consul, fallen into complete decay; and on the acceptance by Spain of the proffered allegiance of the settlement, its paper money immediately rose in value 30 per cent. The Spanish Government has given the most satisfactory pledges that slavery shall not be reintroduced. Indeed, the reintroduction of slavery into the recent acquisition of the Spanish crown is morally impossible. A special enactment of the Cortes would be necessary to legalise it, and opinion in Spain would not sanction the act. The Prime Minister emphatically declared on a recent occasion that the public opinion of his country had been pronounced decidedly against the slave trade, and that his Government was using its best endeavours to put an end to it; but that its total suppression could not be effected in a day, or before measures for substituting other labour were matured. It will be for the Spanish Government now to prove the sin *Despatch of Mr. Edwardes to Lord J. Russell, April 17, 1861. Despatch of Mr. Edwardes to Lord J. Russell, July 7, 1861. |