Pragmatic Sanction, he acts as much in their interest as in ours; for a continuity of right cannot be begun from a given day—it can only be preserved in constant action. Before, therefore, it would have been possible to put this principle in practice in both halves of the Monarchy, both halves must have had returned to them what was their exclusive property. It is necessary and desirable that those who are called to guide the destinies of the hereditary States -taking into consideration the nature of the elements of Austria— should perceive that the realm does not belong to those States which increase in strength and durability by centralizing legislation, but that she is an exceptional State, which can only be great and powerful by alliance with the past and with history. Lastly, it is necessary that the other half of the realm should rightly understand its interest and its task. These do not consist in conquering Hungary, but, with her help, in winning back for the common ruler and the entire realm that position in the Council of the European Powers to which they are rightfully entitled. It is only when all, summoned by the Royal word to ultimate cooperation in the great work, are fully convinced of these truths, that we can safely calculate upon the result which is the ardent desire of us all. That desire is to see both halves of the Monarchy equally free and constitutional in their own way."

We should mention also that the Transylvanian Diet adopted a resolution, that the Emperor should declare the Diet incompetent to change the Union law of 1848, and that, consequently, Transylvania should send deputies to the Hungarian Diet. His Majesty was therefore petitioned to summon Transylvania to send members to the Hungarian Diet.

SPAIN.-Diplomatic circular of the Spanish Ministry on the causes of the rupture with the Peruvian Republic-Termination of the Dispute-Recognition by Spain of the Kingdom of Italy-Rupture between Spain and Chili-Circular of the Spanish Foreign Minister on the alleged grievances of Spain-War declared between Spain and Chili-Military Insurrection in Spain.

ITALY.-General Election-Circular addressed by the Minister of the Interior to the Prefects-Opening of the Italian Parliament at Florence-Speech of the King. GREECE.-Speech of the King at the opening of the Chambers.

JAMAICA.-Outbreak of the blacks at St. Morant's Bay-Atrocities committed by them-Seditious papers-Energetic measures taken by Governor Eyre-Arrest, trial, and conviction of Mr. Gordon-His execution and that of Bogle-Suppression

of the Insurrection-Speech of the Governor at the opening of the ChambersReplies of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly-Bill for abolishing the Constitution-Suspension of Governor Eyre, and appointment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry.

SPAIN.

WE mentioned in our last volume the seizure by Spain of the Chincha islands as a "material guarantee" in consequence of a quarrel which had broken out between the Government of Her Most Catholic Majesty and the Government of Peru. At the beginning of this year there was published a long diplomatic circular, addressed by the Spanish Minister to the representatives of Spain in Europe and America, in which he went very fully into the causes of the rupture of amicable relations with the Peruvian Republic. He said:

These relations have for a long time past been anomalous and irregular, notwithstanding the known and often expressed goodwill of Her Majesty's Government, altogether foreign to any views of domination or reconquest in the American continent, and disposed to enter into treaties of peace with all the new States, as well as to recognize their sovereignty and independence. An unequivocal proof of this disposition was afforded by the treaty concluded between Spain and Mexico on the 28th of December, 1836, which was followed at different periods by similar conventions with various States forming part of what was Spanish America. It was equally resolved to recognize the Republic of Peru under another arrangement of the same kind; and the negotiations were so far advanced that, a Peruvian Plenipotentiary having been nominated to that effect, a treaty was signed by both parties in Madrid, which the Government of Lima, however, refused to ratify. It must be stated that the latter did not even think fit to fulfil the obligations of courtesy and established usage, by acquainting Her Majesty's Government with the motive of this resolution, either before or after the term fixed for the exchange of the ratifications; and Her Majesty's Government was thus in ignorance upon the subject for a considerable time, and might have continued so except for having received intelligence thereof through a completely unofficial source. It has appeared to be opportune to revert to this diplomatic incident, which shows how extraordinary are the proceedings of the Peruvian Government in its international policy, and makes it clearly understood who is to be held responsible for the state of our relations with that Republic.

"Under the influence of such circumstances and such irregular relations, in a state of things that was neither war-that having terminated many years before-nor peace resting upon definite and solemn bases, persons of Peruvian nationality enjoyed in the Peninsula the uninterrupted and unfailing protection of the laws and the Government, while Spanish subjects in Peru have suffered innumerable vexations, without finding the protection due from

the authorities; vexations which, being known to your Excellency, I need not enumerate, and which were subsequently lost sight of before the general indignation_produced in Spain and America by the sanguinary catastrophe of Talambo.

"At the same time this Government continued to be actuated towards Spain by a spirit of perpetual hostility, not always concealed, but openly declared upon those occasions when it could in any way thwart Spanish policy in matters having no connexion with the interests of Peru.

"With the establishment and reciprocal admission of Consuls in both States it was thought the first step had been taken towards a good understanding; but these hopes were frustrated as before, since, under frivolous pretexts, this Republic resolved to withdraw her agents from Spain. An attempt was subsequently made to have recourse to arbitration, only used under extreme circumstances, in order to place Spanish subjects under the protection of the French Chargé d'Affaires at Lima, who would also undertake to urge our just demands. Affording a fresh proof of its loyal and friendly disposition, the Imperial Government granted the required authority to its representative; but this intervention was rejected by the Government of Lima in the strongest and most peremptory terms, the subjects of Her Catholic Majesty in those countries being thus deprived of all hope of diplomatic support and protection.

"The news of this unjustifiable repulse and of the already mentioned horrible events of Talambo obliged the Spanish Government, having no other available course, to send a diplomatic agent to claim from the Peruvian Government, on behalf of the victims of that and other previous attempts, the justice denied or wrongfully retarded by the tribunals of the Republic.

"I consider it unnecessary to refer to other subsequent injuries and offences, described and commented upon with rigorous equity in the circular dated the 24th of June last, addressed by Señor Pacheo, my predecessor in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, to the representatives of this Government abroad. That document merits especial mention, since in it are expressed the views of the Spanish Government upon the events in Peru, as well as the limit and foundation of its moderate demands.

"These were stated with still greater precision in the project of arrangement dated the 25th of June, presented by Señor Pacheo to the Peruvian Government through Señor Moreira, its Consul in Spain, of which I have the honour to append a copy.

"The equity of these proposals, exactly corresponding to the spirit of the above-mentioned circular, has been recognized by all, both in Spain and abroad. In Spain, nevertheless, there have not been wanting some who consider that Her Majesty's Government has shown itself by no means rigorous in expressing a sense of its injuries, and excessively indulgent in fixing the nature and limits of the satisfaction it demands. There are those also who, ani

mated by ardent zeal for the national honour, reason that moderation should not alone be kept in view, and that on similar occasions Governments prove themselves in the right by confining themselves within the limits of strict justice, at the same time preparing, as circumstances may require, for equitable arrangement or vigorous resolutions if they become indispensable.

"But with much less reason the proposals of the 24th and 25th of June have been received in a contrary sense by Peru as a fresh and great affront to the dignity of the Republic. In a document signed by Señor Ribero, the Peruvian Minister for Foreign Affairs, it is affirmed that the attempt of the 24th of April was less grave -that is to say, the sequestration of the Chinchas on the ground of revindication.

"In another circular, of the 25th of August last, the same Minister states that the proposals transmitted through Señor Moreira 'were a graver offence to Peru than that of the violent usurpation of a portion of territory and the capture of a ship of war.' "The insult consisted in having offered the restitution of the islands occupied and the conclusion of a treaty, the first base of which would have been the recognition of the independence of Peru, on condition that this Government gave the moderate satisfaction required.

"Her Majesty's Government has gone to the extreme of moderation and prudence; it explicitly disapproved the proceedings of the chief of the squadron and the diplomatic agent in making use of the expression 'revindication' on taking possession of the Chincha islands, not certainly as the fundamental and exclusive motive, but as one of the arguments serving as an apology for their conduct in employing this coercive measure instead of others specified in their instructions.

Be

"The Government has frankly and expressly renounced any views of aggrandizement and any project of reconquest in the continent that some time formed part of the Spanish monarchy. fore the occupation of the Chinchas was known in Europe, it had already protested, on the 24th of May, against any such design as that attributed to it, of recovering forgotten rights; and immediately the news arrived, it reiterated its protests in the clearest and most impressive manner."

The circular ended by declaring on the part of the Spanish Government,

"1. That it is still willing to consider as sufficient satisfaction the proposals contained in the scheme of arrangement of the 25th of June last. But these proposals will be considered withdrawn and as null and void in the event of their not being accepted within the time which Her Majesty's Government may fix, and whereof it will give previous notice to the Government of Peru.

"2. That whatever may be the termination and settlement of future events, it now again disavows any views of reconquest and domination in the territory of the American continent.

"3. In like manner Her Majesty's Government insisted upon not considering the Chincha Islands as occupied under the title of revindication, but as a coercive measure to obtain from the Peruvian Government just redress for repeated and manifest injuries.

"4. That it is possible it may be obliged to make ulterior arrangements with regard to the exportation of guano and the trade in that article in the Chincha Islands; as much in order to prevent the Peruvian Government from obtaining by this means resources that might be applied to hostile preparations, as to obtain an indemnity for losses incurred or that may arise from the occupation of the islands until their future abandonment when the present differences shall have terminated. But in any case it is contemplated to proceed in such a manner that no prejudice may result to the commerce and agriculture of other nations nor to the foreign creditors of Peru who became such under contract approved by the Peruvian Congress and published prior to the 14th of April last, the date of the occupation, in as far as regards the lien or guarantee that may have been established in their favour upon the proceeds of those securities. These obligations contracted and these securities given, the exact fulfilment of which will be a point of honour with the Spanish Government, it only remains for me to state, in its name, the profound regret which it feels in being compelled to commend the redress of so many offences to the sole means it is possible to employ when, all ways of negotiation being closed, the natural limits of endurance and prudence are reached. Though an independent Government may place in jeopardy the destinies of the land to which our ancestors carried the blessings of civilization and Christianity, at least the countries in past times the theatre of the prowess of Spaniards should not now become the scene of continued and unpunished affronts. The bonds of a domination which no one dreams of or has an interest in re-establishing being for ever broken, may they soon be replaced by the ties of friendship and commerce, the only link that will maintain and strengthen mutual respect for the rights and interests of both nations."

The differences between the two Governments were adjusted in the early part of the present year, and in February the Chincha Islands were restored to the Peruvian authorities.

The long-delayed step of recognizing the Kingdom of Italy was at last taken by Spain in the course of the present year; and, in a despatch dated June 26, Señor Bermudez Castro, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, announced to the Spanish Ambassador at Rome the determination of his Government. He gave an account of an interview he had with the Apostolic Nuncio at Madrid, and said:

"I represented that Spain, for the protection of the Holy Father, and from sympathy with his great misfortunes, had deferred during several years the solution of this question, whereby the Spanish Government had been exposed to violent attacks, and become voluntarily isolated from the European concert, in the