luna, Burgos, and Barcelona, to which the Government attributed this and similar outbreaks. In a circular issued by Señor Sagosta, Minister of the Interior, he said, "The Government has no intention of making a coup d'état, or of disarming the citizen militia. The present agitation tends to prevent the carrying out of universal suffrage in Spain, the meeting of the Cortes, and the definitive constitution of the country, and has, moreover, the effect of paralyzing Spanish credit. The Government, aware of the manœuvres which are being employed, is resolved to preserve intact the sacred deposit of the National Sovereignty, and to maintain order until the assembling of the Cortes, whose decision it respectfully awaits, and does not desire to influence."

The general election to the Constituent Cortes took place in January, and the result was estimated to give to the Monarchical party (not including a few supporters of the claims of Don Carlos) about 250 votes against 75 or 80 Republicans. The Government majority was divided into two parties-the Unionists and the Progressistas. The Unionists are composed of what remains of the "Union-Liberal" party of Marshal O'Donnell in 1854, and are not such advanced Liberals as the Progressistas, who belong to the old party of Espartero.

At the latter end of January the Civil Governor of Burgos, S. Gutierrez de Castro was brutally murdered in the Cathedral by some priests, and the people in consequence became furious against the clergy. Cries of "Death to the Papal Nuncio" resounded in the streets of Madrid, and the Pope's arms at the Consulate there were torn down and burnt. A court-martial was appointed to try the assassins, and several were condemned, and one of them was sentenced to death.

The Constituent Cortes were opened on the 11th of February by Marshal Serrano, the President of the Provisional Government, with a speech in which he said, "The nations of Europe, on attaining a higher degree of civilization, threw off the traditional bonds which fettered the public mind. Spain delayed for a long time following their example; but the day has now come; the obstacles to progress are removed, and the representatives of the nation are called upon to construct a new edifice, of which the Provisional Government has prepared the foundations and sketched the outline. This victory has been achieved without bloodshed, but certain disturbances which have occurred and the extravagance of some former Administrations have placed the finances in an embarrassed condition. The Government relies on the Cortes to remedy this state of things by economical reforms, thorough changes in the administration, and by legislation relative to the interest on the Public Debt and the expenditure for the Army and Navy. The Government recommends to the Cortes to be united in the task before them. It has adopted and proclaimed with ardent faith and enthusiasm the essential principles of the most Radical liberalism— namely, liberty of worship, of the press, of public education, of

public meeting and association. These reforms the deputies must proceed to consolidate. The partial disturbances which originated in the impatience of some parties have been repressed, and the Government has acted with energy and patriotism."

Referring to the insurrection which had broken out in Cuba, Marshal Serrano said, "The Revolution is not responsible for this rising, which is due to the errors of past Governments; and we hope that it will speedily be put down, and that tranquillity, based upon liberal reforms, will then be durable. Slavery will be abolished, but without precipitation and without compromising the prosperity of the Antilles."

Marshal Serrano concluded by stating that the relations of Spain. with all foreign Governments were satisfactory, and with some had become even more intimate than formerly.

Señor Rivero was elected President of the Chamber; and General Prim declared that the late dynasty should never reascend the Throne of Spain, and that he would never, directly or indirectly, aid in endeavours in favour of the Prince of Asturias.

At a sitting of the Cortes on the 25th of February, Marshal Serrano announced his assumption of the executive power, which, he said, he had accepted solely from motives of patriotism, and with an entire feeling of unselfishness. He insisted upon the fact that it was impossible for him to abuse the power conferred upon him, as none of the prerogatives of supreme power, such as the right of veto, the right of making peace or war, had been granted him. He added, "Were the Assembly to offer me those prerogatives I should refuse them. I desire to walk hand in hand with the Cortes, the minority acting as the legitimate censor of the Ministry, and the majority as its sovereign judge. I shall remain at my post as long as may be necessary, with no care but for the welfare of the nation, with no ambition but that of withdrawing into private life after having accomplished my duty to my country." A vote of confidence was carried by a majority of 180 against 62, thanking the Provisional Government.

Next day Marshal Serrano delivered a speech, in which he said that it was not necessary for the Government to announce a programme, as they would follow the principles laid down by the Revolution; adding that they would use every endeavour to disarm by a liberal policy the attacks of the Republican party. He further declared that it was the intention of the Government to introduce Bills with the object of effecting economy in the expenditure, and he reminded the country that it would have to make sacrifices if it wished sincerely for the maintenance of liberty. He also promised that the liberal reforms which had been delayed in consequence of the insurrection in Cuba should speedily be proclaimed in that island. In the beginning of March a Commission was appointed to prepare a draught of the New Constitution.

Two days afterwards Señor Castelar brought forward a proposal to proclaim an amnesty for political offences. Señor Sagosta, in

reply, delivered a speech in which he stated that the Government had intended to celebrate the opening of the Constituent Cortes by granting an amnesty, but that this course had been delayed in consequence of the conspiracies which had lately been discovered. The Minister of the Interior, however, promised that as soon as the real motive of these conspiracies should be discovered, the Government would propose to the Cortes to proclaim an amnesty for all political offences. The proposal of Señor Castelar was subsequently rejected by 135 votes against 94.

At a subsequent sitting of the Cortes, some members of the Republican party asked by what right the Duke of Montpensier was still Captain-General of Spain. A title given for family considerations, and not for military achievements, should cease with the fallen dynasty. The Duke of Montpensier should be neither Marshal nor King.

General Prim answered that the Duke of Montpensier's position was made by the late dynasty, by which he was banished, and the Provisional Government was unauthorized to interfere with it.

Admiral Topete said he would rather have Montpensier than a Republic.

Fresh disturbances broke out at Xeres de la Frontera, between Cadiz and Seville. Barricades were erected, which were attacked by the troops and carried at the point of the bayonet. The ostensible cause of the revolt was the publication of a decree by the Government for the levy of 25,000 soldiers, to be drawn by lot on the 1st of April. This was considered a violation of the principles of the Revolution in last September, when one of the most popular cries was, "Down with the Conscription!" The movement, however, was speedily suppressed.

The Report of the Committee on the New Constitution was read in the Cortes on the 31st of March. It proposed an hereditary monarchy, and a Cortes, consisting of a Senate and a Chamber, to make laws, which were to receive the King's sanction and to be promulgated by him, and the Monarch was to exercise the executive power through his Ministers. The Catholic religion to be maintained by the nation, but Spaniards and foreigners were to be guaranteed free exercise of other forms of belief, subject only to the laws of universal morality and right.

The difficulty, however, was to find a suitable person who would accept the Crown of Spain. It was first offered to Dom Fernando, the ex-king of Portugal, but he positively declined it. Other overtures were made which met with no favourable response; and at a sitting of the Cortes on the 21st of April, Señor Figueras, a member of the Republican party, made a speech in which he argued that as the majority who wished for a monarchy could not find a candidate who would accept the Crown, the only alternative that remained was, to restore the Bourbon dynasty or to proclaim a Republic. Señor Zorilla, Minister of the Interior, in reply, declared that the restoration of the Bourbons was impossible, and that a Republic

would be a national calamity. He added, that the majority would succeed in coming to a satisfactory conclusion as to the Sovereign to be chosen.

The Budget of the new Government estimated the receipts at 2,141,000,000 reals, of which 473,000,000 were derived from taxes upon landed property, 120,000,000 from taxes upon articles of commerce, and 45,000,000 from succession duty. It proposed to abolish the duty upon direct inheritances, to maintain the tax of 5 per cent. upon incomes and salaries, and to suppress the salt monopoly in January, 1870, and the tobacco monopoly in July of the same year. The amount of the floating debt was not to exceed 600,000,000 reals.

The debate on the Articles of the New Constitution lasted for several weeks. That which established a monarchy was carried by a majority of 214 against 71 votes. Señor Rios Rosas, the Minister for the Colonies, said, "The originators of the Revolution would never have undertaken the task had they suspected that the result would be the establishment of a Republic." Señor Castelar acknowledged the virtues of the Duke de Montpensier, but said that, being a Bourbon, it was impossible for him to be King. In reply to this, Admiral Topete, the Minister of Marine, declared the Duke de Montpensier to be the best candidate. He warned the Assembly that a Republic, a Monarchy, and Regency seemed equally impossible. "Beware," he added, "lest if you make every solution impossible, some insolent, daring man undertake to cut the knot you are unable to solve. .. You will not applaud me now, but you will understand me."

One of the Articles of the Constitution declared that "the sovereignty resides in the people, from whom all power emanates." The New Constitution was formally promulgated on the 6th of June in front of the Hall of the Cortes, with great solemnity. On the 13th, the ceremony took place of the oath of obedience, and, ten days afterwards, the Cortes resolved, by a majority of 193 votes against 45, to make Marshal Serrano Regent of the kingdom. He accepted the high office, and was formally installed on the 18th of June.

Señor Rivero, the President of the Cortes, administered to him the oath, saying, "Do you swear to keep, and to cause to be kept, the Constitution of the Spanish nation of 1869, and the laws of the country, not looking in what you do to any thing but the good and the liberty of the country?" Serrano replied, "I swear; and if in what I have sworn, or any part of it, I do any thing to the contrary, I ought not to be obeyed, and any thing I do in contravention of it should be null and of no value!" His emotion was so great that he completely broke down before he had finished the formula, and had to refresh his memory by recourse to a written copy. President Rivero replied,-

"If so you do, God and the country will reward you; but if not, they will demand it of you;" and then, turning to the audience, remarked, "The Cortes Constituyentes have witnessed and heard the

S

oath the Regent has just taken to the Constitution of the nation and the laws of the country."

Marshal Serrano rose from his knees, and taking his seat on the chair at the President's right side, read the following speech :-

Señores Diputados,-With the creation of the constitutional power which you have deigned to confide to me, and which I gratefully accept, a new period of the Revolution of September commences. The epoch of grave dangers has passed away, and another of reorganization commences, in which we have nothing to fear, except it may be from our impatience, our distrust, or our exaggerations. We have first raised the stone which weighed upon Spain, and we have afterwards constituted her under the monarchical form, traditional with our people, but surrounded with Democratic institutions. The moment has now arrived to enrol and consolidate the conquests realized, and to fortify the authority which is the protection of all rights and the shield of all social interests, strengthening, at the same time, our diplomatic relations with the other Powers. The enterprise is difficult for my weak powers, but your high wisdom, the decided adhesion of all the sea and land forces, the vigorous patriotism of the citizen militia, and the sensitive and noble spirit of our regenerated nation, inspire me with confidence in the results. From the post of honour to which you have elevated me I do not see political parties. I see only the essential Code, which is obligatory on all, and on me the first, and which will be obeyed and respected by all. I see our beloved country as anxious for stability and repose as she is eager for progress and liberty. Finally, I see as supreme aspiration in the fulfilment of my honourable trust the end of an interregnum, during which the Constitution of the State will be practised sincerely and loyally; individual rights will be exercised peacefully and orderly; our credit will be augmented both in and out of Spain, and liberty be extended upon the firm base of moral and material order, so that the Monarch whom the Cortes Constituyentes may hereafter elect may commence his reign prosperously and happily for the country, to which I have consecrated all my anxieties, all my watchfulness, and my whole existence."

President Rivero then spoke as follows:-"The Cortes Constituyentes have heard with lively satisfaction the noble words and exalted propositions of the Regent, who has been elevated to his post by the almost unanimity of your votes. To respond worthily to the high ends which the Cortes have had in view in creating the Regency, to comply severely, liberally, and carefully with the Constitution of the State, to practise every day and every hour the Sovereignty of the Spanish people, to guarantee and protect the free exercise of the individual rights which form the glory of the present generation,— such is the grand work the Cortes have charged upon all the public functionaries, and which they have deposited in the hands of the Regent of the Spanish nation. We must agree that to nobody belongs with so much right (if any one can be said to have a right to this great charge) the Regency of the kingdom as to General