An overland Journey to Lisbon at the close of 1846; with a picture of the actual state of Spain and Portugal

Chapter I. Page

Mr. Bulwer. — Sketch of his appearance and character. — Progress of the marriage question. — The invasion of Portugal designed to support the claims of Count Trapani. — Abandonment of the Count's pretensions. — Proposal of Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg ; declined to be specially supported by England. — The night-scene at the Palace. — Arrangement of the two-fold marriage. — Convocation of the Cortes.- — Illegality of the Montpensier alliance. — Subserviency of the Deputies. — Causes which prevented a hostile decision. — Power of the Court and the Army. — Vote of the Cortes. — Constitution of the Chamber — Seizure of three journals for proposing to reward Senor Orense, " the one honest Deputy," with a gold medal. — Mr. Bulwer's formal protest. — The British fleet at Cadiz. — Energy, a day too late. .... 3

Chapter II

Three invasions of Spain by France during the present century. — Unremitted domination of the Tuileries. — Death-bed advice of Talleyrand. — Intentions of the framers of the Treaty of Utrecht. — Text of the Treaty CONTENTS OF VOL. II. PAGE as affecting this question, and of the Duke of Orleans Act of Renunciation.— Declaration of Philip V., and Royal Cedula of Renunciation; and establishment of Succession, with consent of the Cortes. — Results, should Queen Isabel die without issue. — Louis Philippe's ma nagement. — Analysis and critique of our policy . 26

Chapter III

Fray Gerundio on the star of Spain's felicity. — Growing hatred of Frenchmen in Spain. — Tricksy diplomacy of M. Guizot. — Loss of a move by England. — Several courses which were open to her. — Possible divergence of interests between Don Francisco de Asis and the Montpensier party. — Possible formation of a third party by Don Enrique. — New conscription. — Possibility of a new Revolution. — Modification of the Camarilla— Influence of the two Physicians, Rubio. — Miserable Parliamentary Opposition. — Insolence of the French Ministry. — " Excellent Italian diplomacy " . 4S

Chapter IV

Fall of thirty degrees in temperature. — Terrible variability of the climate of Madrid. — Strange medley of placards. Michaelmas-day j another peep at the Queen and Infanta at their devotions. — Costa Cabral, Count Thomar. — Frankness of Spaniards. — Their politics. — High position of Madrid Journalism. — Preparations of the Madrid Ayuntamiento.— The by-streets of Madrid. — Impartial opinion of a Frenchman about French Livres de Voyage. — The Manolos, and the knife in tbe Saladero prison. Political Acrostics. — Anti-Montpensier squibs. — Extraordinary expedition of two Englishmen. — The Theatres of Madrid V PAGE

Chapter V

A visit from Sefior Chico, Chief of the Secret Police. — Annoyances to which British residents are exposed. — Ingenious mode of getting up popular enthusiasm. — Madrid servants. — Small shops. — Houses and apartments, furnished and unfurnished. — Servants' testimonials. — Porters. — Multitude of internal doors. — Police caladors and mouchards. — Cotemporary literature. — Absurdities of the prohibitive tariff* 71

Chapter VI

Hercules Rafferty. — An Asturianillo. — An Irish stew. — A Bottle Hero. — Don Tito de Chiclana. — O'Gorman. — Perils of love-making in the Peninsula 83

Chapter VII

A dancing omniscience. — A " lucky dog." — Maria Cristina's horror of being called " Madame Munoz." — Her flitting at Paris to the Rue de Courcelles. — Anecdote of the Duke de Montpensier and Prince de Joinville. — Espie'glerie of Montpensier played off on his tutor, Trognon. — A Bas- Breton sentinel. — The tutor taken for an assassin. — Practical jokes played off by the Prince de Joinville on the Abbe Coquereau . . . 100

Chapter VIII

Bayaderes of the Grand Opera. — The Demoiselles Coquillard.— Their influence. — An illustrious personage's prudence takes fire. — Summary ejectment. — Shipment of VI CONTENTS OF VOL. II. PAGE the fascinating Syrens for Portugal. — Capture of tbe heart of Monsieur Maria. — Courtly consternation. — Pawning of the Crown of Portugal. — The Princes Joinville and Montpensier figuring as debardeurs. — Fashion transferred from the Grand Opera to the Varietis . . .114

Chapter IX

Count Chevrette, the Parisian Merveilleux. — The dancer put to his mettle. — -The Rencontre. — The Rendezvous. — A nonchalant supper, and a talk about choregraphic art. — An original view of Opera rehearsals. — Eissler a good Opera-singer, and Grisi a capital swordswoman. — Adolphus Montague Dos-a-dos. — The Dancer's duel 125

Chapter X

General aspect of Madrid. — The Museum of Armoury. — The Musem of Painting. — Houses of Public Entertainment. — Lounge in the Prado. — The Dos de Maio. — Character of the People. — Contests of Moor and Christian. — Charm of the old Spanish ballads. — The Maid of Galicia. — I start by the Silla-Correo for Talavera. — The Puerta de Segovia. — The Manzanares. — Mostoles. — Navalcarnero. — Maqueda. — Santa Olalla. — Sotocochinos. — Talavera de la Reina. — The battle . . ",40

Chapter XI

Route from Talavera to Trujillo. — Calera. — Oropesa. — Naval-moral. — Dinner. — Characteristics of Estremadura. — The population. — The mesta. — Tending of sheep. — Manufacture of pork. — Almaraz. — The Bridge. — Lord PAGE Hill's gallant action. — The Andalucian waxes warm, and " shows how fields were won." — Conversation touching his native province. — The glories of Seville. — The Ar mada. — The vice of gambling. — The Sierra Morena. — The country of Don Quixote. — Jaraicejo.: — Trujillo, the birth-place of Pizarro. — Medellin, the birth-place of Corte's . . . . . . .159

Chapter XII

Route from Trujillo to Merida. — Miajadas. — San Pedro. — Newly projected road from Trujillo to Badajoz by Caceres. — Merida. — Its ancient history. — Santa Eulalia. — Merida remained a purely Roman town till the eighth century. — Entered by the Moors in 715. — The Moorish Alcazar built. — The town taken from the Moors in 1229. — The Roman bridge over the Guadiana. — The Tajamar. — El Conventual. — The arch of Trajan. — The Casa de Jos Cerdas. — The Casa de los Corvos. — The Forum. — Remains of the great Roman aqueduct. — The Circus Maximus. — The ancient theatre. — The Naumachia. — The convent and chapel of Santa Eulalia. — Breakfast at Merida. — Lobon. — Talavera le Real. — Albuera. — The battle. — French misrepresentation and absurdity . 179

Chapter XIII

Description of Badajoz. — The fortifications. — Frequency of sieges. — The English siege and storming in 1812. — Excesses committed by our soldiers. — Positions from which we attacked. — The Spanish game of hand-ball. — The Cathedral. — The Painter Morales. — The convent of San Francisco. — The public walk. — A vision of beauty. — The capa, the stateliest of garments. — The young bloods' sombrero. — Cloaks of the military officers. — Style PAGE of military music. — The birth-place of Godoy. — View from Godoy's palace. — His career. — A parallel from Horace. — Political feeling of Badajoz. — Espionnage of foreigners. — Tough truths concerning the French invasion ....... 196

Chapter XIV

Difficulty of proceeding to Portugal. — Primitive conveyance. — An honest carrier and honester Boniface. — Reflections on the frontier. — Results of my journey through Spain. — Eleven Peninsular battle-fields. — Estimate of Spanish character. — Futility of diplomacy in this country. — A prisoner en capilla. — The logic of " cuatro tiros." — A hard bargain. — Arrival ofa reprieve. — The bargain broken. — Parallel in a " hanging match" in Ireland. — The dead man's clothes. — The " shirt of eleven varas." — " Hangman, let me down aisy !" . 216

Chapter XV

An antediluvian conveyance.; — We ford the Guadiana. The Caya, the border-stream between Spain and Portugal. — Its appearance in winter. — A frontier-guard of Estremanian hogs. — A swineherd's siesta. — First traces of cultivation. — Distant view of Elvas. — Ploughing by mules. — Elvas and its fortifications. — Fort la Lippe. — These fortifications maintained rather for show than for use. — Siege of 1658. — Openness of the frontier. — The French garrison obliged to capitulate in Fort la Lippe during the Peninsular War. — Permission to visit the fortifications refused. — The Estalagem de Rosada. — Traces of Mr. Borrow. — Comfortable prospects in respect of provender. — "Na 0 ha nada .'" — Palaver about politics. — " Lytton Bulwer and Bulwer Lytton." — The PAGE market-place. — The Cathedral. — Costume. — Border characteristics.—Improvised cookery. — A money-changer. " Cousas de Inglaierfa .'" — A salutary precaution against robbers ....... 226

Chapter XVI

Journey from Elvas to Estremoz and Venda do Duque. — The Roman aqueduct. — Reflections. — An anachronist inscription. — Nossa Senhora da Piedade. — Close of the vintage. — Wild track, where all cultivation ceases. — Cork and holm-oak forests. — A Senhora Dourada. — Corrections marked in the route.— A Lenten dinner. — One of Nature's Gentlemen. — Railway speculations. — Estremoz. — Beautiful situation of the town. — The great central square. — The Estalagem da Muralha, or stable-inn. — A primitive bed-chamber, and a hard couch. — Connubial courtesies. — Rapid metamorphosis of a bed into a table. — A cheerless breakfast, milkless and butterless. — The Veiga of Estremoz ; beautiful cultivation. —The fortifications of Estremoz. — Bird's-eye view of the Province of Alemtejo. — Ignorance and vanity of the lower classes throughout the Peninsula. — Amazing solitariness of the road from Estremoz to Venda do Duque. — Evora Monte. — Miguelite capitulation. — Evora. — Villa-vicosa, the cradle of the Braganzas. — Serra Dorso. — The reluctance of the Portuguese to change their customs one of the causes of rebellion . . . 242

Chapter XVII

Venda do Duque. — A primitive Caravanserai. — An imprisoned partridge. — Gil Gedes, the landlord's son. — A conversation with the rapariga. — A Portuguese meal. — Disguised mutton. — Noontide solitude around the Venda. — Journey from Venda do Duque to Arroyolos. X PAGE — Shepherds armed with guns. — Rocky country. — Swineherds shaking a tree for a meal. — A penurious Colonel of Artillery, and a gentlemanly Colonel of Cavalry. — Arroyolos. — The Posada da Ilha. — Good looking raparigas, but mischievous. — Delectable scene. — Curious grace after meat. — A hearty supper, and a true Sancho Panza. — A miraculously small bill. — Beau tiful sunrise. — Journey from Arroyolos to Montemor. — Mode of treating the cork-tree. — Portuguese soldiers on march. — Montemor. — The Castle. — The Convent. — Morgado house. — Horrible jolting. — Specimens of Por tuguese peasantry.— Forest of cork and acorn-oaks. — Costume of the female peasantry. — Low state of agriculture. — Sketch of au arrieiro or muleteer. — Manoel o Carreiro . . . . . .261

Chapter XVIII

Vendas Novas. — The Estalagem. — The Royal Palace. — The landlord at the inn. — Return from shooting. — Robber story. — Curiosities of my bed. — Characteristic trait of Manoel. — Astonishment at the sight of a real hat.-— From Vendas Novas to Pegoens. — Character of the Ribatejo or Tagus-bordering country. — Singular diversity of brushwood and aromatic shrubs. — The Elvas Estafette. — Pegoens. — The Estalagem dos Ladroens. — First intelligence of Yesterday's Revolution at Lisbon. — A town where mustard never was mixed! — A pine-grove. — Silhouettes of three of the poorest peasants. — Fine prospects of railway traffic ! — Arriba. — A field of rice. — Nossa Senhora da Atalaya. — First view of Lisbon. — Aldea Gallega. — The beautiful Tagus. — Crew and adornments of the Falua. — Bird's-eye-view of Lisbon, as seen from the river ... . PAGE

Chapter XIX

A new System enthroned! A new series of Revolutions begun! — Secret of the Revolutionary state of the country. — Sketch of the Cabral Administration, and its fruits. — Symptoms of national amelioration which disappeared with the Revolution of Minho. — Cabral's Parliamentary system. — Impracticability of fair representation. — Disgusting apathy of the people, with illustrations. — State of Lisbon. — Adulation of the Diario. — The Royal Family. — Sketches of the Queen, King, and Princes. Dom Miguel ..... 293

Chapter XX

The Lions of Lisbon. — The Revolution of September, 1836, and subsequent movements. — The Passeio. — The Castle of St. George. — The Cathedral. — Dom Pedro, the composer of a High Mass and a Charter. — Reminiscences of Dom Miguel. — The Largo do Pelourinho. — The Bank of Lisbon. — Naval Arsenal. — The Caes do Sodre*. — The Opera-House of San Carlos. — The Church of San Francisco da Cidade. — The Cortes. — Church of the Estrella. — The English Church and Burial-Ground. — Fielding's Monument. — Buenos Ayres. — The Royal Palace of Necessidades. — The English Embassy. — Palace of the Empress-Duchess of Braganza. — The Royal Palace. — The Convent of St. Jerome. — Pedroncos. — The Tower of Belem. — Cacilhas. — Palace of Ajuda. — The painter Gram Vasco — Bemfica. — Queluz. — S. Pedro — Cintra. — Colaris. — Convent of the Pena, the Cork Convent, &c. — Mafra, Torres Vedras, the battle-grounds. — Excursions in the vicinity of Lisbon 308

Chapter XXI

The Church of Portugal.— Negotiations of Capaccini. — CONTENTS OF VOL. II. PAGE The Concordat. — Prince Lichuowsky. — Actual state of the Church. — Absurdities of the Augsburg Gazette. — State of the Navy. — Old English ballads concerning it. — Origin of European Navies. — Portuguese Finance. — Actual State of the Debt and its Charges. — The Army. —The Colonies . . . . . .335

Chapter XXII

National characteristics. — Pride. — A retired pork-butcher. — Intensity of Southern hatred. — Divisions of Society. — The Lisbon Custom-house. — The fashionable Church of Graca. — Dona Maria's enceinte continuee. — Portuguese epithets of courtesy : " Your Excellency," " Your Grace," and " Illustrious Sir." — Life in the balcony. — Hirsute heroes. — Female Characteristics. — The Egressos. — Mr. Borrow's efforts to circulate the Scriptures. — The aqueduct. — Beauty of the suburban rides j destroyed by the want of Macadamized roads. — Improvement in the appearance of Lisbon, and in cleanliness. — The filth of ten years since. — The Rancho of the olden time. — The days of Dom Manoel • . . . . 360

Chapter XXIII

State of political knowledge in Spain and Portugal at the period of the French invasion. — Proclamation of the Marquis del Socorro. — Earthquake at Lisbon at the period of the French entrance. — Scandalous Proclamation of the Cardinal-Patriarch. — Subserviency of the Inquisitor-General. — Sham prophecies and real ones. — The procession of Corpus Christi at Lisbon. — The real rising in the North. — The battles of Rorica and Vimieiro, and the convention of Cintra. — Wellington's return to Portugal. — The battle of Busaco. — The lines of Torres Vedras ..... . PACK

Chapter XXIV

Actual state of Portuguese Literature and Art. — The late Cardinal Saraiva. — A learned critique.— Equally learned displays of Costa Cabral. — The author of the prize piece of Magrifo. — Editing ofthe Government Diario. — Character of the Press, and mode of conducting the public journals. — The shortest memory on record. — Criticisms in London and in Lisbon. — Prince Lichnowsky's " Portugal." — Mistakes concerning Portugal in Byron's Childe Harold. — Napier's History. — Various English works on Portugal. — Fielding's Voyage to Lisbon. — His mistake as to the tomb of Catherine of Arragon corrected. — Alexander Herculano's " History of Portugal " 389

Chapter XXV

Secret history of the late counter-movement. — Extraordinary misrepresentations concerning it, and poisoning of the public mind of England. — Falsehoods respecting the King. — Composition of the Lisbon garrison. — State to which the country had been reduced by the late Government. — Intensity of political hatreds in the Peninsula. — Slender influence of the French in Portugal. — Key-note of the late Court policy, the failure of the Coburg marriage at Madrid. — The Chartist Committee by which the counter-movement was prepared ; their movements at Cintra. — Lord Howard de Walden. — Mr. Henry Southern, Charge* d'Affaires. — Policy acted on by the British Government. — Mission of Colonel Wylde. — Letter written by the Duke de Palmella on board Admiral Parker's ship, the " Hibernia," to the Revolutionary Junta of Oporto. — The British entirely committed as partisans of the Insurrection. — Progress of the Civil War. — Defeat of Sa da Bandeira. — Investment of Santarem. — Causes of the Revolutionary habit of the Portuguese. — Railway and Gas speculations . CONTENTS OF VOL. II. PAGE

Chapter XXVI

The Fidalgos and Grandes of Portugal. — Privilege of Parentesco. — Sketches of the leading Noblemen, Statesmen, Politicians, and Generals : the Duke da Terceira, the Duke de Palmella, the Duke de Saldanha, the Conde de Villareal, the Marquis da Fronteira, Dom Carlos de Mascarenhas, Conde da Cunha, Conde do Tojal, Conde do Lavradio, Conde do Farrobo, Conde das Antas, Viscount Sa da Bandeira, Mousinho de Albuquerque, Conde do Bomfim ; Generals Schwalbach, Casal, and Vinhaes ; the Marquis de Louie, the Marquis de Vianna, the Marquis de Fayal, the Marquis de Abrantes, the Marquis de Pombal, the Marquis de Nisa. — Maladministration of the property of the Portuguese Fidalgos; Feitors. — The Alencastros, descendants of John of Gaunt. — The Newspaper Press. — Prevalence of avarice amongst the Portuguese. — Laziness and unbusiness-like habits of public men. — The plague of employe's. — Administration of justice; empenhos. — Police. — -Wines. — Coinage. — Origin of Names.— Costume. — Language. — Conclusion .... , A JOURNEY OVERLAND TO LISBON. VOL. II B A JOURNEY OVERLAND TO LISBON.

Chapter I

Mr. Bulwer. — Sketch of his appearance and character. — Progress of the marriage question. — The invasion of Portugal designed to support the claims of Count Trapani. — Abandonment of the Count's pretensions. — Proposal of Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg ; declined to be specially supported by England. — The night-scene at the Palace. — Arrangement of the two-fold marriage. — Convocation of the Cortes. — Illegality of the Montpensier alliance. — Subserviency of the Deputies. — Causes which prevented a hostile decision. — Power of the Court and the Army. — Vote of the Cortes. — Constitution of the Chamber. — Seizure of three journals for proposing to reward Senor Orense, " the one honest Deputy," with a gold medal. — Mr. Bulwer's formal protest. — The British fleet at Cadiz. — Energy, a day too late.

Madrid, September 28. I called this morning at the British Legation, and had an interview with our minister. The Right Honourable Henry Lytton Bulwer, b2 Her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the court of Spain, is a man of rather tall and graceful figure, with a face which, without being handsome, is clever and self-satisfied — the features marked, but deficient in smoothness and colour. Some roughness in the texture of the skin, and a slight hue of biliousness in the tinge of the rather thin cheeks, indicate no high state of health, and point, to sedentary habits. His hair is worn very copiously, and his glossy brown locks wave not ungracefully over the lower part of his head and neck. His address is pleasing, correct, and fluent, his manner affable, frank, and con ciliating ; but an unimpressive softness in his voice and langour in his mode of delivery, give him an eSemiuate petit-maitre air which his copious locks and general demeanour by no means tend to dispel.

Nevertheless, he is a good representative of a school of which England alone can boast, but which I trust will, ere long, extend to other coun tries — the school of truthful diplomacy ; and the principles whicli have characterized his public career, however they may for a moment, through lack of energetic action, have been forced to cede the pas to a rare combination of French intrigue and effrontery, are sure to triumph in no very remote futurity, and to maintain thejust influence which England alone desires in Spain, when France, by her own suicidal efforts, shall have trebled the number of her enemies in the Peninsula. There is a general, but by no means a striking, resemblance between the features, style, and bear ing of Mr. Henry Bulwer and Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton — brothers, both of rare endowments and of singular success in life.

Having thus cleared the ground, it is right that I should justify the independent tone of the fol lowing observations, in whicli I shall deal with Mr. Bulwer's public acts as if I never had spoken to him the few words which I have done in private. To Mr. Bulwer I owe nothing, but a general offer of civilities, all of which I carefully abstained from accepting, except one formal dinner, to which I first declined going, but on receiving a renewal of the invitation could not well refrain from appear ing. In other respects I am not indebted to him (through cautious abstinence) for one introduction, or acquaintance, or facility, or frank, or even for the official service of protecting me from espionnage, or assisting me in surmounting passport difficulties. I guard myself carefully against misrepresentation, by stating that I even frankly informed Mr. Bulwer, on entering his cabinet, that I was about to write the present work.

I have had six years' experience of foreign diplo macy, and know that the dinner was pressed on me a second time for the very purpose of com mitting me to a particular line of observation; but I am too thoroughly acquainted with this sort of manœuvre to allow my independent action to be warped, and my usefulness impaired, by trials of my moral courage. The fatal error of Mr. Bulwer's career is an excessive opinion of himself. Not satisfied with a high reputation, a distinguished position, and even considerable fame, he would outshine all men within his sphere, and eclipse the proudest Grandes of Spain in outlay and magnificence. It is not sufficient for him to have a splendid town-house in the openest and finest street of Madrid, but he must have his two country-houses, (one his property at Aran juez, the other hired at Carabanchal,) his racing stud to superintend, his alternate villas to repair to.

The more practical Bresson lived next door to the Palace, and never was absent from his post ; the theoretic Bulwer lived in an atmosphere of his own, and left the Palace to shift for itself with lordly indifference. Bresson worked by viva voce intercourse, Bulwer by diplomatic notes. I have not been six years watching the course of diplo matists without learning the infinite superiority of verbal communication on all ordinary occasions. Twice before the night of the 27th of August, when the intrigue was finally wound up, had meetings of the Ministers, leading prelates, and presidents of the legislative bodies, been held at the Palace for the very purpose of deciding this marriage question — one meeting ten days before, the other three days before — yet Mr. Bulwer thought it consistent with his duty to go out of town with his usual frequency.

The result, any man not blinded by vanity and self love, might have anticipated. No one cared for him or his inactive opposition. The marriages were even arranged in his absence. He was not con sulted on the question, nor was its decision submitted to him ; and when the news on the following day reached tbe British Legation, after having become previously known to the metropolis, our Minister was at Carabanchal ! Then, indeed, he became very active, and displayed much ex post facto energy, writing a series of diplomatic notes and protests, in one of which he went the length of saying, " Had he known this result, be would have voted for Don Carlos instead of Queen Isabel'' — for even the Ambassador cannot lose sight of the indi vidual — " when he (Mr. Bulwer) was member of Parliament!" Thus England has been reduced to a position thoroughly ridiculous, from which she would have escaped under the management of a person of the commonest abilities — and all because her representative judged that one oshis prodigious diplomatic notes would, like a thunderbolt, arrest the progress of events at any given time.

His diplomatic notes were treated with the most marked indifference, and in every particular he was en tirely foiled. An amusing defence has been set up for Mr. Bulwer — that he was not, forsooth, like M. Bresson, an ambassadeur de famille, and should be put on the same footing with him if the same familiarity at the Palace was expected. Thus he would cure his own deficiences by obtaining a step in promotion ! More ingenious truly than modest. The Palace was always open to Mr. Bulwer, but he chose to write. There is a Spanish proverb, which he would do well to study, and with the truth of which M. Bresson is familiar : " Quien quiere, va, quien no quiere, manda."* I shall now proceed to give in detail the history of this memorable transaction, in which British diplomacy has received a check whicli may lead to disastrous results, from which the national honour comes forth without stain, but the national cha racter for sagacity becomes sadly liable to imputa tion.

My record of events shall be given with perfect impartiality, and I shall deduce no infer ences which do not force themselves on the con viction :— Up to the beginning of August last, Louis Phi lippe was the warm supporter of the claims of Count Trapani, and Count Bresson was instructed to push the claims of the Count to the hand of Queen Isabel by every possible means within his power. This was in pursuance of Louis Philippe's determined policy to suffer none but a Bourbon to become united to Queen Isabel — a policy loudly proclaimed by M. Guizot. The more, however, Bresson urged this suit, the more unpopular Tra pani became, until his name grew so odious at last that he was no longer to be thought of, the country being wrought up to the highest pitch of indignation by the belief that a wretched Neapolitan Count was to be forced upon the Queen by the King of * He who wants a thing goes himself, he who doesn't want it, sends. the French.

Towards the end of July, the French plan was somewhat varied, M. Bresson's instructions directing him to divert the indignation of the enemy to another point, and the invasion of Por tugal was devised for this purpose. Never was fabri cation more iniquitous than that which was trumped up for this purpose. A succession of letters and articles was published, chiefly in the Heruldo, announcing a meditated invasion of the Spanish territory by a numerous body of Portuguese insurgents and Spanish refugees in conjunction. The Portuguese province of Minho, it must be observed, was at that time in a state of permanent insurrec tion, and the disturbed state of the country and the irregularity of communications were calculated to give some colour to the allegation. General Villa longa was directed to march to the frontier, at the head of the army of Galicia.

Meanwhile Baron Renduffe, the Portuguese Minister at Madrid, was not idle, but established by official documents, and by the communications of his own private agents on the frontier, the fact of the utter absence of the alleged provocation by his countrymen, and of the traitorous design to invade Portugal without even communicating to him the existence of such an intention. Remonstrance followed, and England now intervened ; some officers belonging to our squadron in the Tagus were despatched to the frontier, to ascertain with their own eyes the real state of the question. The result was an entire falsification of the case made out for the Spanish b3 counter invasion, ancl Isturiz was obliged to halt in his mad career. At the bottom of the intrigue was discovered the piebald name of Gonzalez Bravo, who in conjunction with Costa Cabral, then ba nished from Lisbon, was working heaven and earth for a restoration of the Cabralist party.

All these efforts of sinister intrigue failed, and Count Tra pani's claims failed with the rest. Bravo was recalled by the purely-minded Isturiz, but to be sent back again the moment that the storm blew over. At this turn in the intrigue, M. Bresson had affected to become the warm advocate ofthe claims of Don Francisco to the hand of Queen Isabel, and, the Trapani alliance becoming impossible, he could not now recede. He was, in fact, caught in his own snare. Francisco turned up a trump-card, and has remained in that position till the end of the game. Cristina became alarmed by the turn which things were taking in favour of the Infante Francisco's family, which she hates, and on Monday, the 24th August, a meetingwas held at the Palace, by ad journment from the previous Monday, which re sulted in the decision, by common accord of the Queen-mother, Queen Isabel, and Isturiz, in favour of the Coburg alliance.

All then depended on the determination of England. During the course of these negotiations, Queen Cristina paid a visit without ceremony and entirely incognita to Mr. Bulwer, who was then at Cara banchal, some distance from Madrid. Here she told him, that whatever she might have said to the French minister, and whatever opinions she might be represented to have put forth on the matter, she was far from being pleased with the idea of the marriage of her daughter to Don Francisco, and added, that if this marriage could be prevented she would have no difficulty in breaking off the other projected alliance between the Infanta and the Duke de Montpensier. Mr. Bulwer thereupon addressed an official note to Isturiz, and dispatched a courier to London at six o'clock the same even ing. Within an hour after, M. Bresson dispatched a courier to Paris.