10 OCTOBER 1868, Page 2

The news from Spain this week is not much, but

the Revolution having succeeded all over the Peninsula, no news is good news. General Prim has joined Marshal Serrano in Madrid, and they have been chosen jointly to carry on the Provisional Government, Senor Olozaga—the eminent Liberal statesman on whom Gonzalez Bravo whetted his sword on his first discreditable entrance into public life in 1843,—having for some reason declined to join the military chiefs in the Government. Perhaps he did not like being outnumbered by the soldiers with armies at their back to support their opinion. Both Serrano and Prim were enthusiastically received in Madrid, the latter so much so that several lives were lost through the enthusiasm of the crowd which greeted him. Prim and Serrano seem on excellent terms,—at least they embraced publicly to prove it,—and their determination seems fixed to listen to nothing concerning another Bourbon. There are the wildest rumours as to what they will do, one of which is that they will offer the crown to Prince Alfred, on every account an impossible solution. Freedom of religious conviction and hostility to the Concordat is, of course, part of the programme, and "Long live Rome Liberated !" was one of the most popular cries,—a bad omen for the Pope. The worst sign for the Revolution is the step, entirely contrary to the revolutionary programme, taken by Marshal Serrano in promoting all the serjeants, cadets, and inferior officers who fought at the battle of Alcolea. The army began in the right way by declaring its intention not to seize on any advantages for itself, and if this guarantee of earnestness be lost, we fear we shall soon see a scramble for the spoils. A still more dangerous symptom is the demoralization of the people, naturally resulting from the atrocious government recently over them. We understand that for five days immediately preceding the battle of Alcolea, the people of Madrid were far more profoundly excited by the delay of the drawing of the Government lottery than by political suspense. This is not the temper of a people prepared for great things. All the most sanguine can hope is that a step has been made towards something better. No rational man will look for the true sign of liberty,—orderly and disinterested self-government,—till after many a painful experience.