The English President of the Board of Trade is at
Madrid' ; where his- presence promises to be useful It is stated that the strong opinions expressed in. Parliament last session on the Span- ish differential duties, and Lord Palmerston's representations on the subject, have been taken into serious consideration by, the Spanish Government. English merchants in Spain, who have ac- cess to good information, look hopefully for the passing of an act to admit English vessels carrying goods to Spain, on the same terms as Spanish vessels carrying goods to England are now ad- mitted here. This would be an important step in the progress of Free-trade ; and if the hope be realized, the farther indefinite postponement of the claims of Spain's. English creditors, which the wretched state of her finances renders extremely probable, may be borne with less impatience. The pgromised reforms in the administration of Cuba have been gazetted, They consist in the suppression of the Colonial section of the Royal Council, and the creation of a. special Colonial Coun- cil with power to propose measures for the benefit of the Colonies, which the President of the Ministry may adopt or not as he. thinks proper. In future, the Captain-General of each colony is to act under the exclusive control of the President of the Royal' Council thus advised. This seems to be a change in forms and words- rather than in reality, and it affords but a slender prospect of better government to the Colonies.
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