12 APRIL 1873, Page 2

The prospects of the Republic in Spain do not as

yet improve. Even the official accounts have throughout the week been very gloomy, though they have improved a little at the last moment. General Velarde, who is now in command at Barcelona and in Catalonia, appears to'be doing something for the re-establishment

of discipline in the Army,—not before it was wanted,—and to have-the confidence of the population. Not-the less, the Carlists appear to be going ahead. They have a few cannon, are besieging Puyeerda (a Catalonian town just over the Spanish border, but close to France), and the official reports appear to expect that the place will be carried. The last Renter telegrams say that the inhabitants are making a heroic resistance, but that " the expected reinforcements are not yet in sight," and again " fire has broken out in the town, the position of the besieged is critical." That is not cheerful. There is an ominous parade, too, of cheerful words, as distinguished from cheerful facts, in the tele- grams. "Four columns are pursuing Dorregarray, who, with 2,000, men has gone into the district of Las Amazonas." "Pursuing," tries to imply a victory, but does not assert one, and in all proba- bility there was none to assert. Velarde must be prompt, or Catalonia will before long be lost to the Republic.