All manner of reports are coming in from Spain, the
general drift of which is that the Carlists intend to protest against the assumption of power by the young King, who comes of age next year, by a serious rising. Everything is prepared in Biscay and Catalonia, rifles have been imported, and there have, of course, been the usual efforts to win over particular regiments. These rumours have been so frequently circu- lated that we should attach no importance to them but that Catalonia is discontented, and that the Church is alarmed lest the Liberal Ministry, encouraged by the example of M. Waldeck-Rousseau, should legislate against monastic estab- lishments, which have recently fallen wholly out of favour with the city populations. The matter is of-little importance to Europe if other Governments do not intervene; but the temptation to France to intervene, and perhaps extend her territory to the Ebro, is always great, and is increased just now by the heavy commitments of French capitalists in Spanish bonds and Spanish undertakings. The Spanish Government is keenly on the alert, the Queen-Regent's idea of her duty being that she must guard her son's throne till he ascends it, and as yet there appears to be every confidence in the Army. To fill the Treasury rapidly a decree has been issued that all taxes upon personalty must be paid in gold, silver being taken only at the discount of the day, which involves an increase, often heavy, in the amount to be paid.
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