NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Tee accounts from Spain, received during the week, render it no+ improbable that a pretence will be afforded to the French Go-
vernment for an armed interference in the affairs of that country. The forces of the Queen Regent have been insufficient to make head against the rebels in the disturbed provinces. Nothing cer-
taioly is known of the movements of General SAARSFIELD ; who,
it was expected, would have done something decisive towards quel- ling the insurrection : it is rumoured that he has left Burgos, and
is on his way to Vittoria. CASTANOS and EL PASTOR, at the head
of a small body of troops, said not to exceed five hundred men, have retreated before a numerous division of insurgents to St.
Sebastian. The peasantry, stimulated by the priests, and encou- raged by the feebleness of the Government; are rising in all direc- tions. The Bishop of LEON has issued a proclamation calling upon all 'faithful Catholics to support Don CARLOS. Meanwh le, the Constitutionalists are arming for their own protection : and there is every prospect of an extensive civil war prevailing throughout a. arge portion of the kingdom, unless extraneous force is effectively employed to maintain the authority of the Queen. The intelli- gence from Madrid cannot be deemed satisfactory. We hear, in- ed,of decrees for the internal government of the country, and for relising, the laws by which the press is shackled : but when a large body of the people are successfully resisting the established authorities, driving before them the force sent to put them down, and openly proclaiming a pretender to the crown, we ought to re- ire accounts of bustle at the War-office, and the equipment and urried despatch of troops to the insurgent districts, instead of mere
hment measures.
We presume that the military occupation of the Pyrenee- pro- vinces would be a popular proceeding in France. Under pretence f resisting the spread of Absolutism and maintaining the cause of he Queen, Marshal SOULT would be delighted to regain possession f the strong holds in the mountains, and the fortresses on the lain, Pampeluna and St. Sebastian, which it cost this country so earful an expense of blood and treasure to wrest from French nds in the war of the Peninsula. Should they again fall within eir grasp, we question whether the application of the same urns would not be necessary to compel their restitution. The Courier remarks on the subject of French inteference in heluarrel- " However disagreeable such a war may be to :France in her immediate ughbourhood, we do not see why that should afford her any pretext for march- her armies into Spain. If the Spaniards like to fight, to prevent them. by gn force would be to usurp power over them. It is unpleasant, undoubtedly, have quarrelsome neighbours; but if there be no magistrate, whose authority I parties acknowledge, to settle the dispute, the evil must be borne with, and sere can have no more right to send her armies into Spain to maintain the ore, than any one man has to interfere with the family of his neighbour."
This is very true ; but if the loan of an army is made the sub- tot of a particular request by the party whose legal rights are in eopardy, the case becomes somewhat different; and that very ac- modating code, the law of nations, will not forbid the inter- renee. Such a proceeding, indeed, would not be very agreeable
England; but how is she to prevent it? There was little nger of the continued occupation of Belgium by the French tiny of auxiliaries, because there were .powerful nations close at ed to compel their retreat; but the case of Spain is different, lid it should be remembered that this country is not prepared to ndertake another war of a dozen years in behalf of Spanish inde- ndence.
