NEWS OF THE WEEK.
IN the last Spectatot it was stated, from recent information which we relied on, that the relative strength of parties in Spain had been for some time systematically misrepresented by the Government Press; and that it was a gross error to believe on its authority that the French system of Juste Milieu was in accordance with the feelings of any considerable body of men in the Peninsula. The Spanish nation, it was said, is divided into two parties, the Liberals find the Carlists ; who agree in common detestation of the system 'which ZEA BERMUDEZ and the Queen Regent, instigated by Louis PHILIP, were in vain endeavouring to establish. The speedy abandonment of this temporizing policy, for one decidedly Liberal, Or the reverse, was therefore held to be inevitable. The news from Madrid, which has arrived during the week, proves that our information, and inferences from it, were well-founded and correct. An important change has taken place in the Spanish Ministry. ZEA. BERM UDEZ, and three other Ministers of the French school, have been dismissed. MARTINEZ DE LA ROSA, a well-known Liberal, is the new Prime Minister ; and men of simi- lar politics have been appointed to the departments of Justice, Marine, and Finance. St URGOS remains Minister of the Interior, and ZARCO DEL VALLE is still at the War-office; as it is believed that they are prepared to act cordially with their new colleagues. The Marquis of AMARILLAS, the most influential member of the Council of Regency, was the chief adviser of the Queen in relation to her choice of the new Ministers: it is therefore supposed that the Council and the Cabinet will henceforth act in concert for the promotion of an improved system of Government. From the Daily Papers we extract some particulars of the past history and opinions of the new Premier and his colleagues. The first extract is from the Globe: "Martinez de la Rosa is a native of Grenada, and author of the celebrated tragedy of Padilla. He distinguished himself early in the Spanish Revolution, by the mildness of his manners, the moderation of his views, the extent of his talents, and the firmness and integrity of his principles. He was imprisoned by Fedinand at the same time with the celebrated Arguelles, and remained for nearly two years in solitary confinement in a dungeon. He was afterwards Minister during the Constitutional Government ; and upon the overthrow of the Cortes, in 1823, sought refuge in France, where he has since been living in bumble:retirement. His character seems a guarantee for Liberal principles and mild government."
The Paris correspondent of the Times furnishes the following account.
"M. Martinez de la Rosa, the new Prime Minister, was Minister of Foreign Affairs during the Constitutional regime in 1822. He was reckoned a moderate Liberal ; and called a Bicamerist, along with a few others who were distin- guished ass party on account of the preference they had given to a form of re- presentation admitting of two Chambers, similar to the hereditary and elective Chambers in France and England. M. de la Rosa was afterwards proscribed, and has lived in obscurity in Paris until 1832; when, being included in the list of amnisties published by Ferdinand, he returned to Madrid. He is not a man of any distinguished merit as a statesman ; and those who were intimately ac- quaiuted with him here, think that the station to which he is now raised is above Lis capacity, and therefore that he will not be long able to maintain himself in Al.ii Martinez de la Rosa is, however, a friend of the Marquis de las Ania- rills., whose agency and influence in the Council of Regency have very likely contributed in bringing about the change in the Cabinet, as much as the pro-• ceedings of some of theCaptains-General, between whom and Amarillas a good understanding was known to subsist. "M. Vasquez Figuerosa, the new Minister of Marine held the same situa- tion in 1817. Very little is said or known of his psoliticaicharacter. "The new Minister of Justice, M. Gazeli, held the same office in 1822. His private chari-.,:ter stands high, and Ile passes as a moderate Liberal. He is a member of the Council of Regency.
"P.!. Arnald is a firm and consistent Liberal, and an able financier.
"MM. Burgos and Zarco del Valle, who remain in the Cabinet—the former as Minister of the Interior' and the latter as Minister of War—are known to be the personal friends of the Marquis de las Amarillas, and the other Liberal mem- bers of the Council of Regency."
As French influence was the main prop of the late Spanish Mi- nistry, it is natural that the turn affairs have taken should be highly displeasing to Louis PHILIP. Should the new Government be able to stand its ground against the Carlists, as now seems proba- ble, it will become a matter of greater difficulty to that shrewd and selfish politician to maintain his own system in France. The be- lief that the change causes extreme annoyance to him, is so strong as to have given rise to a report, that M. RAYNEV tL, the French Ambassador, had orders io quit Madrid, in case ZEA BERMUDEZ should find it impossible to retain his post. But this would be go- ing too far. It is more probable that M. RAYNEV AL will be in- structed to bring the new Ministers, if possible, as much within the nets of French diplomacy as their predecessors. The aim of LOUIS PHILIP Will be to indoctrinate, not to disgust MARTINEZ DE LA ROSA. For this end, the cooperation of the British Am- bassador will be studiously sought. It is to be hoped that it will not be given. Let the French King be allowed to play his own game with his own resources • especially since the preservation of peace in Europe is his main object, and the policy of our Govern- ment is, as it ought to be, pacific also. But there is no occasion that we should act the part of his tools, and discountenance the Spanish Liberals. That we have done so hitherto, in accordance with the views—the thoroughly selfish and unprincipled views—of Louis PHILIP, is apparent. If it were not so, how does it happen that the real strength of the Juste Milieu in Spain has been so grossly exaggerated ?—that every account emanating from an of- ficial source has been calculated to induce the belief, that there were three great parties in that country, and that the policy of ZEA BERMUDEZ was agreeable to a large proportion of the Spanish nation ? It now appears that the late Ministers were absolutely destitute of support, except from Foreign Powers ; and that the Captains-General of their own appointment held them in sovereign contempt, and were resolved, at an early opportunity, to turn them out of office, with the hearty approbation of all ranks and classes.
The line of conduct adopted by Louis PHILIP in relation to Spanish affairs since the death of FERDINAND, is indicative of the real policy of the man. It is a matter of extremely little conse- quence to ascertain the opinions of his Ministers : for the French King is his own Minister, and possesses the talent and perseverance requisite to enable him to act upon his own policy. He is as abso- lute in his Cabinet as a pedagogue in his school ; and prescribes their respective lessons to SOULT, TRIERS, and DE BROGLIE, as he formerly did to the urchins whom he taught for an honest liveli- hood: All this is now thoroughly understood. Louis Plume looks at every great political question, or movement, with a single view to the stability or aggrandizement of his own family. The welfare or improvement of mankind he regards as of a very secon- dary importance : at least, he thinks that he knows best what is good for the people; and on this conceit, modified by a keen percep- tion of his own interest as a great capitalist and the founder of a dynasty, he acts. Such being the case, he must be a very simple politician who does not see the necessity of avoiding in the present state of the world, all cooperation in the peculiar schemes and po- licy of Louis PHILIP. For the benefit of the Juste Milieu system in France, our Government, it is feared, have been instrumental in propping up a miserable Juste Milieu in Spain ; and in so doing, have lent themselves to the promotion of Louis PH I LIP's schemes, in opposition not only to the Carlist and priest ridden, but to the enlightened and Liberal portion of the Spanish nation, who natu- rally looked to England for countenance. This discreditable pc- sition ought to be abandoned at once.
The Carlist insurrection in the North still gives trouble; but the principal towns remain in the hands of the Government Com- manders, and no battle of importance has been fought.
There are some very vague reports in the French papers respect- ing a conspiracy to assassinate the Queen Regent and her daughter, at Madrid, which was discovered on the 10th instant. No persons of distinction are suspected of being concerned in it; but some of the soldiers on guard at the Palace have been arrested.
