POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
The discussion in the Spanish Congress on the marriage question closed on Saturday evening. The opposition was maintained by very few mem- bers; most notably by Senor Pacheco, the "leader of the Conservative op- position," and Senor Orense, the only Progresista member present. The latter summed up by saying, "that the entire press was opposed to the Montpensier marriage; that the will of the nation was opposed to it; and that by it Spain was deeply injured in her interests." He then moved "that the discussion should not be closed until all who had expressed a desire to be beard on the question should have spoken." This was put to the vote, and rejected.
After some further remarks, the Deputies again called out to have it put from the chair, " whether the question had been sufficiently discussed." It was decided in the affirmative, by 97 votes against 66.
Senor Orense demanded that the Address should be voted in two parts— that of the Queen's marriage first, and then that of her sister. Accordingly, the first paragraph, relative to the marriage of the Queen, was put to the vote. It was approved of by 178 Deputies; the whole number present, with the exception of Senor Vidaondo, representative of the Absolutist party; who left the Chamber without voting. The paragraph relative to the marriage of the Infanta with the Duke de Montpensier, was voted by 158 members; the whole number present, ex- cepting Senor Orense; who voted against it.
The difference between the number voting in favour of the Queen's mar- riagisand that of her sister, was twenty-one; and this was made up of the Peptides who refused to approve of the latter marriage, but who left the Chamber without voting. At the head of this number was Senor Pacheco, and the others of the same party who had taken a share in the discussion. It was then agreed that the Deputies in a body should wait on the Queen, on a day to be named by her, and present the Address just voted. The Bitting was closed by a cry of " Viva la Rayner
The Madrid correspondent of the Times analyzes the vote on the Mont- pensier marriage. The analysis, however, must be taken with some quali- fying doubts; as the writer is a strong partisan against the marriage, and of course tries to make out as bad a case as he can-
" There are at this moment 198 Deputies in Madrid; 178 only voted on the Queen's marriage; consequently, 20 remained away from the Chamber, in order not to vote in favour of Diontpensier. Those, with the 21 who left the Chamber without voting, and the two, Orense and Vidaondo, who voted against, make 41 opponents of the Montpensier marriage. From 35 to 38 Deputies, who would have also refused to vote with the Government for a French Prince, have been obliged to remain in the provinces, either through illness or occupation; say 36, which added to 41 makes 77 members hostile to the French alliance: 158 mem- bers voted with Ministers; of these 158, 120 are employes, or in some shape or other depend on the Minister. Several of them depend for their very existence on the crumbs flung to them from the Ministerial side-table. Deducting those who have no other means of gaining a livelihood except in the way mentioned, there are exactly 38 Deputies who have the slightest pretensions to independence on the side of Ministers. A majority of nearly 40 independent members results against the Montpensier marriage."
Later accounts from Madrid state that the discussion in the Senate on the Royal Message was brought to a close on the 19th instant: that the Address was unanimously voted by the 114 members present.
The Duke de Montpensier, as a bridegroom, has addressed a letter to the French Ministerof Public Instruction, preferring the request that, in accord- ance with previous custom in the ease of his brothers, eight days additional holyday may be granted to the pupils of the different Colleges of the Uni- versity: this is taken as removing all doubt that the marriage is to proceed. Respecting the movements of the Count de Montemolin and his party, the Daily News says- " Notwithstanding what is said in the English .papers of the arrival of the Count in London, and some letters asserting his having reached the coast of Spain, the French Government appears ignorant as to his real movements. It appears that the escape of the Carlist Pretender was prepared by the Marquis de Homey.— that impetuous Peer who gives so much trouble to Duke Pasquier in the Upper Charober,—and it was from his country place near Bourges that the Count Monte- molin started for Paris after dinner.
" It is now ascertained that an extensive plan to promote a Carlist conspiracy in France has been some time in operation, and that it would not have been imme- diately carried into execution had not the occasion presented itself on the an- nouncement of the Montpensier marriage. Several chiefs of the party have been arrested at Bordeaux, whilst making preparations to effect their escape."
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