The new q uarrel, however, is more formidable for Naples than
France. King Ferdinand held a review, and the Emperor Na- poleon sent certain officers of high rank to represent France at the military festival. For some reason, unexplained, the King wished• to avoid this compliment; and the detentions of quarantine were made the instrutuent of keeping the officers away. They returned home; and there is a " difference " between France and Naples, at present only in its early diplomatic stage. But it is the Government of Spain which appears to be in the most "ticklish" position. For some time past the Ministerial ar- rangements have been hampered by the necessity of consulting the interests of "a favourite,"—a young gentleman who is un- derstood to occupy a very equivocal position near the Queen; and this circumstance has recently been mentioned to account for the difficulties in the way of forming an efficient Ministry. The dis- organized state of finance, of political society, and of the official departments, was perhaps both cause and effect in producing a disorganization of the court. All this might have been tolerated, as such things have before been tolerated in the Spanish court; but it would appear that the requisite veil of discreet etiquette had not been kept over the irregular state of affairs; and public vexation has gradually swelled to overt anger and contempt, marked by very ugly signs,—opprobrious epithets stamped over the royal effigy on the coins, and cries of disrespect in the royal presence at the theatre. When a court thus becomes the object of open contempt, there is something more in prospect than a Minis- terial crisis.
