Castekr, immediately on the departure of the Cortes, issued a
series of decrees restoring the rigour of military discipline by inflicting perpetual servitude or death for mutiny, suspending the Constitution, establishing universal passports for natives, placing the Press under a severe law—under which the smallest offence is punished by a fine of £20 —and reinstating the whole body of artillery officers. His Generals obtained some victories over the Carlists, the reserves have come in, and he has either obtained or is about to obtain some money in England, whither, it is stated, he also transmitted a proposal for the conversion of the debt. Anybody who surrendered his bonds of 100 for bonds of 40 would receive six per cent., but as this gives no new security for the remainder, it was at once rejected by the Com- mittee of Bondholders, who want, we imagine, conversion at 50, with some good security for the payment of the interest. Mean- while Spanish funds are going up, and it is reported that as the troops under the new law are returning to their duty, confidence at home begins to revive. Note also that the Carlists, having little money, are requisitioning sharply, and that at Alcira a band of 120 were defeated and 110 taken prisoners by the people themselves.
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