The Spanish Court is not merciful. It is quite fair
that the leader of insurgents at Cartagena should be shot, for he killed a General, and, unless they are Irishmen, revolutionists every- where stake their heads ; but the sentence on Don Enrique de Bourbon is too cruel. He was refused an audience of the Queen. Regent, and was exceedingly insolent in consequence ; and he has been sentenced to dismissal from his military command, and eight years' imprisonment. Insolence in an officer towards the Sovereign is mutiny, and mutiny deserves punishment ; but one year's imprisonment would have met the justice of the case. The Prince was hopelessly in the wrong; but he only used words in the guard-room, and the long sentence is vindictively cruel. We quite admit the necessity of defending the Regent from displays of military insubordination ; but the next man who ventures on insolence will be compelled also to venture on an insurrection.
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