The marriage of King Alfonso of Spain has, it is
stated, been arranged. He is to marry his cousin, the Infanta Mercedes, daughter of the Duke de Montpensier. The marriage is not popular, as the Duke is so hated that he has agreed, when it has once taken place, to retire to Bologna, and live for the future out of Spain ; but the King insists on it, according to some accounts out of affection for his cousini—acoording to others, in pursuance of promises given before he became King, when the Duke de Montpensier's help was considered indispens- able. The matter is of little importance to Europe, as the Duke de Montpensier can never mount the French throne, but it seems to create extraordinary interest in Spain, and is held, on the whole, to improve the prospects of the Republicans. The hatred to the Duke de Montpensier, as an intriguer who cares for nothing but money, is as deep as the hatred for the Duke of Cumberland once was in Great Britain.
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