The elevation of Narvaez to be Prime Minister of Spain
is no news. It has been long foreseen as the natural consequence of O'Donnell's coup d'etat. That mere soldier possessed enough capacity to undermine his colleague and superior, Espartero, but not capacity for maintaining his place as a substantive states- man. If throughout his occupation of office with Espartero he -w-ais planning to undermine his colleague, many who supported him did so on the calculation that he would only be the tool for replacing their real chief, Narvaez.
There have been reports respecting the patronage accorded to O'Donnell from Paris. A French journal was set up in Madrid, and a very ostentatious parade was made of the support which would be obtained for the author of the Spanish coup d'etat from the capital of Louis Napoleon. Some colour was given to these reports by the equally ostentatious preparation of the army of the frontier which Napoleon appointed to watch the course of events in Spain. All this agitation in France, however, was suffered to subside. The advocates of O'Donnell appealed to the bureaus of Paris and to the public in England, without effect, or without even so much as attention. No impediment whatever has been offered in France to the return of Narvaez; even Queen Christina is permitted to regain the capital in which she has intrigued so largely. It may be remembered that Narvaez has always been a protege of the French rather than otherwise : his manner of government is most in accordance with all which now prevails in France ; he has greater probabilities of success than O'Donnell ; and if Napoleon is to favour any party in 'Spain, it may be fully expected that he will bestow his favour on the statesman who is most likely to be successful. Spain cannot be of much importance to France, except as a source of embar- rassment in times of difficulty, and a source of very fractional support in times of tranquillity.
