The existing Government of Spain, or rather the men who
call themselves Ministers, appear to be fast approaching the last stage of confessed incompetency. In Barcelona, their Captain-General IS cooped up in his own citadel, and their moat efficient leader draws back from the contest. The counter-revolution spreads. They dare not let Madrid know what Barcelona is doing ; but having as long as possible suppressed the news, they strive to garble it when it must be told. Plots against them are formed on every side. In that predicament, it is sup- posed that they are about to ask for foreign intervention ! On what plea? Unless paramount and dominant by their own strength, they are nothing. They are not appointed by any public body or party ; even the half-municipal revolutionary body that gave them a kind of appointment, the Junta of Barcelona, has revoked the grant. The Cortes, which can alone determine with some show of authority, has not met. A speedier mode of authenticating their pretensions would be afforded by a National Convention, or, as it is called in Spain, a Central Junta ; but that they do their best to prevent. They have not even clearly established their title as a de facto Government ; for their authority is disputed by their own countrymen, and they are but partially successful in maintaining the contest. They are nothing but a party of officers who nied, have broken into the public office15, contrive at present to remain there : but what. '".7Z1ext have they for asking any Foreign G°vernm.tZt force the country to keep them there ? They seem indeed scarcely to trust to their own project ; for they now ask the Spanish people, instead of having a Central Junta, to wait for the meeting of the Cortes; and they ask it at a time and in a manner as if the people were not very likely to comply.
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