NEWS OF THE WEEK.
SPANISH affairs are likely to become still more confused, for the Cortes met again yiaterday, and three parties will engage in mortal struggle,—Castelar's, which is Federalist-Republican; Salmeron's, which is Unitarian-Republican ; and that of Pi y Margall, which is Cantonal-Republican. As Castelar has accom- plished no visible end with his dictatorship—has not put down the Carlists, has not taken Carthagena, and has not refilled the Treasury—it is supposed he will be defeated by Pi y Margall, Salmeron's followers abstaining, which is only too probable. In the latter event, a great effort will be made to declare Serrano President, with the army at his back, and perhaps Don Alfonso in his pocket ; but we hope for better things, viz., the support of Salmeron for Castelar, who, though he has not dared to tax the people, has formed an army, has avoided the imminent danger of losing Cuba, and will take Carthagena whenever he can get an Admiral bold enough to carry the Numancia ' by boarding. We are told on good authority that there is no danger of a military pronunciamiento, as the soldiers are Repub- licans; and that Castelar's most urgent trouble is to keep Moriones, who is a genuine Republican, within railway distance of the capital, where the Intransigentes are _raising their heads again. On the whole, and considering that Castelar has conciliated Rome, we should say he had the best chance.
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