and respect their new king, to whom the country is already so greatly indebted, and who, with a heart profoundly moved, but with manly courage, in humble dependence on the aid and support of God Almighty, has accepted from our hands the crowns of the Netherlands, Luxemburg, and Limburg, to be from this day forward, possessed by him and his legitimate successors, in consequence of the solemn act of our voluntary resignation and transfer, which is, through our care, deposited in the archives of the kingdom and the grand duchy, there to be laid up and preserved. The same day appeared a proclamation by the new king, headed as follows:-"We, William II., by the grace of God, king of the Netherlands, prince of Orange Nassau, grand duke of Luxemburg," &c., in which he announced the principles by which he intended to be guided in assuming the reins of government. Impressed with the importance of the duties now incumbent on me, I enter upon the government with a firm resolution to neglect nothing, that with the Divine blessing, may promote the happiness of the people, and the glory of the kingdom. "In the career on which I enter, the fundamental law, that sheetanchor of the liberty and happiness of the Netherlands, shall be my constant guide, as I shall confirm by a solemn oath on my inauguration in the capital. my revered and beloved father, then the king and people, strong by union, and trusting in the assistance of the Most High, may look with confidence to the future, "Such, my beloved countrymen and subjects, are my wishes and my expectations at this moment, which is so solemn and important to us all. My actions shall, with God's help, confirm my words, and as it has been vouchsafed to me to contend with the sword for the independence of the Netherlands, I will henceforth devote to it all my faculties." Soon after this event the exking was privately married to the countess d'Oultremont. HANOVER. On the 13th of April the king received, in a solemn audience, a deputation of the assembly of the estates of the kingdom, who presented an address expressing their gratitude to his majesty for having presented to the estates the draught of a constitution in which most of the enactments which had been formerly asked by the estates, were adopted. The king returned the following answer to the address: "I thank you for the address which you have presented to me. This address is a real comfort to me, that the estates will endeavour to attain the object to which the wishes of all good Hanoverians are directed. I am convinced by your assurance that you will lose no time, and will spare no pains, to complete this work. I can with truth assure you that it does not "But that I may attain this contain a chapter, a paragraph, or great object, the promotion of the a sentence which has not been welfare, and the prosperity of the carefully considered and discussed, country and the people, I shall You must know that I am not need the confidence, the love, and perfectly master of the German the fidelity of my subjects; may Inguage, therefore I must closely enjoy them to the same extent as examine and comprehend every thing, that I may be able to sign my name to it. You know that I am a man of my word-what I say I promise to keep. I can assure you I have but one object-the happiness and prosperity of the country, and I never had any other. You know the fidelity of the Hanoverian. I have always placed the greatest confidence in the country. Unhappily some bad persons are everywhere met, but the mass is good and honest. I feel as if a stone is taken from myheart by hearing what you say to me. I am now certain that we shall obtain our object." PRUSSIA. On the 7th of June, Frederick William III., king of Prussia, expired at Berlin, and was succeeded by his son, Frederick William IV., the present monarch. On the 17th of the same month the latter communicated to his subjects two documents, both in the handwriting of his deceased father, and which had been placed in his hands by the late king on the day of his death. The one was headed "my last will," and the other commenced with the words "On you my dear Frederick, the burden of the government now comes They were both dated 1st December, 1827. The "will" breathes the spirit of the most affectionate regard for his family, and alludes to the death of his first wife (the beautiful and gifted Louisa Augusta, princess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, so harshly treated by Napoleon after the battle of Jena), who departed in 1810, in the following terms. By the same decree of God, I have had to undergo heavy and hard trials, as well as in what personally concerned me, especially when, seventeen years ago, he deprived me of that which was the dearest to me, as by the events which so heavily afflicted my dear country. But, on the other hand, God (eternal thanks to him for it!) has permitted me to live to witness glorious and happy events. Among the first, I reckon, above all, the struggles gloriously endured in 1813, 1814, and 1815, to which the country owes its restoration." Amongst the latter, the good old king considers the attachment and prosperity of his children, and the affectionate love of his second wife, given him by Providence in his "fifth decennium." In the accompanying paper, addressed to his son, were general maxims of advice as to the principles on which he should endeavour to govern his country. He thus speaks from his grave. "Your principles and feelings are a security to me that you will be a father to your subjects. Beware, however, of the love of innovation, now so general; beware of impracticable theories, so many of which are now in vogue; but, at the same time, beware of an almost equally fatal, obstinate predilection for what is old; for it is only by avoiding these two shoals that really useful changes proceed. The army is now in a remarkably good condition, since its re-organization it has fulfilled my expectations; as in war, so also in peace. May it never lose sight of its high destination, but may the country likewise never forget what it owes to it. Do not neglect to provide for, as far as lies in your power, concord among all the European powers; but, above all, may Prussia, Russia, and Austria, never separate from each other. Their union is to be regarded as the keystone of the great European alliance." On publishing these two documents, the new king says, in his official communication of them to the minister of state, that he is resolved, with the help of God, to walk in his father's ways. "Let my people pray with me for the preservation of the blessings of peace, that precious jewel which he gained for us by the sweat of his brow, and cherished with truly parental care. This I know, should that jewel ever be in danger, which God forbid, my people will rise up, like one man, at my call, as his people did at his call." CHAPTER XII. SPAIN. Opening of the Cortes by the Queen Regent-Royal SpeechTumultuous scene in the Chambers-Interference of the MilitaryMadrid declared in a state of Siege-Suppression of the disordersElection of M. Isturitz as President of the Chamber-Address voted after discussion-Resignation of Ministers of Marine, Interior and War-Construction of new Ministry-Mr. Aston new Ambassador from England-Successes of the Queen's troops against the Carlists in the North-Balmaseda and Cabrera cross the frontier and enter France-Carlist leaders taken prisoners and shot-The Queen Regent and her Daughter visit Barcelona-Disturbances break out there, their cause-Views of Espartero-Change of Ministry-New Cabinet-Municipality Bill receives the Royal Assent, and Espartero sends in his resignation-State of public feeling on the question of the Ayuniamentos-Proposals made to the Queen Regent by her Ministry She rejects them, and they resign-Another Cabinet is constructed Dissolution of the Cortes-Fresh resignations of Ministers-Serious Insurrection at Madrid-Formation of a self-constituted Junta at Madrid-The Queen Regent attempts to form another Cabinet and fails-Conduct of the Madrid Junta-State of parties in SpainEspartero forms a new Ministry-Question of a divided RegencyThe Queen Regent dissents from the views of Ministers, and formally abdicates the Regency-Manifesto by Espartero-Queen Christina retires into France-Conduct of the new Regency-Queen Christina issues a manifesto from Marseilles-Counter-manifesto by the Provisional Regency-Ärrival and reception of the Queen-mother in Paris -Question of the navigation of the Douro. PORTUGAL-Opening of the Cortes-Royal Speech-Dissolution of Cortes-Revolutionary attempts and mutiny of Troops of the line at Castello Branco and the fortress of Marvao-Manifesto of the Insurgent Chiefs-Proclamation by the Queen Donna Maria-Colonel Miguel A. da Souza is shot by his own soldiers and the mutiny ceases-The disaffected officers retire into Spain-Accouchement of the Queen-Question of British claims to compensation for losses sustained during the Portuguese civil war. NAPLES-History of the Sulphur monopoly-Remonstrance of British Government-Duplicity of the Court of Naples-Arrival of Mr. Temple, the British Ambassador- Resignation and exile of Prince Cassaro, the Minister for Foreign Affairs-Legal opinions upon the question of the Sulphur contract or Monopoly-Neapolitan Vessels captured by British ships of War-Mediation of France for the settlement of the quarrel-Abortive attempt at revolution in Sicily. TH were HE Spanish Cortes opened on the 18th of February, and the queen regent Christina seated beside her daughter, read from the throne the speech which was presented to her by the president of the council. It was a long and not very important document. It commenced by an assurance that the relations between Spain and foreign powers were on the most satisfactory footing. The king of the Low countries had recognized the rights of Isabel II. "In the Peninsula," to give the words of the speech, "the greatest part of the provinces taste the sweets of peace, and reap abundantly and with public expressions of gratitude the fruits of the memorable treaty of Bergara.* "The greatest portion of our military forces, now concentrated in Lower Arragon, is preparing for new triumphs, which I confidently expect from their valour and discipline, as well as from the intrepidity of their general-in-chief. In the meanwhile, the provinces of Gallicia, Toledo, and Ciudad Real are pacified, and if, to my great regret, others do not enjoy the same blessing, my government has devised the measures necessary for the attainment of that so anxiously desired result. "After a disastrous war of seven years, the finances are not in so prosperous a condition as might be wished. We still possess, it is true, immense resources, sufficient to retrieve the credit of the nation, and to leave unimpaired its good faith, which never belied itself. "The great work of pacification being thus far advanced, it is indispensable to initiate the nation in the knowledge of the advantages See vol. 81, p. 394. of the constitutional system, by means of laws, which being in perfect harmony with the constitution of the state, will give force and energy to the government, as well as pledges and guarantees for the preservation of order and public tranquillity. "With this important view the government intends submitting to you various projects of law, of which the urgency and gravity are generally admitted. Such are the laws which will place the provincial deputations and municipalities in accord with the tenour and spirit of the constitution in vigour; that necessary to correct the defects which experience has pointed out in the electoral law: that which, without curtailing in the slightest manner the liberty of the press, will oppose a barrier to its abuses; that which has for its object to guarantee both the security and dignity of religion and the maintenance of the clergy, without overlooking the sad position of the secularized nuns and friars; that for the organization of the council of state, in order that it may serve as a beacon and guide to the crown; and, finally, the legislative measures required for the administration and the national navy, ever worthy of the liveliest solicitude, and other objects of equal importance." As soon as the session was opened for the commencement of business, a scene of confusion and violence followed, which led to military interference. The party of the Exaltados, who constituted the opposition, found that they were much weaker in the new Cortes than either they or the ministerialists had anticipated. They resorted, therefore, to the same plan as that adopted by the Jacobins in |