The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-25 00:00:00

SPAIN,

MADRID, MAY 18

The speech of .General Narvaez in .the Senate,
on the 16th, and especially the passage in which
he said that the Spanish nation was prepared for
the insurrection of Vicalvaro, by the abuses or
misconduct (desmanes) of the previous governments,
(thereby indicating the Cabinets headed by Bravo
Murillo, by Lersundi, and• by Sartorius). has caused
a great sensation here, and, of course, has greatly
irritated all the persons referred to in so uncom-
plimentary a manner. It is said that the Bravo
Murillo party and the Polacos will combine in a
fierce attack on the Government. General Ler-
sundi is denounced as mean-spirited if he conti-
nues in office after such a slur has been cast
upon him by the President of the Council. Senor
Moyano, the- Minister of Fomento, who was
but a very short time in office with Sartorius, may,
it is thought, pocket the affront—as he is said to
pocket a great many other things. I understand,
however, that Nartaez has offered his colleagues
some explanation on this subject, which he will.
probably give in the Senate to-day. It is generally
considered that he has been imprudent and has
gone too far, and people say that his approval of
the military insurrection of 1854 is equivalent to
turning his coat, to which act it certainly bears
some resemblance. His position was an extremely
embarrassing one ; and none but a .very
energetic course could have saved him. For this.
apparently, he did not feel strong enough. lie
could not please both parties; but it is a question
whether, by the course he has adopted. he has not
mortally displeased one, without conciliating the
other. That which he has offended comprises
some of the bitterest haters and most unscrupulous
noliticians in Spain—men perfectly relentless, and
who will stick at nothing. O'Donnell, on the other
hand—to assail whom those men have been whett-
ing their weapons for some time past, bent on sharp
cuts and home thrusts—may, if be be skilful,
now hold up Narvaez before him as a shield against
their blows, since the Premier has approved his
rebellion and justified it at the expense of his one
mies. O'Donnell has a good game if ho knows how
to play it.
Movements of troops in Catalonia indicate ap-
prehension§ of disturbances. There are seven
battlions at Barcelona.

' • 6 o'CLocK
In the Congress to-day the procceedings were of
little interest. Senor Gonzales Bravo read the
address in reply to the Queen's speech. The
Chamber rose early. The interest was con-
centrated on the Senate, whose doors were
besieged before and after their opening by crowds
of persons eager to get admittance. There was
a very full attendance of Senators, the galleries
were thronged, and the atmosphere was
suffocating, for to-day is the. first summer clay.
The early part of the discussion was of no great
interest, It related to General San Miguel's
amendment on the address. At last a Senator
gave up his turn of speaking to Gem O'Donnell,
who forthwith rose, and instantly all were hushed
in eager expectation. He said that he proposed
addressing a few questions to Narvaez, and pro-
ceeded at once.to do so, °Acing him if he had been
associated with him since 1552, if he was cognisant
of and ready to second the plans that O'Donnell
' carried out by his military insurrection of 185i—
leagued, in short, -with him (O'Donnell) in the
affair Nal vaez replied that he had not taken any
par tin the plans and movements, but did not say
that he had not been cognizant of them—rather
eluded, in short, that part of the question. He
then said that he took that opportunity of offering
some explanations with regard to the word desmanes
which he had used in his speech on Saturday, and
proceeded to soften it down, saying that it had
been interpreted in a different sense from that he
intended, and that he was ready to withdraw it, his
intention not being to wound.
O'Donnell then thanked the Duke of Valencia
for his defence! of him ou Saturday, adding that he