The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-31 00:00:00

THE SUN, LOADON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 1864.

SPAIN.

MADRID, MARCH, 30.
The Epoca of to-day advocates the recognition of
the Kingdom of Italy by Spain.
Banquets continue to be given in honour of the
chiefs of the Progressist party, Senor Olozaga and
General Prim. The latest have taken place at
Sarragossa, Valencia, and Alicante.
The subjoined is from a Madrid letter :—" Some
English journals have attributed the last Ministerial
crisis to the influence of M. de Salamanca, and of a
sum of money which that wealthy banker is said
to have given at the palace. This is not precisely
true. My information on that subject is authentic,
and will, I believe, be read with interest. A short
time back the funds of the royal patrimony were
exhausted, and the Court was in urgent need of a
sum of 12,000,000 reels. The General Adminis-
trator, M. Goicoerrotea, at the desire of the Queen,
endeavoured to negotiate a loan, and, for that pur.
pose, applied
attotear, however,Spanis requiredh banker,
a an
interest grandee
oe ff Spain. The l
14 per cent. That rate, however, appeared so exor-
bitant that the negotiations were broken off. M.
Goicoerrotea then applied to Al. de Salamanca, who
at once placed the sum at the disposal of her Ma-
jesty. When the question of interest was men-
tioned the banker declared that his entire fortune
was at the disposal of the Queen without any in.
terest whatever, and it was only on the refusal of
her Majesty to accept the loan on such terms that
he consented to receive the rate paid on sums depo-
sited in the Caisse des Depots. Such is the truth
respecting the loan of money at the palace made by
M. de Salamanca." The writer then proceeds to
assign the real reasons for the change. The letter
says:—" The Queen-mother has a great desire to
return to Spain ; she has already made re-
peated attompts to obtain the consent of Queen
Isabella, her daughter. The King-consort is ener-
getically opposed to the return of Queen Christina,
but will not appear in the eyes of Spain and of
Europe to form an obstacle to it. I formerly men-
tioned that on a similar request being made by the
Queen-mother, Marshal O'Donnell, who was then
President of the Council of Ministers, being con-
sulted by Queen Isabella, replied, lam not opposed
to the return of the Queen-mother to Spain, only I
must declare to your Al"jesty that on the day on
which that return shall take place, I withdraw from
among the councillors of the Crown.' The King
had thus found a responsible representative, and
from that day became the most powerful supporter
at the palace of the Vicalvarists. The dissolution
of the Chambers, consented to by the Queen, was of
a nature to maintain the moderate party in power
indefinitely, and few months would have elapsed
without Queen Christina being authorised to re-
turn to Spain. It was necessary to prevent that
return, at any price, and from that fact arose the
sudden change in the dispositions of Queen Isabella
toward the Arrczala-Lersundi ministry. The
Liberal Union is now &one opposed to the return
of the Queen-mother, for Moderatists and Pro-
gressists are in accord now, in admitting that it no
longer presents any dangers."