The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-15 00:00:00

" To THE MONTPENSIERISTS.

" My honour calls me to break silence since the Duke
of Montpensier has arrived in Madrid, and has been
treated -as if he were a conquering hero to whose car we
were all bound to attach ourselves.
" There is a 'malevolent calumny which makes the
coronation .of Antonio I. by the distinguished General
Prim depend on the deposit of the army tax
with him for payment of service. It was not neces-
sary for the illustrious President of the Council of Mini-
sters to proclaim on his honour that which no one was
ignorant of, that- the gains of Montpensier had not
been forgotten. Where does there live, he asks, a
more decided political enemy of the French Duke? He
has a profound distrust for his person, a sentiment which is
justified by his political buffoonery and experienced by
all honest men in general, and by all good Spaniards in
particular." Don Henry then proceeds to attack
the Duke personally, declaring that he is a
Jesuit like his grandfather whose infamous .con-
duct is clearly described in the history of France.
What, he • asks, do the mercenaries say ? That
Montpensier is a rainbow of peace, from the God of good-
ness. May the blood which has flowed in his time, and
which will flow before his complete disappearance
be upon the head of the pretender ! • The liberalism
of Montpensier is due to his anxiety to be king, and
merits the terrible lesson which will be imposed by the
justice' of an indignant nation. "I am a Spaniard,"
continues. Don Henry, and I have the noble sentiments
of mf country. In 1808 my father provoked the
rising of the valiant people of Madrid, when there was
an armed invasion of our country.. To-day there is
another invasion, hypocritical, jesuitical, and or-
ganised 'by the Orleanists against us. Montpensier
represents the Orleanist conspiracy against the Emperor
Napoleon 111. a conspiracy, in which certain Spaniards
entered. If by these conspirators of France and Spain
the imperial dynasty should fall, it would not be the
heritage of Orleans, but of Rochefort, or, what is the
same, of the French Republic." In conclusion he refers to
the illustrious Espartero, who is a man of prestige, and the
object pf the national veneration, having nothing of the
manner of a vain French pastry-cook.
Don Henry, who •is brother of the • ex-King
Consort, has lately identified himself with the extreme Re-
publicanparty. It will be remembered that some time since
Don Henry published another very long letterin the Epocrs,
describing several interviews he had had with Isabella 11.
His last letter plainly styled the Duke " coward and
traitor," and accordingly the Duke thought himself
bound to demand satisfaction, either in the form
of a duel or of a public apology. Don Henry chose the
latter, and chose a doctor and a Republican journalist for
his seconds. The Duke of Montpensier selected two
generals in the army, and the meeting took place near Alarcon
on the outskirts of Madrid. The two adversaries drew lots
for the first shot, and Don Henry de Bourbon was the
winner. The two stood at a distance of ten metres and
fired. There was no result. They then placed themselves
at nine metres. They came one metre nearer. Don
Henry fired first, but missed. The Duke of
Montpensier then fired and shot his adversary under the
left ear. Don Henry fell stone dead. The Duke, it is
said, was quite calm during the fight, but after it was
over he was so much affected that he had to be twice.
bled.