The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-21 00:00:00

SPAIN.

We are only gradually arriving at the knowledge
of the incidents which really preceded the fall of
the Espartero Ministry, and which led to the out-
break which followed in Madrid. Owing to the
interruption of communication, as is usual in such
cases, and the difficulty of obtaining information,
it is possible that some errors have been committed
which it is useful to rectify.
It appears that the words spoken by M. Escosura
in the Cortes with reference to the right of insur-
rection were not solely the cause of the course fol-
lowed by General O'Donnell. Information from
Madrid, dated the 14th, proceeding from a good
source, states that it had been complained for some
time past that the Carlist journals of Madrid and
the provinces, and those of the reactionary party
generally, had assumed a violence towards the
Government which threatened to endanger public
tranquillity again, as they had already in part
led to the outrages in Castille and Leon. The
subject had occupied the attention of the Go-
vernment, and two days previous to the fall of
the Cabinet the question was discussed whether
it had not become absolutely necessary to adopt
certain measures of restriction. The proposi-
tion in favour of these restrictions was at once
strongly opposed by no less a person than General
O'Donnell. This excited surprise among his col-
leagues. Had General O'Donnell been a man of a
tolerant character—had he ever felt or seriously
manifested any great regard for political or indivi-
dual liberty—if he were a man likely to accept
the advantages of publicity for the great bene-
fits which in the long run it confers on society—
had he over held any other opinion than that
sociei y should b 3 coerced like an army in war time
—his opposition to restriction would surprise no
one. Be this as it may, O'Donnell opposed the
measure. The Ministers had discussed Escosura's
proposition for two days, and it was adopted by
all of them, with the single exception of O'Don-
nell, who, on the evening of the 14th, made a pro-
position in turn—namely, that Escosura should be
ejected from the Cabinet. Having expressed him-
self thus, he abruptly snatched up his hat, went
home, and, feigning illness, betook himself to
bed. The other Ministers, anticipating that
the moment for executing the project which
it was evident O'Donnell and his friends had
been long concocting had arrived, con-
sulted together some time, and Espartero, by
their advice, followed by O'Donnell, persuaded him
to leave his bed, and succeeded in bringing him
back to the Council-room. It may be observed
that the official residences of the two Ministers aro
close to each other. O'Donnell once more made
his appearance, bat it was to demand still more
vehemently than before the expulsion of his col-
league. The question was put to the vote, and
O'Donnell's proposition was unanimously rejected,
as unfounded and uncalled for. In circumstances
of great emergency like the present it is the prac-
tice in Spain, when constitutionally governed, to
call in the President and Vice-President of the
Chambers to aid with their counsel the Govern-
ment and the Sovereign. General Infante, the
President, was summoned, with his Vice-President,
to attend the council. The matter was once more
discussed, and, after everything for and against
was advanced, they again put it to the vote, when
the President of the Cortes, though believed to be
a friend of O'Donnell, and the Vice-President gave
their decision against him.
In the meantime Escosura placed his resignation
in the hands of Espartero as President of the
Council. Espartero asked if General O'Donnell
was ready to do the same, as announced. The
latter sulkily replied that he should hand it him-
self to the Queen. Espartero thereupon suggested
that the Ministers should go together to the Pa-
lace and hold a council, with her Majesty presid-
ing in person. This passed on the night of the
13th. The Ministers proceeded to the Palace at
1 o'clock, and remained in council till 4 in the
g
morning. Contrary to the opinion of all her Mini-
sters, exceptin , of course, O'Donnell, the Queen
decided that Escosura should quit the Cabinet, and
that she would not accept O'Donnell's resignation.
Eipartero, who was determined that Escosura
should not be sacrificed alone, but that O'Donnell
should also retire, informed the Queen that in such
case he himself and the whole of his colleagues
would also resign. The Queen said a few words
expressive of regret, but accepted the collective
resignations, and on the spot named O'Donnell
President of the Council, with power to form a
now Cabinet. Such is the correct version of what
took place so far as the fall of the Cabinet is con-
cerned.
All this took place at 4 o'clock in the morning.
O'Donnell at once took precautions to maintain by
force what he had done, and before 11 o'clock the
same morning he had under arms a body of 14,000
men and 60 pieces of artillery in Madrid and around
the walls of Madrid.
At half-past 5 o'clock in the eve ling the mom-
bers of the Cortes who were still in Madrid assem-
bled to express their opinion on the new Ministry.