The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-19 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 14th contain nothing
of political interest. A telegraphic despatch from
Madrid announced the promulgation of the consti-
tution of 1845, accompanied by " additional
act" making certain modifications in it. A Madrid
letter gives the following account of- these modifi-
cations :

"In a reply to the 'Queen, the Ministers labour to
show that, by the convocation and election of the Con-
stituent Cortes in 1854, the Senate which then existed
was legally dissolved, and that consequently the revival
of the constitution at that time in force,does not revive
the Senate. A new Senate mast therefore be formed,
and they propose that, as the number of the old one,
350, was excessive, the new one shall consist at the begin.
ning of only 140 members, but that the Queen shall
have the power of increasing the number. q'ney propose
that the senators shall, as in the dissolved Senate, be
nominated for life ; also that they shall be chosen from
the high dignitaries of the church, diplomacy, justice,
and administration, from the chiefs of -the army, and
from the most remarkable men 'of the constitutional
parties, and that the choice shall Ito be made as not to
exclude moderate Progressists. An abusiie employment
having been made by pzevious governments of the
privi-
lege of creating senators, the ministers propose that
nomi-
nations shall henceforth no longer be made by batches,'
bci place
controlled
during the
and that, moreover, they shall only take
session of the Cortes, so that they may
the opinion of Parliament. The 'additional act' b
Y
further
proposes that the Cortes shall assemble every year,
and that their session shall last at 'least
four but that the Crown shall have the power topnirenrongtiume
and dissolve them, subject, however, the condition of
their sitting the four months.
organisation of municipalities and provincial councils,
the Ministers represent that the constitution of 1837
gave these bodies too much pbwer,
and that they made
ae undue use of it, but that the constitution of 1845, on
them
the other hand, deprived
of almost all their power
and placed them under the domination of the Govern-
ment. The 'additional a
t
visions for avoiding accordingly, contains .pro-
these twoe' extremes,. and 'one of the
most important of theme is that 'electors shall freely
choose a list of several
sons for mayor, and that the
Government shall select of them. The nomination
of mayors is a matter of great gravit y in. Spain, and it
was for having transferred it from the ple to the
Government that the revolution of Is4o:apgainst Queen Christina tookf place. As regards the press,fihe 'addi-
tional act' declares that the principle to be adopted must be
to guarantee to journalists their intiependende and dig•
but, at the same time, to prevent theriritrom com-
mitting abuses, and especially from .attaeking the in.
Violability of the Crown, and the legithnittritteroise of

the authority of the government ; but the act, leaves
matters of detail to be settled by a special law."

The Austrian Gazette says learn froui
good auto ority that the directors of the Credit In.
stitution Leave authorised preparatory measures for
promptly opening branch establishments, Par'
titularly in Hungary ; for making advances on.
merchandise ; for forziing an insurance office, and
fur taking into consideration all the propositions
having for c'bject to found industrial establish-
ments, working of mines, and manufactories for
the constnletitm of machines."

A letter fr:ol:4' Galatz says :—"The Austtisu
government appNea.-% to have the intention of giving
more importance to its consular agency at' Bvraila!
and the vice-consui ha.% accordingly been proided
with the assistance of a-dice-chancellor. European
governments, generally Bp6sking, are beginning t°
recognise the importance of the port of Braila g
those of Belgium and 'Man d have 'recently,estab.
lished consulates there."

It appears certain that the llatperor of `Austria
(says a Paris letter in the Indtpendance pf Br's"
sels) will extend his visit in Italy as. far ens i Ee;
his
The Milan journals themselves have given
news, and add that the Austrian AmbaSsador (1.5
Rome is causing his palace to h e decorated for hi
Majesty's reception, It is to be ptesuined Oa,
the King of Naples will seize :he oppoitunity
rater.
visiting the Papal States in order' to haveau
Tiew with the Emperor."

An official bulletin of the 13th states that the
Duchess of Parma is still labouring under an sal,"
quinsey, but that since the fifth day a perceptiwe
improvement has taken place.