The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-18 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 13th state that General
O'Donnell, President of the Council, has fallen ill,
and has been subjected by his physicians to a course
of treatment at the thermal baths of Las Caldas. It
is alleged by the ministerial organs that the exami-
nation of the electoral lists has led to the disco'ery
that no fewer than 30,000 names were improperly
inscribed in them, and that this accounts for
the pretended majorities which the last two
Cabinets obtained. Some of the journals assert that
the law authorities have racently discovered that the
disturbances which took place last year in Andalusia
were got up by drench legitimists, who supplied
funds for the purpose ; but they give no proof of the
statement, and besides, it will be remembered that
these disturbances were of a republican and even a
socialist character. All the journals without ex-
ception of party treat as absurd the supposition,
emanating from the American press, that Spain can
ever think of ceding Cuba to the United States.
The Queen remained at Gijon, and the Duchess
d'Alba, sister of the Empress of the French, was in
attendance on her Majesty at that place. The
Discusion contains an article strongly recom-
mending the Government to make war on Mo-
rocco, in order to put down definitively the
pirates of the Riff, and to obtain a tract of territory
which shall enable it to found a large and fertile
colony. For sonic time past, journals of provincial
towns near the Mediterranean have been recom-
mending the same thing. A report from a gentle-
man, who lately visited the African coast, is published
in one of the Madrid papers. It says that the
fertility of that coast is remarkable ; that the inha-
bitants are much higher in the social scale than is
generally supposed, and that there appears to be little
or no feeling of hostility amongst them to the Spa-
niards. It then goes on to assert that the conquest
of part of Morocco would be comparatively easy for
Spain, especially at the present time, when civil war
is raging in that country, and when the Emperor
finds it difficult to reduce to his sway the tribes that
have risen in insurrection.

THE STRIKE OF THE COLLTERS.—Another large
open-air meeting was held yesterday at West Bromwich,
Staffordshire. Joseph Liuney presi 'ed. At the commence-
ment of the proceedings, which lasted two hours, during a
heavy rain, about 800 persons were present, but subsequently
this number was increased to 1,200. The speakers com-
plained very much of the "oppressive tyranny" to which
they were exposed by the but tes when the men were at work
underground. This seemed to be the chief grievance on
which the speakers dilated. Strong contrasts were made
between the colliers in Yorkshire and those of South Staf-
fordshire, and of the unity and comfort of the men in the
former district and the disunion and oppression among
themselves. A resolution was un3l i nou ly passed "to
stand out till the masters sent for there and also to
refuse to go to work at a pit near the place of meeting if
time men there now should refuse to work half-days any
longer. Colonel Hogg, the chief-constable, and Major
IVI ‘Knight, the deputy chief-constable of the county, were
present with a force in reserve of upwards of 80 men; but
the tone of the men was pacific, and as a body they seemed
to disapprove the strong language uttered on the previous
day, Allgtlat to@@tiug wpa hfid JAW IRO sight fit WiPtu_2!

BIRTHDAY OF THE DUCHESS OF KENT.

The anniversary of the birthday of her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Kent, who has attained her 72d year, was
celebrated at Windsor yesterday with a general holiday.
The bells of the Chapel Royal of St. George and St. John's
Church sent forth merry peals throughout the day. Royal
salutes were fired in the Long Walk, by her Majesty's bom-
bardier, also at Fort Belvidere, and from the Royal Adelaide
frigate on Virginia Water. For many years the birthday
of the royal duchess was celebrated by a revel in the
Bachelor's Acre, but on this occasion, in its stead, a grand
fête was given in the beautiful grounds of St. Leonardo, the
seat of Mr. Roberts. Convenient vehicles were engaged at
moderate prices for the conveyance of the holiday folk. At
the time the sports commenced 3,000 persons had assembled.
The amusements consisted of cricket, dancing, archery,
fsotball, quoits, trap and base ball, swinging, throwing
sticks for prizEs, &c. The full band of the Coldstream
Guards, Griffith's Quadrille Band, and the Albanian
Minstrels were also engaged. A triumphal arch, with flags
and the motto of " Welcome," was erected at the entrance of
the grounds. Tents were arranged in various parts of the
park, where refreshments were provided.
Her Majesty forwarded to the committee £lO lOs. towards
the expenses, the Prince Consort £5 55., H.R.H. the
Duchess of Kent £5 55.; Mr. Grenfell, M.P., £5 55.; Mr.
W. Vansittart, M.P., £5 ss. Mr. Vansittart came expressly
from Scotland to be present at this interesting gathering.
In the evening the town was brilliantly illuminated.