The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-18 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid Gazette of the 12th contains an
account of the reception by the Queen of the Mar-
quis de Turgot, ex-French ambassador, to present
his letters of recall, as stated by telegraph. Ad-
dressing her Majesty, he observed :—" He had
solicited the honour of an audience to present his
letters of recall, and at the same time to thank her
Majesty for the constant kindness be had received

at her Majesty's hands during the six years of his
diplomatic functions, and for her benevolent sup-
port in the execution of his duties under difficult
circumstances. He congratulated her Majesty
on the proofs of respect, love, and monarchical ,
spirit which she had received in her recent
progress through the country. He should
retire with his heart filled with the deepest grief,
but yet at the same time animated by flattering
hopes in the prospects of the Spanish nation. In
conclusion, he begged her Majesty to pardon the
strong emotion he felt at thus addressing her for the
last time, and he prayed Heaven for her health,
and for the glory and prosperity of her kingdom."
The Queen made a most gracious reply :
" Her Majesty expressed regret that M. de
Turgot was to leave the kingdom so soon. The
qualities which adorned him, his zeal and prudence
in the discharge of his duties, had gained him her
particular esteem and the good opinion of the public.
She would have been extremely sorry had she not
had an opportunity thus to express most solemnly
her remembrance of his noble conduct. She
thanked him for the allusion he had made to her
journey through the provinces, where, she said,
the love manifested towards her and her chil-
dren had deeply moved her, and would never he
effaced from her memory, especially as she was
profoundly convinced of the absolute conformity
of feelings and desires between her loyal subjects
and herself. May you be happy !' said the Queen,
in conclusion. Be assured of my esteem, and the
interest I take in your welfare !' " A royal decree in
the Gazette enacts that all steamers plying regularly
between the ports of the isle of Cuba and any of the
ports of the United States of North America are to
enjoy the same privileges as the English royal mail
steamers, with liberty to carry six tons of mer-
chandise without paying lighthouse duties for
them. It is believed, it appears, that this decree
will tend to diminish the continual misunderstand-
ings which have prevailed between the captains of
American vessels and the Cuban custom-house
authorities, and which have created considerable
ill-feeling. Another decree authorises the con-
struction of an aqueduct in Cuba to convey water
from the Vento springs to the town of Havannah.
The Government intends in the approaching
session of the Cortes to present various decentrali-
sation measures—that is to say for restoring to
municipalities and provincial councils some of the
authority they formerly possessed ; also one for
organising the Council of State, so as to give it
power to frame bills to be presented to the Cortes.
The Madrid journals of the llth repeat positively
an announcement which is not without import-
ance—viz., that a revision of the tariffs in a liberal
spirit is to take place. The Pope's Nuncio had
given a farewell dinner to the Marquis de Turgot.
At the electoral meetings which had been held,
M. Escosura, the ex-Minister, and chief of the party
of the puros (ultra Progressists), had delivered
speeches which are stated to have been
rather violent. The review of the 10th, in
honour of the Queen's 28th birthday, was a
very grand affair. The troops were commanded
by Gen. O'Donnell, brother to the Premier. The
latter was also on the ground, surrounded by a
brilliant staff, and accompanied by a great number
of general officers, among whom were nearly all the
Progressista generals, whose names stand high in
the military history of the country, or who
figured on the political scene in the time of
the regency of Marshal Espartero. During the
day distributions of money and provisions
were made to the poor in all the districts of Madrid
by order of the Queen, and the inmates of the
hospitals and asylums were feasted. By royal
decree a certain number of poor students are to
receive their diplomas without paying the duties.
The reception held by the Queen was numerously
; and brilliantly attended. At night the Queen gave
a ball, which was very magnificent.