The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-05 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, May 4.
Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess. Louise,
walked and di ove in the grounds this morning.
The other members of the Royal Family also
went out.

MARSHAL NARVAEZ.

(From a Correspondent.)

Alas ! Spain has just lost her greatest man--
I,abel her noblest, truest subject. A brave soldier,
the.very soul of honour. Rainoni Maria Narvaez,
the son of au ancient house, has been snatched aw'Y
too soon from the affection of his friends, and, I
will dare to say it, the grateful lover of his Queen
—he
.whom to many battles left unscathed—has
fallen a victim to a sudden illness—au attack 00
chi lungs.
Narvaez was the second son of Dr. Jose Narvaez,
of Loxa, near to Grenada. His family are of the
oldest nobility, as those conversant with the his-
tory of Andalucia well know. His mother,
Donna Ramona Campos, was from the same town,
and equally noble. The hero of our present notice
was born at Loxa, about the beginning of this cen-
tury, so he was too young to have shared in the
great war of the Independence, which ended by the
expulsion of the French, and the return of Ferdi-
nand I. in 1813. He, however, entered the Royal
Guard when very young, and served with
honour his Ting, showing great bravery, as
well as much firmness of character, 00
certain trying occasions. Even when very young
he showed 'signs of his love for a Constitutional
form of Goyernment when absolutism was rife in
Spain, and his after life never belied these first
instincts. lie was always a loyal and faithful ser-
vant of the Queen, and from the beginning of the
Carlist war he bravely defended the Infant Queen.
Although something of a Martinet in service he was
liked by the soldiers and officers under him. He
was unflinching where duty was concerned. His-
tory will recouut his glorious pursuit of the Carlist
General Gomez from one extremity of the Peninsula
to the other in 1836. Although as yet he meddled
little in politics he was always considered the head
of the party called Moderados, against the very
demoralising Liberals, with their chieftains EsPar-
tero, Mendizabel Olzago, and others. His first act
on getting into political power on his return from
France in 1843, after the downfall of the Regent
and his clique, was to do his best to reorganise the
religious questions, by promoting a just arrangement
the terrible violation of all right and justice which
had been practised wholesale against the Church
and the properties of the religious orders. No one
can ever accuse Narvaez of being either a Zelot or
a Puritan ; but he knew his fellow-country people,
andthis knowledge convinced him Spain could never
be aught but Catholic, so he placed these questions
as far as possible on a proper footing ; and when in
1846 the present Pontiff was elected a renewal Of
diplomatic relations between Rome and Madrith
followed. Pius the Ninth recognised the foot-lights
of Isabel the 11. to her father's kingdom, which
her brave soldiers had defended in her name agains"...
the usurping claims of her uncle, Don Carlos, during
the sad years of civil war, caused by the preten-
sions of the latter. Not even his greatest enemies
can accuse arvaez of any of those acts of cruelty
which unfortunately stained the good name of some
of the Carlist and even the Christian generals;
will not specify any one nor any particular thing to
avarice, paining the feelings of some yet living;
Fortunately. for Spain Narvaez succeeded in 1841'
in establishing order both in Church and State,
and the battle at Arday, near the gates of Madrid,
confirmed him in his power; he then applied hilly
self and his great talents to reorganising every
branch of the administration ; he happily succeeded
therein, and never can it be said of him, not ell
in the most astonishing heights of his power., that
he ever forgot the duty and obedience he oared the
Queen ; never did he dare to place a foot on th°
throne ; neither by a silly act of uncourteousncss
breaking through ancient palace etiqette drive
his carriage through the palace square, as did
Espartero when Regent; neither did beever allow
tibuself to threaten his Sovereign, as did O'Donnell:
No, Narvaez was the Bayard of Spain in the 19th
century. His energy was seen during the sal days
if 1848, when all Europe was in confusion; and when
revolution stalked abroad, he boldly decided °a
obliging the English Minister, then at Madrid's
Sir Lytton Bulwer—to take his passports and Pas
the frontiers in 24 hours, thereby securing public
tranquillity, and the English Government ere
obliged to silently accept his decision. But after
an interval of about two years Lord Howclell
came to Madrid, where, by his tact and
judgment, he soothed all difficulties. Narvaez'
=luring the periods of his not being in power, lived
mostly in Paris, where ho was universally esteem f
for his kindliness and hospitality, to say nothing °f
the splendid way in which he represented his G°..
vernment when employed as ambassador. His d;g:.
interestedness was proverbial : ever ready to lend 7
helping hand to old friends, he did not dispose °f
the Government influence in favour of his familf.°r
relations. His tact and clear-sightedness in affsiro
t
was very peculiar, nor did he seem less II
home in his place in the Senate than in the can3l7"
He was a real genuine Spaniard, with all the lm3;
petuous warm-heartedness of the Andalay, free Irej
all affectation and restraint, beloved by all.
plan
lie married, just before the events of 1843 r
him on the pinnacle of power, Mademoiselle Tasebea
de la Pagerie, but it was an ill-assorted union, -
hart
after the birth of a son, who only survived a g
time, a mutual separation took place, he behavivig
nobly by allowing his wife the full amount oared
pay as captaingeneral—about twelve bud
-
pounds a year. She resided chiefly in Ger
many. Narvaez in his person was rather of 013a1.a,
stature, very marked expression of features, but
clear, piercing eyes, not certainly handsome, lig
still a face once seen not easily forgotten. OW/
to a sabre wound in the head he had been obliged
to wear a wig, not an advantage to persons of either
sex. He was very neat in his personal appearanc4
but nothing of a dandy. No one seeing him antic"
ever mistake him for else than a perfect getias
man. In general society he was courtevitis
and gallant, . although very fond of ,
own opinions. lie tot
was never rude or
mindful of the feelings of others. For the I .11
twenty-four years he has been before the publiebile,
different positions, but he always acted as 3 13° ro-
gallant soldier ; he had his share in the many Po
nunciamientos of the time, still no one can ne.. o
bis
him of deceit or treachery. Some will remember
it
noble behaviour when his own friend and faY°u •
Juan Prim basely attempted his life in the Ptlitave
streets of Madrid ; indeed few men would rious
acted as he then did. During his Is'oost
Administrations ho had as colleagues. giaas
of the most noted men of the time, both Cll'
00.
and military men ; some.often varied from his cite
nions and separated from him. We will oni3lios de
the names of the Conchas, the Cordovas, no,
Olano, Lersundi, O'Donnell, Prim, Serf, the
Seeane, Calonge, and others, all good soldiers °so
diplomatic circle ; Mon, Pidal, Sartorius, Ptlers•
Cortes, Arrazola, Nocedal, Zaragoza, and ° titu
He was always the declared friend of C°Ftigarlia-
tutional Government,' and spoke well in sitioa
went. We believe few men in his P° al
will have been more sincerely regrettetdrieal:Yobae,o,
parties ; in him Ysabel loses a
faithful friend and servant, Spain one of her,„oi,e 01
sons. Although honoared with the title Of
Erie
as
Valencia he was best known to his frj to hie-
Ramona 'Maria Narvaez. his name belongs II tae
tory, and at a future date will be linked to ill
of
many stirring incidents connected with t.betice, unci
Isabella 11. ; and we trust his spirit of Pereign an.,
tarnished loyalty, and devotion to his Sove_ard th(3,
a constitutional monarchy, will meet the .r,e..rtos, w°
leserve, and if not a second Hernan td"
may well style him the Bayard of Spain.

Tiir TEA TRADE May 4 Th •in
b. hie"
London estimated for
the week were 1,43,421 ftnroer
is a decrease of 1,875,7291 b. compared with the P-
statement. deliverle h