The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-01 00:00:00

LOI.VDON, THURSDAY, OCT. 1, 1868.

The Queen of SPAIN has at last taken flight, and
the closing scene of the insurrection may be said to
be taking place. It was, of course, the best thing
she could do under the circumstances, but the disap-
pointment must be a bitter one, and there is nothing
to compensate for it. Her MAJESTY bad an inter-
view at Biarittz with the Emperor and Empress of
the Fllr.scii, which was of brief duration. The
Royal Family of Spain will, it is said, inhabit the
Imperial Castle at Pau. The departure of the
QUEEN from the country in which she has so long
reigned naturally suggests to the mind the
peculiar character of the circumstances which have
brought it about, and the consequences that will
ensue from it. For some time past experienced
persons have noticed that a change was impend-
ing, though perhaps they were hardly prepared for
one of so comprehensive a kind taking place so
speedily. For many reasons this insurrection in
Spain is a most eventful one, and will hereafter
occupy a prominent place in the page of history.
Affairs have passed from being simply disturbed
into a 'combination of events that betoken
grave import and serious future consequences.
While the Official Gazette of Madrid has been
most sedulously striving to impart confidence, and
has persistently declared that all the strong points
were safe, and that the excitement was one of a
transitory nature, events were succeeding each other
with a strange rapidity, and a throne was tottering
to its foundation, while we were told that the alle-
giance of the people was secure. It would be idle
to say that no regret can be felt for the fall of the
Spanish monarchy, because it has not been able to
secure regard at home and respect abroad, but still
those who are most indignant at the way in which
QUEEN ISABELLA carried on affairs will feel some
pity for the sad downfall that has become her
portion ; she has indeed fallen on evil days, but so
great were the risks she ran that she may be thankful
at having escaped with no personal injuries to her-
self or family. It was well that she was away from
the capital when the revolt began, for if she had
been there a greater effort might have been made
to retain her authority, and her friends and ad-
visers would very likely have urged her to make
more of a stand.

So far, then, we may conclude that all has
been for the best, and that we have just wit-
nessed an event of great importance, which has
taken place as quietly as it possibly could under
the circumstances ; so much so, in fact, that it is
difficult to realise that the worst is over, and that
she who so lately ruled in pomp and magnifi-
cence is now an exile on a foreign shore, far from
the grandeurs of royalty and the splendours
of a throne. The Spanish people have
borne long and patiently the burden of a
reign that was inimical to their tastes and contrary
to their wishes, any manifestation of popular in-
dignation was always met so curtly and put down
so sharply, while no attention whatever was paid
to the:grievances which called;it forth, that no doubt
a general feeling came to be showed that the next
movement, take place when it may, must be a de-
cided one. The next thing to think of is, who is
to fill the vacant post? The world never stands
still to think of misfortunes and comment on crimes ;
one passes away to give way for another, and as
the place which knew ISABELLI is to know her no
more, it follows as a matter of course that some
successor must be found. This will not be an easy
task, and perhaps the very number of the aspirants
may serve still more to perplex and to delay those
who have the power of deciding on coming to a
decision, but their choice will be eagerly looked for.

The various candidates for admission and read-
mission to Parliament keep busily at work. As the
days and weeks go on, and the magic month of
November draws nearer and nearer, their energies
become quickened, their committees grow more
active, their meetings of supporters and consti-
tuents increase in number and importance. The