The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-01

THE SPANISH ABDIcATIoN.


the Palace with his comrade, Nicholas Franco,
who carried on an intrigue with Donna Teresa
Valcarei, the miliner, and confidential favorite
of the Queen. Munoz was tho son of shop.
keeper at Tarancon, and had narrowly escaped
being dismissed from his regiment in 1892, on
suspicion of being Carlist. Christina did not
dare at once 10 disclose her passion for Munoz,
but planned romantic journey for that purpose
She resolved TO take advantage of the week that
Munoz was on duty at the Palace, and to visit
her country house at Quita Pesares. On the
18th OF December, 1883, during most severe
season, she SET out at day light but was obliged
TO return, her carriage having broken down in the
mountains, In consequence of the snow, which
rendered the road impossible. That night she
sent laborers to clear the road, and on the morn
ing Of the 18th she set out again to the great
establishment of her household, none Of the la
dies in waiting having been permitted to accom-
pany her. She was accompanied by Don Fran
cisca Palafox, Aide de Camp General of the
Guard, her Gentleman Usher Carbonelle, and
Munoz.
When the Queen arrived at Quita Pesares,
she walked In the gardens with Palafox and
Munoz, but she sent Palafox to execute COM
mission, and remained alone with the latter
This, no doubt, was the opportunity sought for
making the declaration, as appears from what
followed. The same day the Queen returned
to Madrid, and the favor enjoyed by the gdrde
du corps, Munoz became manifest to every one.
He was appointed Gentleman Of the Interior, an
Office created by the late King, and which did
not appear necessary for Queen. The favo.
rite was presented with house magnificently
furnished, and splendid equipage, by the
Queens orders. In a few days after he was
seen 10 wear the diamond ornaments Of Ferdi-
nand VII, and an apartment in the Palace was
allowed to him. He dined with the Queen, he
accompanied her every where, and attended her
L.~n
to review the National Guard at the Prado.
This increased the scandal which was already
public, and allusion was made to it in the public
journals. The Chronique of the 9th of Februa-
ry, 1884, the 10th day Of the Royal amours, in
serted the following paragraph yesterday
her Majesty took an airing in an open char a
banc, driven by one of her servants. The Duke
of Alagon, Captain of the Guards, attended her"
This paragraph was read with avidity by the
attendants al the Palace because the servant al
Mded to was Munoz. The Queen demanded
satisfaction for this insult, and having cring
ing Minister, like Martinez de la Rosa, and a
chief Of police, like Latre, the journal was de-
specifically suppressed and the two editors exiled
The Queens love for her new favorite was re-
proved by religion, and, after some days she
signifed her intention to Munoz TO marry him.
Munoz thought il was a dream, but when he
found how fortune smiled on him, he set about
realizing the Queens wish. He had but few
| acquaintances, but it happened that an obscure
priest from his town happened to be at the mo-
ment at Madrid
Munoz applied to him, and offered to procure
him advancement if he would marry him to the
Queen, who could not trust any Of the cler "
men Of the Royal chapel How TO procure
license was then the difficulty The patriarch
refused to grant one and so did the Bishop of
Cuenca. The Queen then applied to Cardinal
Tlberi, who granted the license on receiving an
autograph letter from the Royal bride. At Z
O'Clock in the morning Of the 2Sth of December,
ten days after they became acquainted, the mar
rage of Donna Maria Christina de Bourbon
with Don Fernand Munoz, was celebrated by
the priest Don Marcus Antonio Gonzales, and
in the presence of the witnesses, Don Miguel
Lopez Acabado and the Marquis of Herreror.
The Queen opened the Cortes on the oath of
June, and, notwithstanding the care taken to
conceal it, her embonpoint was remarked as ex-
traordinary. On the 10th of November, 1884,
Just II months after her acquaintance with
Munoz, she was delivered Of an infant which
was baptized Gertrude Magma Victoria, and her
recovery was SO rapid that in nine days after,
she reviewed the Cd squadron of the guards
which was going TO fight in Navarro for her
eldest daughter The same night the infant was
conveyed from the Palace by the physician, and
placed under the care of trusty servants at Sc
govia.
same scenes were repeated. On the 18th of
May, 1885, Royal Ordinance was issued, dis
pensing with the ceremony of kissing hands
through condescenslon, 1t was SAID, for those
persons who were presented at Court AT the
Palace it was understood to mean the advanced
state OF pregnancy of her Majesty.-The Queen
and Munez went every evening to the country
house at Quta Peares, and at the same time
the infant was brought from Segovia. This
daily interview, and the expensive train of Vic
toria's nurse, rendered the Royal maternity so
notorious that the very children used TO call Vic
toria the Queens daughter. The same autumn
the Queen gave birth to male infant, which
was conveyed with its sister to Paris. During
the events which took place at La Granja, in
1886, Munos was with difficulty saved from the
haads OF the populace, by concealing him in
some private cellars. Since that time Munoz
has not been seen in public with the Queen
Such constant intimacy could not be concealed,
and the Ministers thought il their duty to ad-
dress the Queen on the subject, but GareNy
and Zarco del Vale, who made such overtures
on the reports circulated were quickly dislnis-
sed. The marriage of the Queen with Munoz
has caused incredible injury to the Spanish ma
ton. family without education, have pos
sessed themselves of the Queens patronage,
and the vilest society has been admitted into the
Palace. The innocent Isabella neither knows
how to read or write, and the society which sur
rounded her was of the most improper dcscrip-
ton. The marriage of Fcrdinand's widow once
proved, il is evident that she is no longer COM
peient to act as guardian to the Queen Isabella.
The laws have declared that the mother who
marres second time cannot retain the guardi-
anshlp OF the children of her first husband
MADRID Oct. l2.-lnteiligence of the depar-
ture OF the Queen Regent from the shores of
Spain reached US here this morning through the
daily express from Valencia. Her Majesty
sailed from the port Of that city at eight O'Clock
on the morning of the 18th inst on board the
Spanish steamer Mercurio, for Port Vendres in
France. Her Majesty travels under the title of