Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-06
EDIT oRS' CORRESPONDENCE


4
Of age, has struck at the Queer Of Spain with daer
On the I'd of February forty days being accomplished
since the birth Of the nfaa all Madrid was dressed in
gala Rich hangings Of silk and velvet oad embroidery
Of brilliant colors decorated the streets Ten thousand
soldiers guarded the Of the expected procession
and the whole people in HOLIDAY attire were waiting to
welcome the first appearance of their beloved Queen with
her newborn child going, accompanied by all that is
great and honored in SPAIN and surrounded by the most
splendid pageaDny of the Court to assist according to
the her ancestors, at the solemn re Deum said
in the church Of the Atocha for her happy delivery and
the birth Of the heress to the throne The Queen, having
performed preliminary act Of devotion, coming out
of the chapel of her palace attended by the whole Royal
family, and by the Grandces and Ministers Of the Crown
In the great gallery corridor which surrounds the in
court of the palace many people had been admitted
for the OCCASION and the place full except the space
kept open for the passage of the Royal party by con-
siderable body Of the Halberders Among this crowd
the scoundrel priest Don Martin Merno, who, the
Queen approached at the very door of the chapel threw
himself his knees before her if to present pc
ttion, and unsheathng small dagger underneath his
broad priests hat drove it into her side before any
could arrest the movement
Happily for Spain, the Queen was heavily dressed in
robes Of State and by instructive movement she
threw her between, the length of the weapon
shortened by the thickness of the which slightly
wounded whilst the force of the blow partially spent
by trayersng of gold embroidery, and also piece
of whaebone in her corset which cut entirely in two
The dagger therefore, only penetrated her side little
than nch between the lower rib and the hip CUT
ting through into the cavity of the abdomen but not pro-
ducng very dangerous wound. An inch perhaps
inch more and Spain would have suffered the greatest
political calamity that Imagination conceive for her.
The Queen uttered cry of pain and fell back into the
of her attendants of whom quick enougAo
the of the assassin before the second blow could
be given The CONSERVATION terrible but the Haber
diers pushing right and left surrounded her Majesty,
whilst she borne supported to her bedchamber,
where she tainted.
The assassin owed his life for the instant to the crowd
which precipitated itself upon him. Some gentlemen drew
their swords, but weapon could be used and hercu
lean Halberdier sezng him by the collar bore him their
guardroom. He the only tranquil man in Madrid
that afternoon Half hour AFTER whilstears rolled off
the fLrrowed cheeks of Dgtares Of State and Generals
and Grandees of the highest class and every face in the
palace look of horror and grief the assassin sat
calmly where he had been placed returned the gaze
such permitted to him with defiant and half
| triumphant look When first saw him he still in
the belief that he had killed the Queen and said that he
had achieved great good for humanity.
an earthquake had suddenly shaken the city its foun
daons the effect in Madrid could have been greater
L
from the movement of the troops who from being
displayed in long single ranks for nearly mlos sud-
denly wheeled into column and moved towards the palace
taking up military positions from that point to the Prado
where they remained the rest Of the day But there
occasion for their services The hearty loyalty of the
Spaniards is thing most undoubtable, and was it
manifested clearly than this occasion. Not
man, perhaps not woman of all the which filed
the streets in expectation of the spectacle which had been
prepared but would have instantly thrown his body
before the dagger to shield the life Of the Queen. The
people of all classes horror-strcken towards the
paace and whilst all whose position gave them the priv
lege entered and filed its ample precincts waiting with
anxiety the frequent reports from the bedchamber of the
Queen the people in dense crowded the great
square in front with demonstrations Of the most affection
interest and though fear for the Queens life
soon quieted would not leave till late into the night
1t remarkable that lack Of confidence in any class of
subjects have been produced upon the Queen
her Government by this event. at the moment of
ts occurrence The palace gates not closed, aud
even the usual etiquette in great waived
that all who had any preensions might freely enter
even TO the nte-chamber Of the Queen.
The assassin could not have been removed from the
palace without suffering instant death The excitement
Of the people against him terrible And even when
at o'clock night he removed to prison under a
strong guard Of cavalry in close vehicle, he only
capped by the celebrity Of the Of his guard
| Since then he has been entirely secluded.
The face Of this is vlanous; great bones little
aesh small bright eyes, hard impossible, and cruel My
first impression upon seeing him calm and nsolent in
the midst Of the excitement he had caused was that twas
the face Of Spanish nquistor of the time Of Philip H.
But this priest struck in the holy Of LIBERTY and
4 has sacrificed himself and would have sacrificed this
young generous-hearted Queen and mother, bringing
upon Spain unheardof calamity says "for the good
| Of humanity"
Fana.cism is the same in all ages His is the face Of
fanatic; but there is passion in il, rather
warmth II is the cold determined, fearful expression
which stfens over the human features only when the
deepest and hesh passions have already corroded
the whole heart Of the man. and up the blood within
him Such do in broad day, boldly and pilessly
what lesser scoundrel must sneak trembngy in the
dark TO accomplish.
The Queens first exclamation for her child, which
officer seized and held at arms length above the heads
Of the crowd in safety and upon recovering from her
M Of nsensbty the first words the Queen uttered
TO command that the assassin should not be killed that
she would pardon him. Ofths impulse Of noble generos
y there is doubt but IL is probable the Queens Min
listers viii convince her Of its inopportuneness The
is perfectly sane and gloryng in his crime. He must
die The Indignation Of the people, the army the whole
nation claims this and doubt whether the Government
would be strong enough preserve his life II 1t wished
The Ouoa be roc nd