Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1857-01-24
Ole 1)olpnesian.
Spanish Court Intrigues.

1t was mentioned in the late European news that
Marshal Narvaez had assaulted The husband of the
lnfanta, and that subsequently the Infanta and her
husband were banished from Madrid. A Madrid
correspondent thus gives the history of the intrigue
that caused this expulsion:
The lnfanta Donna Josefa left for San Sebastian
on the 4th, accompanied by her husband, NJ. Guell
y Rente. Permit me TO explain this departure.
The story is that has created profound disgust,
and to 1t the Queen may attribute the GOODNESS with
which her subjects received her few DAYS ago,
when, dressed in the costume of Spanish Gener-
al, she appeared at a review. The decree banish-
ing the Infanta has been, fear the subject of mis-
takes, which the following narrative may clear up.
The Princess Josefa married Don Guel Rente.
This gentleman was known a writer of some
merit, as deputy of the Cortes, as man. in short,
whose influence exercised on the Progressta side,
might be dangerous to the governing power. This
marriage brought Don Guel no pecuniary advan-
tage, for the Princess came tn him sans dot. Five
years after the celebration of the marriage. Don
Francisco the Kings father, and father also of the
Princess Josefa, fell in love with courtesan of
low degree, known as La Redondo. This lady
had been in the chorus of the Theatre da Cirque.
Her antecedents did not, however, prevent Don
Francisco, to the great scandal of Spanish respec-
liability, from marrying her. La RpdondO became
the mOther-in-law of the King. Don Francisco,
whose daughter had been sent to her husband por-
tioness, yet able to load the family of his new
wife with gifts.
1t was at this juncture that the Princess Jusefa
appealed to the Queen, her sister-in-law, and at
the same time 10 her own father, claiming the for
tune OF her mother, which was her legal right, and
for which she was justified in making a demand,
seeing that her father was rich enough to be lib
eral to tie family of La Redondo. But the claim,
IN the hands of the most expert advocate in Madrid
to whose sagacity il had been confded, was left
unsatlshed, the Princess being appeased from time
to time by her lawyer with the hope of an early
and amicabe arrangement. 1t was at last pcrceiy-
ed that these delays were destined to be stretched
beyond the limit at which the law fixed the vaidi-
ty OF claim; but twenty-four hours before this
limit was reached, the other Infante, sisters of Jo-
sefa, entered action for the recovery of twenty
one millions of reals, being their heritage from their
mother, as well as the sums and properties that had
been taken from their mothers will.
The judge before whom this action was tried ac-
knowledged the validity of the Princcsses' claims,
and accepted the mission of mediator between them
and the royal family. But this progress in no way
suited the convenience of the King, seeing that the
pressure Of his sisters upon their faher would COM
pei him TO return to him the sums which he owed
him, and particularly the millions which Bravo
Murllo had advanced on the arrears which the
father owed TO his children, and which the King
holds. This was, however, the property OF the
Prlncesses; and the King illegally holds the right
ful portions of his sisters. The King, pushed by
his sisters into a corner, resolved upon having
them exled-one TO one place and another in an
opposite direction. He exacted this act of shame
less despotiSm from The Queen, who IN her turn
forced it upon her Ministers. The Infante were
ordered to leave Madrid within AZ hOurs-not with
respect or with consideration, but as subjects who
had not merited well of their country.
The lnfanta Isabella. in the eighth month Of her
grossesse, is exIed to Granada; the Infanta Josefa
Is sent to San Sebastian, while Prince Henrque,
the Kings BROTHER who claimed with his sisters,
is exiled from his country having declined to re-
pair to the island of Majorca This scandalous
passage in the contemporary history Of Spain will,
we trust, make men, even as advantageous as NM.
Perierre and Prost, pause before they change
single twenty-franc piece more into Spanish reals.
The King 5 conduct is not only diShonest-it is
ungrateful. Four years have passed, during which
he has held his sisters money with impunIty, and
during which they have been at his service. He
forgot even the heroic bearing Of his sister Josefa
in the Revolution of 1854, when she presented her
self horseback before the troops of ValIadolid,
and urged them TO cry, Long life to the Queen"
The tribunals, it IS said, will ere long give pub
licity TO this great scandal.