The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-12-11

she gave her-elfup completely to the
conservatives. and placed the whole ol
Spain under military law. Meanwhile,
the Cortes declared the young Queen.
when she was not yet fourteen years
of aye. to have attained her majority.
At sixteen. Isabella H. was a robust,
rosy aud handsome girl, distinguished
for nothing, except, perhaps, an unusu-
al love Of pIea-Hre and decoration. The
question Of her marriage agitated Eu-
rope, England offered Prince Loop
old Of Coburg; Russia recommended a
SON of that Don Carlos vino had fought
seven years for her throne Lopis Phil
Hpe OF France was in favor of her cousin.
Francis, Duke Of Cadiz, the son of her
fathers brother; aud other powers
favored the pretensIoHs OF a Prince OF
Sicily, The crafty politices Of Louis
PHILIPPE carried the day. and she mar
ried her cousin when she was notquite
seventeen. At the same time the Duke
Montpensier, son Of the king Of
the French, married the Queens Sis
ter
Her reign has been a continuous
scandal Indulent, luxurious, and vain,
she has not even had the grace 20 set an
example0 common decency to her sub
iect-. Lover i,as succeeded lover: %
that, although she has had several chill
dren, two ofWhum are living, the span
iards 90 n0t believe that she has pre-
sentel them with a legitimate heir 70
the throne. Absorbed in pleasure, it
was ouly with the greatest reluctance
thHt she attended TO the most necessary
business Of the kingdom Sher05e about
ten, and passing - her boudoir, occupied
herself with gossip, games and the
toilet until aia&er time. which in Spain
i earlier than with Us. After dinner it
was her custom to repair 10 thegarden
where she frequently spent some hours
iH dancing and other auusements. In
the evening. assuming an attire more
magnificent, she went 10 the theatre :;
and on bei return, proceeded TO her
music room. where she occupied her
self eith music until two in the morn
ing, when she took a supper and went
to bed ITlninister. came 10 the palace
on public business, she almnst always
kept them waiting a considerable time,
and frequently sent them away with
out having seen them.
Every decent human being in Spain
looked upon the scandals Of the palace
with disgust, contempt and shame;
ramem bering that there was once up
on the throne an Isabella of more than
spotigss fame. The SpaHiards, with
all their faults, ayegreat pride ofchar-
actcr and tte country. The men, a. q
rule, are honorable, the women - "a
rule. are chaste. The spectacle Of a fat
and sensual woman, loaded with here
ditary jewels of the spanish crown, liv-
such a life as Catharine of Russia lived
but without Po-essiug a spark Of Cath
arine's talent or patriotism, became at
length in.0lerabie.
Seldom has q revolution taken place
with - little violence. The spirit Of
revolt appears 70 have pervaded the
the whole kingdom, and TO have ami
mated every 0rpa~. When 4 party Of
dragons appeared to clear the public
square Of Madrid. the people hung a.
round their horses nccks. and begged
the soldiers to take sides with their
country. When the troops hesiIated
and the people surrounded them
and kept them if0n advancing by
their weight and number. In few
minutes the officer iu command waved
his cap in token tina; the soldiers had
Joined the people. The animosity Of
the multitude appeared to be directed
against the persons and character of
the odicus Quee4 and her contemplate
husband. The hu-,s ard inscriptions,
bearl- the name Of the Queen. or Roy
al Arms, We're taken down everywhere.
aud lro5iden In the dust but, with the
exception ofsuch harmless violence as
this the behavior Of the people was eX-
caiirut
Spain then, has shaken Of the incu-
bus which coajrmued her as the by
word Of Europe. the buIwark Of bigo-
try and reaction. K remains TO he seen
whether there is wisdom ami virtue
enough in lhaeauGgry t0 form and sup
port a constitutional government and
bring up iagzard spain nearer the van
of progress ye aa,iuus. \ to the de
thro8ed Queen, she took care. il is said,
toaccumgIateeu0rmous private wealth,
a small portion Of which will suffice TO
maintain her. IN her exile, in style
Superior To that enjoyed by most Wom-
ea Of her elaas.