Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-20
Publisher and Proprietor.
SPANISH KINGS AND QUEENS.

CASTLE were elected by the OarOnSi Iney
told the sovereign at his coronation that
they who sanctioned it we're his equals,
and, united, his superiors; and that they
conferred upon him the regal power, and
promised to obey him, provided he con-
tinued to respect their rights, and if he
did not, then not. But in 1880 the SOW
ereign was worshipped by his unworthy
subjects, men like himself, with slav'
ishness hardly less base than the rever-
ence paid TO the grand lama; and the
once chivalrous house Of Burgundy had
degenerated SO fearfully that it was re-
marked by contemporaneous historian
that Charles V was warrior and king,
Philip ii king only, Philip Ill and
Philip w not even kings, while Charles
III was rot even a man. The latter Ina
beetle sovereign was mere machine,
whose every step, word and action were
regulated by an Interchangeable system
Of etiquette, which set at naught voli'
ton; and whose appearance as one may
still see in his portrait in Madrid. was that
of hopeless idiocy, which was his real
character. His costume, also strictly
regulated by etiquette, consisting of a
rigid black velvet dress, with the huge
golilla ruff encircling his neck-pain'
fully suggestive of the head of John the
Baptist in a charger-strengthens his
resemblance to an automaton. The ir'
rational and impious system of king
worship was immensely popular, and the
Spaniards even committed the impiety
Of speaking of Jas dos majestades (the
two majesties,) coupling their sacred
host with their earthly sovere ign, end
thus adding sacrilege to their national
sins. In their most violent reyolts the
Spaniards never thought ofdeposing the
king; always shouting Viva oil rey
absolutel" whether he was o tyrant, a
knaye, or an idiot. Finally their man
ners grew intolersble; political bigotry
and fanaticism ruled the kingdom; and
irreligion was so universal that assigna'
tions were usually made in churches,
even at the hour of the holy sacrifice
Crime remained unpunished, or was
condoned; and the proverbial delay OF
the law was prolonged tepfold,
At the time of my tour Ferdinand VII
had been deed about three years. bis in
fant daughter, Isabel II, was the titular
queen, and her mother, Maria Christina
Of Naples, third wife of Ferdinand, was
regent of the kingdom. The old king
had reigned with absolute power for more
than twenty years, over population OF
I2,O00,O 900 Of Spaniards, who almost
unanimously bad hailed his accession to
the throne Of the Boarbsns, loudly olam-
oring for the ancient regime of despot-
ism. The vox populi being in full har-
mopy with the secret wishes of the king,
with the concurrence of the army and
the armada navy, he issued decree
annulling every act of the COrtes passed
during the captivity Ia RTance-7Thieh
acts were exceedingly liberal-and re-
storing the absolute monarchy. This
measure was received with immense
enthusiasm. The sight of whole nation
thus debasing itself, and eagerly rivet-
ing chains upon its own limbs is melan-
oholy indeed; but the fact is beyond
dispute. This ooWardly weakness was
particularly lamentablein this ilstanoei
for FerdiRand VII. was weak man, de-
praved in heart and corrupt in life, with
scarcely a redeeming quality. His first
wife was his cousin Maria of Naples, a
lovely, gentle end afectionate Princess;
but her brutal husband blightea her life,
and she perished as there is every rea,
son 10 believe, by poison administered
bv his hand. He then sought a wife
aTaong Napoleon's family; but the En-.
peror thought he could not recommend
for a husband man who mad attempted
the life Of both his parents, and had
murdered his wife; so the offer was de-
clined, and, eight years afterward' ferdi-
nand married his niece, Maria Of Portu'
gal. At the same time, his brother,
Don Carlos, welded a Princess OF the
same royal house. Ferdinand hated
his brother, and desired 70 shut them
out from the succession. In less than
one year the Queen died childless; and,
a few months afterEard, the King, anx-
ious 10 secure another heiF, took another
bride-MariH Amelia of Saxony. Mean
time insurrections, executions, imprls-
oaments and misery afflicted poor SPAN.
For ten years the Queen endured her
husband. and then sank childless into
the grave. leaving Ferdinand, a vorn-out
debauche of forty-fve, imbeoiie IN MIND
and body. but still haunted by the
thought that the sceptre would pass into
the hands Of the hated Carlos. His last
bride was Maria Christiana, Of Naples,
q frivolous girl Of twenty, without con,
science or moral scruples, but gifted
with considerable amount Of shrewd-
ness, which fitted her admirably for the
palace intrigaes in which she become so
famous. Almost her first act after mar
rage was to take as her lover one Munoz,
A private soldier in the Kings life
guard, q young. handsome, and vigorous
man, but Of the lowest extraction, man