New-York tribune., 1873-03-12
CASTELAR, AND F1GUERAs.

CASTELAR, AND FLU LhAc'
SCENES AT THE FOREIGN MIN1sTRY-sOME CHAR
ACrERIsTICs OF THESE SIAIkSA Ai'Ao
oF SENIOR FIGUERAs.
.o,, AN occ,sroYAl CORRESPONDENT or TIIB TRIBUNEl
MADRID. Feb. 22-The Foreign Ministry Is at the
ROYAL Palace of Madrid. In the arrangements con-
neced with the reception of visitors there Is sur
missing absence Of ceremony truly republican, On
my giving my name TO the solitary attendant II the
lobby he usheTed into an apartment
which is used as the ante-roOm TO the Minis
tcrs private room. Senor Castelar, does not
reside in the Foreign Office, but mas
here only his Official apartments found IN the
saloon two OF three gentlemen who had received the
same invitation as myself On the ARRIVAL OF the
Minister the conversation was general every one re-
naming in the outer saloon. Then the Minister
took his visitors. each in turn, into his own private
rcom each of these interviews lasted for about ten
minutes On their conclusion there was again a
prod of general conversation. this time in the Mn
isters own apartment. Soon after midnight the
visitors took their departure.
Senor CASTELAR, is a man Of about 40 years OF age
He is of middle size, with great breadth OF shoulder
and he has an ample chest his appearance is aIto-
rrther very commanding. The pose Of his head IS
faI of dignity and his gestures are at once express
Sye and natural. His face is ottthe Spanish type,
long and narrow heavy mustache Overhangs
mouth that fails to indicate hrmness, and the chm
lacks the massiveness which We are wont to asso-
cate with the idea of a man OF action
and determination. His forehead is lofty Dut mas
the fault of narowness The eyes are large 1uli'
and dark They give character to the vide lace.
They are the eyes of poet, an orator, man Oh
keen sensibility theorizeT a dreamer of mystical
utopianisms He speaks exceptionally well. He
has strong hopes that, if Spain succeeds in firmly
ron
will tell with tremendous effect on the monarcmes
Of Europe.
This morning waited on Sehor Fgueras, Presi-
dent of the Ministry Nobody is refused an audience
The President is a tall and handsome man of about
80 wears of age His face is expressive Of great earn
estness. but wants the appearance OF energy and
-oftens AT times into an expression of plalnuyeness
He speaks with great frankneSs, and, unlike Caste
lar. he does not give Us the idea OF strain
ing after effect. In health he Is tar from
robust during the night he said that
he had been splitting blood, and the labor
which his position enforces prevents his enjoying
the rest which the delicacy of his health demands
For the present, he said, the Carsts were compare
tively quiet, but he anticipated that, when the
weather in the mountains was less severe, they
would make more formidable demonstrations than
thew had vet done. The Ministry were determined
deal uIIulf duu plolnpt4J WIN t-C Ns-4-'N ---
rection. OF the difficulties in the way OF Republic
the President spoke with great seriousness, and OF
himself he spoke with difidence which was mani
festly sincere. Il have not iron enough IN me to be
a strong ruler in troublOus times" was his remark
with sigh in which there seemed something akin
N despmdency de spoke a good deal OF England,
and of It's happy state of tranquility to which his
poor Spain presented so strong a contrast OF Mr.
Bright he spoke in terms of enthusiasm.
The arming of the civil population is ex-
citing much uneasiness ID many quarters. II
is most hazardous policy. As a fact,
every one who applies gets gun, so far
as there are guns 10 give away. The 10000
Remingtons which are now contracted for will no
doubt be given away in the same promiscuous man
ner The soldiers are beginning TO demand Their
"Hoenses7 that is permission to 90 home and trans
mute themselves from soldiers into volunteers. In
an armed civil population and an army disattected
by reason Of desire to be disbanded, there looms
over Spain a cloud charged with evil to come.