Year: 1875

The French correspondents of the Lon
don Times, in some extended comments
on Spanish politics, weaves a sketch of
Princess Mercedes, the youngest of the
two daughters of the Due de Monpensier,
whose engagement to King Alfonso was
recently announced:


cit is evidently thought that mar
riage between the King and the Princess
Mercedes would produce considerable eff
feet in Spain, and re-unite, to the 'exclu-
sion of the Carlist king, whom civil war
and the blood which has been shed, cut
off from the nation, in one and the same
interest, all members of the royal family.
But naturally this alliance would not be
supported by the present cabinet, for it
would free the king from the enervating
guardianship of the Duke of Sesto, and it
is in this silent struggle, in this ineyita-
BILE antagonism, that the anticipated ex-
planation Of events which will happen in
Spainmust be sought. It was with these
reflections that Ispent the morning at RAN
dan. / observed the respectful enthusi-
asm with which the Spaniards treated the
young Princess, who has become the OBJ
ject of their combination, and it may be
said of their hopes. The Princess herself
just passed from childhood, full of grace
and ingeniousness, seemed unaware of the
royal destinies which perhaps await her,
as, with her eyes fixed on the Princess
Christina, her sister, she laughed at the
awkwardness of Prince Antonio, her little
brother, while they all abandoned them
selves arreiere pensec, to the pleasures of
croquet on the shady terrace of Randan


At the end of the day the Due de Mon
pensier was surrounded by his Spanish
guests, who had all resumed their Castil-
ian gravity and whose attitude breathed
the traditional respect of old Spain for
those who sit on the steps of the throne.
Further on, the duchess, in the midst of
circle of ladies, conversed in a discreet
tone of voice, and raised her head from
time to time to follow the children's game
with satisfied air and to smile at the
bursts of laughter or frequent discussions
entailed by the croquet, while she is con-
demned to the severity of Spanish eti-
quette The Princess Mercedes is one of
| the most graceful personages who could
occupy throne Evidently the Prin-
cess is vet too young to become immedi-
ately royal bride for she is not yet Il; /;
but am sure that the young king, who
knows her and who must have preserved
recollection Of her, will easily become
an accomplice of those who dream of CIV
ing to Spain that Princess who to-day
breathes grace, and who tomorrow at the
wished-for hour will add to this grace the
kindly dignity of queen and the seduc-
tive charms of woman. / do not know
how far Spain is in position to give up
its struggles, competition and incessant
war. i do not know how far one ought
to wish that this young princess should
become the instrument of this difficult
undertaking. I do not know, should it
be accomplished, if one day shall not
think with sadness of this young lady
whom people are trying to thrust into the
Spanish furnace; but in leaving Rsndan,
and while laughing at the thought that
l had been assisting at the supposed con-
spirators' feast, l was obliged to confess
that this marriage might well be pleasing
to Spaniards sincerely desirous of procur-
/ irg halt for their country on the path
OF agitation which it has trod so long. "