d refractory; under
the care of Olozaga she only remained three months. Her female
instructors, with the exception of the Countess of Mina, have been women
of equivocal reputation, seeking to advance themselves and their friends,
and teaching their pupil few lessons but those of dissimulation. To
aggravate the evil, during the three years of Christina's exile, that
princess was allowed to be in constant correspondence with her daughter,
and of course lost no opportunity of inspiring her with a dislike of her
own political enemies, the Progresistas. These latter, however, being in
power, and about the person of the young Queen, she was obliged at least
to _appear_ friendly with them, and was thus "taught to be false and
artful by the force of circumstances, and trained by events to deceit."

The chapter headed "Narvaez" is extremely interesting, giving graphic
sketches of one of the most remarkable of living Spaniards. In Narvaez we
find the faults and the virtues of the soldier of fortune; prompt
decision, great energy and determination, on the one hand--cruelty,
impolicy, and violence, on the other. His character has made him popular
with a portion of the army, and over the officers, in particular, he
exercises great influence. His severities, however, especially his
shooting eight men the autumn before last, for demanding what had been
solemnly promised them, permission to quit the service, have lost him many
adherents, and made him numerous enemies in the ranks. But his deadly
foes, and those from whom he has the most to fear, are the Ex-National
Guards of Madrid. Their hatred of him is unlimited, and savage beyond
conception, founded upon various causes, any one of which is, with
Spaniards, sufficient to account for it. Their confidence betrayed, their
arms taken from them, themselves recklessly sabred and bayoneted when
assembled for the most peaceable purposes--these and many other injuries
will never be forgotten or forgiven by the Madrilenos. We in England are
now so accustomed to hear of bloodshedding and outrage in the Peninsula,
that we have began to consider it almost as a matter of course, and
scarcely accord a moment's attention to the horrors of to-day, which are
no worse than those of yesterday, and may probably be surpassed by those
of to-morrow. Yet, if we except a portion of the period of Espartero's
rule, there are no three months in the history of Spain for the last ten
years, which would not, if tra