his back, and an immense amount of
booty.

It will be contrary to all precedent in modern Spanish history, if
Narvaez's career terminates otherwise than by a violent death, met, in all
probability, at the hands of the populace, or at those of some disgusted
adherents of his own. The deaths of Carlos de Espana, slain by his own
escort on his way to the French frontier; of Moreno--the butcher of
Torrijos, Lopez Pinto, Florez Calderon, and fifty other martyrs--himself
murdered in the wood of Vera by the bandit followers of the savage priest
Echeverria; these, and fifty similar instances, are events but of
yesterday. It is still fresh in the memory of the Madrilenos how they
pursued the stern Quesada to his place of refuge--Quesada who, alone and
by his single energy, had cleared the streets of an excited populace, and
stopped a revolution for one whole day; how they dragged him forth,
piecemeal it may almost be said, and with his severed fingers stirred the
bowl in which they toasted the downfall of tyrants. Between Quesada and
Narvaez there is more than one point of resemblance. Their deaths, also,
may be alike.

The sketches of Spanish political men, the various party leaders and
conspicuous senators of the day, are done with much spirit and cleverness,
and give an excellent idea of the fickle inconsistency, the showy talent
but want of steadiness of purpose, that characterize most of the notable
Peninsular politicians. One is much accustomed to receive information upon
such subjects with doubt and mistrust, it being so often tinctured with
the violent party spirit which, in Spain, distorts men's views and
opinions; and the book before us being published anonymously, we are
prevented from judging, by circumstances of position or others, to which
side or men, if to any, the author is likely to incline. But we think we
discern in him the wish to be impartial, and are therefore disposed to
place unusual confidence in his statements; the more so as he represents
no character as entirely bad, but, while laying on the lash for their
faults, does not forget to give them credit for their good qualities.
According to his account, Lopez is the most brilliantly eloquent, and, at
the same time, one of the most incorrupt members of the Spanish Chambers;
one of the very few Spaniards who have held office without advantage to
themselves.

"It is a most creditable distinction in Spain, where office is sought
almost exclusi