ts of the French
king, and of the queen-mother of Spain, made both less scrupulous, and
hastened the perfection of a plot which, but for such discoveries, the
royal intriguants would not have had the boldness to prosecute.

Ministerial changes were frequent in Spain throughout the year. The
Narvaez ministry was broken up, and that of Senor Isturitz followed;
that too was destroyed. Narvaez was successful in his intrigues,
supported by the queen-mother and the King of the French. England
looked on with jealousy; and it was supposed in Spain that, but for
the disasters and conflicts which occurred within the bounds of her own
empire, she would have interfered in a more tangible manner. French gold
was freely spent in Spain to facilitate French policy; and so corrupt
were the public men of that country, that, as Louis Philippe well knew,
money, applied skilfully, could change ministers and effect revolutions
with a facility unknown to any other country in the world.

_Portugal_.--The Portuguese government gave satisfactory assurances,
in answer to the demands of England, that the anti-slavery stipulations
between the two countries should be carried into effect more
efficaciously than heretofore; the intercourse between the two nations
was therefore peaceful and satisfactory. The intrigues of the French
court were, however, extended to that part of the Iberian peninsula
also. The court of Portugal was invited to reactionary measures by
the French minister, and French political agents were busy in Lisbon,
Oporto, Coimbra, and elsewhere. The Cabrai government became unpopular;
Castro Cabrai was supposed to exercise an undue influence; and Jose
Cabrai, his brother, the minister of justice, was unpopular everywhere,
but especially at Oporto, from which city he had to flee for his life.
The Cabrai government was ultimately driven from office and from the
capital: these events occurred in May. The queen now committed affairs
to the Marquis de Palmella, and issued proclamations restoring liberty
of the press, and remitting the exorbitant burial fees demanded by
the priests, which had been enforced by the government: these measures
restored peace. The French court incessantly intrigued against this
government also, and in four months after its formation it was abruptly
dismissed; the result was civil war. Two distinct insurrections went
on together--a republican or radical one in the south, and a Miguellite
revolt in the north. It