related, and in every instance, the
influence of the French king was prejudicial to the interests and moral
influence of England. On the completion of the Spanish marriages M.
Bresson returned to Paris, and had the impudence to demand, as his
reward for his share in that transaction, the embassy to London. This
was refused, on the ground that the relations of France to Great Britain
were too delicate to be committed to the minister who had the chief part
in producing the coldness which existed. He then demanded the embassy to
St. Petersburg, but this post required higher qualifications than were
conceded to M. Bresson by his government. He was nominated to the
French ministry at Naples, and proceeded to his destination reluctantly,
considering the appointment a slight after sustaining French affairs
with the government of a superior country. Soon after he arrived at
Naples, perceiving the evil consequences of the Spanish marriages, his
chagrin was so increased that he put an end to his own existence.

_Spain and Portugal_.--Spain passed a year of disorder and bad
government, but, excepting as regarded the affairs of Portugal,
England had no especial connection with the proceedings of the Spanish
government. The state of Portugal was desperate. The Miguellites and
liberals continued to maintain the civil war against the queen. The
former were repeatedly defeated. Their leader, M'Donnell, perceiving
that all hope of inducing the party to adopt measures sufficiently bold
were at an end, collected around him a chosen band, and precipitating
himself upon the queen's cavalry, fell fighting sword in hand. The
radical or constitutional party made their head-quarters at Oporto,
where they set at defiance the queen's government. Meanwhile the French
and Spanish governments were desirous to interfere on behalf of the
queen, whose opinions and sympathies were despotic, and in harmony
with those of the French king and the Spanish queen. To prevent such
an interference the English government reluctantly consented to a joint
interference of England and Spain only. Accordingly, the British navy
co-operated with a Spanish army for the purpose of putting down all
armed opposition to the queen's government, at the same time obtaining
indemnification for all in arms against her majesty, and a guarantee on
the part of her majesty, by her solemn promise and the dismission of her
reactionary ministry, that she would respect the constitutional