which we have written
above, some of our readers may come to the conclusion that we must be
partisans either of Espartero or Narvaez, perhaps of both. In such case,
however, they would do us wrong. Having occasion at present to speak of
Spain, we could hardly omit taking some notice of what has been lately
going on in the country, and of the two principal performers in the late
_funcion_. We have not been inattentive observers of it; and have,
moreover, some knowledge of the country; but any such feeling as
partisanship we disclaim. Of Narvaez, the muleteer, we repeat that we
have nothing more to say, his character is soon read. Of the
caballero--of Espartero, we take this opportunity of observing that the
opinion which we at first entertained of him, grounded on what we had
heard, was anything but favourable. We thought him a grasping ambitious
man; and, like many others in Spain, merely wishing for power for the
lust thereof; but we were soon undeceived by his conduct when the reins
of government fell into his hand. That he was ambitious we have no
doubt; but his ambition was of the noble and generous kind; he wished to
become the regenerator of his country--to heal her sores, and at the same
time to reclaim her vices--to make her really strong and powerful--and,
above all, independent of France. But all his efforts were foiled by the
wilfulness of the animal--she observed his gentleness, which she mistook
for fear, a common mistake with jades--gave a kick, and good bye to
Espartero! There is, however, one blot in Espartero's career; we allude
to it with pain, for in every other point we believe him to have been a
noble and generous character; but his treatment of Cordova cannot be
commended on any principle of honour or rectitude. Cordova was his
friend and benefactor, to whom he was mainly indebted for his advancement
in the army. Espartero was a brave soldier, with some talent for
military matters. But when did either bravery or talent serve as
credentials for advancement in the Spanish service? He would have
remained at the present day a major or a colonel but for the friendship
of Cordova, who, amongst other things, was a courtier, and who was raised
to the command of the armies of Spain by a court intrigue--which command
he resigned into the hands of Espartero when the revolution of the Granja
and the downfall of his friends, the Moderados, compelled him to take
refuge in France. The friendship of Co