The Ministry has been on the point of dissolution. General Serrano,
angered at the contempt shown to his denunciations and lists of
conspirators, by the Home Minister, Caballero, gave in his resignation.
General Serrano demanded the dismissal from Madrid of more suspected
persons. Senors Olozaga and Cortina intervened, however, and made up the
quarrel, ordering the _Gazette_ to declare that the most perfect harmony
reigned in the Cabinet. This the _Gazette_ did. Mr Aston has demanded
his audience of leave, and quits Madrid on the 15th.
Grenada has blotted the name of Martinez de la Rosa from its lists of
candidates, though he had formerly been elected for that place. M.
Toreno is expected at Madrid. Senor Olozaga sets out for Paris, to try
and persuade Christina to be patient, for that her presence previous to
the elections would rather militate against her party.
At Madrid the anniversary of the revolution of 1840, which drove Queen
Christina from the Regency, was celebrated by a _Te Deum_, chanted in
the church of San Isidro, on the 1st, and at which assisted the
Ayuntamiento and provincial deputation.
Barcelona has been in open insurrection, and a sanguinary conflict
commenced on the evening of the 3rd, which continued with intermissions
till the 6th. Later intelligence stated that the town still held out. On
the 8th the state of things at Barcelona was nearly the same.
One of the great accusations of MM. Prim, Olozaga, and the French party,
against the Regent was, that instead of carrying Barcelona and other
towns by storm, he fired upon them with muskets and with cannon.
Generals Arbuthnot and Prim have pursued precisely the same course, and
we see Montjuich again throwing bullets upon Barcelona, and with all
this making no progress in its reduction.
Accounts from Barcelona of the 8th, mention that several mansions were
damaged. Three cannon shots had traversed the apartments of the British
Consul. Prim's own Volunteers of Reus had taken part against him, and
many of the towns had declared for the Central Junta. A rural Junta of
Prim's had been surprised at Sarria, and several of its members slain.
A Central Junta had been formed at Girona.
Madrid letters of the 5th state that Government were about to dismiss a
great many superior officers and functionaries opposed to them. The
partisans of Don Francisco have decidedly joined the Esparterists.