SPAIN AND Hlill FACTIONS. 663 



until the king's government could exercise its authority, was the object 

 of the French occupation of Spain,, and in that measure the preservation 

 of the liberals was, at least, as much affected, as the consolidation of the 

 power of the crown. 



Since the departure of the French, the king's government have been 

 enabled to maintain the balance between all parties, but it must be ad- 

 mitted, that the influence of the government was, until the events of 

 July, mainly supported by the vicinage of the armies, to which they 

 already had vowed their political resuscitation. The revolution, how- 

 ever, has again abandoned Spain and her factions, unrestrained and un- 

 protected, to all the 



" Domestic fury and fierce civil strife," 

 m.toHyj}/!: 



which mutual and uncontroled detestation can engender. It would be 

 well to review the ingredients, strength, and position of these parties, 

 whose animosity afflict the future expectations of Spain. 



The apostolical faction, nicknamed by the liberals " los Serviles," 

 which, though not ostensibly the reigning interest, holds the court in 

 quasi vassalage, and domineers the nation. Its only check to open and 

 entire dominion, is its own division ; and were it not for that circum- 

 stance, its power and ramifications are such, that not only the ministry, 

 but the king himself would only exist " durante bene placito" This 

 party is divided into two interests, the Carlists and the Royalists ; but 

 the latter again are subdivided into two sects, the adherents to the 

 person of the king and advocates of his absolutism, and the friends of 

 the principle of royal despotism, unconnected with personal considera- 

 tions, but opposed to the supremacy of ultramontanism. The Carlists 

 are solely and entirely devoted to, and identified with, the prince, by 

 whose name they are designated, or rather he is the acknowledged 

 leader of the party, whose principles are the ultraism of apostolicism.* 

 The avowed hopes on which this party founded their expectations, ere 

 the late marriage of the king, were Don Carlos' eventual succession to 

 the throne. The Salic law, which the Bourbons introduced into Spain, 

 at the accession of Phillip V. was, shortly after that event, annulled, and 

 the queen proving enciente, the Carlists were thus deprived of their last 

 legitimate hope for power. The birth of an Infanta has since then 

 aggravated all the rancour of the Carlists, and has mooted a point which 

 may require a civil war to decide. The question is rather a delicate 

 one for the apostolicals to argue on ; for, after preaching arid enforcing 

 the doctrine of the king's absolute right, which, as long as their influence 

 tyranized his councils, was an useful auxiliary, they have found at last, 

 and most inconveniently, that they have thus empowered him to assault 

 their dearest interest; and that any resistance to him would, in its 

 merest demonstration, be a refutation of the principle of their political 

 vitality. The theory, however, to which they appeal, wherewith to 

 escape from the horns of this dilemma, is, that the king's absolution does 

 not extend to the repeal of the fundamental laws of the monarchy ; 

 the laws, by the observance 'of which alone he possesses his crown and 

 uncontroled authority in every other respect. 

 . 



; 



* It is said that this party is not so numerous as it was, on account of the long 

 delays and frequent frustration of their hopes. Their leaders have little but pro- 

 mises to bestow, on which they have feasted until they have sickened. 



