During the whole of this year the war still continued in Spain. The Carlists were less successful and less enterprising than in the two preceding years; but their cause was not yet hopeless. A body of them was defeated at Yebenes, in the province of Toledo, and at Val de Penas in New Castile, by Major-general Flinta; but shortly after this latter defeat they took possession of Almaden, with its famous quicksilver mines, the only element of credit remaining with the queen’s government. Basilio Garcia, however, failed in his endeavours to destroy the works of the mines; and having evacuated the town, retired into the mountains of Toledo, whence he harassed the surrounding country, and levied heavy contributions. While Basilio Garcia was carrying on war in Castile and Grenada, another body of Carlists, under the command of Count Negri, was making its way into the interior. He advanced as far as Segovia, but he then turned to the northward; and after presenting himself to no purpose before the walls of Valladolid, he hastened his retrograde march with all possible diligence towards the mountains. In the meantime Basilio Garcia had been again defeated at Bejar with great loss; and he hurried with the remains of his column into the province of Soria, where he effected a junction with Balmaseda. All this time Don Carlos was at Estella; but on the 10th of May, the discontent of the Nayarese in his service compelled him to withdraw to Tolosa. About this time Espartero, who had been elevated to the rank of captain-general of Spain, commenced active operations. He advanced to Pampeluna, and Don Carlos then removed to Glorrio. A series of conflicts now took place; and the struggle closed with the battle of Maella, in which Cabrera, who was the only Carlist general who in this year increased his reputation, defeated the Christino general, Pardinas, with great loss: out of 4,500 men only 1,500 men are said to have escaped: Pardinas himself was slain. But one of the most important events that took place during this year in Spain was an insurrection at Seville, headed by Cordova and Narvaez; this, however, was quelled by the activity of Espartero.
The history of Portugal for the year is marked by no very striking event. The efforts of the Cortes were chiefly directed to the averting of the catastrophe of a national bankruptcy, which was effected by the acceptation of a loan, conjointly tendered by the Mercantile Association, and the Lisbon bank. Early in March a street riot took place in the capital, and threw it into disorder for some few days; but it did not produce any result beyond the bloodshed which it occasioned. The Miguelite guerillas, however, ravaged Portugal, and especially the southern provinces, more this year than they had hitherto done. Remeihido, especially, who had been educated for the priesthood, committed many daring acts; but in the course of the summer he was attacked in his mountain-fastnesses by Colonel Fontoura, and after a sharp conflict his band was routed, and himself captured: he was shot at Faro.
In the month of March the king of Holland intimated to the conference at London sitting on the Hollando-Belgic question, that “having been constantly disappointed in his just expectations of being able to obtain by negociation better terms for his beloved subjects, he had become convinced that the only pledge which still remained for him to give of his regard for their welfare, and the sole means to attain his object, consisted in a full and entire assent on his part to the conditions of separation which the courts of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia, had declared to be unalterable and irrevocable.” His majesty, therefore, declared his readiness to accept the twenty-four articles which had been agreed upon in the year 1831. Belgium, however, now refused to accede to the arrangement, by resolving not to cede Luxembourg. But the conference insisted peremptorily on its cession; and it was quite apparent that Belgium would be compelled to render obedience to its decree.
It may be mentioned that an important treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, was this year concluded between Great Britain and Austria, thus further cementing the ancient and natural alliance between two countries, of whom it has been said, “that for one hundred and fifty years they have always had the same enemies, though those enemies have not been the same.”
CHAPTER L.
VICTORIA. 1839—1840
State of Parties..... Meeting of Parliament..... The Corn- law Question..... The Affairs of Ireland discussed in Parliament..... Proceedings in Parliament respecting Jamaica..... Resignation of Ministers, and Failure of Sir Robert Peel to form a new Administration, &c...... National Education..... The Affairs of Canada..... The second Jamaica Bill, &c...... Bill for the Suppression of the Portuguese Slave trade, &c...... Motion for the Ballot..... Act for the better ordering of Prisons..... Motion for a Committee of the whole House to consider the National Petition..... Birmingham Riots, &c...... The Budget; proposed Reduction of Postage Duties, &c...... Prorogation of Parliament..... Affairs in the East Indies..... State of the Continent.