51-7: Fernando VII: cf. note Fernando, p. 34, 5. Ferdinand welcomed the intervention of the French in Spain to support him in his absolutism against the advanced party, which clamored for constitutional liberties. The French expedition (1823) was completely successful, the resistance being so slight that the French describe the invasion as a promenade militaire.
51-8: en contra nuestra: in opposition to us.
52-1: seguían con sus gorros encasquetados: kept on their caps (lit. continued with, etc.).
52-2: como quien hace: like (one) who makes.
52-3: pulcra y pobremente: neatly though poorly. When two or more adverbs ending in mente are joined by a conjunction, the first one loses this termination.