Philip V., to whom the crown of Spain would devolve, naturally, legitimately, in virtue of their own rights, founded on the very clauses of the Treaty of Utrecht, ought to be excluded, they or their posterity, because they should happen to be, or their ancestors should have happened to be, married to descendants of the Duke of Orleans? In other words, should the right, certain and incontestible, of the descendants of Philip V. to the throne of Spain, perish, because they have allied themselves to a family that had renounced its rights?"

Such a thesis is untenable, adds M. Guizot, and yet it is the substance of the English note reduced to its essential and veritable terms. After enumerating various cases of marriage between the descendants of Philip V. and princes issue of other branches of the house of Bourbon, who had renounced the throne of Spain, M. Guizot adds, “I might multiply those examples. It was never, I will not say maintained, but never thought, that in consequence of those marriages-and as if the incapacity resulting from those marriages was a contagious fact, which communicated itself from one branch to another-those descendants of Philip V. should lose their rights to the crown of Spain. And there exists no more foundation for maintaining it now, for the situation created by the marriage of the Infanta with the Duke of Montpensier, changes absolutely nothing in that founded by the Treaty of Utrecht, and which has received, in fact as in right, the adhesion of all Europe. After twelve years of war, France and England, the first among European Powers, were of the opinion that a grandson of Louis XIV. and his descendants might, without danger to the balance of power in Europe, sit upon the throne of Spain, whilst the descendants of Louis XIV. sat upon the throne of France. This degree of relationship between the two crowns, and the bonds which might result therefrom between the two states, were fully accepted at the commencement of the last century by all the Powers, and the guarantees inserted in the Treaty of Utrecht, to prevent the union of the crowns of France and Spain upon the same head, appeared to them to suffice fully for their legitimate interests. This is the public law of Europe: the situation accepted and regulated in the name of the balance of power in Europe. The marriages which have just taken place, alter in nothing, I repeat it, that situation; they add nothing to the degree of relationship of the crowns of France and Spain; they detract nothing from the guarantees stipulated by the treaties against the union of those two crowns; they therefore cannot, legitimately, give rise to any protest founded on those treaties, and on public European right."

This view of the eventual claims of the children of the Duke of Montpensier, is of great interest at the present moment, when we know not what the morrow may bring us from Spain.

The present ruler of France has already silently protested, by the creation of a camp of 6,000 men at Bayonne.

Of the other candidate, Count Montemolin, all that can be said is, that should the opportunity offer, the Carlist banner will again be raised, and civil war once more distract unfortunate Spain. There are vague rumours that an attempt will be made to unite the two kingdoms of Spain and Portugal under one monarch—the young King, the recent

guest of Queen Victoria. But there are almost insurmountable difficulties to such a plan.

The destinies of Spain are now in the hands of Espartero, and it is to him that we must look for a solution. His first step has been to recognise, and cause to be recognised by the provincial juntas, the authority of Queen Isabella.

Unhappily, since her marriage with a husband she cannot esteem, the young Queen has not learnt to win the affections of her people. Spain has witnessed the melancholy spectacle of a profligate court. Favourites have become ministers, and the tongue of scandal has spoken so loud, that we need not echo it. The removal of Queen Christina may greatly tend to re-establish the popularity of Isabella; and her proclamation to the people-if the result of repentance, and not of fear-promises well. The policy of the new ministry has not yet transpired. It is composed of men justly entitled to the confidence of the people. Of Espartero, we have already spoken. The new minister of war, who raised the standard of the recent revolution, is a distinguished soldier. Of Irish origin, long established in Spain, his family has achieved the highest honours. The names of his father and of his uncle, Count de Labosleal, figure honourably in the history of the Peninsular war. Leopold O'Donnell entered the army some years before the death of Ferdinand VII.; and in 1833, remained faithful to the cause of Maria Christina, though his three brothers joined Don Carlos. When Christina was compelled to leave Spain, he remained faithful to her, and emigrated to France. In 1841, as already stated, he attempted to raise the standard of revolt at Pampeluna, and re-establish the regency of Christina. The town held out for Espartero, and he was compelled to fly. In 1843, he returned to Spain after the revolution effected by Narvaez, Serrano, the Conchas, and others; and in 1844, was appointed Captain-general of Cuba. In 1849, on his return, he was created a senator, and Count of Lucena. The understanding come to between him and Espartero, is looked upon as one of the surest guarantees of the efficiency of the new ministry.

Don Joaquin Pacheco, the new minister of foreign affairs, is a distinguished barrister, and a liberal conservative. He was long a member of the Cortes. On the fall of the Isturitz cabinet, in 1847, Pacheco was entrusted with the formation of a new ministry. The other members are Progressistas, and men who enjoy the esteem of their fellowcitizens.

There is much to be hoped for Spain with such men at the helm of the vessel of the state; and we trust that they will have the force and authority necessary to conciliate all honest opinions, restrain anarchical passions, and satisfy all the interests entrusted to their hands.

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POINT. BY SIR J. E. ALEXANDER, A.D.C.

THE success of the American arms in Mexico, was, in a great degree, attributable to the course of instruction provided for the United States officers, at the Military Academy; there they were well taught the science and art of war, founded, not on mere rules, but on mathematical calculations. The development of the faculties of the mind, and the discipline to which the students were subjected at West Point, prepared them to render unformed soldiers intelligent, and to organise them for useful service in the field. A large body of officers, of high attainments, and capable of serving with distinction in any part of the world, have proceeded from the Military School on the banks of the far-famed Hudson.

Having seen previously the outside of the Military Academy, I recently determined to observe its interior arrangements also, and to ascertain the system of military instruction among a practical people. Accordingly, I communicated my intention to some brother officers on the staff, Lieut.-Colonel D'Urban, deputy quarter-master general in Canada, Major H. Rowan, R.A., military secretary, and Captain Wetherall, A.D.C. They agreed to visit West Point first, and afterwards proceed to see something of life in the gay commercial capital of the States, New York. I wrote to the Superintendent of the U. S. Military Academy, Colonel Lee, intimating our proposed visit, and received in return a friendly invitation to West Point. He suggested that the best time to see the Academy was at the annual examination, in June, but I preferred seeing the working of the system during the course of study.

It was in April when we left Montreal. The river, opposite the city, was dangerous to cross, being full of ice, which was getting soft under the influence of the spring sun, and the stream was cutting in it long channels. We entered the caravan-like passenger car at the terminus of the Sachine railroad, and sped onwards to the head of the foaming and wildly-tossed rapids below the Indian village of Caughnawaga.

We encountered a scene of painful excitement at the commencement of our journey: a woman of about thirty years of age, respectably dressed, sat beside a man with black hair and beard; she said loudly, "Give me my gold watch and chain; I cannot trust you to keep them!" "I'll give you them by-and-by," he answered; when she

burst out

"I am a lone star,

And my love has gone to the war ;

His name is Bryan Buroo,

No other Bryan would do."

We thought she was intoxicated; but the poor creature was raving mad, and was on her way to an asylum in the States.

Her paroxysms became stronger, she sang other scraps of songs, threw herself on the floor of the car, and tried to break the windows;

plucked her husband's beard, and called him King John. He had great difficulty in holding her, whilst she tried to tear off her clothes. Dr. Wolfred Nelson, the present mayor of Montreal (by a singular turn of fortune, as he was distinguished for his courage and activity, in the wrong cause, in the "troubles" of 1837 and '38) was present, and he suggested tying her arms with cords, which was done. She became quieter, and even sensible, and said, "Oh, my poor man! I know I give you a great deal of trouble,-I can't help it; but I'll be all right when I go to New York again; they will take good care of me there, and do you look after my children." The husband told the Doctor that he had not slept for three nights watching his wife, who some time before had gone mad, after confinement. He had taken her to New York, where, in two months, she seemed to be cured; but the madness had come on again through fright, in crossing the ice of the St. Lawrence, on the way home.

A poor boy, with St. Vitus's dance, going for treatment, and occupying an opposite seat, did not increase our comfort; but, crossing the ferry, we got into new cars and company, and rolled on towards Moore's station, with Mr. Coffin in company, the energetic and intelligent president of the railroad. The floor of the cars was covered with a comfortable-looking matting; but when a reverend gentleman looked at this, he gravely remarked, "This seemed a good arrangement at first, till I remembered the peculiar habits of the country;" he alluded to the too free use of tobacco. We believe this is wearing out. Tobacco is of use in keeping wild and excitable people tolerably quiet; its abuse is when men of intelligence and education indulge in more than a mild cigar, "of an afternoon."

A lady of a fine spirit had been placed under my charge, to see her safe as far as I could. She was the widow of a distinguished lawyer, but she hardly required assistance; for, in America, the ladies can take good care of themselves. Thus she said, "People talk of danger on the rail: I never think of it, I've too many other things to think of; there's danger in one's own house, there's danger everywhere." I was anxious about her baggage; but she said it was all ticketed, and the railroad people were responsible. However, it is very easy to lose one's portmanteau on American lines, as happened to two or three of our fellowpassengers, on the change of cars and lines.

From Moore's we went to Rouse's Point, and from thence to Rutland. I observed with Mr. Samuel Keefer, a civil engineer of note, the wood and iron bridges, which require screwing up every few months; all the sleepers were hemlock, cross laid; there were no longitudinal ones; there was a want of attention to drainage; the ditches were full of water, which was soaking through the ballast, and destroying the wood by capillary attraction; men were employed here and there raising the sunken sleepers, and introducing gravel below them; the fences were not good, they were slight, costing about half a dollar the rod; but, in time, all these defects will be remedied on the paying lines.

We passed the scene of the battle of Bennington; and in the valley of the Otter river, saw a farm of 160 acres, producing beautiful white

marble; the land was sold lately for one hundred thousand dollars. It was at Bennington that the tide of General Burgoyne's good fortune turned, in the war of the Revolution. He had despatched Colonel Baume with 500 German troops, to secure the stores collected at Bennington, and guarded by American militia under General Starke; but these being found to be stronger than was supposed, Baume hastened to entrench himself, and sent for reinforcements, but was attacked and defeated before they arrived under Colonel Breymar, who also was repulsed by the militia, and the continental reinforcements under Colonel Warner. The dust is a serious inconvenience on the American lines in summer. I do not see why they should not be sown with grass, or sodded, to prevent this. Some of the cars are provided with a pan of water, under the ventilator at the top, to catch the dust; whilst the windows opening down the middle, have a current of air rushing out, which prevents the tendency of dust to fly in.

We arrived at Coldspring, on the Hudson, where we left the cars; and, in the midst of much rain and wind, we consigned ourselves and "mails" to two skiffs, and were ferryed down and across the noble river to the rocky plateau, on which conspicuous stands the buildings of the Military Academy of West Point. We found rooms at the comfortable hotel of Mr. Roe, where boarded some of the married officers of the Academy.

The situation of the Academy is admirable, away from the distraction and contamination of towns, high above

"The great, glorious river, broad and deep,"

enjoying the purest air, beautiful wooded and craggy hills around, remains of forts and fastnesses (celebrated in the seven years' revolutionary war) within sight; all which combine to show the wisdom which dictated the selection of West Point as a very fit position for prosecuting with advantage studies which are intended to conduce to the honour and the strength of Britain's healthy offspring, the United States of America.

We sent our cards to the Superintendent, Colonel Lee, and requested to know when we might call on him; he returned a polite message by Bt. Major Porter, his adjutant, and breveted for Mexico, who conducted us to the Superintendent's office.

Colonel Robert Edmund Lee is an active-looking and intelligent officer of middle age, with a very gentlemanlike address. He is a Virginian, a cadet of 1825, and belongs to the United States engineers; was assistant astronomer for fixing the boundary between Ohio and Michigan in 1835; was chief engineer of the army of B. General Wool in the Mexican war of 1846; was made Bt. Major for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Cerro Gordo in 1847 Bt. Lt. Colonel for distinguished service in the battles of Contreras and Cherubusco the same year; and lastly, Bt. Colonel for his gallantry in the battle of Chepultepec, where he was wounded; he then deservedly became superintendent of the Military Academy in 1852. By marriage he is nearly connected with the family of the great Washington.

Captain George W. Cullum, of the United States engineers-a very