forebodes the speedy disruption and overthrow of the present administration, at the head of which is General O'Donnell; and such are the current rumors in circulation in public. On the other hand, the papers friendly to the adminis tration deuy entirely that this resignation has any political significance whatever, but is solely owing to the state of the late minister's health, which certainly has been very feeble for some time past, and, as is alleged, is such that he is physically unable to discharge in a proper manner the very onerous duties of his office. I am decidedly of the opinion that the latter is the true reason of the resignation, notwithstanding the many rumors that are current of the speedy downfall of the O'Donnell administration. Spanish politics at the present time present the aspect of an unsettled and unstable condition of things. I have thought for some time of presenting to you, somewhat at length, but not very extended, such impressions as a residence of eight months in Spain has made on my mind, with the limited means of observation I have so far enjoyed. I will only add, for the present, that when you hear remarks made about the "people of Spain," what they think and what they will do, &c., if the same meaning is attached to the term "the people" which the same has in the United States, or even the more restricted one which the same term has in England, there are no "people" in Spain. I have the honor to be, with high respect, your most obedient servant, SIR: It is my duty to inform you that Madrid has been the scene of a fearful insurrection, which has been completely quelled by the government. The first manifestation of the insurgents was early Friday morning, (22d instant,) when two regiments of artillery, stationed at the barracks of San Gil, not more thau a quarter of a mile north of the royal palace, raised the standard of a revolt. It began by some of the men shooting their officers, who were supposed to be loyal to the government. It is said that they relied upon being supported by several regiments of infantry, who failed them, and afterwards actually took part in the conflict against them. They were finally overcome by the government, but not till after the barracks where they were stationed was perfectly riddled by cannon balls. The insurrection was not confined to the military, but extended over a great part of the city, and barricades were formed in numerous places-it is difficult how to say how many, but they were formed in many streets of the city. The house where I live and keep the legation is in Culle de Barquillo, No. 26. The Prussian legation is under the same roof, and the Brazilian is in the same street, on the opposite or northern side, No. 13, and the Belgian legation at No. 14, on the same side with mine. At the very corner of my house the insurgents erected a barricade, three or four feet high, in the course of the afternoon, across the street, women and children assisting in doing the work, unmolested. The insurgents, for some hours, appeared to have undisturbed possession of this street, or that part of it where these several legations are situated. No violence or injury of any kind was done or threatened to any of them, and I had no apprehension of any, not either for myself or family, save what might occur from the effects of some random shot. These apprehensions were not altogether unfounded, as you may infer from the fact that the corner of my house was hit by one cannon ball, the marks of which very palpably remain, and also by one musket or rifle ball. These I suppose to have been fired by some government troops in clearing the streets, and that the hitting of my house was purely and entirely accidental. I learn that a somewhat similar casualty happened to the Brazilian legation. The shield of the arms of Brazil over the door was carried away by a cannon shot. Marks of cannon and musket balls are to be seen in various parts of the city, and frequently pools of blood were seen standing in the streets on the morning of the 23d instant. The insurrection was not quelled without a great sacrifice of human life. By the morning of the 23d the government were in complete possession of the whole city, and had taken, it is said, between one and two thousand prisoners. As this is the second attempt at revolution made within the short time I have been in Spain, in each of which the government has triumphed, I am apprehensive that they will feel it to be necessary to deal severely with such of the rebels as they have in their power. Indeed, I hear that many executions have already taken place; but I have authentic information of the shooting of twenty sergeants of artillery and one of infantry this afternoon. Before this reaches you, you will undoubtedly see more detailed accounts in the newspapers than I have been able to give you. * * * I have the honor to remain, with the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN P. HALE. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. No. 33.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Hale. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 7, 1866. SIR: Information has been received at this department from the United States consul at Malaga that an order had been issued to the sanitary board of Cadiz, Seville, and Malaga, directing them to consider all ports of the United States as infected with cholera. This information was communicated to the Secretary of the Treasury. I have now to enclose a copy of his reply, and also to instruct you to take such measures with reference to the restriction of the quarantine imposed upon vessels of the United States by her Catholic Majesty's government as may seem to you to be advisable under the circum stances. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN P. HALE, Esq., &c., &c., &c. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. McCulloch to Mr. Seward. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, June 29, 1866. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt from your department of despatch No. 50, from Mr. A. M. Hancock, United States consul at Malaga, Spain, stating that her Majesty's government had issued an order to the sanitary board of Cadiz, Seville, and Malaga, directing them to consider all ports of the United States as infected with cholera, and beg leave to state that the cholera has not appeared as an epidemic at any port or place in the United States during the present year, nor am I aware of its existence now in any form within the United States. Very respectfully, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, H. MCCULLOCH, Secretary of State. No. 40.] Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF America, Madrid, July 8, 1866. SIR: Since I wrote you last, nothing has occurred to change the aspect of public affairs in Spain from what it was at the date of my last letter. The overthrow of the rebellion, then achieved by hand-fighting in the city, seems to have been complete and thorough, and papers in the interest of the govern ment represent that it was not only entire but radical, and that the insurrection was not only subdued but eradicated. I am sorry to be under the necessity of saying that the fears I then expressed to you, that the government would feel themselves compelled to deal harshly with the rebels whom they had taken prisoners, have been and are being realized. The rebellion broke out on the twenty-second of June last, on the twenty-fifth of the same month there were twenty-one individuals executed by shooting; a few days after, six more, then nineteen more, and yesterday, the seventh, fourteen more, making, in all, sixty military executions within two weeks subsequent to the outbreak. These numbers are from the official account. No. 48.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SIR: I have received your despatch No. 33, dated July 7, 1866, with the enclosure from the Secretary of the Treasury relative to the cholera, and I have communicated the same to her Majesty's government. I have received no answer to this communication, but from the accounts which the newspapers bring of the existence of the cholera, I fear that there is little prospect of inducing the Spanish government, for the present, at least, to make any relaxation or alteration of the orders already issued by the Spanish government on that subject. With much respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN P. HALE. No. 49.] Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SIR: Several untoward circumstances which have occurred-such as the rebellion, change of ministry, and the holding of the office of minister of state by a gentleman who occupied the place only ad interim-have caused me to postpone for some time presenting to the government of Spain the views suggested by you in your despatch No. 30, dated May 23, 1866. On the 16th instant, however, it being the day appointed by the minister for giving audience to foreign ministers, I took occasion to express to General Calonge the suggestions of the despatch. He made no reply at the time, but expressed a wish to have a copy left with him. Although there was nothing in the despatch relating to any other subject, and nothing which, so far as I could judge, would make it improper to be left with him, yet I declined; and, instead thereof, have given him a statement of my own, of the substance of what I said to him. With much respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN P. HALE. No. 58.] Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, San Sebastian, Madrid, September 15, 1866. SIR: As I advised you in my despatch No. 49, dated August 20, 1866, on the 16th day of August I communicated to the Spanish minister of state the substance of your despatch No. 30, dated May 23, 1866, and on the 20th of the same month, in accordance with the wishes of the minister of state, I communicated to him from this place an informal statement, in writing, of the substance of what I had said to him. I did not retain a copy of that statement which I sent to the minister, for it was merely an informal statement of my own of what I had said to him, and was a faithful and literal abstract of your despatch to me. I enclose you herewith a copy of the letter which the minister of state has sent me in reply to said communication, and a literal translation of the same. I am, with much respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. JOHN P. HALE. Señor de Calonge to Mr. Hale. [Translation.] OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF STATE, The minister of state of her Catholic Majesty has had the honor to receive the note which the minister plenipotentiary of the United States was pleased to send him from San Sebastian, of the date of the 20th of the present mouth, transmitting the substance of a communication which the Secretary of State of the Union had directed him to make. The undersigned, appeciating as they merit the express and reiterated protestations which are contained in said note, as well on the part of the President of the United States as of the government, that neither the one nor the other have the most remote idea of intervening, either directly or indirectly, in those matters which belong to our own exclusive jurisdiction, and taking into account the sentiments of entire respect and good will towards Spain which are expressed in said note, finds no difficulty in assuring the minister of the United States that the government of her Catholic Majesty, in giving its attention at an opportune time and occasion to the important subject of slavery existing in the provinces of Cuba and Porto Rico, will do so, in the exercise of their own right and in accordance with principles which they have ever sustained, without permitting their entire liberty of action to be prejudicially influenced by exterior agencies or influences of any kind. The undersigned asks the min ister of the United States that in informing the Secretary of State of the Union that the government of Spain is advised of the communication to which he refers, he would inform him that the President of the United States is correct in having no fear that his motives in making this communication have been received in a bad spirit, or misinterpreted by the minister of her Catholic Majesty. The undersigned improves this opportunity for reiterating to Mr. John P. Hale the assurances of his most distinguished consideration. The ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY and MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY E. DE CALONGE. of the United States. Mr. Seward to Mr, Hale. No. 48] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: Your despatch of the 15th of September, No. 58, has been received, and is approved. The sentiments expressed by the Spanish government, in reply to your communication therein mentioned, are in harmony with the general policy of Spain, as understood here, and are very acceptable. I am, sir, your obedient servant, JOHN P. HALE, Esq., &c., &c., &c. No. 62.] WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Mr. Hale to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SIR: I send you to-day the Gaceta de Madrid of the date of the 22d of the present month, which is the recognized official paper of the Spanish government, for the purpose of giving you in full the proceedings of the government in a most grave and important matter. You will see by this that by a stroke of the pen every municipal corporation in Spain is dissolved. This is done not by law, but by a royal decree, which it is declared shall govern with the force of law; not until it has been submitted to the Cortes, but until it shall have obtained the consent of the Cortes. This measure is the more significant for the reasons which the proposer of it, Luis Gonzalez Bravo, the minister of the interior, assigns as rendering it nesessary, to wit., that these municipalites were generally in the hands and under the control of parties in opposition to the government. This measure, coupled with the repeal of all constitutional guarantees, which was effected by the Cortes just after the rebellion of last June was suppressed, leaves Spain, at the present moment, governed by as simple and unmixed a despotism as can well be conceived of a despotism against which there is no organized opposition, and which is supported by a standing army of about one hundred thousand men. With much respect, I have the honor to be your Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. obedient servant, JOHN P. HALE. Administration of government-Exposition to her Majesty. [Translation.] LADY: When, on the 30th of July last past, by order of your Majesty, and in accord with the council of ministers, I discharged the difficult office of fixing the nature and the extension of the policy which, in what regarded the domestic affairs of the monarchy, the present administration thought of developing, I succeeded in defining with the exactness and clearness that was possible, as well the weighty reasons on which such policy is founded, as also |