The European event of the week has been the abdication
of the King of Spain, which has been carried out with a kind of theatric promptitude. Amadeo gave his people less notice than a groom gives his master. On Saturday he told S. Zorrilla, the Premier, that as he had caused a kind of revolt in the artillery by placing General Hidalgo at their head, and as he had taken a vote ap- proving this course, it was useless for a King to remain, and he should go. On Monday the abdication was rumoured in Madrid, and on Tuesday it was announced to the Cortes by a letter from the King, in which his Majesty renounced the Crown "for him- self and his sons," declaring that Spain lived in perpetual con- flict. The Congress and Senate then combined, forming a Con- vention, the abdication was "unanimously" accepted, the Republic was proclaimed by 256 votes to 32, and the leading Republicans were called on to form a Ministry. S. Figueraa, an honest man, obtains the Presidency of the Council; Pi y Margall, a determined man, the Interior ; S. Castelar, the orator, Foreign Affairs ; S. Echegaray, the Treasury ; and General Cordova, ci-devant Abso- lutist, the Ministry at War. S. Martos becomes President of the Convention, but it is expected that S. River°, best described as M. Grevy over again, will be President of the Republic. The Army and the officials have acquiesced, and order is undisturbed. The King and his family Went on Wednesday to Lisbon, where his sister is Queen, and are already forgotten.
