Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward
Sir: On the night of the 10th instant the colonel, lieutenant colonel, two majors, and captains of the regiment of Bourbon, in garrison at Valencia, were surprised in the barracks as they were about to lead the regiment out in insurrection, and were made prisoners. At the same time a force surrounded the progresista club in that city and made sixteen of the leading members prisoners.
In consequence of this event the captain general of that province, Lieutenant General Villalonga, marquis of Maestrazgo, formerly a Carlist leader, has also been dismissed from his command, and with him Major General La Roela, second in command, with many inferior officers.
Whatever this movement may have been intended to be, it seems to have been abortive. Nevertheless, the Queen’s government seems to be convinced that it has not suppressed the revolutionary symptoms in the peninsula by its vigorous and timely action at Valencia. The military governor of Cadiz has also been removed. The position of troops is being constantly varied, and movable columns of one brigade-of infantry, with artillery and cavalry in proportion, have been organized and are moving from point to point throughout the country.
[Page 542]It being currently reported that General Prim was at Valencia, again that lie was at Perpignan, on the frontiers of Catalonia, again that he had chartered fast steamer at Marseilles, and was on the Mediterranean, the government has publicly, withdrawn his leave of absence to travel abroad, and ordered him in the official Gazette of to-day to proceed by the straight road to Madrid, and report to the minister of war. The Spanish ambassador has, however, telegraphed from Paris that he has not been able to convey this order to the hands of General Prim, because his family, now at Paris, were not able to inform him where the general now is.
General Milors del Bosch, also enjoying a leave of absence abroad, has been ordered to report at Ceuta; various aides-de-camp and officers especially attached to these leaders have been ordered to out-of-way places, or are in hiding to avoid receiving such orders.
A circular order of the minister of interior government, published to-day, orders the civil governors of the provinces to close immediately all the clubs, cafés, reading-rooms, or societies, whatsoever be their name or apparent object, in which political subjects may have been or may be treated of, and which, in the opinion of the governor, may contribute to disturb the public tranquillity.
This is a sweeping order, and practically will amount to closing all places of meeting and of conversation, except those where the partisans of the government resort.
I send enclosed a translation of the text of this order.
Everything still bodes that the summer will not pass without a conflict, and the transcendent nature of the questions at issue is confessed by the minister to be nothing less than the destruction of the institutions and the political system now existing. The indications now are that open insurrection will not be long delayed.
Still, it is possible that the Queen, by yielding on two or three great questions, such as the recognition of the kingdom of Italy, reform of the electoral laws and lists of voters, &c, may temporarily put off the day when the people of Spain shall require her to vacate the throne.
I have the honor to remain, with the highest respect, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington.