It was suggested that the best way out of the difficulty was for the Duke to resign, but the Prime Minister, Senor Canovas, was unwilling that he should do so while Cuban matters were in such a very unsettled condition.  He thought the best thing for the country would be a change of Ministry, and so he offered his resignation to the Queen.

The opposition rejoiced when the news of Senor Canovas’s resignation was announced.  The leader of the opposition, Senor Sagasta, was known to be in favor of giving the Cubans very liberal home rule, and also of recalling Weyler.  Every one thought that he would be made Prime Minister in the place of Senor Canovas.

The Queen Regent, who rules Spain for her little son Alfonso, who is not old enough to govern for himself, sent for Senor Sagasta, and, as it is always the custom when a Prime Minister resigns for the sovereign to offer the post to the leader of the opposition party, every one thought Senor Sagasta was as good as appointed.

The surprise was great therefore when the Queen, after her interview with Senor Sagasta, sent for Senor Canovas, and asked him to continue to be Prime Minister.

Senor Canovas accepted, much to the disgust of the opposition, but their anger knew no bounds when it was learned that the ill-mannered Duke of Tetuan was also to keep his place.

Spain is very much excited about the recall of Senor Canovas, and it is thought that the Queen has made matters much worse by retaining him in office.

The Cortes has adjourned, and will not meet again for some time, but it is said that the opposition will not forgive the Duke of Tetuan’s insult, and that when the Cortes reassembles, they will clog the wheels of Government just as they did before.

It was supposed that the Queen would be glad to change her Ministers, and have the Government in the hands of men who would try to make friends with Cuba, and end the war, but she does not appear to wish to make friends with them.  She has arranged to saddle Cuba with a new debt of twenty million dollars and extra custom-house duties.

The twenty millions is to make good the paper money we were speaking about in No. 30, but as the twenty millions is only to be in bonds, and not in money, people who understand such matters declare that it will not help at all; the people will not have any more faith in one piece of paper than in the other.  The extra burden will therefore be in vain.

There has meanwhile been some excitement in Havana over the escape of a Spaniard named Santiago Barroeta.

He has been holding official positions in Cuba for years, and is besides the editor and owner of a Havana newspaper.  When the war broke out he joined the Spanish forces and fought to suppress the insurrection.

He was very friendly with Weyler until the Marquis de Apezteguia went to Madrid, to tell the Spanish Government of Weyler’s cruelties.