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NOTICE OF THE AUTHOR.

as a citizen, courageously to persevere in the vindication of the opinions he had at first embraced. L'Avvenire, a journal established by him, the Pilota, the Corriere Nazionale, and especially the Rivista di Madrid, of which he was one of the editors, attest his activity and the superiority of his talents. He had already published his "Essay on European Diplomacy, from the Revolution of June to the Treaty of the Quadruple Alliance," a work which reflected great honor on his country, and in which the wide scope of his observation is equal to the truth of his applications.[1] It was at that time that he delivered a course of lectures on international law, in the Atheneum at Madrid, a course so much the more useful, as there no longer existed a just public opinion, and no one attempted to strengthen or confirm these languishing sentiments.

In the mean time, Espartero, emboldened by his decisive victory over the Carlists, not only deprived Maria Christina of the regency, but also of the guardianship of her children. Donoso did not change with this mutation of fortune, but continued unceasingly to defend her, if not as widow and regent, at least as mother and queen. His efforts were unsuccessful, and he had reason to esteem himself fortunate that this civic courage was not punished by death, as was that of his friend, Montes de Oca. Maria Christina appointed him her secretary, and in this capacity he shared her exile, and made known to all Europe the ingratitude and cruelty of the Duke of Victoria. Candidly, I do not know, all things considered, whether these representations were just or not. In 1843, when the Marshal Narvaez established a conservative policy, relying upon the protection of France, (an aid always injurious to the independence of a people,) Donoso succeeded in returning to his country, and changed his position of secretary of the queen for that of secretary and director of the


  1. The Throne and the Constitution, of May 17, 1843.