Spain, while imitating the fashions of England and France in dress and suchlike petty particulars, has also thought proper to copy certain political peculiarities of those two countries. Thus, while La Jeune France vapours in long-bearded and belligerent splendour, under the special patronage of a Joinville, and Young England peeps out, gentlemanly and dignified, from beneath the aegis of a less high-born, but, in other respects, equally distinguished character, La Joven Espana, emulous of their bright example, ranges itself under the patronage of the disreputable editor of a scurrilous journal. It is difficult for us in England to imagine the state of things existing in a country where such a person can head any party or section, however insignificant, in the legislative assembly, and still more difficult to conceive any amount of satirical and vituperative talent placing within his grasp the portfolio of prime minister. Bravo's first introduction to public notice, was as member of the "_Trueno_," or Thunder Club--a society that amused itself, of evenings, by molesting peaceable citizens as they returned home to their families, thrashing the _serenos_ or watchmen, and suchlike intellectual and dignified diversion. He got seriously wounded by a pistol-shot on one of these occasions, and we next find him editing the Guirigay or "Slang," a paper remarkable for its personal and unscrupulous tone. For some time its attacks were directed against Christina, to whose expulsion from Spain it is said to have contributed, so great is the influence of newspaper violence in the Peninsula. During the Queen-Dowager's three years' exile, however, Bravo wrote himself round from a violent _exaltado progresista_, or Radical, into a very decided _moderado_, or Conservative, in which latter character he entered office. Taxed with his renegade conduct, his defence was a most impudent one, highly characteristic of the man. "_No es ridiculo_," said he, "_estar para siempre el mismo?_" Is it not ridiculous to be always the same? But though he managed to get on while in opposition--and even, by a certain amount of impassioned energy and satirical _verve_, to place himself at the head of a party of young members, who, although not exceeding fifty in number, turned the scale in many parliamentary contests--his incapacity became glaringly apparent as soon as he took office. "The prime minister, when he should have been writing sage decrees, was scribbling scurrilous paragraphs; from his portfolio peeped forth old numbers of 'The Slang' and his official robes could not hide his harlequin's jacket. '_Vistan me, dijo Sancho, como quisieren qui de cualquier manera que vaya vestido sere Sancho Panza._' Let them dress me up as they will, quoth Sancho, however I am dressed I shall still be Sancho Panza."