Mina was a man of powerful frame and noble aspect--a fine specimen of Nature’s nobility. He was rather tall, of portly size, with fine chest and shoulders, and gigantic arms. His features were more English than Spanish in their aspect, being by no means dark, and their expression powerful, dignified, and heroic. There is a fine portrait of him in Somerset House, London. Like almost all the Guerrilleros, however, he was cruel. The French, whom they cut off by their most harassing mode of warfare, were mercilessly slaughtered. Mina, who was of the common class of peasant-farmers, began with a band of about twenty men whom he formed from amongst his neighbours, appointing a sergeant and corporal. Repeated successes and the character of the chief swelled this band to 300 in number. Mina then appointed a lieutenant. The latter plotted against his commander, and Mina shot him dead with a pistol, after taxing him with his treason, in presence of his men. The rough Spanish mountaineers liked his daring and resolute character, his band swelled to a thousand, and his new lieutenant again conspired to oust his leader. Mina had this man drowned in a well. He was subsequently left unmolested in his command, until his powerful genius organized and led an army. At his death, which occurred about ten years since in Barcelona, he was a Field Marshal, a Grandé of Spain, and Vice-Roy of Navarre. His widow became Aya or Governess to the present Queen of Spain, Isabel, and held that post till the expulsion of Espartero. Mina had a brother, Xavier Mina, who entered the regular army at an early period of life, and likewise rose to the rank of Field Marshal. He was treacherously shot in Mexico by Morillo.