As a rule, a court only goes into mourning for a relative of the sovereign or a member of the reigning family. It is most unusual for a court to be ordered to mourn for a person who is not of the royal blood, and that the Spanish court has been ordered to pay this mark of respect to Senor Canovas shows the high esteem in which he was held. The cowardly assassin who murdered the Prime Minister has suffered the penalty of his infamous crime. He was tried, found guilty of his dreadful deed, and put to death. The Queen Regent has had to choose another Prime Minister in Canovas' stead, and this has been a hard task for her. In Canovas she lost her best friend and constant adviser, and his place was not easily filled. On the death of Senor Canovas, General Azcarraga, by virtue of his office of Minister of War, assumed the duties of the Prime Minister, and it is upon him that the Queen's choice has fallen. General Azcarraga is supposed to be thoroughly in sympathy with Senor Canovas' plans for Cuba, and to be prepared to carry them out. He is said to approve of the way Weyler has been conducting the war, and intends to keep him as Captain-General of Cuba. It is reported that when the news of Senor Canovas' death reached Havana, General Weyler at once offered to resign his position, well knowing that if Senor Sagasta was made Prime Minister in Canovas' place there would be a new Captain-General in Cuba within the month. Sagasta has, as you probably remember, many kindly plans for Cuba, and had he come into power it is thought would have endeavored to give Cuba home rule. The Queen has, however, put an end to his hopes by appointing General Azcarraga, and Sagasta must be content to wait. In the mean while the Carlists are gathering in force, prepared to revolt as soon as Don Carlos shall bid them to. It is reported that sixty thousand well-armed men are ready to answer to his call. Don Carlos, however, persists in awaiting the result of the Cuban war before he attempts to seize the throne. He declares that he loves his country too well to plunge it into a civil war at the moment when it is harassed by outside enemies. The situation in Cuba continues to improve for the insurgents. They are strong, hopeful, and victorious. They have not as yet risked any great battle, but in their raids and forays against the enemy are constantly successful. It is reported on the best authority that Gomez has crossed the Matanzas border, and is now in Havana province. It is also said that the trochas have been abandoned by the Spaniards, and the insurgents cross them at will. The Spanish garrisons are now being withdrawn from the smaller interior towns and concentrated in the important places, principally on the seaboard. The condition of the Spanish soldiers grows daily worse, while the rebels have become so inured to hardship that they have developed into fine, sturdy soldiers.