Against this terrible stronghold of the Revolution, General Martinez Campos advanced with an army from Madrid, with orders to reduce the place with the utmost despatch. This was easier said than done. Supplies were lacking; the advantage in artillery lay entirely with the besieged. The Carlists effected diversions in favour of the Intransigents--an odd coalition. Meanwhile three of the revolutionary vessels were seized by a Prussian squadron as pirates--an utterly unjustifiable interference with the domestic affairs of another State. The Prussians and Italians exacted, moreover, a war indemnity of 50,000 pesetas from the Cantonal Junta, which body became a prey to internal dissensions. One of its members was assassinated. Taking advantage of these embarrassments of the besieged the republican troops redoubled their efforts. Señor Castelar came down from Madrid to assume the supreme command, and Martinez Campos was superseded by General Lopez Dominguez. An incessant bombardment was kept up, the besieged responding shell by shell. In January the frigate _Tetuan_ was burnt to the water’s edge, and a day or two later the explosion of the magazine destroyed hundreds of the garrison. The end was near. The city had for half a year defied almost the whole kingdom and withstood the covert attacks of foreign Powers. The Government troops forced their way into wretched, blood-drenched Carthagena; Galvez, Contreras, and the leaders of the cantonal movement escaped by sea in the ironclad _Numancia_, which far exceeded the Government vessels in speed, and took refuge in Algeria. Thus collapsed a movement which was, after the Commune of Paris, the most determined organised attempt ever made to subvert the existing constitution of European society. I have given at some length this chapter in the history of Carthagena, partly because the town has little interest of itself, and partly because these events though so recent and significant are ignored by most writers of travel books. Out of so much evil good came at last, for these well-nigh fatal disorders opened the eyes of the Spaniards to the instability of the Madrid Government and formed the prelude to the reign of peace inaugurated by the accession to the throne of King Alfonso XII. Boasting less than most Spanish provinces of sights that appeal only to the casual tourist, Murcia is interesting as a region of perpetual struggle and bloodshed; of struggle against nature, of struggles between differing religions, and of the deadly internecine feuds of race and race. [Illustration: PLATE 1 VALENCIA: GENERAL VIEW] [Illustration: PLATE 2 VALENCIA: GENERAL VIEW, LOOKING SOUTH] [Illustration: PLATE 3 VALENCIA: VIEW FROM THE PUENTE DEL MAR] [Illustration: PLATE 4 VALENCIA: GENERAL VIEW] [Illustration: PLATE 5 VALENCIA: VIEW FROM THE PUENTE DEL MAR] [Illustration: PLATE 6 VALENCIA: ENTRANCE TO THE TOWN BY THE PUERTA DE SANTA LUCIA] [Illustration: PLATE 7