CABALLERO, FERMIN, a Spanish author, journalist, and v man, was born in 1800, of poor labouring parents, who exerted themselves to procure him a superior education. He showed very early a predilection for geographical studies, and at the age of fourteen had produced a plan of his native town, Barajas de Melo, in the pro vince of Cuenca. The first work that brought him into notice was a series of criticisms on Miliano's Geographical Dictionary of the Peninsula,' a work of great extent (10 vols. 4to), and of apparent value, but in, reality compiled with inexcusable carelessness, Miflano was an especial favourite with King Ferdinand VII.; and his book, though expensive, was subscribed for, however unwillingly, by every person who held an official post throughout the kingdom. Tho attacks of Caballero, which began in 1829 and extended to as many pamphlets as Minano'a 'Dictionary ' counted volumee, were as witty as they were just, and were productive of unexpected benefit to their author. The minister Calomarde, who 'was undoubtedly jealous of the influence of Milian° over the king, bestowed substantial favours on his antagonist; and Caballero, who had hitherto been an obscure lawyer, was soon known in the character of a landed proprietor. It may be observed, that Mifiano'e work is now completely superseded by Madoz'a 'Diccionario de Espana,' in 16 closcly-printed volumes—a treasure of topographical information and research, which would do honour to any country in Europe. In 1833 Caballero set on foot a journal of note, the 'Boletin de Comercio,' and when that was sup pressed by the minister Burgos, followed it up with the ' Eco del Comercio,' which, chiefly owing to the talent of his leading articles, became and continued one of the most influential journals in Spain.
After the peaceful revolution produced by the 'Estatuto Real,' he was elected to the Cortes by the town of Cuenca, and was known as one of its most decidedly radical members. While the contest between Carlos and Christina was still doubtful, he voted that Carlos should be put to death if taken ; and he afterwards voted that Christina should be deprived of the guardianship of her children. On the accession of his friend Lopez to the ministry, in 1843, he formed one of the cabinet, was expelled with Lopez by Espartero, and again resumed office on Espartero'e fall. His tenure of it on the second occasion was but short, and his activity has sine° been mainly of a literary kind. His reputation wae materially injured by the publi cation of a work entitled 'Commentaries on Anquetil,' the French historian, in which, to the astonishment of the public, the principles of absolutism were avowed and defended. In reply to the attacks upon him, Caballero made the singular defence, that though the book was published in his name the objectionable passages had been inserted without his consent by an old academician connected with the censor ship, Don Pedro Maria Olive. The friends of Olive indignantly denied the charge, and the matter appeara never to have been satisfactorily cleared up. His other works are almost entirely of a geographical character. Tho two moat important are, a quarto volume entitled Manual geografico administrative de Espana,' a work of great and varied information, and a small pamphlet on the Geographical Learning of Cervantes,' which will supply some valuable notes to future editors of ' Don Quixote.'