Canovas, Del

CASTILLO, ANTONIO, Spanish statesman and writer, was born June 5, 1828. His first political office was that of representative of Malaga to the Cortes. He was a member of the liberal party until 1868, when it was disbanded. He then made himself the leader of the group called Liberal Conservative, and always adhered to monarchical principles, refusing to accept the republic. He was prominent among the leaders of the movement which placed Alfonso XII on the throne. During the life of this monarch, except for short intervals, he held the position of prime minister, but after the death of Alfonso was obliged to yield the office to Señor Sagasta, leader of the Liberal party. The cabinet of Sagasta was dismi ed by the Queen regent in 1890, and Canovas was recalled to power; but in 1892 he was again forced to resign the reins of government to Sagasta, whom he once more succeeded as Premier in 1895. C. was a a inated by an anarchist, Aug. 8, 1897. Cantan'kero us, a. Ill-natured; disposed to find fault; disputatious; given to quarrelling. ( Colloquial.) Can'tar, n. A unit of weight in vogue on the eastern and southern borders of the Mediterranean, and especially in Egypt and Turkey, equivalent to our hundredweight.-A unit of weight used in the Orient, varying from 100 to 125 lbs., and known in Turkish as gantar, in Arabic as qintar, .-A Spanish measure of capacity, of from two to four gallons.