Star. — London, England, 1830-08-31 00:00:00

THE REVOLUTION IN BELGIUM. BRUSSELS, Aca. 27, 1830. Von will Lear of the riot which has taken place here ; fur the moment it has put a stop to all business; all tho public offices, the national bank, and all private banking houses, with the shops, are closed ; but I am happy to say it appears to be quite at an end ; last night passed off ' quietly, and to-day every thing seems to be resuming its revilar course. The Bourgeoise, and principal residents' and inhabitants of the town, have armed themselves, and taken possession of all the gates of the town from the sol diers, who at first refused to give them up, but afterwards complied, which seems to have bad the effect of restoring tranquillity. The government troops have only guarded the palaces of the King and Princes. Private property has been respected every where ; and the damage done to public pro perty is not very great. The object of the rioters appears to be, to get a reduction of some of the local and other oppressive taxes ; but does not appear to have for its object any material change in the Government. The King and Princes are all absent. PARIS, Aro. 28, 1834). The Belgian Papers of the 25th, which reached Paris yesterday, contain rather alarming intelligence of the state of Brussels, Liege, and several of the frontiers —that they were in a state of tumult, and that a general insurrection was apprehended.—" Most alarming reports are in circulation— popular commotions are spoken of, and all the peaceable in habitants are in a state of great inquietude. It appears evi• dent that the Communal Guards will not render the service to the Government which they have been led to expect of them. Would it not be prudent at once to organise the Civic Guards, who, in all perplexing circumstances, have rendored service to the town ? This measure should be exe cuted promptly ; and we understand that steps are about to be taken for that purpose. An individual, who appeared to be intoxicated, was haranguing the people the day before yesterday in the Great Square, and uttering various sedi tious cries. Some of the Police came to arrest him ; at first he defended himself, but afterwards surrendered voluntarily." Le Beige. " Attempts are made to stir up the lower classes of the population, but they will most assuredly prove abor tive. It is not in a city that has become a Royal residence, and one of the finest and most remarkable in Europe, that a few men, without mission or consistency, will succeed in creating disaffection. Their evil intentions and vile attempts will be disappointed by the good sense and loyalty of this numerous population, which is not ungrateful, nor hostile to the prosperity which it enjoys, owing to the political system so much calumniated."—Gazette de Pays Bas. It was generally reported yesterday throughout Paris, that a telegraphic dispatch had been received from Lille, an nouncing that the garrison of Brussels had been disarmed by the inhabitants, and that the Dutch troops had sent in their submission. The lowering of the funds was owing to no other cause. A second telegraphic dispatch is announced by the Moniteur of this morning, which states that peace had been re-established at Brussels, and that the insurrection had been subdued. INTERESTING PARTICULARS. Wednesday evening an immense concourse of people assembled at the theatre, to witness the representation of the MUETTE DE POETIC!. The theatre was not sufficiently capacious to hold all the persons who wished to gain admittance, and crowds of persons congregated in the Place de la Monnale who had been disappointed. After the Theatre was over the number of persons in the Place de la filonnaie having been increased considerably by part of the audience, proceeded in • body to the office of the " National" Newspaper, where they broke the windows, and endeavoured to force the doors. A person in the crowd having called out " chez Libry !" (the ostensible editor of this paper), the mob desisted from their attempt on the office, and they proceeded to the private residence of the editor at the Libraire Polynnatique, Rue de la Madeleine, next door to the Grande Blessagerie. The mob continued to increase in number every Instant. Having arrived at the house of M. Libry, they proceeded to break the windows and force the doors, and having made themselves masters of the premises, they threw the furniture out of the window into the street— ransacked the shop:and store-rooms, in which were considerable num bers of books, and threw them also into the street; they afterwards flung lighted flambeaus in at the windows ; fortunately M. Libry Bag nano was not at home. It being now about half past eleven, the mob had increased to a formidable number. The Police, seeing their state of fermentation, wisely abstained from interfering:: lone of the mob, ad dressing the Gendarmes, said " N'ogisses pas; on you. Iguana &an quilks." Towards midnight the mob divided, one party directed their course towards the Place Royal, preceded by a banner made from the window curtains of M. Libry Bagnano: having arrived opposite to the guard house, the officer on duty, who was attended by the Commandant de Place, demanded of them what they desired P A shout was imme diately raised, and the only intelligible words were, " Liberti!" Jos rice r One of the soldiers on duty left the ranks, and stepping up to the mob, with tears in his eyes, entreated them to return to their homes, saying, " De grace, dispersez.vous, epargnez-noun la honte de devoir verses le sang Belge."—These simple words had more effect than the most strenuous resistance. Another party, proceeding by the Rue de I'Empereur, and the Rue de Rusbrook, stopped.opposite to the Palais de Justice, where they broke the windows, and cried out—" A has Van Nlaanen ! Vive de Potter I" A third party, more numerous than the other two, directed their course to the house of M. de Knyft; Head of the Police,in the Rue de Berlaimont. There, as at the residence of M. Libry, they broke the windows, destroyed the furniture, and set fire to the premises, but committed no plunder. One of the mob, having been taken in the act of secreting a mantle, received immediate chastisement, and the mantle was torn to pieces. About this time, the riot assumed a serious aspect : all the city was in the greatest conster nation, the inhabitants left their houses, and the military were called out. The lirst shot we heard filed was about one o'clock in the morn. ing, but immediately afterwards it became more general. The different parties having now again united, proceeded. in awful numbers to the residence of M. Van Masnen, Minister of Justice, situ ated on the P e tit S a bl on , oppos i te the prison, where they forced the doors, crying out, 4 ' A bas Van Maanen !" and threw the furniture out at the windows. The military having attempted to interfere, the mob assaulted them with the furniture, and they were compelled to retreat. The Hotel was then set on fire, the flames immediately arose, and be. fore lung the whole of this spacious building was one mass of fire. Tne mob still remained, declaring that they would not leave till it wasburnt to the very foundation. The fire having been seen by the Pompiers, they proceeded with all dispatch with their engines to the scene of de. struction ; but having been repulsed by the mob, they were forced to return to the Hotel de Ville. During the night, the gunsmiths were compelled to give the mob all the swords, guns, and every weapon they possess e d, which were distribute amon them. Opposite the Palace Justice ,some workmen having d surround g ed a military p officer, presented their weapons, and demanded his word of honour that he would not command his company to fire on the people. About five o'clock in the morning a battalion of Cliasseurs and a battalion of Grenadiers paraded the streets. About six o'clock, an officer on the Sablon commanded his company to fire, and several lives were lost, and many were wounded.— Towards ten o'clock, the militia centinels in the Rue de Louvain filed from a window, and shot an infant of eight years of age. The windows in the house of M. Schuermans, Procureur du Rol, were broken during the night. " BRUSSELS, Auo. 27. " HOTEL Dr BILLEVUE AV PARC. " In my l etter of yesterday, I transmitted you u correct and detailed an account of the origin and first movements of the insurrection which has unhappily broken out here, as the confusion and anxiety of the moment would permit me to collect. The object of the insurgents was and still continues vague and indefinite, and consequently all their pro ceedings partake of an uncertain and undecided character. The great mass of those who first broke the public peace, were of the very lowest order—manufacturers' labourers, and artisans, without bread or employ. ment. These peopl e felr they suffered from high taxes and low wages,and inscribed their sufferings to the King's Alinisters, who, in their opinion s :noured the Dutch at the expense of the Belgians. Hence, In order to have cheap bread and plenty of employment, they were logically joined by the party who called out for freedom of opinion and theabolition of all restraint 'tpon the press. Hence their began by burning the house of an oak/. lunate journalist and bookseller, who supports the Government, and of ILt Minister of Justice, who prosecutes for libel. Hence, M. Labry- Bagnano's property was desuoyed to the cry of " Pity de Pons?!" and the hotel of M. Von slaanen was burnt to the shout of " Visw la titerte !" and " Point d'iosiobt tut le viande." The Belgic and the Catholic party, like the French Liberals, had polled the nation, and had found the secret of their strength. About three hundred thousand of the Belgic people had last year tuned Plinocis against the system of the Ministry, whom the MRS nately persists in maintaining in power. The object of these petitions had no reference to the distress of the lower classes • but they extended the idea that they were oppressed. They related chiefly to the freedom of the press, trial by jury, ministerial responsibility, freedom of instruc tion, and the perfect independence of the church on the state in reli gious matters. These petitions originated chiefly in the party of M. de Potter, and were supported with all his activity and seal. Thus the perpetual agitation of questions, in which, by the way, the Brussels in surgents could feel little practical grievance, led them to believe that they really were oppressed, and the banishment of their champion added what they thought insult and contumely to their imaginary wrongs. In this state of their feelings, the revolution in France pre (tented them with an opportunity or a pretext for an insurrection against the Government, though.they could not pretend, as in France, that there had recently been any flagrant attempt to invade thcir rights. The distress of the manufacturing labourers provoked to revolt, and supplied to the more intelligent malcontents a body of men fitted for their purpose ; because such a population can lose nothing, and may gain something, in political changes. " I stated yesterday what were the first results of this disaffected feeling on the various classes on whom it operated. They only thought of burning the houses or demolishing the property of their supposed enemies. They issued no proclamation as a rallying point for their friends, and made no specific demand on the Government as the price of renewed order. They ran to seize arms—to occupy the posts of the military, and demolish the furniture of the Ministers, without seeming to have any ulterior purpose. The carriage of M. Van Knyff was burnt before the Hotel de Ville, and all the official papers in his office lined the streets, or were made into bonfires. " The prudent precaution adopted by the military chiefs of retiring from the streets, and forming their troops into - an imposing mass before the Palace, joined to the great forbearance of both officers and men, has saved the effusion of much blood. The ragamuffins who pervaded the town with muskets, pistols, and swords, spades, and pitchforks, would certainly have fought, had they been attacked, and their poverty might have led them to pillage the city. " I subjoin the notes which I made on the distressing scene before us, since I wrote you yesterday. " Four o'clock, p. m. Aug 2fi. " The troops which were sent for last night, or early this morning, have arrived. They consist of two battalions, one of dragoons and another of infantry, from Antwerp and Mechlin. " The Garde Communale marches past the lines of the Ring's troops to relieve guard at the different poets, without giving or receiving any challenge. " The troops have formed in the Place Royale to protect the Ring's Palace and the public establishments ; keeping together in a body, they render an attack hopeless, and cannot be massacred in detail, as they would be in the streets. _ _ " Several small parties have deserted from the line, and surrendered their arms to their fellow-citizens. They are seen parading the streets in their uniform, and mixing carelessly with the groups of the in surgents. " The attack on private property continues, thus giving our insurrec tion a distinctive character from the late glorious revolution in Paris. " The hotels of the Minister of Justice, and of the Commandant of the Garrison, are still burning ; the windows, doors, and furnittue of the Governor's house, have been entirely demolished. " The Communal or Civic Guard having now got undisturbed pos session of all the posts of the town, and being intrusted by their fellow_ citizens with the protection of their property—a task which the general government cannot in present circumstances exercise—there has of late been no collision between the military and the people. A stormy night is, however, expected, unless the wealthier or more respectable class of citizens form themselves into patrols, and overmaster the rabble who are disposed to mischief. „ _ " 8 o'CLocx, P. X. " The hope above expressed is likely to be realized. The better class of shopkeepers and inhabitants are now under arms. Strong patrolling parties traverse the streets in every direction and in every quarter, im posing a salutary tenor on the more tumultuous rioters.Theltri.coloured flag, however, is still displayed, and the people from time to time shout Pine /a Republique ! Five Napoleon If." " The lamps last night were all broken. To-night the city is illu minated: whether in token of victory, or as a preventive of mischief, I do not know. Probably both considerations have their weight, as they affect different classes. It is seldom that Brussels has been so bril- liantly illuminated. " 10 o'CLocx. " The troops are still drawn up in the place where they have re mained for the last 20 hours, and the hopes of peace are likely to be realized for the night, as the civic guard protects the town. The land. lord of the Hotel de Bellevue, where 1 lodge, has upwards of 100 men engaged to protect his house. "A patty of the city guard have arrived to have a parley with the commanding officer of the dragoons. The conference was short ; but the deputation went away satisfied, as they shouted, firma les braves Bslges ; vivenl les dragons!" "5 co'CLocte A.M. FRIDAY MORNING . . " There have been no disturbances during the night. No attack has been made on the troops. or on the lives or property of the inhabitants. On looking out this morning, we found the troops, cavalry, and in. Pantry, bivouacking on the area of the Place Royal; or under the pissaas of the Palace. The groups of the populace were neither nume. roue nor formidable. " There is a chance that the total want of political leaders among the people, and the wise forbearance of the military, may allow of the restoration of tranquillity without further bloodshed, or any extensive change in the Administration. Had the people been equally decided to carry any political point as in Paris, and had they been equally disposed to overpower the resistance of the troops, they would have planted themselves among the trees of the park, and have fired upon their enemies in a situation from which they could not have been dia. lodged. Their neglect of such advantages, their apparent satisfaction at little acts of vengeance, and their inability to state any other grievance than taxes, which the government cannot easily dispense with, would give this insurrection the character of a lucre popular tumult, if we can suppose that the majority of a large capital would, without cause, aid the operations or submit to the sway of a mob for 48 hours. " 10 O'CLOCK, FRIDAY MORNING.. " I have been round the town. All has been tranquil during the night. The churches are open, and some shops. The people say that they will be satisfied with the abolition of the tax upon meat and flour. The last impost has had a strange history. Its presence in the budget last year was one of the main causes of the rejection of the financial sys tem of the Government by the States General. His Majesty wisely re vised his system, and abolished the neotaure (tax on grinding corn) as a part of the revenue of the State. The municipal bodies, however, have likewise their budget; and, seeing a source of taxation thus abandoned, the Regency of Brussels re-imposed, as a municipal tax, what could not be tolerated as part of the national burdens. If the russels insur gents are satisfied with this, they need not have made such a noise about their lib erty and palrie.. - . " If any arrangement is formed before the departure of the mail, I shall mention it. " FRIDAY, 11 O'CLOCI, A.M. " Many of the facts I have stated above, become totally insigni fi cant after the disclosure of what I am about to state, and with which I was previously unacquainted. " The nobility and other classes have put themselves at the head of the movement. " Yesterday they entered into a contract with the chiefs of the military force, who have joined their cause. The latter only required that they might not be required to lay down their arms, and that the custody of the Past* should be confided to them. The Civic and Belgic Guard took possession of all other posts by that treaty. " Palace will be given up, if the answer from the Hague is not favourable to the views of the national party. " They are to demand a new constitution, not °terve, but conquis. They as yet speak of no change of dynasty. " Either the King or the Prince of Orange is expected at Ghent. The populace have set fire to the buildings in the park. The King's Theatre is in flames. " Last night the workmen out of employment, with whom the tumult began, proceeded to different manufactories, and not only broke the machines employed in them, but destroyed the depots of articles made by machinery. They assembled in such numbers that resistance would only have occasioned a useless effusion of blood. If the contest thus goes on, it may soon assume the character of a servile war. " 4 o'CLocx, P.Y. " The Civic Guards are excellently organized. Every man who has property to protect is called upon to enrol his name, and to give.his set vices in this body. " Confidence is not yet restored to any extent. The populace demand the sunender of the Royal Palace, and threaten to set firs to it it not given up to them. They think that by its possession the government could be more readily be brought to terms. " The tricolour worn by the insurgents of Brussels, is not the French colours, but the old colours of Brabant. " The rumour of disturbances at Ghent was wrong or premature. None had taken place yesterday afternoon. " The mails were allowed to leave Brussels yesterday ; but no letters that came have yet been delivered. (PROM ANOTIIKR CORRESPONDENT.) " 5 O'CLOCK. " The Garde Bourgeoise amounts this moment to 5,000 men, and every hour is tulding to the number. They are under the command of a man chosen by themselves, Baron Emmanuel d'Hoogvorst. The Government is virtually in his hands. The Governor of the city is no longer heard of. The Burgomaster and the &genet are mere They sign the numerous proclamations, but no one cares for them ; and a petition is gone to the Bing, calling for a change in the local magistracy, and the removal of Mr. Van Maanen. Libry Beipano has not been heard of. Neither are there any tidings of Baron Loyd', the Director of Police. Their bowies are in ruins, with those of the Go vernor, Vanderfosse. Baron Vautier, the General Commandant, and the Minister of Justice, Van Maanen. Bo thorough is the disorgani sation of Government, that there was no one found this morning to issue stamps for the newspapers. " I may say generally that nothing could display more temper than did the troops and their Commander; but when ordered to tire, the soldiers readily obeyed. There were about a dozen of the people killed, and half as many soldiers. I saw several of the straggling conflicts be. tween the military and the mob, and the latter showed no want of cou. rage. Had they but had a cruse, one might have sympathized with them. Their object is now apparently satisfied. They have given vent to their feelings of hatred against the most eminently unpopular men ; and being gradually disarmed, by fair means and foul, the rabble is no longer dangorous. Strong patrols are in movement all through the city and tatthourgs ;and the garrison now consists of 3,50 men. No more troops arc to be brought into the town. The whole of the military posts are confined to the Garde liour,coiee ; the name Communale is no longer acknowledged; and no citizen wears uniform of any kind. The city is divided into eight sections, and the citizens act under the orders of as many chiefs, they, of course, to be directed by the Cont. mandant. " The aspect of things is now infinitely more serious to any think. ing mind than it was yesterdayy, while the rabble were reeling about in all directi ons , covere d with bl ood and reeking with beer, firing their guns at random, and spreading alarm that is now quite extinct. The garrison is still in groat part under arms in the stations where it bi vouacked all night. But we must now look for events of higher ma meet than skirmishes between soldiers and mob. It is now a demand against grievances, real or imagined, between an armed people and their sovereign. What the result will be, it is idle to foretel or guess at. People wond e r a t t h e non - arr i va l of King or the Prince of Orange. The armed force is every hour increasing in number and confidence; and a thousand reports are afloat as to the events of yesterday, at Ghent, Antwerp, Liege, and the other towns. Many English are quitting —some afraid to stir—...and certainly no new comers expected." LETTER IN THE MORNING CHRONICLE. Pains, Atha. 28, 1830. Sta—Do you know the history of the Revolution ? It may be that you do, or it may be that you do not. In either case you will be dis posed, I believe, to receive information. I know Belgium from Fumes to Aix-la-Chapelle, and from Antwerp to Luxemburg. I have known Belgium some years—have watched day after day with interest and anxiety the proceedings of the Government, and the conduct of the priests and the people. 1 have some friends there with whom I constantly cor. respond, and I have walked through nearly all the provinces. I do not speak Flemish ; but I seldom found it necessary, for almost all speak rench. The Revolution in the Pays Btaisthe result not of one, but of several causes; and I shall endeavour in a few letters to present to the readers of The AiorniNg Chronicle the true state of the question. The Pays Bas consists of two countries—two people, distinct in their habits—religion—political opinions—and political desires. The Dutch are dull, heavy, and wealthy—sound Protestants, good Tories, and con. tent to sell gunpowder to their enemies with whom the/ are at war, to be used afterwards in shooting their own army and navy, provided they can make a profit of 50 per cent!! The Dutch inhabit Holland—speak Dutch—are cold, calculating, honest, and sincere. They must know you a good many years before they consider you a friend, but let me do them justice and admit, that when their friendship is once secured, it is durable and devoted. The Flemings contain in their veins the blood of Spaniards, French, and the natives of the country. They are more lively than their Dutch neighbours—less avaricious—less industrious —less honest—but more gay, more attached to liberty, more desirous of advancing with the age in which they live, and yet, on the other hand, bigutted in their religious principles, and devout to a great excess. They are all Catholics—obstinate Catholics—and, if you will, bigotted Catholics. They very rarely speak any other language than French— they lore France and its Government—they trace half their troubles to their separation from that country, and they sigh to return to it. They declare that the natural boundaries of France ate the Alps, the Pyre nees, and the Rhine ; and out of every thousand, at least 950 will tell you that they desire to be governed by the French, and no longer to be united to a people whom for ages they have detested, and with whom they will never fraternize. At the commencement of my correspondence on the affairs of Bel gium, I set out with one decided opinion, which is founded upon facts the most incontrovertible, and which I have seen with my own eyes, and heard with my own ears. The fact is the following, which I beg of you to remember, and you will find that ere long I am right, viz- - Belgium will never be permanently tranquil, until it again forms part of Francs ! I am very anxious to impress this point upon you—and through the Morning Chronicle, upon those who direct in your country the march of public affairs. I may be told that Prussia will not allow this ! Granted. I may be told that France does not desire it ! and for the sake of clearing the road a little I will say—Granted. I may be told that Eng land will never rennit it -that Flanders is an English sea port to the Continent, and that the Duke of Wellington, as in spector of the forts and strong places in that country, would sooner see Belgium in revolution for twenty years, and involve Great- Britain in a continental war, than permit it. To this also I say Eanted. I may be told that this junction would destroy the balance of urope, would make France too powerful and Holland too feeble, would render Russia omnipotent, by weakening the alliance of the Pays Has with Prussia; and to all this, if you will, 1 am disposed, for the mo ment, to say granted. I may be told that the revolution will be put down, that the armed forces of Prussia and Holland will march upon the people, and destroy thousands and tens of thousands, and that nought shall remain in Flanders but empty towns and desolate villages. And once more I will even say—Granted. But what of all this ? Can a whole population be exterminated ? No. Men women, and children, with the army and marine of Belgium —are all—l speak of the mass, all for a union with France ; and though the event may be delayed, it can. I not be prevented. Assure yourself, then, I pray you, of the truth of another remark. which is the consequence of the last, viz. that this revolution in the Pays Baa commenced in 1815. As soon as the Flemings had ceased to hear the sound of cannon, and had buried the slain ; as soon as their tears had ceased to flow for the defeat of Napoleon ; as soon as the loud and oft. repeated curses of the whole Flemish population at the success of the holy alliance had subsided into a death-like silence, only occasionally intercepted by sighs, the Flemings began to consider their real position. They found that their country had been reunited to Holland without their consent; that they had been turned over by treaty, as a piece of land changes proprietors by deed ; and that although it was well. known that Belgium had never been so prosperous and happy, as since she had formed part of France, yet that her wishes were not considered of any moment when compared with those of the House of Orange; and that it was deemed right by her con querors to annex her to her ancient foe, Holland ! Flemish Catho. lics beheld their provinces ruled by Protestant Governors, their King was a Protestant Prince, the Ministers and Officers of Sate Dutch men and Protestants, and Belgium found herself encumbered with the ancient debt of Holland. But this was not all. During the reign of Napoleon, Belgium had scarcely been taxed ; now she found herself paying more taxes than the Dutch. I shall prove this in another letter. During the reign of Napoleon, Belgium had obtained a free market for all her manufactures, and had obtained in return good Bordeaux wine at ten-pence per bottle. Now she found her self without • vent for her manufactured articles, and the tax on Bordeaux wino was so heavy as almost to amount to a prohibition. During the reign of Napoleon, the Conscription had certainly been established, and thousands of her sons had perished in the field of battle ; but then her officers had been promoted—her brave youth were re warded—Belgians had governed their own affairs, under the superin tendence of France—and the Dutch had not been permitted to interfere in their concerns. During the reign of Napoleon, the Belgians had identified themselves with France. They had nearly forgotten their own most barbarous language, and had adopted that of the French. In their courts of law—in the army and navy—in the public schools—and everywhere, French was the language of the people—and to the lowest class was confined the speaking of the Flemish dialect. But now they found that the old language was revived ; that all reminiscences of the former junction of Belgium with France were to be destroyed, and that an attempt was to be made to amalgamate the Flemings with the Dutch. This alone was sufficient to induce a moral resistance, and that moral resistance has been going on for the period of 15 years. I ant about to state a tact which 1 know to be true—that from 1815 to the present day, the Belgians never have been really satisfied ; and I must add, that they never will be until France shall govern them. That such de sire has been greatly increased by the events which have recently occur. red in France 1 of course admit, since, in the very sante proportion that France becomes truly great and truly free, the Flemings increasingly desire a connexion with that country. I am disposed, then, to state that which I think h 0 one who knows any thing of the subject will deny, that even had the Constitution of the Pays Bas been perfect —even had the King acted with impartiality and wisdom—even had his Ministers been selected equally from Belgium and Holland—even had the Press been free—even had the taxes been diminished—even had the Judges been permanent —even had the in struction of the ycuth of the country ben put or. a proper basis—and if a thousand wrongs that have been committed had not been perpetrated, and a thousand petitions which have been rejected had met with attention, still that the Belgians would never have been satisfied until their country be came once more united to France. I do not say that the Revolution might not have been yet further prolonged. I do not say that even now it may not be for a while suppressed ; but it is as certain that Belgium must be re-united to France before there can ever be repose and happi ness in the country, as it is that nothing but superior military force can now prevent the Flemings from declaring themselves free. And then arises a question of the highest importance and the deepest interest; one which, sooner or later, must be discussed, and must be decided ; and that question is, whether a people, consisting of millions of enlightened and noble-minded citizens are to be transferred against their will from one Government to another, and forced against their will to belong to that Government, although in a thousand ways they have evinced their repugnance and wretchedness ? I know I shall be met by the old answer of the law of force—the right of conquest—and the power of the stronger over the weaker. But I answer , this by saying, that such an argument is one only which can weigh with the Members of the ancient Holy Alliance, and cannot pos sibly convince any man possessed of common sense or mere ordi..ary in tellect. In my next letter I propose to continue the history of the po pular dissatisfaction in the Pays Bu, and to notice some of the imme. diate causes of the Revolution. SPIRIT OF THE JOURNALS. Cpl noxicLE —The account of arevoltaion ..t lit ussol-, to It hi :. a • yesterday alluded, is confirmed. lint, num mane cannot be said to hat taken Europe by surprise; for it is well known that the Belgians hue; always disliked the government ist.posed on them in 1813, alai that 1, a considerable period the strongest irritation has prevailed. The Fret:, . revolution may have emboldened the people of Brussels, and accelerated the movement; but no one can `.cave :itterttitAl :n the recent hittury of the Netherlands without being satisfied t i...t the prevailing discontent wculd, ere long, lead to serious events. tl. de Potter some time ago In;.. dressed a letter to the King o the Netherlands, in which he predicted what has now taken p!ace. In the Courrire des Puy, Bus there is a second letter from M. de Potter to the King of tie Netherlands, of which the following is an extract : " I repeat, Sire, the Van 31ast.ea ministry is as odious to the Bel. glans as the Pclignac ministry was to the French ; the doctrines of the Royal Message of December the 11th are as subversive of our fund a. mental law as the Ordonnances of July 23th were of the Charter ; the Dutch oppression Is as insupportable to us as the preponderance of the priests and nobles is to our neighbours; the Paternal Government is as impossible in Belgium as the Absolute Government in France ; the love of liberty is as great, as ardent, and as powerful, at Brussel., Liege, Mons Bruges, and Ghent, as i t i s at Paris." The politi cal fabric reared by the enemies of the nations, on the eve . throw of Napoleon, is thus fast crumbling to pieces. Is theme ama t, with the spirit of a man, throughout Europe, who does not wish that it should so crumble to pieces ? The people, their interests, their feefingg, their habits, were all sacrificed, without scruple or compunction, to th • plan for strengthening the great military monarchies, as Lord Castle reagh termed them ; that is, Europe was so parcelled out, that the grea despotisms were enabled to retain r urope in a state of subjection, by tit • ease with which they could aid each otter in crushing all attempts a: internal improvement in any country. Belgium was violemly torn front France—ltaly was consigned to Austri t—blaws was forcibly united tam Piedmont—and a number of other forcible dismemberments and uniols were then consummated. Whenever, however, violence is done to th , nations, as In the so-called settlement of Europe, there is always a danger of violent termination to the scheme. A Government vnat imposed on the greatest and most intelligent of the Europes.' nation., hostile to all improvement, either at home or abroad. The Allis had of course a deep interest in upholding this government, die exist. n :e of which was essential to their scheme, and they accordingly guaranteed to the elder branch of the hated Bourbons the possession of the throe... of France. But the French having thrown off the inctanbrance, an; vindicated their rights to self-government, the system of the allies i. undermined. She has weakened the enemies of the nations, and in et same proportion strengthened the nations themselves. They have, to t. her bright example to teach them the grand secret of their own p.m ez. Ids impossible, that under such crcunistances, the nations siffetin under injustice should not teel impelled to follow the example. Wha might have been imprudent a few nantlis ago, may now be a matter easy execution. HERALD.— A small portion of the Ptess of this country makes wa upon the French people and their patriot King. What is wanted in tea. suning is made up in abuse—in proportion to the dearth of legitimat • mattn rof accusation is the abundance of scurrilous invective. Th • heroic people of Paris are assailed by a bitterness only to be etitnele by its injustice, because they did not tamely submit to the utter rubve7. lion of tit. ir liberties, and resign themselves in patient degradation its priestly tyranny and regal oppression. It scents as if some write wished to make the French sensible that they had eternally di - graced themselves by missing the fi:iest opportunity possible of su passing, in servile submission, the subjects of that Homan Entine :r who delegated his power to tie fawning and crud Sejanus, or art hi who invested a nobler animal with the functions of a great Id t gistzate, and made his horse a Consul. l ht.he were gloriutt. tin:e . nu doubt; and if Charles, and his ghostly adviser., had sue • ceded in their plans for the regeneration of the absolute dynasty, tit • world might have seen such times again. A Tabruios or a Caligult— the most perfect models of pure absolutism—cannot exist where 0.. people arc wayward and perverse enough to reiain any sense of the dignity of human nature. France, unmindful of the lessons of con tented debasement which the degenerate Romans gave the world after the overthrow of the Commonwealth, prefers a moderate, oval enlightened Sovereign to an ignorant and morose tyrant alt prefers a Trajan to a Domitian—a Louis Philippe, who rt presents the national will, to a Charles X. who trampled it in the dust. 111-judging people ! why do ye not abjure the heresy of a free Constitution, and return to the chains and degradation of an orthodox tyranny ! The rights of Kings we respect ; but like our forefathers when they expelled the sullen and priest-ridden tyrant James H, we think them only of value when they are combined and interwoven with the rights of the people. The French may answer their virulent ca. lumniators in this country by opening that page of English histnry which records the proc•.•cdin 4 s of the Convention Parliament. They may answer the vilihera of the charter by pointing to the Bill of Rights. The means by which our anca snag obtained the one, the French de ft:riled the other. The treasonable conspiracy in both instances against the nation was punished by the forfeiture of the crown. Meas.—The following account of the plan, given in December last to M. de Polignac by Ouvrard, for the changing the law of elections. and reducing the government of France to an almost absolute monarchy, ts curious and may be relied on. The Chamber of Deputies was to be dissolved : and if the new one provtel ultra.liberal, as it was expected to do, the meeting was to be deferred till the end of the month of October. which would bring it to within a few weeks of the expiration of the time for which the direct taxes had been voted by the former Chant. ber. The budget, including the expense of the Algerine expect!. tion, was then to be immediately brought forward, and if accept..e. the Chamber was to be allowed to continue to sit for a sew months, and then to be dissolved; and as the taxes in France are voted for two years, and the initiative vested in the King by the Charter, prevent* any projects inimical to the Governruen. being even brought forward, it was intended to take advan tage of the time gained, and of any popularity which the success of the Algerine expedition might have acquired, fur the Government to affect the great object. If, however, and which was much more pro. bable, the budget was refused, the Chamber was to be dissolved, and the King placed in the position which Ouvrard argues would have al lowed him lawfully to exert the authority given him by the 14th article of the Charter; for, by the refusal of the budget, the payment of the interest of the debt, of the army, navy, and civil employes, would have been stopped, and the march of the Government ar rested ; whilst, on the other hand, it would have been impossibl to convoke a Chamber l ega lly cons ti tu t e d accor di ng to the Chanel. as by the cessation of the direct l taxes, which by that time w o uld have taken place, there would ''have existed neither electors nor persons capable of being elected, the former paying 200 f. and use latter I,ooof. of direct taxes, which, of course, they could ton do, alien sue' contributions had ceased to exist. In this situation of affairs, the King. with the chatter in his hand, was to have declared himself in the posi tion contemplated by the 14th article of it, which gives him the power to provide by ordinance for the execution of the laws; and, as the exe cution of the law of elections had been rendered impossible by the a t of the Chamber itself, he was by ordinance to have called a meeting et the four hundred and sixty-two persons, les pies costri'mables, in the departments, and jointly with them and the Peers to have framed a new. and, of course, ultra-royalist one. This project was shallow and imprac ticable, but,on the factor it, anti an abstract proposition, sufficiently plau sible. Ouvrard did not contemplate that the executionof itwould go quietly down, but he conceived that-1, as it was the Chamber that 'true., the first blow.-2, as there would have been no necessity for any act of overt aggression (as in the case of destroying the presses of the journals). and, 3, as it was certainly within the meaning, perhaps a little etretclett. of the Charter, it would at least bear arguing on, and have. occasioned .1 difference of opinion in the country, in which case he concluded .t.t success would attend, as it generally does, those who have the rower in their hands. The Prince de POLIGNAC accepted this projr..ct, r:d in. tended to act on it, till the news of the fall of Algiets, on the Gilt of July, turned his head, and induced him to taw the fatal step he has done. Ouvrard began every letter to him on the subject, and there are 60 of them, with `, Cclui des dens parties que sorters de to legal'e el de la charge,scra perdu," and concluded with an expression to dt same effect. .VAVAL INTELLIGEAt E. The following arrivals are posted at Lloyd's :—The Mary Ann, Adams. from Dominica, and Cyrene, Barret , from Grenada, cif Mar. gate ; Arichat, Piton, from Newfoundland, at Jersey ; Ridley, R d'ey, from Archangel. at Gloucester; Juno, —, from Mehemet°, of Tuskar ; Try Again, Hyde, from Sr John's. N.B. and Ron Fit,,, ---,from &. Übe's, at Cork ; and James, Cropper, Irons Virgrnia, off Holyhead. The Eleanor, from liavannah to London, was lichen with on the 22d intr. in lat. 28. long. 48. DIAL, Aou. 30.—Arrived the ['resident Matson, —, from St. Michael's. PORTSMOUTH. AUG. 30.—Arrived his Majrsty's ship Welksley4from the Mediterranean. Of the port, the Nsuti D.via, and Eivrt, —, from Hay.nnah. FALMOUTH. AUGUST 29.—Arrived tiff the port, the Jonah, Wilkin son, from PicToo. !Autumns's., Aua. 29 —Arrived the I)..viJ, Carman, from New ("Means; General Pike, Sise, from Charleston • Jessie, M•Vicar, and Fovernn, Spence, from Miramithi ; and Fairy , from Quebec. of the port, tit Jane from Richebucte. At a meeting of the Political Council, on Tuesday night, it wan finally decided that the Political Unioa should dine tegethet, at Beardaworth's Repository, on Monday the 20th of September neat, in celebration of the !we glorious revolution in France. Many of the Council were desirous of inviting a deputation of the National (hard of Paris to atend the dinner; but, we understand that, upon refection. At. part of the proceedings was deemed uncalled for, and ealcul. td to give rise to ealumt.losts and false impressions respecting the o►jt,ts and intentioos of the union.—Rirnsingkona Journal. . r . r E' 1 .~ ' ',~