The Express.
London, England, 1859-10-26 00:00:00

LONDON. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26.

Tart Spanish Government has now finally taken
ita resolution to prosecute • gratuitous and inde-
fensible war with Morocco, for which it is preparing
on the scale of a new Moorish crusade. It does not
pretend that these hostilities have any adequate
foundation, and its significant silence leads to
the conclusion that it is the organ and
the instrument of a more powerful Government
than itself. There appears to be more than a collu-
sive understanding between France and Spain on this
*abject; and the British Government, whose Medi-
terranean interests are involved in any war of terri-
torial aggrandisement along the Straits of Gibraltar,
Bads itself in the alternative either of calmly watch.
lag the progress of the Spanish arms, or of
forcibly intervening between the belligerents, now
that its representations have been set at defiance.
Such • state of things obviously leads to a disoord
which the critical condition of the luslian question
renders the more anfortanate.

The great source of distrust in the war thus
undertaken with Morocco is its frivolous and
factitious origin. If hostilities were commenced
with fair grounds for their prosecution, although
this country might still view the proximity of their
theatre to the Straits of Gibraltar with dislike,
it would be reassured in respect of the apparent good
faith with which such a war would, in that ease, be
commenced. If there were grievance' which the
Government of Morocco refused to redress, or if a
reasonable demand h►d been made which that Go-
vernment had reflood to entertain, then Spelt'
would be untitled to credit for going to
war, simply for the sake of her own honour,
and the security of her African enttlement,
With such substantial and intelligible grounds for
hostilities Spain would have been entitled to the
assumption that she coveted nothing beyond the ob-
jects for which the wee was declared. But how
stands the ease in point of fact ? Spain has not
only assumed war gratuitously, but she has done so
with a predetermination and hod faith which re-
minds us of the successive demands by which the
elder flotetrtitez contrived to expel the House of
BRAGANZA from Lisbon. The Spanish Government
has sent the Government of Morocco three succes-
sive ultimatums, by each of which the former Govern-
ment would of course be bound, Willey were accepted
by the latter. The first ultimatum was sent from
Madrid in obvious r xpect-ition of its rejection ; but
to the disappointment of O'Doexect, it was accepted
by tto Government of Morocco--and its acceptance
obviously closed the dispute. Deprived thus of a
....e belli, what doss O'Doeiram. do f He sands
new demands, forming a second ultimatum epee
the same case. Well, the Emperor of MOROCCO
does not wish for hostilities, and he concede, even
the second demand, which had been pat forward is
this extraordinary exhibition of bad faith. Then
O'ltoeett.t, euraged with the temporising and ser-
vility of the Emperor of Morocco, assess a third ulti-
matum which he knows perfectly well that no Mahe-
meta° Emperor could concede sad still cm:alone to
reign. War became from the issuing of that last ulti-
matum a jsit accompli. It la thus that the Spanish
Government hes brought about its gratuitous cru-
sade against the Moorish dominions in Africa.
What, then, are to be the results of this war ? It
is not a war to be bounded by its defined objects for
it has no such objects. It is consequently a war ef
aggression, and the extent of the agrarian is only
to be measured by the force of repression by which
such &Government as our own may restrain its seeps
and extent. The Spanish Government, ia their last
ultimatum. demand ten miles of the Moorish coast
around Cents, and opposite Gibraltar. Probably,
even if this demand had been complied with, they
would have sent a fourth ultimatum, and have de-
manded twenty. It is pretty clear t►at their demand
before the war being what we have just seen, their
demands after the war will be all the territory that
force of arms can wrest from the Emperor of
MOROCCO, and possibly the whole coast from
Cants to Mogador. This would give them
the virtual command of the Straits of Gibraltar,
which are scarcely more than 12 mile, wide, while
the currents, the soundings, and the length of
modern cannon shot would give the possessors of
both coasts an advantage which oar possession of the
solitary rock could hardly countervail. Such an
advantage in the hands of Spain would be virtually
an advantage in the hands of France for if l'aris
can control Madrid, Paris can thereby rule in a
Spanish Morocco, and thus avoid for the present the
coarse expedient of an ir,detinite extension of her
own Algerian dominion,. The Spanish Government,
meanwhile,announces with a brazen effrontery that it
is going to war without a grievance, and hardly blinks
the feet that it is opening a career of coequal'. It is
oar duty to act certainly with care and forethought,
sad it may Weems oar duty to act also with vigour.

Et t Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, OCT. MIL
The following visitors arrived at the Clothe yew.
leaky aftersoon —Counter Blarrar, the Earl at Iles.
Visr3ast Sydney, sad the C. P. VAN'.
Tao royal draw party la the 0# 5( We-ided the Pria-
ass Jake, Caked Warr, cemonews Wiese Sid Batts-
lan Orearbar Ormia sad lb. wirier Maybe to the Castle.
The bend of deist Lak Owe playa deeles Mow :
'dem
ILlNkftlaml7 . .
?soma.. ••••nalr •
Br Majesty's rhos bead albrnrdsperfors•si m the
drartad.n.am Ile !ellewtog gime:

Ovazars.
" ilatostabl roes.
Cavazos." la Pon I I lalable"
?be Quint, aceempaied by Princess Alice, walked in the
Some Park ibis nensits.
The Prime Corset presided at a meetins etthe Council of
the llorticalturel Society, held at the Castle at three o'clock
b-day. There were prom* Lewd Dade, Mr. I. J. Steady,
Mr. Wentworth Dike, Celaasl Chelleunr, Dr. Lindley, Mr.
Waal' &ander,. Mr. Oedema, Mr. J. 8,. Scott, Mr. Bohn,
Mr. Veltrh, end Mr. Edmonds.
The Eel of Elva quitted Wisdom la the 117111110011.

A deputation respecting the mine ad einithisid market,
essideting of Mr. Henn Lowman Taylor (eledrenen), Mr.
Degety Harrison. Mr. Da foram Mr. Bast Mr. Lawler.
the City Roeserobrasorr. the City Winter and the Arcbt-
Ism, had an interview with Mr G. C. Legiln M the Kolar
ellen on Monday.
Gem the Cknereare of Hoag Long, Ceylon,
end _ sod inn Mr Lord High Camirloaser of the
balm isleshe, wen nand yesterday at the Coionial-
ellen

(FROM LART NIGHT'S GAZIITTIL)
WIND• 01, Oct, 22.—1 t is this day ordered by her
Majesty In Council, that the parliament, which stands pro-
rogued to Thureday, ties 27th day of October iastast, be
Wit.
prsragnad to Thursday, the 16th day cd Dorzaber
ant

—Loth CitAxamAires OFFICE, OCT. 24.—Notice
Is hereby glees, that the ...t. epartmetto of William Castle
sal be eland, after lrlday mat, the Mk lastest, until
further eders.

Foitioli-omce.,Anorre 16.—TheQum has been
*seed to appoint
anahan John David Hay Silk. to. Esq.,
reeirl iay n oty'a Consul at M.
FORTION-OMCE, OCT. 21.—The Queen has been
gnieloooly planed to append the Hon. Williams Govan COM.
wenn Eliot, now &armory to her Majesty's Leintloa at Rio
de Janeiro, to be &emery to bee Meieely'• Legetien
Athena.