The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-12-11 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LON DON,
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBZR 11, 1822.

THE TRIUMPH.

We have this day to cong►atulate oar readers
upon the greatest and most gratifying triumph
which our hearts could wish. It is not the petty
triumph of a righteous advocate over a base sophist
—it is not the rare triumph of an enlightened and
liberal party over their servile and cunning oppo-
nents—it
is not the splendid triumph of ao insulted
nation over their insolent invaders—bat, far higher
than all, it is the triumph of the good genius of
mankind over the malignant spirit of domination.
The war th►eatened against Spain is abandoned,
and the good work of revolution is confessed by
despotism to be unassailable, irresistible, perma-
nently triumphant. llere are the words of the
meanest creature in the ranks of the Serviles:—" In-
stead of discouraging the Revolutionists in Spain, or
in any other country, she (France) would give them
additional effrontery and spirit." She would in-
deed, and she has done it. The unfortunate med-
dler with the English 'enrage who writes in the
Courier evidently meant " courage" by " effron-
tery," both words implying, in his estimation, very
disagreeable attributes. With this emendation, we
agree with him, and we rejoice to think that the
Revolutionists have received additional courage and
spirit from their enemies. The Congresses of Lay-
Inch and Verona have deliberated and puzzled
their sovereign brains to frenzy concerning the re-
volution which Spain dared to achieve—they work-
ed themselves up to the fury of darkly bruiting
war—they swaggered as became their station, and
commissioned France, their humble vassal, to chas-
tise the " insolent" and " ferocious" dealers in Spa-
nish revolution. Then France looked big with her
high charge, reasoned very wisely, as became her
fame, upon danger present and consequences re-
mote, upon sovereign sympathy sod democratical
contagion, upon matters contingent and matters
necessary, upon peace as worse thou death and war
as determined. Messengers at the heels of messen-
gers coursed their way to Madrid with denuncia-
tions dire if the Cones would not forthwith abjure
the abominations of revolution, constitution, and
liberty. Rung the welkin with the wild alarm;
but ere the bearers of the wrath of Congress could
cross the Pyrenees, the oracular sages of Paris and
of Loudon are compelled to revoke the spell, and
to proclaim aloud the inviolability of sacred revo-
lution.

Thus it really is :—The Journal des Debate of
Sunday is made to preach peace with all the fervour
of penitence and mortification. The Noniteur did
the same in effect before. The luckless Courier
of the English Stock Exchange did it yesterday.
It is impossible to entertain a moment's doubt of
the truth, both positive and authorised, of the
pacific dissertations. War will not be attempted,
was never intended, and is utterly beyond the
grasp of policy or of madness. We will not de-
scend to the little vaunting. of vanity and stay
that we had always thought so, and repeatedly
inferred so from solid frets, though we might
indulge such vanity far more reasonably than
any of our contemporaries. We early expressed our
conviction that France. herself unwilling. was goad-
ed by the Congress to threaten war, and we dia.
einctly repeated our deliberate opinion that the
threat was all a trick. It is not, however, for such
inv;gnificant congratulations that we now revert to

the 'abject, but for a fair loftier and more lasting
purpose.

Here, at length, we have found a spot for the
patriot to regard with complacency, for the philan-
thropist to repose on with delight, for the sanguine
dreamer of interminable improvement to encircle
with his admiration as the chosen land of liberty. For
the first time in the annals of human society we see
a great nation new-model her institutions, and mein•
trio them iu the face of the world without the ne-
cessity of defending them by war against any
neighbouring nation. Beheading a monarch, of
rejecting his distant authority and assuming bide.
peadence, are coarse and vulgar achievements. The
grand work of revolution is to make the monarch
abjure his savage privileges, and learn his duties ;a,.
a member of a civilized community. See Feint.
N•ND, then, in the revolutionary school; hear him
pronounce—" I swear to maintain the free courtitu.
Lion devised by the nation," and be convinced
the unprecedented magnitude of the prevent pro-
ceedings in Spain. These things were attempted in
France, but they were at once interrupted by the
sanguinary deeds of war. Yet the revolution in Spain
is incomparably more important, because general
intelligence, and especially the knowledge and the
estimation of political rights, ■re infinitely more
diffused throughout Europe. Why, then, is Spain
unmolested ? The Atlantic, the Mediterranean,
and the Pyrenees are mighty bulwarks, and sufficient
to appal any assailants but the armies of the ma
narchical principle : but they farm not the
main security of the Spanish revolution. The
impregnable barrier which renders Spain in-
accessible has been provided, built up, and con-
solidated by the very despots who now growl on its
outer side, and grind their teeth in despair. The
state of France constitutes the strength of Spain.
The state of France is so singularly and so elabo-
rately factitious and unnatural, that we must be-
lieve Divine Providence to have designed it fur the
dismay of oppressors and the protection of revolt'.
tioniats. The nation, enlightened, high-minded,
brave, tad free, are obliged by the leagued despot.
of Europe to bear the government of an odious
and weak family, who doat on all that is con-
temptible in absolute power, and all that is ridi-
culous in superstitious solemnities. It is literally s
palace of glows; cast but one stone and it is gone
for ever. It is not iu madness then to march fo-
reign troops through France in this iitiators!
state; but much lets is it in madness to march
French troops, full of contempt for the imbecil/ea
whom they indignantly obey, and full of hallowed
recollections of victory, and glory, and conquest,
when their King was a nameless emigrant—into
the romantic land of Spain, to combat the com-
panions of Watbluorom, the successful expellers
of French invaders, and the glorious liberators of
their own country from domestic bondage. The
anxious guardians of the monarchical principle
have thus prepared Spain for the theatre of revo-
lution, and France for its bulwark. The garden
of the Hesperides is the nursery of revolution,
highly cultivated, walled round about against every
noxious blast, and fully secured from all annoy.
once. Thus is the ground of oar triumph, for dile
we rejoice, upon this we cordially congratulate
the friends of freedom and of man. re Deun
lustelareus.

We had intended to say something of the mean-
ing of revolution, and of its English reputation.
for the benefit of young gentlemen who have not
fully learnt the English language, and who are
misled by French sciolists into a notion that it im•
plies any thing dangerous to good government or
to upright morals, but we have not room on the pre•
sent occasion. We may perhaps take another op-
portunity of doing this good service to our youth•
ful patriots.

PRISON DISCIPLINE.-IM PROYESIENTS BY THE
CORTU.

The meritorious exertions of the Society for the
Improvement of Prison Discipline have been long
known to the public, and the Fourth Report, which
Ina just been published by order of the Committee,
reflects the highest credit on their activity and be-
nevolence. Whatever difference of opinion may
exist es to the expediency of adopting a►►y specific
system, with a view to effect the moral reformation
of the criminal, no doubt can be entertained that
the most important benefits have resulted from the
indefatigable labours of this valuable association.
While their benevolence and philanthropy have
gained them the thanks of every friend to hums•
nity, it is most gratifying to observe the judgment
and good sense which mark all their proceedings.
" The proper cod of human punishment," gar
Dr. PA LEY, " is not the satisfaction of justice, bu
the prevention of crimes." By the satisfaction t,
justice, he means "the retribution of so much psi,
for so much guilt." Hence it follows that pens.
inflictions should never be vindictive or unnecesss•
rily cruel ; that the amendment of the crimins
should be the principal object of legislative alien.
Lion ; and that the measure of punishment shoulk
be regulated by the character of the offence, the
feelings of humanity, and the spirit of religion.
The nature of the discipline recommended by the
Committee is "a system of hard labour and regu•
lar employment, of religious instruction and more
restraint." Wherever these regulations have beer
steadily enforced, the most beneficial consequences
have resulted. The Committee strongly urge the
necessity of classification, and the separation of the