The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-22 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY Morn. 41 min. aft. 7 I Fvoning 19 min aft. 8
To-Moitßow—llorn.s3 min. af t. 8 j Evening 41 min. aft. 0

I'lo WSATRER.—Sus Onus, Ang. 22.
Taxamoxrxxs, IN Tux BRAD&
73 - highest since noon yesteraay.
51 —lowest this morning and during the night,
69—this day, at noon.
BAROMETER, 3014.1
Wnc, Light, and variable ; W. to W.S.W.—with Fine
sunshiny weather.

iii

§all%

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1855.

The King of SARDINIA is now regarded with
esteem, respect, and admiration throughout th€
civilised world. He alone, disdaining to avai
himself of the paltry excuses put forward b)
Sovereigns of greater pretensions, promptly and
chivalrously responded to the call of truth and
justice, and fearlessly cast in his lot with the de-
fenders of right against might. Nor was it merelyby professions of good-will that he supported the
cause. He sent 15,000 well-trained soldiers
who have since afforded the most conclusive evi-
dence of their bravery and efficiency, and gathered
verdant laurels on the fiercely-contested Tcher-
naya. His conduct was the more laudable, inas-
much as none of the belligerents possessed any
strong claims on his gratitude or good offices, nor
'had he any personal or national object to advance.
His motives were therefore of the purest and
most exalted character; and he set a bright ex-
ample to other monarchs, which none have
hitherto had the' magnanimity to follow.
W e shall not now compare his conduct with
that of the so-called "great Powers" of Austria
or Prussia, who have, however, proved themselves
far less worthy of the title than the King cf SAR-
DINIA. It may be more suitably contrasted with
- that of Belgium, a kingdom of nearly equal re-
sources and equally secure from the direct attack,
of Russia. Over that territcry reigns a monarch
who owes his rank and position solely to his con-
nection with England, who is bound by every tie
of gratitude to exhibit the most entire devotion
to her interests. If King LEOPOLD possesses any
influence whatsoever it is ascribable to his Eng-
lish marriage. If the Grand Duke of SAXE
COBURG GOTHA be not now a petty mediatised
Prince, dancing attendance as a first-class
menial on the Emperor of AUSTRIA, it is owing
to the fancy which an English Princess took to
a cadet of his house. At the time of the mar-
riage of Prince LEOPOLD the domains of Saxe
Coburg were less than those of a leading squire of
any county of England, and the income of the
lucky adventurer himself was less than that which
a respectable cotton manufacturer would allow to
a son holding a commission iu a dragoon regi-
ment. He was, however, selected—chiefly we
believe on account of the thorough insignificance
of his family—as the husband of the heiress pre-
sumptive to the English throne, and not merely
a liberal, but an extravagant settlement was made
on the fortunate youth—no less than 50,000/.
per annum, with a palatial residence being se-
cured to him in the event of his surviving his
illustrious consort. It is needless to say how
soon he came into possession of this princely
-appanage. His marriage led to that of his
widowed sister, who became the mother of
the future Queen of ENGLAND, whose hand was
also secured for another of the fortunate
race of COBURG, from which now thriving house
a husband was also provided for the Queen of

PORTUGAL.
LEOPOLD himself, ?although elected King of
Belgium through the influence of England, con-
tinued his hold on the English Treasury. Clare-
mont is still kept up for his use, and at his dis-
posal, and a large portion of the 50,0001. per
annum is applied to that purpose ; and although
we believe that some part of it is usually paid
back to the Treasury the claim has never been
released, and may at any moment be demanded,
should it be deemed desirable to do so.
Under these circumstances, and considering
also that he is so nearly related to the Sovereign
of England and the Prince Consort, and that he
has received, and is still enjoying, such incalcul-
able advantages from his English alliance, it might
be anticipated that he could not for a moment
hesitate as to the part he would take in the peira-
ing contest—that he would not have waited for
Sardinia to set him the example of the course
befitting an independent and higli-minded
Monarch ! But far from it. LEOPOLD
has been the enemy rather than the
fiend of England. He may be regarded as
the introducer of the system of " Coburgism" so
obnoxious to the country. Certain that, under
any circumstances, he will receive the assistance,
or rather "protection," of England, he has done
nothing to merit it, but has cultivated the A".
Ulan rather than the English alliance ; and there
is but too much reason to fear that he may have
influenced the mind of the Prince Consort, and

occasioned. the truckling to Austria of which so
many just complaints have been put ard.
&Can he look on,thp Conduct of the King of SA4'
wpnris without a blush of shame? Can he hear
the sling of that maglianinunia Sovereign with.