The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-02-09 00:00:00

Tl-1E BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,
WEDNESDAY. FIiBRUARY 9, 1840.

HIS MAJESTY.

The Kimo's health was so much improved yes-
terday. he received visits from his Royal Brother*
of Yoax. CLARENcE, and Swum. Prince Lao-
POLD also paid his dutiful respects. The number
of persons of all chines who crowded to the Palace
to make their respectful and affectionate inquiry
was very great. Of the anxiety of the public on
this subject some idea may be formed from the
conduct of the shopkeepers in the vicinity. They
conceived they could not do at* thing more grate-
ful to the public than by facilitating the circulation
of the mews of his MAJESTY'S improving health, py
fixing • copy of the Bulletin in their window..

Sir MATTHEW TIERNEY returned to London
from Brighton on Monday Night, and yesterday
morning he attended the KING. with the other
phy.icuos. when the following favourable Bulletin
was issued :

" Caritas Palace, February 11, 1830,
Half-past Eleven o'Clock, a. at.

" The King has passed mother good night. and
is losing every symptom of his complains gra-
dually.
(Signcd) " H. H ALFORD,
" W. KNIGHTON.
" M. J. TIERNEY."

We have received Paris Pipers of Saturday, and
have to regret that their arrival dissipates in no de-
gree the uncertaiuty that prevails respecting the
actual state of the insurrection in Spain. In the
Coestitationel, indeed, we find an extract from a
Bourdeaux journal, in which it is asserted, that
commercial letters had arrived in that city, bring-
ing the important news that Cadiz had opened its
gates to the Insurgents. But it is impossible to
place any reliance upon a rumour resting on
foundation so slight. It is, however, evident, even
from the nature of the precautions adopted by the
.king's Officers in Cadiz, that they entertained se-
rious apprehensions of such an event; for we learn
from the Royalist' accounts, that the Governor of
Cadiz, as if suspecting the disposition of his
troop', intrusted the guard of the gates, exclu-
sively, to superior officers, who condescended on
so delicate au occasion to perform the duties of
private. sentinels. This suspicion, we are con-
viiiced, was not lightly adopted, and the precast.
lions were of a nature as unlikely to be overlooked
by the soldieiv. as they were ill-calculated to gain
their confidence. The Governor was placed in a
sad alternative, in which he shonld either exaspe-
rate his troops by an appearance of distrust, or en-
danger the city by too easy a confidence in men
whole fidelity he had good Tatum to'suspect.
Privets letters from Cadiz, of the 16th, repre-
sent the state of the Constitutionalists as much more
formidable than it is admitted in words to be by
the accounts which come through the Paris Papers.
It is asserted that on action has taken place between
a body of the Royalists, consisting of 4,000 assn.
irominauded by Gen. O'llox N and the Constitu.
tionalists. iu which the former wars defeated with
considerable low The General himself with dif•
vulty escaped by flight, and those of his troops •he
were so fortunate as to senive the battlecimme.
diately joined the conquerors. This action is sep•
posed to havetakeu place upon the Ifitbof Jaellaty.
their Conatite-

tiouslists summoned Cadiz to surrender. Tbe
mind, it is amid, being apprehensive for the sufrty
of the fleet. had expressed his delerminstiou to
withdraw the marine forces from Oldie, and should'

tins iuteution be pursued, the intelligence contsiu
ed in die Bourdesuit popes would seem to ref,
upon some probability. The capture of la Came

ca, with the wiser, of the aveseals sad atatioe
stores, is said to have seriously embarrassed the
ships of war, as it has undoubtedly given strength
and confidence to the !warred.; fur Dot only Jid
the garrison of the place, consisting of 500 melt,
immediately join theni, but the example war NH
lowed by a body of troops dispatched final Cadiz toll
succour la Ceram*. Should Cadis full into their
hands, they will be instantly joined by all those oho'
secretly favour their cause, and the wavering I
and irresolute will be determined by the ippon-
ance of success.

The constitution of the Cortes, for which the
revolted troops profess to contend, is founded spot.
very simple principles, bat they are by no mesas
consistent with our notions of political excelleuce.
The basis of the constitution was, 44 The Sovereignty
of the People," which, with all due submission to
the eminent Statesmen who once maintained tl.ei
notion in this country, is a contradiction in tern's.
The first principle of government ought to be
" The happiness of the people," and when this is
not obtained, there must be so error in the sus.'
tern, In the constitution of the Cortes, the
legislative power is vested exclusively in that
body, sitting in one chamber. This of necessity
implies that the same body must also possess the
executive power, and the next step would be to vote
the knits an useless pageant. The inconveuieace►
that might arise from the occasional sdjourninelos
of the Cortes were to be obvi.tted by the appoisii.
talent of • remittent Committee. The Corte I
itself was to be renewed every two 'ears.

Bad. however ,as is such a furls of government
it must be far preferable to the &hoping tyrsi,n
under which Spain now langui-lits, and it un-
doubtedly in some degree bears the sanction of an-
tiquity. The Royal authority is Spat'', or, to.
speak more correctly, in the several kingdoms
of which the present monarchy is formed, was,
previous to the reign of the Emperor CMARLES V
more limited than in any other kiagelum i
Europe : and probably to this circuntstai ce,
amoug others, might we in a great measure at-
tribute the violence of the change that subse-
quently took place in the political relations of
that country. The King was limited. but the peo-
ple were not free ; and the Sovereign had power
neither to maintain his own dignity nor to secure
the happiness of his subjects. The authority of
the Anita was an anomaly in government. sad
could not maintain itself against • powerful and
enterprising KING, it therefore fell without regret
on the part of the people, and no one in modern
times could wish to see it restored.

We have received the Dublin Papers to the 6th
moment. A very active canvass leas coramenced ito
every part of Ireland, preparatory to the general
election. The proceedings of those deluded peel
sous. called Ribbonmen. have become so formidable,
in the county of Galway, the local Magistrates)
have agreed to address the Lord Lieutenant to pro-
claim that county. -with the exception of two baro-
nies. It was reported that a battle had taken place
near Tuam between a large body of the insurgents
and a party of military. in which several of the
former were killed and wounded. Major Pcraca,
of the 77th regiment, is said to have been womsd-1
ed ou this occasion.

The new reign, it is said, will usher in four new
Dukedoms, in the persons of the four following
illustrious Noblemen, viz. STAFFORD, BUCKING.
HAM, HIIIITFORD, and HASTINGS.
A numerous meeting of the friends of A►derman
TROMP took place yesterday evening, when it was
deteruitoed to take immediate and active measures
to secure his re-election as one of the Representa-
tives of the City in Parliament.

We regret to find it announced, that Mr. CRUX-
FELL hos declined a canvass for Great Aiello*,
which he has so long represented with honour to
himself, and advantage to his conntry. His servicrs
are too valuable to be dispebsed with at this ctiticid
moment, and we trust that, in declining Great Me
low, Mr. GRlNPaLL,dires not mean to with,'
from the House of Commons.