The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-02 00:00:00

LONDON,

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC eTOURNALS.
TIMES.—in the present state of Europe the dis-
solution of the Belgian Ministry is an occurrence
seriously to be regretted. The late Administration
had held office for upwards of five years during one
of the most agitated periods in the history of Europe ;
and, although its members belonged to what is
termed in Belgium the Liberal party, they had suc-
cessfully maintained, under all circumstances, the
authority of the Crown, the order and tranquillity of
the people, and the independence of the country.
But, if their past services entitled them to the respect
of Europe and to the gratitude of their fellow-citi-
zens, the feelings of regret with which we now wit-
ness their fall are greatly increased by all we know of
the character of their antagonists. The principal
division of parties in Belgium lies between the sec-
tion which contends for a firm and liberal adminis-
tration of the civil power and a resolute defence of the
national privileges; of the kingdom on the one hand,
and the section which is correctly described as the
clerical party on the other. The Roman Catholic
priesthood, enjoying almost unlimited means for the
complete establishment of their domination and ascen-
dancy in Belgium, and exercising very extensive influ-
over the populatioe,
are the mainspring of the politi-
cal party which has just overthrown the Ministry. At
the elections which took place in the course of last
summer the priests resorted to the same means of
agitation which are hut too familiar to ourselves in
the elections of Ireland. They denounced the Go-
vernment as a godless and heretical faction. Their
hostility scarcely stopped short of the King, whose
personal attachment to the Protestant Church of his
ancestors and of his adopted country has not been
lessened by his connexion with a Roman Catholic
people. They openly invoked the assistance of the
French clergy and the extension of French influence
in Belgium to promote their schemes; and it seemed
that no political institution of the country was sacred
in their eyes which stood in the way of their arro-
gance and ambition. To a certain extent these
exertions were not without effect on the elections,
and the former majority of the Chamber was
shaken. The Ministry, feeling itself weakened, ten-
dered its resignation, which the King declined
at that time to accept. The result, however, was
already anticipated, and on the opening of the
session the Ministry was beaten by a marjority of
54 to 46 on the election of the Speaker, although M.
Verheegen, the Government candidate is a man who
had already filled that office with credit, and who, as
representative of the city of Brussels, enjoyed the
respect of the country. We do not at present know
what form the new Government will assume, but
whatever may be its party colour and its political
sympathies, we earnestly hope that it will uphold the
independence and maintain all the just rights of the
country. The Government of Belgium has a delicate
and an arduous part to play, placed as it is in imme-
diate proximity to a powerful state, which recognises
no certain obligations, and already affects a policy
that may become dictatorial or hostile. Constitutional
liberty still preserves that contracted, but we trust
inviolable, asylum in continental Europe. In Belgium
people are still their own masters ; the Belgian press
is still unshackled even by the threats and prosecu-
tions of the Ministers of France. But it would be a
lamentable example of the dissension and the weak-
ness which sometimes relaxes the energy of popular
Governments, if party differences were allowed at such
a time to prevail over the'-common interest of the
nation, and if the very existence of the country were
endangered by any pretext for foreign interference or
aggression. With a view to the formation of a new
Cabinet the Chambers have been prorogued to the
26th inst. In connexion with this subject we remark
that a valuable report by a military commission, ap-
pointed last autumn to consider the questions relating
to the defence of the Belgian territory and the organi-
zation of the army, has just been presented to the
Legislature. The maintenance of the Belgian army
on its present footing had for some time before 1848
become a subject of complaint on the part of the Op-
position, and the first question to be solved was
whether Belgium was to rely for the protection of
her independence on the treaties which secure her
neutrality and on the succour of foreign powers,
or whether she was to keep up a force sufficient
to garrison her fortresses and to meet the
first exigencies of war! This latter opinion was
unanimously adopted by the commission, and the
next point was to determine what fortresses it is
most desirable to retain and to improve, having re-
gard to the available forces of the country. The
commission is unanimously of opinion that it is ex-
pedient to demolish the fortifications of Ypres,
Menin, Philippeville, Mariembourg, and Bouillon ;
the preservation of the fortifications of Mona was de-
cided affirmatively. by 13 votes against 5. But the
opinion of these authorities clearly is, that the sub-
stantial defence of the country depends mainly on the
efficiency of its fortifications on the two lines of the
Scheldt and the Meuse. For this reason they have
desided to keep up all the fortresses which cover the
line of the latter river—Dinan, Charleroi, Nauaur,
Huy, and Liege. But, in the event of war, one of
the most important objects would be to speere to the
Government itself a place of retreat in one of the
chief fortified places ; and the present commission is
of opinion, as the commission of 1848 had been like -
wise, that this place ought to be Antwerp, in the
event of an attack from the southern frontier
of the kingdom. For these reasons the com-
mission wisely insists on the necessity of hastening as
much as possible those improvements in the existing
fortifications of the country which are most essential
to this plan of defensive operations. Among these
the termination of the bomb-proof buildings in the
citadel of Antwerp, and the completion of the citadel
of Diest, on the line connecting Antwerp with Liege
and the Dutch fortress of Maestricht, are the most
urgent. But, in addition to these, are strongly re•
commended the proposed works for the Tete de
Flandre, which is the tete de pont on the left bank of
the Scheldt opposite Antwerp; the preparation of in-
trenched lines under the walls of Antwerp; the forti-
fication of the pass of Aerschot, and the defence of
Mechlin by field works. It is calculated that all the
fortresses that it is proposed to retain may be etrici.
ently defended by garrisons amounting in all to
about 70,000 men. The effect of these measures
would be, that in the event of an attempted coup
de main on the Belgian territory from the French
frontier, the open country would be at once aban.
doned to the enemy as far as the Meuse. Brussels
must be evacuated as unfortified and indefensible ;
but the Government would fall back on the vast
works of Antwerp, open to the sea, and perfectly
secure, except against the operations of a protracted
siege, while the line of the Meuse would oppose con-
siderable obstacles to the progress of an invasion, and
would give time for the arrival of reinforcements from
Central Europe. The difficulties attendingare such an
, ;
enterprise as the invasion of Belgium al fact,
more formidable than they appear at firsti. sight, and
the Belgians have shown the strongest
disposition to
do all that is in their power to strength en that neu-
trality which is the basis and the bulwark of their
existence as a nation. This is one o e strongest
nd
claims they possess on the sympathy th e
--- support
or Europe, and one of the grounds on which we
most rely for the maintenance of peace, It maw;
never be forgotten that the policy .7hich detached
Belgium from the clutches of the x Tench Empire,
and has since recognised her independence and /sea.
trality, remains unchanged. The possession of these
important :fortresses, including
the mouth of the
Scheldt and the line of the Meuse, by any one
of
the great Powers of Europe would constitute a per-
manent menace end a formidable means of aggression
against the adjacent territories, In the hands of Bel-
gium they are entirely harmless, since they serve only
to render her own neutrality more unassailable. But
it is not for herself alone and for Ler own welfare that
this neutrality has been secured to her by common
consent. It is because any aggression on her fron-
tiers is virtually,an attack on what lies beyond them,
and the occupation of Belgium b . Y a great military
Power, advancing on either side of her territory,
would be the first and most important step to the in-
vasion and subjugation of Europe.

THE KING'S-CROSS RAILWAY TERMINIIB.--This
fifenwe
days
completed,ilstnfoswaveryx
and will be opened for use in a
work, and reflects
honour on its designer, Mr. Lewis Cubitt. Each .‘shed" is
800 feet long, 105 feet wide, and 71 feet high to the crown of
the semi-circular roof, without a tie. A brick wall, formed
extraordinary
by piers and open arches, divides them. On the west side of
the departure platform are the ?ftees for the general adminis-
tration of the affairs of the railway (including a booking-
hall, about 100 feet in length, 40 feet in width, and 45 feet in
height), and on the east side of the departure platform the
cab drive, 35 feet in width. There are seven lines of way
under each shed, with the necessary turn-tables and appli-
ances. The roofs (semi• circular) are formed of laminated
ribs, placed 20 feet apart, manipulated to their form on
curbs or moulds, first formed of the required size, and of
inch-and-half boards or planks, at various lengths, the boards
strongly screwed to each other at frequent intervals or spaces,
no two joints of the boards being placed opposite to each
other. The higher portions of the roofs, which are glazed
the extent of two-thirds of the whole covering, are formed
by longitudinal purling fixed 8 feet apart; and thick plate-
glass, in sheets of that length, are fixed, in sizes, 2 feet 6
inches wide, divided by iron bars rebated to receive them.—
Builder.

ALDEESGATE INSTITUTION.—Mr. T. Thorpe Peed,
the highly popular lecturer of the Polytechnic Institution,
gave a musical lecture here on Wednesday last, which ex-
cited the liveliest applause of a numerous audience. It was
divided into two parts, the first consisting of popular English
melodies, and the second of a selection from the songs of
Charles Dibdin. Mr. Peed is a tenore robusto of a very high
order, plays brilliantly on the piano, and is evidently an ac-
complished musician. As regards taste. feeling, and power,
his
singing is unexceptionable; assuredly such a voice and
hneorteoafdts as
a
ofenheagrdentoluetman I
sthhoeuoidperreaadh,ouoslee.arlyAasnda
sensibly, but the effect of his recitation would perhaps be im-
proved were he to throw a little more of the actor into his
delivery. Speaking in
like scene-painting, it public, and in a large room, is very
needs a certain degree of coarseness to
giva it effect. The whole went off rapturously, and we have
n noe doubt P ee d
lecturersbecomes
omf
theo re d known,ay.
Hise
voicewill
is
be
o
one of the Aueet quality that we have heard for a long time.;
ofthteh most that as s
popular Mr. .