The Sun.
London, England, 1830-10-07 00:00:00

merely for 'the sake of obtaining luxuries cheaper
than at home. The States-General have been (Bs-

solved, and a commission appointed for the purpose
of arranging matters 4 l'onliablc. But we are satis-
fied that all this is labour in vain. Confidence can
never be restored between the King and the Bel-
gians; and we think we may safely predict that the
Belgians and the King have separated for ever. The
Sovereign who draws the sword against his own
people has little to hope for from success, but every-
thing to fear from failure. The attempt on Brussels
was a renunciation on the part of the Nassau family
of all title to Belgium. Kings ought to bear con-
stantly in mind that the attachment of subjects can-
not be conquered, and that when they submit their
title to the issue of the sword they must abide by
that issue. With respect to other countries, it is of
little consequence whether Belgium be a Republic
or part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. As a
kingdom, the Netherlands could not defend itself
against any of -its great neighbours, and, as a Re-
public, Belgium will only be as little able for such
defence. Why may we not have a Belgian Republic
as well as a Swiss Republic? The neighbours
might object to Belgium being added to France ;
and if France show no disposition to acquire Bel-
gium, site gives no handle for complaint. That
France may occupy Belgium in case of war says
nothing, because France could equally occupy Bel-
gium whether an independent Republic or part of
the kingdom of the
.Netherhinds. All attempts at
acquiring countries on the pretext of rounding terri-
tories, or obtaining natural limits, ought of coarse
to be condemned,snd we are glad to find the French
no longer agitated by the ambition of extending her
frontiers to the Rhine. France possesses as much
territory as she needs. lt is of immense conse-
quence, however, that_nations should abandon all
idea of conquests and accessions. The general
disposition to consider the interest of the people
never advanced by conquest, is a far better security
than any which can be derived from extension of
frontier: Every man who has any influence on
public opinion,- should never omit the condemnation
of every doctrine which tends to favour extension of
territory, whether by violence or intrigue.—Morning
Chronicle.

We were induced by the commendations of our
contemporary (the Times) to look into an account
of the late events at Bru.sels, given,by a correspon-
dent of that paper. It is described Hs " a most in-
tereating narrative of the conflict between the Royal
troops of the King of the 'Netherlands and his re-'
volted subjects of Brussels, by a hand very different
from the correspondent of our contemporary. The •
narrator participated in the scenes which he de-
scribes • and as from his known character he may
be implicitly relied upon, his account will tend to
correct many errors and misrepresentations." When
we came to the passage where an Aille•de•Camp to
the Prince was dragged from his horse, and read
that" the gallant man, as he was carried through
the streets, manifested no particle of fear ; his cheek
was oriblanehed, and no sign of dread came over
him; occasionally his fine aristocratical face was
lightened by a smile of scorn, to cut on his base
asaailants," we at first exclaimed, " Captain Basil
Hull, for all the world !" But recollecting that
Captain Hall is a Scotchman, and that this touch of
the fine aristocratical Ace is a flight somewhat be-
yowl that of a Scotchman, either intoxicated with
aristocracy or with whiskey, we bethought our-
selves of the deceased Catholic Association, in which
this correspondent must, we think, have first tried
his powers of description. We could almost offer
a bet that be is one of " the two young Irishmen,
who (he says) distinguished themselves right va-
liantly, and made repeated attempts to induce the
Bourgeois to resort to the bayonet." We wonder
they did not endeavour to induce the Bourgeois to
throw down their barricades also, that the Prince's
army might have no cause to complain of fighting at
any disadvantage. The letter, in truth, is puerile
and extravagant in the highest degree. The Dutch
troops are very probably not the best troops in the
world ; for the Dutch are not a military people, and
have always preferred paying foreigners to fight for
them, to fighting themselves. It is probably with
them as with ourselves, the soldiers are not taken
• from the most respectable class of the community,
and they may also be a flogged soldiery like our
own. But we are almost certain that the drunken-
ness and cowardice of the Dutch soldiers are grossly
caricatured. Take the following as a specimen :—.

"`On Monday, the 27th, when the Park was evacuated,
I did not see so much as twelve bodies; there might have
been more, but I speak of what I saw, and I walked
through .the whole Pork; but there was an immense as-
semblage of empty bottles, from which the spirit had de-
parted, but certainly not entered the hearts of the Dutch-
men, for even their proverbial Dutch courage did not avail
them, how the Dutch came to quit the Park Ido not
know, as I did not see them decamp; bnt my opinion is,
that they .1 summoned up a coward mind, and ran away.'
The cowardice of the Dutch is, I fear, unbelievable, ex-
cepting by eye-witnesses. I, who saw the wonder, can
hardly imagine it possible.
" Doting all the period of the four days the Dutch

threw occasional bombs, rockets, and red-hot shot into the
city ; they destroyed one or two houses, and excited the
hatred and contempt of ell classes. These soldiers of
Holland kept themselves out of the way of all danger, but
made a must vigorous attavkiupou the dram-bottles, as
the untenanted bodies of the numerous slain I found at
their quarters amply evinced. The homely apophthegm
says, that Dutchmeu require their courage to be excited ;
but naught excited that of the Dutch at Brussels. Oxen
and wain-ropes may drag them to the combat, but native
courage never they resist even the charms of their
bottles. A plague of all cowards "

That the Dutch have, under able leaders, fought
well, is known to Englidnnett, who owe to the
Dutch guards of William the Revolution of 1688.
In Queen Anne's wars, too, the Dutch regiments

fought as well as our own. On the late occasion
they probably had no confidence in their leaders.—
Not a few English regiments, during the Peninsular
war, behaved at one time very ill, and, at another
like heroes, according as they were officered. If
the Itev. Mr. Kinsey has been too ready to credit
Dutch inhumanity, we do not think this picture of
Dutch cowardice, so applauded by our cotemporary,
wilt help to mend the matter.--.lllorning Chronicle.
It would appear from the content', of the German
Papers, that the spirit of discontent and insurrec-
tion is taking its way eastward, with as much rapi-
dity as might have been expected,and that although
no explosion of any magnitude has taken place,
tranquillity has been more or less disturbed. This
spirit is, as usual, held out by the German journal-
iota as the work of secret societies end clubs, two
of whose members are said to be in safe keeping;
but had the writer been inclined to reflect, or rather
perhaps have dared to put his reflections in print, he
would have found that the spirit, as well.us the
secret societies in question, had their origin, first, in
the misgovernment which has so long been the bane
of the German States, and, secondly, in the ex-
ample held forth for the imitation 'of the people,
in the revolutions of France and Belgium. Changes,
more especially when they assume the seductive
form of liberty, and have been effected with no iti•
considereble risk of personal or national danger, are
always . infectious, and might not unreasonably be
expected to visit a people in the shape of innovation,
less needful of their beneficial influence than the
subjects of the petty German States; but when it
is remembered that, in point of practical oppres-
slim, there are few who could reckon more real
grievances then the latter, the rational wonder will be,
not that tranquillity has been somewhat disturbed,
but that there has not been an universal explo-
sion. The people also, be it observed, have neither
seen the printing press at work without taking 4
lesson horn it, nor republican armies march through
their territories without.imbibing some; hing of their
I spirit; for the Germans, take them altogether, are
a reading and a reflecting people, and it would
argue a degree of stupidity in them, not exceeded
by any thing in ancient or modern history, were
they eat sensible of the uncongenial nature of their
different Governments, and being sensible of it,
anxious to introduce s more rational system. The
true hoe of policy, therefore, to be observed by
their rulers, is, not to endeavour to suppress by