The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-23 00:00:00

hereditary dominions in Europe. These events:•
which affects so greatly the prospects of the House
of Hapsburg, deserve to be considered from more
than one point of view. No doubt they serve mate-
rially to weaken the Hapsburg succession inAustria
i
itself, and more particularly the succession n the
family of the Archduke Francis and Archduchess
Sophia, in which it at presents rests. The present
Emperor of Austria has three brothers—Maxi'
Indian, aged thirty-one; Charles, aged thirty;
the youngest, Louis. Two, therefore, oat of the
three are likely to be taken across the Atlantic. The
marriage of Louis does not of course so necessarily
involve his continual residence in Brazil as the elec-
tion of Maximilian to the Throne of Montezurnit
will require his continual presence at Mexico. Bit. t..
probably the heiress-apparent and her husband .an
Bill
not find it easy to be absent from the Brazili
territory; and in that event, the Archduke Charles.
would remain file only brother of the Emperor
Austria on whom the regency could devolve to
the
event of his death, the Archduke Rudolph, the heir
apparent to the Austrian Throne, being now owl:,
five years of age, and thirteen years distant from We
majority. It is probable that this difficulty, howev.erj
will be made light of in the face of a temptation whic.!
offers the Austrian dynasty two imperial thrones is
the New World. It is impossible not to perceive also
that in this marriage consists an auxiliary guaranty
for the stability of the throne of the Archduke
milian in Mexico. A prince placed upon an impede
throne, newiy formed, and though in coosonane,e
with the real wants, yet in opposition to the ream
;
traditions of the nation, will be glad to repose nPa
the moral support and alliance of his neighbours'
In a vast continent of republics, with the Angin,i
Saxon race upon the North, and mongrel,
.01,.
Latin and half Indian races to the South, it la
mutual advantage to Mexico and Brazil that toe
two imperial dynasties should be in such intimate
alliance with each other. The Federal Government
may not be hostile to the new Mexican empire'
the Confederates may recognise it from motives °
self•interest ; the South American Republics tia
have no more the will than they have the power
thwart a development of the French Emperor
policy; yet a dynastic alliance between the tsce.
Imperial Houses is one of the most pernianer
leagues which each can have for its support by t°°
other; and it is one to which the misfortunes of the
at present imperfectly developed Mexican empire
can not be indifferent. There seems nothing wore
vai▪ n than a speculation of the future of any one
of the great reigning dynasties of Europe, even fora
si▪
ngle generation ahead of us. Thirteen years
ago the Bourbon family were to all appearance
firmly seated on three European thrones. N°l/
they are banished from two of them, with no sof",
of probability of their ever returning to either'
Some thirty years ago what reigning House seemed
more insignificant than the family of Saxe-Coburg?
Yet we now see them, in the male line, supply'"
the dynasties of England and Portugal, and another
prince of their House, one of the astutest Sovereigns
in Europe, on the Throne of Belgium. The little
branch headed by Prince Christian of Denmark'
which only eleven years ago came into prominence,
as the family then next entitled by a treaty '3'
1851 to the throne of Denmark, have since giv°l3:,
or are about to give, brides to the heirs-apparent n'
England and Russia and a King to Greece. The
ancient House of Savoy, after living for seve!,
hundred years in hereditary insignificance, has in
the last four years acquired a dominion more poP°.
lous, and not less powerful and important, than the
kingdom of the Great Frederick. The Bonaparte°
have revived ; and almost in their former splendour'
These and other such striking dynastic changes On,f
own generation has witnessed; and the promise'
extension of the dynasty of Rudolph of Hapsburg
over two Imperial Thrones in the Western World
presents a coincidence of fortune which should or
pease the shade of the Emperor Leopold I. for the
transfer of Louis XIV. of the dominions of hi°
kinsman, Charles 11. of Spain to Philip V. in the
rear of the Spanish succession. To a great extent
the
.elder branbh of the Hapsburgs are likely !°
regain the rule of the ladies, which fell to their
younger branch on the abdication of Charles ir
What is hardly less remarkable than the extension
of the Hapsburg dynasty is the character for mode'
ration and practical statesmanship that marks the
present generation of that Imperial House.