The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-04 00:00:00

TIIE PRINCE ALBERT.

(Front the Morning Herald.)

The letter which we felt it our painful duty to
publish yesterday, on the subject of his Royal
Highness the Prince Albert, has produced, as well
it might, a profound sensation in the country.
There exists not in that country bosoms more pro-
foundly loyal than our own ; for his Royal High-
ness himself we entertain a sincere respect in his
private and domestic character ; but even if his
Royal Highness understood our institutions as they
are understood by the people of this country, if he
employed the influence which he must unavoidably
possess in fostering, improving, and strengthening
those institutions, we should not the less deplore
that departure from the spirit of the British con-
stitution which the letter which we inserted yes-
terday discloses. We assure his Royal Highness,
with sincere attachment to his person as the Con-
sort of our Queen, that the main foundation of the
popularity which he has hitherto enjoyed has not
so much arisen from his zeal for art, his valuable
labours in creating the Great Exhibition, from his
anxiety for the improvement of the condition of
the labouring classes, but from the general, although
mistaken, belief entertained by the public, that he
carefully abstained from all meddling in political
matters.

We implore his Royal Highness to ponder well
on the disastrous consequences which must result to
himself from the prevalence of a contrary belief.
The people of • this country are disgusted with the
way in which onr policy in Eastern matters has been
conducted. All earnest. Protestants are in dismay
at the undue encouragement to Popery which is
given in all quarters by those in office, and the dis-
favour shown to Protestant interests. Discontent
prevails as to internal management of the army.
Alarm is felt that designs are abroad, not to improve
the Universities, but to change their whole system so
as to bring it nearer to a German model. Alarm is
felt that the French alliance is destined to be broken
up, and that those in office lean to the old absolute
Monarchies on the continent, with Russia at their •
head. Alarm is felt at the prospect of a deino-
cratic Reform Bill, and that alarm is not quieted
by reflecting on the apparent contradiction between
love of Holy Alliance principles abroad, and the
favouring of democratic principles at home. It is
felt that " history is philosophy teaching by ex-
ample," and it is not forgotten that democratic
power is the almost invariable forerunner of abso-
lute power. All these are matters which weigh
heavily on the minds of Englishmen, in this dark
hour of their national progress, and all these things
are beginning to be traced, whether rightly or
wrongly, to the hand of him who is now suddenly
supposed to be an active and constant interferer in
all our political affairs.
We most respectfully implore his Royal High-
ness to reflect on these matters, to consider the
position in which he is placing those nearest and
dearest to him by the course which it is feared
that he is pursuing. He must well know whether
the letter in our yesterday's impression contains
the truth or not. If it does, we implore him to
dismiss such men as Chevalier Bunsen and
Baron Stockmar from his counsels, and to
call to his aid honest Englishmen, who understand
the fair workings of the British constitution. He
will then learn, that however the inflence may be
used, influence obtained in the manner pointed out
in that letter is in itself at variance with the
spirit of the constitution. Let him be assured
that the late Sir Robert Peel understood that con-
stitution far less well than his predecessor, Lord
Melbourne. Let him not think that he will find
shelter under the authority of that name. Every
month that rolls by serves to dissipate the delusion
that Sir Robert Peel was a great or a generous
statesman—and his Royal Highness may r2st
assured, that whatever may be the value of Sir
Robert's opinion, it will never suffice to persuade
the people of this country that there ought to exist
an irresponsible influence, controlling or intercept-
ing the communication between our British Sove-
reign and her confidential servants.