The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-15 00:00:00

YEARS SINGE.

Exactly half a century since an Emperor, in the first
blush of unparalleled triumphs, stood OR the heights of
Boulogne, and reviewed a vast armament that cost him

years of preparation. He saw around him an extensive
encampment, including every arm of warfare, ready to
march anywhere at a moment's notice. Below, in the
Lianne, and in various fishing ports up and down the
coast, lay a flotilla of innumerable small boats, the crews
of which were trained to embark and land again, with
many thousand soldiers, in fifteen or twenty minutes.
Rewards and honours were distributed on that field of
hope- imperial bulletins and decrees were dated from
heights that were to be known to fame ; a pompous
pillar was commenced, and orations were continually
made with the never-failing point that Albion was
in sight, and two or three hours were sufficient to
carry an army over the narrow strait that inter-
vened. It was true that whenever the skies them-
selves did not interpose a sufficient obstacle, there were
seen far off amid the sunny waves certain dark, spots that
showed who were masters of the sea. It was true that
many centuries before another Emperor had stood on
those heights, gazed at the wall of cliffs stretching along
the northern horizon, claimed a triumph, and gone back
to Rome. Nevertheless, Napoleon only left that spot
for the easier work of subduing the whole continent to
the alliance of France. His legions marched from Bou-
logne to Austerlitz. Though diverted from his object,
he never gave it up. He was proclaimed Emperor
within sight of this island. This was the better part of
his empire still to be won, and the new world to be wept
for. In order to inflame, not only the ambition, but the
animosity of his soldiers, England was traduced as the last
stronghold of a tyrannical aristocracy ; as the oppressor
of her own people, and of all other nations, and the
sole remaining obstacle to the progress of an empire
that was destined to overspread and to civilise the
world. The presence of so vast and determined
an armament within sight and sound of our shores
was anything but agreeable or softening to our feelings.
It took all our faith in England and all our contempt of
armadas to make life tolerable in those days ; and it is
no wonder if we carried our national hatred of Napoleon
Bonaparte somewhat beyond the bounds of dignity or
reason, when we know that ho was actually looking at
US for months together, and waiting only the pleasure of
the winds and waves to ravage our territory, destroy
our Government, and reduce us to a province of his
empire.

The mind of nations ever runs upon precedents, and
if ever such a scene has occurred to the recollection, or
its recurrence been thought possible, it was wily as a
slavish repetition of what had once been. Within a very
few years, more than once, a species of panic has arisen
at the bare possibility of a similar armament, for which
neither the power nor the will was wanting, and which
had
Paris,
oi. n
,ow.
re tnchtoyen.
cfaoes
nus itrsrthaaotneucriets ofmrfoi sgmthettai
lmber ti
no bridge
gdow n
neighbouringot
hveer the Chan-
aprmroviy nfimeei."
There was no lack of motive. Louis Philippe had it
popularity to retain, Louis Napoleon a relative to avenge
a family to establish, and a defeat to repair. If thpre
never was any immediate concern, it was because there
was no navy or means of embarkation on the spot.
Time certainly has brought round the old pageant, and
fulfilled these dreams, rather earlier than wont, and this
day we actually see a French Emperor, of the family of
Napoleon, superintending at Calais the embarkation of
an army collected at Boulogne. Here is the very thing
so often imagined. Such a thing, indeed, would have
been thought impossible ten years ago ; only too likely
and too formidable three years ago. Yet historical pre-
cedents, like dreams, are sometimes to be interpreted
by the rule of contraries, and Fate seems to amuse her-
self with a species of antithesis which carries out the
whole resemblance except in the most important par-
ticular. The army which Napoleon 111. embarks this day
is not designed against these shores, but against our com-
mon enemy, Russia ; the place of the famous flotilla
are
more supplied by British ships, and the two nations t _
_
more unanimous in their wish and more firmlyaliied
than for centuries before. Had any one ventured to
wouldpredict such a
haveboencooonncsuurrreed7e nobtusto
s
Even a novelist, it
much fur fey: trs ag
improba-
bilityhe as for its utter incongruity.
they are. The writer of fables may
would have been remakriksedw,ilidsebstouinnvdetontioobnsteorvkeetehpe
na-
ture of things, and in
per-
sons or things as
isihoenesptiametoirnogulsikaendmtehne;
sheepbu t thenbravhee.
minutrsotdnuocte
make lions
So it-would have been said that an Anglo-Gallivan ex-
pedition against Russia is not only certain not to occur
—it has not even veri-similitude, or the colour of truth.
It has not even the requisites of melodrama, and is
andth e
too grotesque for the stage.
At least this is a lesson to those who reckon too
closely on the analogy of the past. The past, we are
told, is the clue to the future, and the wisest prophet is
he that best reads the page of history. That, doubtless,
is true ; but then it must also be remembered that With
Heaven nothing
is impossible, yet everything harmoni-
ous, and that the liuk that binds the future to the put
is not the mere recurrence of events. With this exam-
ple before us we need despair of no reconciliation, we
need fear no overweening ambition of empire, however
so far unchecked. We no more believe that it is in the
power of any one empire to conquer the world, than that
the ocean will be permitted to overrun the land. No
power en earth can stand the union so signally and so
unexpectedly illustrated this day. What may be dbn•
in the Baltic on the arrival of this new force it is not for
us to conjecture. But we do not doubt that a boundary
will be imposed to the most encroaching and absorbing
empire of modern times, and that the selfish policy which
aimed at the dominion of Europe will receive the rebuke
it deserves. Pushed too far, too confidently, and with
too little reserve, it has taught the two great Poirers
of Western Europe to forget their animosities, and to
seek glory in an amicable rather than in a jealous cam-
petition. With a great identity of races, and still more
of interests, no good reason can be given why England
and France should not make common cause for centuries
to come. All their quarrels have hitherto been histro_.
al
and accidental, on questions of dynasty and religion.
Ever since the day that we were expelled from hlf!oil
British squad-
of France, from that very Calais where
ron this day receives a French
es the Channel to
the interest of sovereigns on both rides
with the foment mutual jealousies, and to intrigue
for
The motives these
crimes dis-
affectedin one another's realms.
expedition, it has been
crimes have now ceased, and with them the crimes too
may now be forgotten ; nor can any reason now be as-
signed why England and France should not find itt
unanimity that strength and dignity their rulers once
sought in dreams of mutual subjugation.—Times,

THAMES NATIONAL REGATTA.—Owing to the fixture
of this regatta for the 25th, 20th, and 27th ult. clashing
with the great meeting at Goodwood, the Thames Na-
tional Committee have determined upon a postponement
to the Bth, 9th, and 10th of August. This would have
been done some time since, but a difficulty arose from
the fact of the Manchester and Salford Regatta being
fixed for the only days to which the Thames National
could be put off. This is now obviated by the former
being delayed, and hence advantage has been taken to
change the latter to a more convenient time. Eittrief
will now be opektill 24 Augtat.
.