The Sun.
London, England, 1831-04-04 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUS.

sse,,—l am unwillingly drawn from the quiet of my
closet, where I amuse myself in the examination of the
passing occurrences of these eventful times--to enter the
lists against either mistaken or interested persons, wi:o
seem desirous to mislead the public by a misrepresentation
of the views of the Continental patriots. Ido an with
reluctance, and only from a senile of duty—unconnected
with any party, having no interest to serve, and free as I
believe myself to be from either personal re• national pre-
judices, I can no longer quietly allow the insidious attacks
that are daily made against the patriotism of the Belgian.:,
and the insinuations indulged against the tried frien is of
liberty in France, who have espoused their cause, to pis
unnoticed. Englishmen are a strange race, and full of
contradiction —they adopt revolutions more from fancy
than from principle, or, I rather fear, the majority are in-
fluenced from selfish views—they are a trading people.
Whenever any event occurs which may be considered as
injurious to those trailing interests, however beneficial it
may be to the people who ate more immediately concerned
in them, then, at once, is not only an indiffeience exhi-
bited as to the success of the resistance made to oppres-
sion, but even a positive condemnation is passed upon the at-
tempt at deliverance, and the conduct of the oppressorjus-
tified or excused, and his cause espoused in preference to that
of the injured. The most erroneous opinions are evi-
dently still entertained as to the commercial importance
of Antwerp, and the military consequences that roust
attend its being in the possession of a Government un-
favourable to England. There yet exists an unfounded
jealousy as to the advantages and disadvantages as regards
trade, or an absurd alarm as to the political and naval
superiority which France might enjoy from the possession
of the citadel and port of Antwerp, or that it should be
even held by the natives themselves, protected by France.
„ If such be the apprehension of our politicians, for on
no other ground can their interference and underhand-
opposition to the Belgian Revolution be supported, then
it became a bounden duty on their part to adopt that liberal
policy towards the revolutionists which wool() have pre-
vented their seeking the absolute protection of France, and
much more so, as not by false policy and indefensible
measures drive both countries to adopt an incorporation
the lesser body' with the greater--of Belgium resigning
her independence as a state, and becoming a powerful,pro-
vince of France. The annexation of Belgium to Ho'lant
fir it never was a union, was a forced measure—it nerer
fires desired by the former country—it was, indeed, eon-
scary to her declared wishes, and only carried into effect
by the arms of the Allied Powers, who merely stu. ird
their own views, without consulting either the happiness
of the people, or the probability of their harmonizing with
each other. The difference of their locality—of their
consequent habits—the difference of their religion—of
even their language—never eaten d jot) the calculationsof
the wise disposers of the destinies of Europe. Their sole
attention was given to the arrondissement of states, with-
out the least reference to the probable amalgaraasion of
man. Power was in their hands, and they determined
on the exercise of that power, regard!esa of principle, and
heedless of
.future result.. They played the part of
conquerors, and allotted so many square miles of territory
with a proportionate population to different states, as if
the arrangements of men were to be made, and govern.,
ments formed, in a similar mode as traders regulate their
transactions. Rusiia required so much of Poland, under
the mask of forming the Duchy of Warsaw—Auatria ex-
acted the possession of so much of Italy—Prussia of tale
Rhenish provinces—and England, as her pariion of the
spoil of Europe, resolved that Belgium should be united
with Holland—elevating the former Stadthohler of H

land, reinstated as King, to be the Sovereign of the two
Netherlands. Such arrangements were to establish the
balance of power, and to secure the tranquillity of Europe.
France was to be crippled and drivra back to her former
limits, and as the guarantee of her submission the Bour-
bons were re-established as the legitimate dynasty of cult re
by the medium of foreign ha:. onets. To give dignity to
the farce, a charter was granted by the restored
Louis, with the approbation of the liberal Autocrat
Alexander, the plotting Metternich, the applauding Castle-
reagh, and the approving Duke of Wellington. In the
dissolution of the French empire Belgium was unequal to
take any part ; to effect her own independence at the mo-
ment was impossible. Having been made an integral
part of France, she had no particular administration of
her own—no positive Governmeut—no separate establish-
ment, civil or military—first occupied and plundered by
the present King of Sweden with the hand of ruffians be
commanded—then by the Prussians—and then passing
into the hands of the English army, under the control)!
of the civil administration of an Austrian Governor, Ba-
ton Vincent, who was to go through the comedy of for•
mally giving up the country to the Stadtholder of Hol-
land, because, prior to the memorable Revolution of France, .
which finally ingulphed more than one quarter of Europe
into its vortex—Belgium had been an appendage of the
lamentations ofee ti Baron
ns h with Austria,different acts of the comedy were performed, with various
interludes.
ronVincen Vincent were
highly interesting—he formed a. little knot of those Nobles
who hadstill
T retained
sighed to be restored to her autbority—he communicated
his regret- at the final separation which had been decreed
by the higher Powers, hie good and Imperial Majesty
having a kinder reeling towards Lombardy and Venice
than to the Netherlands. Belgium was too remote from
the seat of his empire—was separated by intervening
States—could not readily receive this paternal protection,
and, by her contiguity to France, Austria was endangered
with a perpetual interruption of amicable relations with
that country, greatly injurious to her Italian project?, and
highly detrimental to the peace of Europe., Austria feigued
to weep over her.former children, and relucta }raised _
them over to the cold fraternity of Holland; Vat her real
indifference to the alienation was, that thellgians had re-
peatelly evinced an attachment to their 'rights, and hid
al ways proved refractory whenever they were attacke I.
The scene of delivery was as. cold as any transaction
can be conceived to he, which occurs between the stiff thr-
mality of the Austrian and the cold calculation of the
Dutchman. The English. troops, who were the principal
performers, alone gave a gaiety to the city of Brussels on
the arrival and instalment of the King of Holland, an the
future Sovereign of the incorporated countries. The
people of every class were quite indifferent and totally pas-
sive. England hal previously placed the command ot her
army in the lands of the Prince of Orange, havialg pro.
muted him to the rank of Lieutenant-General. He, how-
ever, exercised his command comp'etelv as an 'Englishman
and not as a foreigner, and as the future beir to the throne
of the new dynasty. His staff was entirely English, and
the military chest was entirely supplied feom the Treasury
of England ; and thus Uelgium was passed over to Hol-
land, more as an acquisition of territory and populations
1 than as united by consanguinity, or identified by mutual
interests. The one par ay gie!ing her hand because she was
directed to do so—the other yielding her's because she had no
power of withboldialg it--was it to be expected that such. an
union could be •,,rodtective of happineee—could lie binding
and particulaaay on the part of the reluctant party ? The
characters of the parties being totally opposed to each
other—neither possessing those qualities which coull foster
the 'elope of even a continued and undistuthed harmony.
r.r.olland was encumbered with debt—Belgium was totally
' free—Xiolland was heavily taxed—Belgium lightly—
Bele,ium had manufactoriel—establishments--the produce
of which passed into France. As a part of the kingdom
of the Netherlands—all intercourse with France was cut
off—shut out from Germany by the interdict of Prussia—
Belgium became a tributary appendage to a country which
deprived her of her leading interests, and rendered her
but little benefit in the participation she afforded of her
colonial intercourse. The Belgians, a light and gay ,
peop'e, fond of amusements, and gratified by- the parade
of a Court. 'The Dutch, a cold and solemn race; in-
different to every other pursuit but that of gain. The
King himself a very Dutchman—simple arid retired-.-.
more occupied with viewing his own wealth, than pro-
. moting the general welfare. A trader and not a statesman
—he might be esteemed in Holland; he never could be
beloved in Belgium jealous of the popularity of
his son—whose gaiety waa congenial to the Belgians—
he would not—as he ought to haw done, deputed
to him the Vice-royalty of Belgium; but he would.
himself exercise the full authority of Sovereign.,
and, from the very commencement of his reign,. laid
the foundation, of the dismembeament of his kingdom.
The King af Holland was in no ways formed to be the
ruler of a great and powerfek Watt. An excellent. hus-
b.ind—.a kind father—a mild and amiable man—unosten-
tatious in ail. his habits--..iii private life most anexcrption-
. aide, and wherever he.lived must have been respected and
admired an such. lad circumstances only allowed him
to be the.Vhief of a petty principality, be might then have!
been the father of it. Over Holland and the Dutch Ile-
might yet have ruled without interruption, but as Sove-
reign of the incorporated kingdoms, to unite discordant 4
elements, to remove prejudices, to harmonise opposite 7-
liginua, and tomake of two distinct,ANkiobppe Pe*"
was totally incompetent.
,;(14 Alt\
I may be led to continue my aumith".-
the outline which I have now :4) • V gel: g!!
Lord SOUTHAMPTON 047
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Milton gentlemen, dist pn •
Quorndon Hounds, at the end
every'day 51 ',lit)!
has bad capital spar ICITLQ3 •