The Sun.
London, England, 1825-02-01 00:00:00

ETIIE PUBLIC LEDGER.]

It is reported that the Speech will contain the
usual assurances of the friendly disposition of
Foreign Powers towards this country : and that
the part which refers to South America, whilst it
will be as explicit as its importance requires, will
carefully avoid every allusion by which political
animosity could be excited, or a collision of loin.
ciple provoked. The question is to be presented
in the point of view alone to which no objection
can be fairly raised, we mean the great and grow-
ing value of our trade with the new States ;
whilst the solidity of the States we have re-
cognized will be referred to, to spew that the act
does not invalidate any practical rights of
Spain. We give these rumours without pledg-
ing ourselves for their accuracy, merely assuring
our Readers that they are derived from a source
of high respectability. In the meantime, the
country has probably a good pledge of the libe-
rality of his Majesty's Government upon this and
every other great question of state policy, in the
names of those who are to move the Addresses in
both Houses, both of them belonging to the party
belonging to Mr. Canning, and following the
views and principles of this eminent Statesman.
From the selection of Lord Dudley and Ward
in the Upper House, and of Earl Gower in the
Commons, it is clear that the Ministerial mea-
sures of the Session will be marked by uni-
form respect for sound and enlarged principles,
and that there is consequently no truth in the
rumour that it is intended to pass some harsh pro-
ceeding with respect to Ireland. That country
is admitted to be more tranquil at this moment,
than she has been for a great number of years;
and, whilst she continues in this state, to propose
coercive measures would be a perfect anomaly
in legislation, and a monstrous innovation in the
practice of Government. When a marked return
to turbulence and outrage takes place, it will be
time enough to sharpen the spirit and execu-
tion of the laws ; but to meet the peaceable
habits of that people with distrust and
newv penal enactments, would be as much
as to say to them, " we (10 not want you to
be quiet, as it would compel us 'to make
many alterations which would be inconvenient at
this. moment. We should have no excuse, for
example, to maintain the present military esta-
blishment, whereas we want a pretext for aug-
menting it, w hich your turbulence would fur-
nish." This is the only fair interpretation
that could be put upon the adoption of means
of increased rigour at this season of unaccus-
tomed repose; and it is unnecessary for us to
add, that no Member of the Cabinet, who
values consistency, or the applause of the
moral part of the Public %vitt expose his
conduct to an imputation of this kind. We
have heard another rumour, which though it
would not, in our opinion, wholly justify a con-
siderable increase in the numerical strength of
the army, would constitute the best excuse for it
that has been yet offered, provided always that
the report be true. It is confidently stated in a
letter from Paris, that the question is to be for-
mally put to M. de Villele in one of the Cham-
bers, whether he acquiesces or not in the re-
solution adopted by the English Government
with respect to South America. The letter
goes on to say, that this interrogatory is
a manoeuvre of the Minister, in order to ex-
plain his own views and those of the French
Court on the subject. In conclusion, it is stated,
that Villele means to reply by denying, in the
most pointed manner, his concurrence in the
measure; and if this theatrical exhibition has
been really got up by the French Ministry, it
would be clearly the solemn duty of our Govern-
ment take prompt and efficacious means of counter-
action. We find it hard to believe that the French
Minister is prepared to employ this decided
language, and particularly in so ostentatious a
manner ; but, as it is stated that this exhibition
was fixed for Monday (yesterday) the truth or
falsehood of the report will be soon ascertained.
In the mean time, the reserve hick the
French Government has hitherto affected
on this subject, is rather of a suspicious cha-
racter ; for, if it concurred with ours, it
would probably lose no time in avowing
its sentiments, In order to mark its regard, in the
first place, for a friendly Power, and, in the
next, to put an end to all uncertainty on a ques-
tion of such importance. As long as any doubts
remain, the financial projects of that Government
will be placed in jeopardy ; and, as it would
t dissipate them at once, if it thought proper, its
silence, seeing the inconvenience it is attended
with, certainly seems to imply much more of ill
%%ill than of hearty concurrence. Should the
French Government confine itself to the mere ex-
pression of its discontent, it would only injure its
own suljr.cts by contributing to exclude them front
the benefits of a trade with the New States : but
if it were, contrary to all probability, to assume
a hostile attitude, it would concern its own safety
much more than ours, besides leading to the ex-
pulsion
make room
fo
theulsionof Bourbons
the erbl nt ons from the throne of Spain,
the House
of Braganza of the essovereigntytahlistenotviri
of the Peninsula. The latter %sould be an event
of such vast importance to this country, that it
Would not be too dearly purchased even at the
eapence of a war, where, as in this case, it would
probably be decided within the year.