The Sun.
London, England, 1822-12-18 00:00:00

ENEW TIMES.I

It was loudly objected against the Constitu-
tional Association, that they would prosecute
harmless works, or at worst, personal libels
on Ministers. It ought not to be overlooked,
that though they have now been two years in
active existence, they have never prosecuted
a single line against Ministers, nor a single
publication levelled against the particular doc-
trines of any religious sect ; but all the
works that the have selected for prosecution
have been gross and outrageous attacks on the
Sovereign, on the Civil Constitution of the State,
or on those fundamental principles of religion'
which form a part of the Constitution, and are
essential to the very existence of Society ; and
—we repeat the fact, as most memorable in itself,
and most honourable to the Association—not one
individual whom they have yet brought to trial
has been found Not Guilty.

PROVINCIAL JOURNALS.

[From The Bury Gazette, Dec. 18, 1822.]

The loud yell of war which only a few days
since spread dismay through half Europe, has already dwindled
down to a timid whisper ; the dreadful certainty has shrunk
into a doubtful possibility; and the act of Congress which was
to " uproar the universal peace," resolves itself into a wise
precautionary measure to guard the world from a too wide dif-
fusion of the blessings of mob and military despotism. Were
France sanctioned and supported by her allies, we think it very
improbable that she would willingly rush headlong Into a war
with Spain ; but as she is merely permitted to use her discre-
tion by some of her late conquerors, and that permission with-
' held by one, to her the most important of the whole; under such
circumstances, to engage in any hostilities beyond those which are
absolutely necessary for self-defence, would be nothing less than
national suicide. The policy of France must be peace. Ex-
hausted by protracted and extensive warfare, ennervated by
exertions unparalleled in the history of nations, years of inter•
nal and external quiet are needed for her re-invigoration ; are
due to the states around her, all of whom are suffering under
the consequences of her mad career of mischief. Yet, should
she, insensible to every consideration of prudence and justice,
attempt to rekindle the brands of national discord, she may
perhaps be taught that England, which in her days of might,
the could never conquer, which the imperial bandit who wield-
ed her power could not subdue, will not suffer her in her
weakness -to disturb the repose of the world " for very
wantonness," nor look on inactively while she renews
her bloody pranks at the expence of suffering humanity,
to soothe her wounded pride. We may perhaps be told
that democracy and revolution were the exciting causes of
the former war, but that now the Royalists are the persons who
stir the strife. Be it so—what then ? We love our King ar-
dently—love him because he is the free King of a free People—
because our interests are his and his ours—but we are utter
strangers to-a love of royalty which induces a violation of the
rights of our fellow creatures. The devotees of the old court
of Versailles may be as cruel as the enthusiasts of the Conven-
tion, but they cannot be so dangerous. We may fear the
fierceness of a young tiger. We laugh at the fury of an old
monkey. Whilst the Counsels of France are divided on the
question of war or peace, _whilst Princes and Potentates are
disposing of the destinies of nations, Spain, the unhappy sub-
ject of debate, is suffering all the horrors of war without any of
its palliating triumphs; all the miseries of civil strife where
conquest is defeat, and where the shout of the victor is choaked
by tile sigh of the mourner. In the long catalogue of human ills,
in all the hideous list of national calamities, none can compare to
that one mighty overwhelming mischief, domestic warfare : the
bloody struggle of father against son and brother against
brother. Plague, pestilence, or famitie, may be endured. Nation
may war against nation, and the soldier may fall in glory.—
But in the war which stains our native soil with native blood,
no honour is gained by victory, no song of exultation hails the
conqueror.: one voice is heard throughout the land, the voice
of lamentation and woe. May Heaven avert such a visitation
of its displeasure from this happy nation ! What an awfu
warning did the consequences of the French revolution hold ote

to the revolutionists in this country, and how seasonably does a
similar example occur at this moment. It is not impossible
that the present dreadful state of Spain may be productive of

some good in shewing the unthinking zealots, who call them.

„ , ...-...-
selves reformers, _and imagine the framing a code of laws and
remodelling a state, a work of easy achievement and certain ef-

ficacy; that there is some difficulty as well as danger in tam,

pering even with the most defective forms of/government: that
the Constitution of England, like her native oak, is of slow

growth, but noble and lasting in maturity ;, and if uprooted
may destroy many in its fall : While the poor sapling widch
may usurp its place perhapi will merely serve .to hang its