The Sun.
London, England, 1836-03-31 00:00:00

tranquilization of the country, we might easily find an I
apology for the omission of all minor topics in the
speech from the Throne. But no such omission is
perceptible. The Cortes are especially reminded that
the first great object of their meeting is the establish-
ment of the Electoral law, on an equitable and popular
basis. The Government very properly observes, that the
reform of this law is the preliminary step to the revising
of all the institutions of the country. The Chambers
are next directed to the negociations which have been
for some time carried on for the recognition of the in-

The

dependence of the South American States.
words of the speech with regard to these States are
very happily chosen, and we trust they will lead to an
amicable arrangement between them and the mother
country. It has been reported that the suspension of
the negociations arose out of a demand of a large sum
of money on the part of MENDIZABAL, and that the de-
legates froin South America quitted Madrid rather than
comply with it. This report first appeared in the
French journals, and from the language of the speech
itself, seems to have been as unfounded as the rumoured
demand of active intervention.
Good generalship is now all that is wanted to put
down the Carlist insurrection. Out of the levy of
100,000 men, 70,000 are now in readiness to take the
field—all well equipped, and in want of nothing but of
Generals to lead them to victory. This force includes
many veteran soldiers. Those who did not serve be-
fore were regularly drilled every day for the last four

months.
The Minister takes a high moral stand in alluding
to the suppression of the Convents. No state-
necessity is pleaded as a justification of that measure ;
neither is the insurrectionary spirit of the regular
clergy so much as noticed. This reform is simply
spoken of as a concession to the growing intelligence
of the people—as a compliance with the voice of pub-
lic opinion, which called for the suppression of Mo-

nastic institutions.
We pass over the paragraphs in the Royal speech,
recommending the prosecution of public works—the
reform of the institutions for the administration of
public justice—and the remodelling of the Finance
Department.
We anticipate the best results from the meeting
of the Cortes under such auspices. The Royal Speech
is an able, luminous, and most satisfactory docu-
ment. Its effect upon the public mind will be the
removal of those foul misrepresentations so indus—
triously spread by the French Carlists, and the resto-
ration of that confidence with, which the nation hailed
the appointment of MENDIZABAL to the Presidency
.of the Council. We can now state with certainty
that MENDIZABAL will not retire from the Ministry.
The intrigues which have been carried on against him
have already began to recoil upon his adversaries.

In the Number, just published, of the London and
Westminster Review, there is an able article on " the
State of Politics in 1836," in which, speaking of the
present Administration, the Reviewer says :—" The
thorough Reformers have met the Whigs half-way ;
but it is only half-way. The Ministers have this
Session evinced an activity in the work of Reform,

and a disposition to make its spirit penetrate hit
various branches of our institutions vet unvisited by
which prove that they are, in some measure, aw•akcne
to the necessities of their position ; and entitle then

while such conduct continues, to the strenuoul support
of the more vigorous Reformers—though not to the kind
of support which Ministries arc most prone,-to demand,
and, we grieve to say it, most accustomed to receive—
the suppression of the utterance of any opinion which
it is not convenient to. them to go along with." This
language is creditable to the frank, manly spirit
of independence for which both the ,London and
Westminster Reviews are alike honourably rbs-
tinguished. As the accredited organs of the
" thorough Reformers," these (now joint) publications
arc bound to speak out without favour or affection ;
and it is gratifying to know that the party by whom
they are supported are still as ready as ever to meet
Ministers " half-way," and give them that sort of
support which is the most flattering and the most effi-
cient, precisely because it is the most honest and dis-
interested. The " thorough reformers" are no slaves
to he bound to the A.linisterial chariot-wheels—they
will not allow themselves to be dragged through the
mud, simply because Government so wills it—they re-
serve to themselves the right of judging for them-
selves, and will not fear to be found in the ranks of
opposition, when their duty to their constituents and
Itheir country demands such a course of conduct. But
this, judger from from present appearances, is little likely
to happen. The course pursued by Ministers is—
with a few exceptions—just what it should be. Ex-
perience has convinced them of the folly—nay, the
worse. than folly—the madness of attempting to play
fast and loose with reform. It has taught them also
how utterly useless is every endeavour to conciliate the
Tory faction, whose arrogance for the last four years
has invariably risen with every concession made to
them, and whose wrath is only to be Allayed by
Ministers surrendering unconditionally into their hands
the entire Government of the country. Experience,
we say, has taught the Whigs these useful lessons ;
hence they are zealous where they were once luke-

warm ; and decided where they were once vaccinating.
Their conduct, in particular with respect to the Irish
Corporation Bill, has —so far as they have yet pro-
,
ceeded—been admirable ; but they must beware how
they peril their well-earned reputation by any surrender
of principle, when the measure comes on for discussion
in the House of Lords. Doubtless they will have
many difficulties to struggle against in that unreformed
assembly ; but none so great as may not be mastered
by firmness and perseverance. They have only to be
resolute, to be successful. Their Lordships cannot pos-
sibly oppose the Irish Municipal Bill with more
bitterness or energy than they opposed the Reform
Bill ; yet we all saw how utterly unavailing was their
hostility, when Lord GREY had once dared to show a
bold front. The Reviewer goes on to observe that
" the spirit of the Tory party is broken ;" and that al-
though " they will rally again,'! they will no longer be
able to inflict any serious amount of mischief on the
community. This is true ; but the Reformers must
not be the less on the alert ; for a mere sorry handful
of men, strong in nothing but desperation, have—as in
the case of Agincourt—achieved a decisive victory ere
now.

Our readers doubtless recollect that Lord BRUDE-
NELL was dismissed from the Lieutenant-Colonelcy
of the 15th Hussars, about two years ago, in conse-
quence of the sentence of a Court-martial held on
Captain WATHEN, of the same regiment. That offi-
cer was tried on charges brought forward by the Noble
Lord, and honourably acquitted, the Court at the same
time pronouncing the conduct of Lord BRUDENELL
to be revolting to every proper and honourable feeling,
of a gentleman, insulting to the officers under his corn-
mand, and injurious to his MAJESTY'S service. It
would, we think, be difficult to find stronger reasons
than those expressed in this sentence, for removing an
officer from the command of a regiment. It is doubt-
ful,
haindveed, whether the interests of the service would
n
army requiredaltogether.theHadhe dismissalbee been
of
asupeleirsaomn aonffrionforio
mther
rank, or of liberal sentiments, that would have been his
fate. But the Lieutenant-Colonel of the 15th Hus-
sars, a Lord and a Tory, had nothing to fear at the
Horse Guards. Common decency, indeed, required
tinh,aptriseotiende
eliititlheisinethezaaletsehrouyldt eelalpesre
verdict
tfeore thee stain
martial should be consideredb ash " purgedd• afwthay," and
accordingly he has since been undergoing a sort of
refuge of all whose misconduct renders rusti-
cation in the half-pay list 1
active employment—and the period of two years' inac-
tivity having been deemed amply sufficient to regene-
rate the man whose conduct had been declared by a
military tribunal to be "revolting to every proper and
honourable feeling of a gentleman," &c, Lord
BRUDENELL has been appointed to the Lieutenant-
Colonelcy of the 11 th Light Dragoons could