The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-05 00:00:00

emigrants, amounting to 600 millions of greatness is wholly incompatible with the
francs at the lowest computation. While, there- I very principles of British prosperity. The
fore, they cement the edifice of Ultra-royalism in . grand struggle between liberty and des-
k ranee, by " closing the last wounds of the Re. potism will thus take a more animated turn ;
volution," they may well consent, for the sake and be sooner brought to a decision. The issue
of accomplishing so desirable a result,to sanction we have no doubt will be the complete triumph
the triumph of revolutionary principles in Arne- of liberal principles, whilst this country will have
rica. From what fell from his Majesty's Mi- the honour, as well as the chief advantage of a
nisters in Parliament last Session, the public victory, that will entirely alter, of course for the
knew that it was their impression that the policy better, the face of the political world.
of France, with respect to South A merica, agreed
substantially N% ith that of England, though the
unfortunate connexion with Spain and the Holy
Alliance necessarily fettered the French Go-
vernment in its decisions, and disabled it from
taking those frank and open measures by which
we have preceded her in the formal admis-
sion of the New States to the right and advan-
tages of an acknowledged political existence. The
Government of the Netherlands will be the next,
and we may be sure, at no great distance of time,
to recognize the independence of the American
Republics. They may then wait with temper
and patience for the approbation of the Holy
Alliance, and the rejected Mother Country ; and it
will probably neither grieve nor injure them much,
if those Powers should, in their wisdom, resolve
never to sanction the legitimacy of the American
States. We foresee, however, that the certain
and absolute loss of her Colonies must lead to
some great and salutary changes in the political
and social condition of the Peninsula. With-
out them, and under a rational system of go.
vernment, Spain may yet again become, as
her position would seem of necessity calculated
to render her, a powerful and flourishing
kingdom. We may expect soon, we suppose, to
hear that some arrangements have been concluded
with Portugal for the recognition of the inde-
pendence of Brazil. In the state in which the
two nations stand with regard to each other at
present, the British Government will of course
refrain from interfering, except with a view to the
amicable adjustment of their differences. The
recognition of the late Spanish colonies will in all
probability quicken Portugal in her tardy and re-
luctant movements towards an acknowledgment of
the fact that her colony has at last outgrown the
system to which it was formerly subjected. Whe-
ther this acknowledgment be made or not, Brazil
is actually free, and will remain so, in spite of
all that Portugal can do to prevent it. She had
better therefore, to use a homely phrase, make
the best of a bad bargain, and submit with a good
grace to what will happen without her consent,
if she be silly enough to refuse it.

[MORNING HERALD.]

It is amusing sometimes to observe the use or
the abuse which a mere rhetorician makes of
history. The most edifying example that could
be.wished, appears in the Address of the French
Chamber of Peers to the of France :-
44 The France of Clovis will be found again under
Charles X.—the successor of Clovis will receive
the Holy Unction from the hands of St. Remi—
there will be another Clotilda, full of courage
and faith, who has drawn the blessings of Heaven
on the arms of her husband," Szc. There can
be little doubt that this precious piece of histo-
rical erudition belongs to M. de Chateaubriand,
who seems to advance in puerility as he advances
in years, and whose head seems absolutely
turned by the new reign, his grief for the old,
his joy for the new King, and the extacies of his
devotion at the ointing, which is to take place at
Rheims. Who would suppose that any man in
his senses could allow his ignorance or his ima-
gination to run the length of proposing as a
golden age the fifth century, when ull in Europe
without the immediate sphere of what remained
of Roman civilization—and especially Gaul, was
one wide scene of barbarism and bloodshed ? But
let us see how far the Duchess of Angouleme and
the Icing her father, or the Prince her husband,
have reason to be proud of the parallel. Clotilda,
it is true, was a devotee, and converted Clovis,
her husband, to Christianity. " But though
a devotee," says the historian, " she was
not the less vindictive." This really looks
like a piece of sly personal satire upon
the Duchess. The words which immediately
follow in the history are too well worth quoting
to be omitted -.44 Without doubt she believed

her resentment just—a mistake into which pious
people often fall, easily persuading themselves
that injuries to them are injuries to God." The

fact is, that she was not alone vindictive, but
ambitious and sanguinary, and the cause of hur

husband's worst barbarities. She ruled Clovis,
and converted him. "If I win this battle

(against the Romans)," said he to her, " I'll
worship your God." Ile did so, and became
a Christian. But what was the first act of the
royal convert? Ile had the Roman General

[THE PUBLIC LEDGER.]
Every doubt has now disappeared with respect
to the immediate recognition by this country of
the independence of Mexico, Colombia,and Bue.
nos Ayres, which will be followed in due time

brought—a prisoner—before him, and cut off his
head. He next, under the influence of 44 Clotilda,
full of courage and faith," murdered four Princes of
his family, and usurped their dominions. Two of
them—brothers—he dispatched with his own
royal hand. Having them brought before him in
chains, he addressed the one—a' Coward (said
he), how Barest thou wear these chains to the
shame of thy family ?" and with one blow cut off
his head. The other remained. 44 And thou
_ _

by the establishment of political relations with
the other New States of that continent. Now,that
this important and decisive proceeding has taken
place, we are not sorry for the delay that interven-
ed; as it must blunt any objection that its enemies

nay feel inclined to make. Ministers have shewt
a forbearance towards Spain, which, considering
the strong temptations they had to pursue a
different line of conduct, as well as the inability
of that Power to make the least resistance, is al-
most without a parallel in the annals of diplo-
macy. Every thing that magnanimity required
of them has been scrupulously discharged ; and
as Spain has to the last spurned at. reasonable
concessions, though her circumstances imperiously
enforced them, Ministers had clearly no other [MORNING CHRONICLE.]
alternative left but to pursue the course which It is as we predicted—Mr. Plunkett has been
they have irrevocably taken. Further delay would shamefully defeated ; his bill has been ignored
be imputed to weakness, and not to generosity, by a Grand Jury, of which every man was a Pro-
besides exposing them to the suspicion of conniv- testant. We supposed he has had enough of ex-
inn at the designs of the Holy Alliance, to the im- officio informations, after the loss of a bill, to
minent danger of British freedom, and to the follow the precedent set by himself In the case
prostration of British honour. As the resolution of the Bottle Treason.—Poor fallen Plunkett !
which they have come to at last must have —lf a thousand persons, Whigs, Radicals, and
been taken at some period, a better moment than Tories, possessed of a decent education, had
the present could not have been selected.— been consulted, whether the passage for which
Fiance, if she harboured any resentment at the Mr. O'Connell was held to bail, was or
proceeding, must keep it locked up in the re- was not seditious, we will venture to ,say, that
cesses of her bosom, in consequence of the em- nine hundred and ninety-nine out of that
barrassments in which she has involved herself thousand would have scouted the idea.—
by her iniquitous invasion of Spain. Austria is so How comes it, then, that a man of the most
terrified by the apparition of Greek liberty, that powerful intellect, a hard-headed reasoner—an
all her senses are rivetted to it ; amid moreover orator, if ever there was one, of whom it has been
her influence is neutralized when it attempts to said by Hazlitt, that Irish eloquence is redeemed
mix in the affairs of the New World. Prussia is by " his manly sense and fervour"—How comes
a mere cypher on this question ; and, if she were it that this unrivalled speaker, this close reasoner,
not, her desire to share in the profits of Trans- who to English solidity adds an ardour, in de-
atlantic commerce, serves to counterbalance her bate, which pure Englishmen seldom or never
arbitrary and legitimate propensities. Russia can possess, should, even in matters connected
do nothing alone, for her million of soldiers are with the profession of which he is at the
no better than ombres chinoises for any harm they head, have not merely blundered, but blun-
can do the inhabitants of the New World.— dered once and again in the very same mans
Moreover, the recent calamity by which her ca- ner, and so stupidly, that the most thoughtless
pital has been visited, will occasion for a time of his countrymen must be struck with amaze-
such a drain on her treasury, as to preclude any ment at his indiscretion ? We have watched
indulgence in ambitious projects ; and, when her Mr. Plunkett witn considerable attention. He
present difficulties disappear, she will find food appeared to us, from the first moment we heard
enough for the cravings of her ambition in the him, a singularly constituted man, full of fire,
endless anarchy of the Turkish Empire. Mi- but devoid of feeling ; a good logician, without
nisters have therefore selected the favourable any thing metaphysical about him, a man able,
moment; and this circumstance completes their as it were, to stride vigorously onwards, in the
claim to the gratitude of the country. It would path which he had taken, with little capability
be greatly undervaluing this important decision, of selecting the right path. In the debate on
if it were to be considered only in a commercial the Manchester Question, he excited disgust
point of view. Its influence will be still more in the liberal part of the House, and startled
perceptible in the political relations of this the Tories. His politics seemed derivcd from
country, as it, separates her wholly, not only in the School of Torquemada. According to him,
name, but in interest, from her Holy Alliance. to read or think in the body of the people was
We have taken our stand ; and by the decision almost a crime—to allow them to read, in their
we are placed in a situation, where the sup- superiors was folly—the life of the mechanics
port of liberal principles becomes a question, should be passed in excessive indulgence ; he
not of political convenience, but of imperious should drown his cares in the noise and revelry
necessity. We have cut oil' all connexion with of the public-house, and renounce all participa-
the cause of despotism ; and a return, if it were tion in the pursuits which raise a man in his own
practicable, would be unsafe and inglorious. eyes, and give to life its principal value. It
As a decided opposition of interests is thus might or it might not be expedient to accede to
established, and as the collision will be no the demands which the people then made ; but the
slight one, this country must place herself at brutalization contended for by Mr. Plunkett as
the head of the free States of the world, to the beau ideal of the working classes contem-
be able to counterbalance the confederacy of plated by the British Constitution, revolted even
despots. Wherever commerce, liberty, and know- those who were most alarmed at the pretensions
ledge are cherished, there we shall have faith- of the people.—ln like manner, during the last
ful allies ; and it would be surprising if this Session, he scandalized every Member, by
connection were not more than an equivalent an exaggeration with respect to the residence of
for the hollow and selfish friendship of the the Irish Clergy, so gross as to defeat his ob-
Great Powers as they are called, but whose eject, and offensive to his hearers, as it supposed

(said he), if thou hadst aided thy brother, he had
not been thus ;" and with another blow he dis-
patched him too ! These are the models of royalty
suggested by M. Chat eaubriand and the Cham-
ber of Peers. The address of the Deputies af-
fords a favourable contrast to this intolerable
fustian.