The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-29 00:00:00

HOLLAND AND BELGIUM.

Fnom THE RHINE, DEC. 18.
There seems to be no doubt that it is intended to con-
centrate a corps of troops on the Belgian frontier. The
rights of the confederation recognised by the London Con.
ference are to be maintained. The occupation of Limburg
and of the Dutch portion of Luxemburg, which is 10 con-
templation, might be the best means of effecting this object.
Nay, it seems to be the only possible mode of arranging
the differences. Belgium will never voluntarily give up
provinces which have joined it, which have shared its for-
tunes for eight years, and have been by no means the leas!,
zealous when administration was required for the consoli-
dation of the new (but pretended old) nationality of Bel-
gium. Belgium will not quietly lacerate itself with its oyvti
hands because it has received a polite diplomatic invitation
to do so. But it may, without disparagement to its honour,
ield to superior force, and to the invading army of an
European power ; it may, without disgrace, renounce rights
which it no longer possesses, and give up to Holland
what the friends of Holland already have at their disposal.
Belgium, reduced to its own single strength, cannot seriously
think of longer resistance. Franc, indeed, has assembled
troops on its frontier ; ardent proclamations to the Prussian
troops are indeed sent from Belgium ; but those do not
know Louis Philippe, who believe that he would resolve
to face the dangers of a European war. The state of things
now is just the same, with the single change of the action,
as it was at the time of the siege at Antwerp by the French.
The Conference had decided that the citadel should no
longer be held by Holland, and that the Scheldt should
be free. Holland resisted, on which one of the Powers
represented in the Conference enforced the execution of
the resolution. At the present moment there is another
resolution of the Conference, but now it is Belgium that
resists. Can Belgium demand, in 1838, to be more
favourably treated than Holland in 1832 ? Can France
find the execution of a resolution of the Conference, to
which it has acceded, unreasonable, after it has itself
enforced by arms another that was more agreeable to it ?
As France had but a short road to Antwerp, so has the
German Confederation the provinces of Limburg and Luxem-
burgh close at hand ; for they extend along its frontiers, and
the Gorman Confederation is infinitely more interested in the
occupation of these provinces than France was in expelling
the Dutch from Antwerp. No German can doubt the
right of the Confederation to these provinces. It has, in •
deed, been intimated that Belgium might become a Mem-
ber of the Confederation for Limburg and Luxemburg.
But, setting aside all other considerations that would be
obstacles, we ask merely was the King of Holland a Mem
ber of the German Confederation, and is he now such ?
And if he is, we request those who propose Belgium„as a
member, to explain a certain article of the act of the Con-
federation, which says that the Princes of Germany reci-
procally guarantee their territories to each other. If
treaties, and, above all, the fundamental treaties of a power-
ful Confederation are not vain words, we should like to see
how the Diet of the Confederation, which represents at
Frankfort the unity of Germany, shall act if King Wil-
liam demands the possession of his German provinces,
which have besides been repeatedly assigned to him by the
great European powers. How ! Surely' not otherwise than
it will act in a very short time.

USEFUL INEORMATION.---FIOUr and rice being at
such high prices,. it cannot be made te,o generally known
that pearl sago for puddings is an excelleut substitute ; and
for soups or broths, very superior to rice, semolina, barley,
or any other article hitherto used.