The Sun.
London, England, 1822-12-27 00:00:00

[TIIE TIMES.]

The Paris Papers of Thursday contain' ac-
counts from the frontiers of Spain, which, though
really of little importance,, appear to have ac-
quired, according to the medium through which
they may have passed, a more or less exaggerated
colouring. The Ultra Journalists are evidently
blessed with a facility of belief, which is very be-
coming in the historians of the Army of the Faith.
The assaults made on the fortress of Urgel had
mot, according to the last account,, been success-
ful. That this should be the case in the siege
of a place which can only be approached by a
smalls number of troops at a time, and which is
defended by desperate men, is not at all surpris-
ing; but what, except a spirit of wilful misre-
presentation, con iduce any person to hold out
the repulse of an attacking party on such a place
as a defeat of Mina's army ? There are still some
insurgent bands in the frontier provinces ; but
let them once be completely cut off from all ex-
pectation of foreign assistance, and they will
cease to exist. It is probable the lingering hope
of aid by an armed intervention on the part
of France will soon completely expire; for the
most fanatical of the French Papers are gra-
dually dropping their warlike anticipations, and
state various facts which tend to diminish the
suspicion of a hostile intention on the part of the
Government. Thus, in the Journal de Toulouse
of the 18th, it is announced that the idea of esta-
blishing a park of artillery in that city had been
abandoned, Rad that the works for a bridge of
boats, which was to have been prepared, were
ordered to be suspended.

[MORNING HERALD.]

Accounts from Paris of the 424th arrived yes-
terday. The depression of the French Funds
still continued, and there appears no change in
the aspect of affairs which could remove any por-
tion of the uncertainty hitherto existing. The com-
plaints of those interested in the funds particu-
larly, and of the mercantile interest in general,
appear to be warmly expressed against the French
Government for its mysterious reserve—it is evi-
dent through the Journals. But we suspect the
French Government can hardly helpit. A divided
Cabinet, acted upon, at the same time, by power-
ful and conflicting foreign influences, cannot
easily come to a final resolution upon a question
of vital importance. Perhaps it may be said that
the first question to be solved is not that of peace
or war—but which of two parties in the Councils
of the King of France shall maintain possessson
of the helm of Administration. As to the du-
ration of this contest, or its issue, it were as idle
to consult the Paris Journals as to cast the nati-
vities and consult the horoscopes of the contend-
ing parties. There is one thing worth attention
—it is, that even if M. de Villele should be
forced out, yet the Chamber of Deputies may
theck the warlike ardour of the triumphant
party. It is true, the late elections .(of a fifth
only of the Chamber) were decidedly in favour
of the Ultra influence; but though many of these
gentlemen may be ready enough to vote for

arbitrary invasions of the Charter and of the ge-
neral principles of freedom, it is not at all so cer-
tain that they would be equally ready to support
a war, which would impose upon their estates a
heavy burden.

[MORNING CHRONICLE.]
The Ultra Papers of Paris rave as furiously
as ever ; the French Funds are on the decline ;
and the English Courier is nearly as warlike in
its tone as any of its French allies. The Courier
states, that" nothing was decisively settled when
the Duke of Wellington left Paris ; not that
there was any difference of opinion with re-
spect to the interference in the affairs of
Spain, but with respect to the mode and
time." Now, what is meant by mode and time
of interference ? To demand that the person
of the King shall be respected, is a mode of in-
terference ; but that is not a mode of interference
likely to lead to a war. The Spaniards neither
intend now nor did they ever intend to attempt
any thing against the King or any of the Royal
Family. Indeed they could not possibly obtain
a King more suitable to their wants at this time
than Ferdinand, by whom it is not likely that
they will ever be deceived. A successor might
obtain from them more confidence without being
more deserving of it. Does The Courier mean
to say that by the mode of interference he means
that war is to be the result of a refusal on the part
of the Spaniards to modify their Constitution ? As
we know very well that the Spanish constitution-
alists would feel that they dishonoured the Spa- I
nish name, if they altered their Constitution in the
slightest particular, in obedience to the demands
of any foreigners, the irresistible conclusion would
be that war was inevitable. What a figure in
that case he would make his Majesty's Ministers
cut l Ile would have us believe that all this,
bustling, all this negotiating with France, was
without rational object. Any man of common sa-
gacity must have known the answer which Spain
would make to any demand of this sort; and to ne-
gociate for a peace dependent on the compliance
with such a demand, was to employ the time very
foolishly indeed. But it will be said, perl-2aps,
that a higher ground was taken—that France was
admonished not to interfere at all with Spain,
and that she treated the admonition with con-
tempt. The Courier, then, would have us be-
lieve either that Ministers entered on a very ab-
surd negotiation, or that the French have set
them at defiance.