The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-01 00:00:00

L'` Until%

LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1849.

The re-action on the Continent looks seriously as if
it was going to re-act. There were reasons which
made the first re-action begin sooner and go further
than would otherwise have been possible; and under
such circumstances a counter re-action in duo time is
a necessary consequence.

The causes of the first retrograde movement were
the proceedings of the Socialist portion of the Repub-
licans in France, backed, as related to this country, by
the parallel demonstrations of the Chartists in Eng-
land, and what was called the " rebellion" in Ireland.
Both in France and England, this was sufficient for
a long time to paralyze the action of the friends of
political liberty, and throw the preponderance into the
scale of their opponents.
Cholera and small-pox wear out or yield to vacci-
nation, and so will the disease of panic re-action. ,
The returns from the Continent, with the exception of
here and there a lazsr-house under some impudent
despot who thrashes his subjects for saying they have
not enough, present a scale of progress strongly mi-
nistering to such a view.
It will be very pleasant when so much of the
Millennium comes, as shall abolish war. But for the
present, human affairs are greatly dependent on the
success of armies. If th• llungarian hussar can
beat the Austrian cuirassier, the tide of political
liberty is likely to roll in again on Europe.
It would be a waste of words to'attempt to prove
the deep interest which highly improved nations like
France and England, have in such a consummation.
There are parties in both countries, who loudly
maintain the contrary. Stronger than in proportion
to their numbers, and more active than in proportion
to their strength, they make themselves heard in the
public councils, and bully the moderate and not over
energetic men, in whom the conduct of national
affairs is lodged.
In England the truth of this is open on inspection.
The agents of every great and every little despot in
Europe, are seated on the opposition benches, and
crow as if they were masters of the game. In
France the despotic element does not assume so pal-
pable a form in the Chamber; but it stirs more in
the provinces, in ways which in England would serve
no end.

That the existing Government either in England
or France should in their hearts do other than wish
well to continental liberty, is what none will believe
till proved. But there are many who think those
Governments might improve their estimate of the
maximum of advantage it would be possible for them
to compass.
Nobody can believe the French Government wants
to see a Russian army at Chambery, or an Austrian
at Genoa. Its natural desire must be to see the
restoration of the Rhenish provinces ; which will be
the reasonable reward of assistance to the liberal
cause. Nobody believes the existing English Go-
vernment, dependent as it happily is on popular

support, can want to renew the times when a Minister
told the House of Commons, that in the actual state of
Europe there was no danger from the popular element
in England, meaning clearly, that the Cossacks were
within call.

If it is settled then, that both France and England
are substantially interested in the discomfiture of the
arbitrary powers, the next thing is to look. for the
joints of the harness through which those powers can
be reached.

The maxim of the English absolutists is, that a
German merchant knows nothing, an Italian advocate
knows nothing, all this kind of man is to be put en-
tirely out of count. The man who knows, is an Aus-
trian or Russian peasant, beaten with a stick by a still
more knowing corporal, and commanded through a
long string of hierarchies, by a Prince with an unpro-
nounceable name, who is knowledge or the daughter of
Jupiter herself. The Gallician insurrection is under-
stood to be aiming at the weak point In this. The
peasants say, they will not go to be cut down by the
Hungarians with whom they have no quarrel. Hold
to that, stout peasants, and you may change the face
of Europe and your own. The move of the Liberals
on this, should be to hold out through Europe the
abolition or commutation of the conscription, except
fur a landwehr.

In Russia there is another sore place still. It is
DOW some fifty years since an eminent traveller and
member of the University of Cambridge in
his day, let out the perilous secret that there
are two Russias, or if 'it be more correct,
the Cossack is not Russian, and is the better
material of the two. Here then is the place
for a grand pensee ; look forward to the division of
the thing of iron and clay called the Russian Empire.
The men are provided by nature, who are to be the
instruments of doing it. Till then, every free man
in Europe will taste the Russian's font in his soup.
In Russia Proper too, there are strange elements at
work. It almost looks absurd, but it has been de-
clared over and over, that republican principles are
at work in the Russian army. How they came
there, or what they feed upon, it is not easy to
assign ; but it is enough if they are there.
Great outcry will be made in some quarters against
such dissociating principles. It is probable our English
Jacobites took the same view of the opposition of our
forefathers to the union of France and Spain.
Men and communities are justified in promoting
union where it is for their interest, and resisting it
where not. The distinctions of race and language
count for much, though not for everything. The
union of Scotland with England, and of Alsace with
France, are instances where these distinctions have
been got over ; but there are others where they may
be made useful to divide. It would be preposterous
to try to separate England into all the races which
went to make up DE FOE'S " true-born English-
man ;" but it does not follow that the principle must
never be appealed to.
All these are cards for wise men to play their game
with, as PROVIDENCE shall give the blessing. The
office of an island fortress like our own, is to be a
grand citadel and laboratory of hope.

Before the anniversary dinner takes place to-
morrow, in aid of that noble institution at Brompton,
the Hospital for Pulmonary Consumption, we wuuld
yet once more direct public attention to it, as to one
of the most humane, and one of the most interesting
of the eleemosynary establishments of the metropolis.
Remembering that the new building was only opened
in the Nevember of 1846, and knowing the muni-
ficence with which the project has been forwarded by
voluntary contributions, we are conscious that the hos-
pital is its own best appeal to the benevolence of the
multitude. Yet we are solicitous to enforce that ap-
peal by our allusions, and to render it still more au-
dible, and still more persuasive by repetition—seeing,
as we do, that larger assistance than what has been
hitherto afforded is becoming every day more and
more requisite.
Four sources of aid to the Hospital for Consump•
tion are even now open ; and we are happy to learn
from the seventh annual report, just published by the
committee, that those sources are in a thriving state
of development. One is the General Fund; another
is the Building Fund ; another is the Building Exten-
sion Fund ; and another is the Rose Charity Fund.
Between the April of 1847 and the April of 1848, the
receipts of the first amounted to 4,6031. 173.9 d.; those
of the second to 3,2.02/. 53. 5d.; those of the third to
162/. 155.; and those of the fourth to 6841. 143. 6d.—
including in the two former instances the
balance already remaining in the hands of the
bankers. After the entire expenditure of the
year, there was then left in reserve out of
the General Fund and out of the Rose Charity
Fund, not more than 524/. Bs. 6d. altogether. This,
as an evidence of the pecuniary prospects of the
establishment, although by no means discouraging,
is sufficient to show the necessity for some further
exertion towards the appropriate completion of what
has been so generously commenced.
That the moat sanguine expectations of the com-
mittee will be more than realised, we have reason to
hope, knowing the high estimation in which the
charity is deservedly held by the public, and aware
of the extensive preparations which have al-
ready been made for the anniversary dinner,
which will take place tomorrow, at the Al-
bion Tavern, Aldersgate•street. On glancing
over the list of stewards inserted by ourselves in
another portion of this evening's impression, it will be
seen that the occasion presents other auguries of suc-
cess beyond those of the Chairman being a celebrated
author and an eloquent Member of the Legislature.
It will be seen that, under the patronage of her Most
Gracious MAJESTY and of His Royal Highness the
PRINCE CONSORT, the hospital is supported by many
iplelurssotrnisouwshobsey
namesreputation.
are
Besideseithe
reminseenvetrbayl roafnkthoer
Lords temporal and spiritual of the realm, the cata-
loguee
of stewards enumerates many distinguished
members of the learned professions, and the represen-
tatives in Parliament of Marylebone, of Huntingdon,
of Suffolk, of North Essex, of Lincolnshire (parts
of Lindsey), of Andover, of Dorchester, of Ox-
ford University, of Eye, of Westminster, and of
Whitby. Not the least attractive names recurring
in the list of Stewards are two renowned in historical
literature, the names of HENRY HALLAM and of
FRANCOIS GUIZOT. We are informed that the interest
to take part to-morrow in the anniversary dinner is
so apparent that the tickets hare been eagerly pur-
chased, and that it has even become necessary to
increase the number of seats in the spacious apart-
ment at the Albion, by the construction of another
gallery for the fair spectators.
Earnestly and fervently we wish the undertaking
Godspeed 1

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
There was a large crowd assembled in the neighbour-
hood of the Porte St. Denis on Sunday, but no cries
were raised, and no attempt made to disturb the public
peace; in fact, it was merely a congregation of objectless
Sunday idlers. It, however, afforded an excuse to Gene-
ral CHINGARNIER to make a military display, and to
disturb the National Guards from their dinners, but
when they arrived on the scene of action the crowd had
peaceably dispersed.
M. DE SALYANDY, ex-Minister of Public Instruction
to Louis PHILIPPE, has arrived in Paris.
The French Government received on Sunday evening,
it is said, intelligence of the fall of Palermo.
BOURSE—PAnts, MONDAY, APRIL 30.
THREE O'CLOCIL—The French Funds opened this
morning considerably below the closing prices of Satur-
day; but on its being known that Sicily had surren-
dered, they rose rapidly, and closed 15 centimes better.
The news of the defeat of the Austrians did not affect
the prices of the Funds, although the rumour was cur-
rent that the Hungarians had entered Vienna. Ex-
change on London (30 days), 25 30; ditto (90 days),
25 17i.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE. APRIL 30.
Boulogne and Amiens, 8_
—.East 31,(i— Northern
anege,
of Francs, 111,4 —Namur

SPAIN.
Madrid journals of the 25th ultimo have arrived.
CHRISTINA and her husband had left for Aranjuex,
and would be followed by the QUEEN on the 30th.
MADRID BOLSA, APRIL, 15.—Five per Cents. 11
paper{ Three per Cents., 41 for account. Exchange
on London, 50 40 money.

APPROACHING MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. We
understand that the contemplated matrimonial alliance
between Lord Foley, Captain of the Corps of tho Gen-
tlemen-at-Arms, and the Lady Mary Fitzalan Howard,
eldest daughter of the Duke of Norfolk, Master of the
Horse, is definitively fixed to take place the second week
in June. The Noble Lord is in his fortieth year; the
Noble Bride is several years his junior.

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