The Sun.
London, England, 1825-09-20 00:00:00

[BRITISH PRESS.]

Spain has at length reached that crisis of des-
peration at which we long since foretold it would
ultimately arrive. The only cause for wonder
would have been, had it turned out otherwise.
The military occupation of this ill-fated king-
dom by France had no other object, from the
beginning, but to uphold the sway of beneficed
bigots and monks, and to enable his Catholic
Majesty more effectually to trample upon the
Constitutionalists, to whom he owed the preser-
vation of his throne. He succeeded in restoring
for a season the empire of this heartless and
infatuated priesthood, and the chance seems to
be, that his head may yet sweep a scaffold's
dust, as the reward of his perfidy. The pre-
text under which France Justified the sending of
any army into Spain was, that the state of things
in that kingdom was "of a nature to disturb
the Governments of Europe." " You will give"—
said the French Government, in the dispatch
to the Count de la Garde, its then Minister
at Madrid—" You will give to the Cabinet at
Madrid the assurance that the succours of every
kind which France can dispose of in favour of
Spain will be offered to her for the purpose of
insuring her happiness and increasing her pro-
sperity." How does this wretched and hypo-
critical cant pall upon the ear when we look to
the frightful condition to which the Spanish na-
tion is reduced, anti trace the whole of it to the
hostile introduction of this very army, which she
was impudently told, in the face of all Europe,
was to succour her distress, and to secure her
felicity ! Ferdinand has every thing to fear, at
this moment, both for his own and for his kirig-
dom's fate. He has been the ruthless spoiler of
its fortunes, and lie will pay dearly for it. He
has raised a spirit which he cannot quell. The
Jesuits will either subdue him to their purpose,
or sacrifice him to it. They beset every footstep
of his path, and he has not long to grapple with
his destiny. Even the French troops themselves
dread these famished blood-hounds of the Inqui-
sition, from whose vengeance they are only safe
while they have muskets on their shoulders.—
" One hundred thousand Frenchmen," said the
imbecile speech of Louis XVIII., " commanded
by a Prince of my family—by him, whom my
heart delights to call my son—are ready to march,
invoking the Ged of St. Louis, for the sake of pre-
serving the throne of Spain toe descendant of Henry
IV.—of saving that fine kingdom from its ruin, and
of reconciling it with Europe." And to crown
all this varouring—to give the finishing touch to
this impious mockeryfit was added, " Let Fer-
dinand VII. be free to give his people institu-
tions which they cannot hold but from him, and
which, by securing ther tranquillity, would
dissipate ,the just inquietude of France. Hos-
tilities shall cease from that moment. I make,
Gentlemen, before you, a solemn eugagement on
this point." Is Charles X. in a condition to fulfil
this compact ? Is it even competent to him to
confirm the sceptre in the hands of this descend-
ant of Henry IV ? There is surely enough be-
fore him to show that superstition is not emblaz-
oned by heraldry, and that despotism cannot be
ennobled by descent. Certain we are, that both
his Most Christian Majesty and his Catholic re-
lative have, by this time, found out that they
have missed their road, and that they have wan-
dered into a path of danger, out of which they
know not how with safety to trace back their
steps.

[MORNING HERALD.]

There is a good deal of speculation about the
probable dissolution of Parliament during the
present autumn ; but the public will perceive
that it is ch'efly confined to some truly indepen-
dent boroughs, the electors in which have pecu-
liarly strong interests in such an event. Their pure
love for the Constitution, and honest desire to
stick by the Elective Franchise, naturally enough
put them on the alert to discover those persons to
represent them, who, by the " length of the'?
purses," can afford to be independent. Such is
their anxiety to IN thus duly represented, after
the accustomed manners and forms well known
to the electors and candidates, that in many in-
stances six, seven, and eight persons, in neat
little paragraphs in the rural papers " are men-
tioned, we understand, as being likely to become
candidate(' at the next General Election, Mr.
Pascoe positively going out after the present Par.
liament ;" and those brief and simple on Bits are
copied into the London Journals, and in many
cases afford some of the parties named the first
information that they are " likely" to become can-
didates for the places mentioned. But what then ?
The " hint" must somehow or another be given,
or the Cincinnatuses of our times would remain in
their retreats for ever, in spite of the conviction
of others of their abundant qualifications to act
for the country. Then again—opposition brings
forth talent ; besides, to have only two candi-
dates where two members must be returned,
would seem as if nobody cared about repre
senting them ; so that four or five solicitors (of
votes) in the field wonderfully enhance the
value of the honour of representing them,

Farther—numerous candidates occasion numer-
ous meetings, and necessarily require the aid
of the most experienced attorneys and agents ;
and' the strenuous exertions made by them,
personally to see and compliment each elector ex
necessitate rei, and, for the sustaining of exhaust-
ed nature, render "Breakfasts" and " Dinners"
indispensable. All these things considered, the
public will be able to perceive how naturally the
present bustle arises, and how necessarily it fol-
lows a due regard to existing interests; but, at
the same time, however laudable it may be in its
way, it will also be inferred that such bustle is by
no means to be taken as proof that any of
the disinterested persons going about col-
lecting candidates, manufacturing meetings,
davising dinners, and forgetting the fees and
the fee-book, know any thing about the real
intentions of Government as to the question of
dissolving the Parliament. But that question is
likely to be soon set at rest; at least, if a disso-
lution be now resolved on, it will soon be
known—for at no distant period, at the latter
end of this month, or the beginning of October,
there will be a full Cabinet Meeting of the
Ministers, according to arrangements made
after the last Session. Some of the Ministers
are already moving towards the metropolis, pre-
paratory to such Meeting. We should not be
surprised if the dissolution were not to take place
till at least next spring ; that would afford op-
portunity for a short Session, and another and a
popular nibble at the Assessed Taxes ; but,
without any dread as to the results, we should
not like to witness a dissolution now, because the
country would, most likely, be stunned with the
senseless "No Popery" howl. By the spring,
the warm feelings of triumph on such question
would have usefully cooled.