The Sun.
London, England, 1822-12-28 00:00:00

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SOLEM QUIS DICERE FALSUM AUDEAT

LONDON,
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1822.

The French Papers received since our last do,
not contain any intelligence of importance re-
specting the great question of Peace or War.—
OUR. PRIVATE INFORMATION, HOW-
EVER, IS DECISIVELY PACIFIC. One
of our Contemporaries announced yesterday;
on " high authority from Paris," that " thei
King of FRANCE is decided for Peace,"—that
" even the Duke of MONTMORENCY, the' sup-
posed Champion of the war party, professes to
have no warlike intentions,"—and that " the
KING and the Princes of the Blood had yielded
to the reasonings of the Duke of WELLINGTON:7
We anticipated this intelligence so far back as the
13th instant, having stated in THE SUN of that
.day, that " the Duke of WELLINGTON is upori
the most intimate terms with his French M
JESTY, who has expressed in strong terms his in-
tendon to maintain peace in his old age." Our
Readers are aware that we have since adhered
to the opinion that the greater probability was in
favour of the continuance of peace, and that
we have ascribed the pacific disposition which
had been communicated to the French Govern--
ment, chiefly to the influence of England, exer-
cised through the Duke of WELLINGTON, to
whose high character and consummate address.,-
under the direction of the spirited,.enlightenedr
and truly British policy of Mr. CANNING, Europe
is indebted for the prospect of continued repose-

The Monitenr, the Official Paper of the French
Government, has extracted several articles frotr,
THE SUN of the 20th instant, and amongst others
the following passage from our leading article of
that day :

" We regret to say that the gloom which was produced br
the rumours of yesterday is not yet removed ; and the renewed
confidence with which the hope of continued peace was enter'
tained, has in consequence somewhat abated. It is obviefuo'
that in the feverish state.of politics much must depend orl
the prudence and forbearance of the Spaniards themselves-
The first aspect of affairs, after the return of the Duke de
11losTmoRENcr to Paris- from Verona, was so deeded-11
warlike, that it is possible that the Spaniards, for the
believing hostilities to be unavoidable, may hoe'
been betrayed into expressions or conduct which the'
French Government would he unable to brook, without ut.,
terly compromising its own dignity, and all claim to respect, '
We trust that this precipitate imprudence has been avoided 00
the part of Spain.; and that France has been furnished with no
new motive for war, at a time when pacific Councils seem to
have gained the ascendancy in her Cabinet."

We consider that the insertion of the preced-
ing paragraph by the Monitor,. is of considerable
importance ; for, the unfavourable rumours to
which we alluded merely regarded the alleged con'
ductof MINA towards the French Army of Obser.
vation, and the reported desertion of two regiments
from that army, and their subsequent junction with
the Spaniards. These rumours, it has since appeared,
were false. Th© Moniteur, therefore, by adopt'
ing our article, indirectly admits, that in the
decision of the question of Peace or War, " much
must depend," not on any pre-determination °
the 'French Government, but, "on the poi'
dence and forbearance of the Spaniards thrill'
selves." By the insertion of our article, tool
The Moniteur may be considered as joining with
us in the expression of a hope that the Spaniard°
will avoid all imprudent precipitation in their
duct, and that " France has been furnished
with no new motive for War, at a time when
pacific Councils seem to have gained the
ascendancy in her Cabinet !" It is difficult to
imagine any motive which could induce tb°
Moniteur to quote these expressions from Of