The Sun.
London, England, 1831-08-06 00:00:00

the acquisition of political knowledge ; It had also
much of the coarse, unpolished vituperation which
adds a zest to the flavour of tobacco and punch in
the oratorical schools of the Crown and Anchor. Man
has been oftentimes recommended to draw lessons of
experience from the animal creation, and it may be that
the example of " the rats leaving a sinking ship" has not
been lost upon the Member for Westminster. He foresees
that good taste and argumentation will soon be abandoned ;
so he gives his tongue a little practice in the arts necessary
fur eminence in the next Parliament, and sits down with
Cicero in his heart and Cobbett on his lips. But Lord
Althorp's recommendation to silence was not, we believe,
lest gentlemen should express themselves badly, but lest
they should express themselves at all. They were "to
look daggers, but speak none." This reminds us of an
original whom we once saw. " When I am dressed,"
said he, " in my best pantaloons and black coat I am fit
company for any man ; but when I open my mouth it's
all over with me." We respectfully hint the same to
various individuals of his Majesty's Government.—Morn-
ing Post.
The questions put to Ministers last night by Sir R.
Vyvyan and Mr. Croker led to explanations which leave
no doubt as to the course pursued by Holland with re-
spect to the armistice between that Power and the new
kingdom of Belgium. The questions were, "whether
Government had received any notification that the armis-
tice was broken, and whether the communication had
been made by the Dutch Government itself, or by our own
Minister, Sir Charles Bagot? " It was stated, in answer,
that the armistice was broken, and that the know-
ledge of the tact was communicated to our Ministers
by Sir Charles Bigot, and not by the Dutch Go-
vernment. The Chancellor of the Exchequer added—
It was with the greatest possible surprise his Majesty's
Government had received the statement from our Am-
bassador, Sir Charles Bagot, of the rupture of the armis-
tice by the orders of the King of Holland. The more
so, because at that moment an Ambassador from that
kingdom had reached this country for the purpose of ne-
gotiating here on the subjects in controversy between that
King and Belgium. The Minister of Holland had even
had an ioterview on the subject of that negotiation with
the Noble Lord, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs,
during which no disclosure took place as to the order
of the Dutch Government." So much fur the fair dealing
of our ancient Ally the King of Holland. He determines
to break the armistice, and declines to send us any intelli-
gence upon the subject. He sends us an Ambassador in-
deed, but an Ambassador without an embassy—or, what
is still worse, an Ambassador with a mock embassy, cal-
culated to mislead this Government by giving it a false
impression of the relations subsisting between the two
countries. We do not profess to be sufficient adepts in
the diplomatic art to understand what rational purpose it
could serve to conceal for a few hours or a few days, if it
were practicable, an occurrence which must so soon be
known all over Europe. It would be easy to imagine eir-
cumstences under which temporary concealment might
serve a purpose, but they are not the circumstances which
exist at present between Holland and this country. As
the case stands, the trick appears inexplicable—inexpli-
cable in every point of view, except as a comment upon
the duplicity and folly of the Power with which it
originated. War between Holland and Belgium may now
be considered as renewed, and war, once kindled, is as
infectious as the plague or the cholera. If the struggle
were to be confined to Holland and Belgium alone, we
should have little doubt as to the result. The Belgians
have rehearsed the drama of victory too recently, and too
well, to lie put out of their parts by a set of Dutch
mountebanks. The Belgians, who could beat them when
they stood alone, unrecognised, and discouraged, will not
submit to be beaten by them now that they are recognised,
foetered, and protected by England and France. But
there is little likelihood that the Dutch and Belgians will
be left to settle the dispute themselves. The last accounts
inform us that France is already on the march, and our
own Government wcs occupied yesterday in discussions
respecting the subject of which there can be but little
hesitation. War, therefore—unless the decisive co-ope-
ration of England and France should avert it—war will,
once more spread its horrors over the face of the civilised
world; What renders the prospect more awful is the im-
probability that the King of Holland, or any man in his
senses, would act as he is acting, if it was not for some
secret understanding with other Powers. The suspense
which hangs over the fate of Poland would seem to come
in aid of this opinion. But let those Governments (if
there be any such) who secretly feed the flames of war,
look to the consequences upon their own stability. If a
general European war should arise again, despotism can
never come conqueror out of such a field in the present
disposition of Europe. Let those who provoke such an
experiment look to it. The whole Continent—the whole
world, Lae been kept iu a state of excitement by the mur-
derous perseverance of Russia against the Poles. That
contest has engendered feelings amongst the people of
Europe which the despots will find working nearer home
than they imagine. It is one thing to plan the game, and
another to play it. They may intend great changes, all of
them favourable to their own views; but when the change
comes it may find them in very different circumstances
from those who regulate its operations. A few slays will
determine whether the decisive step taken by France, and
likely to be countenanced, if not followed up, by England,
will have the effect of preserving peace. If not, the world
must prepare for one of the most eventful wars (in the
true meaning of the expression) of which history has
left us any record.—Morobig Herald.
In our comments upon the policy of the King of the
French, the Courier says, that we have not made suffi-
cient allowance for the difficulties of his situation. We
believe most of the difficulties in which he is now in-
volved are of his own creating, His policy has been
crooked, temporising, and weak ; and who can be
surprised that its results are vexation and embarrass-
ment? He has taken great pains indeed to obtain
that flashy popularity which is equally ostentatious and
evanescent, hut he has ma le little or no exertion
to secure the steady, enlightened confidence of the
country. Are proofs demanded ?—here they are. He
Las treated the people of Paris to abundance of show
and spectacle; but he baa not given the French na,
tion those in-titutions which he promised, and which
their political condition absolutely require. It is
true the inhabitants of Paris are fend of speeteele and pa-
geantry ; but they were treated to a great deal of both
tinder the old regime, and they were not satisfied. They
wanted something more. They were not conttnt, like
the degenerate Roman populace of the falling empire, with
the paueln et circenses of the Imperial bounty. Having
achieved a revolution, under circumstances which reflect
equal lustre on their bravery and moderation, are they to
be led back to the crib of a master, tike certain unreflect-
ing animals that are pleased with bondage, if his trappings
be gay and gilded ? If the French character is charge-
able with frivolity, is it the put of a wise ruler to make
the people still more frivolous, by perpetually en-
deavouring to govern them through tho senses, in-
stead of addressing himself to their understand-
ings ? Is it worthy of a King to lay aside the
sober cares of State to distinguish himself as chief show-
man of a nation ? The flags of Ulm should have been left
to the theatres. It ws.s as bad taste as it was bad judgment
to disinter those memories of the humiliation of Laistria,
after the French Government had allowed, in violation al,
their owe solemn pledge, the Austrian, armies to trample
on the independent states of Italy, and crush, on the soil of
ancient freedom, the prinriple which had given to France
a triumph, and to Louis Philip a throne. We said the
King of the French laid aside the soberr cares of Govern.
merit ; and, we may :sold that e find the utmost
dexterity in political Intrigue will prove but a pees
substitute fur the eaercise statesman-like talent
and kingly wisdom. His fugitive Administrations,
which " come like shadows, so depart," prove that
his political principles have not the character of
stability. One wise and substantial labour of Govern-
ment would have done more for the consolidation of his
power and the discomfiture of the enemies of his dynasty
than all the refined intricacy of courtly manoeuvre which
has distinguished his reign. We mean giving the French
people, instead of a mock reform, a system of representa-
tion adequate to the wants, and worthy of the grandeur
and resources of the country. What, too, can be said
of the crusade which the law officers of the King of
the French have carried on against the Press, and
against all freedom of political opinions, ever s:nse his
accession to the throne? Have not juries marked their
sense of this unnatural crusade on the past of a Citi-
zen King by invariably returning verdicts of act uiltal?
Has not the Kiug
of the French been all g more
afraid of incurring the displeasure of the despots- of the
Continent than of disappointing the hopes of his own
subjects ? It is said that his maxim is " Peace at any
price;" but peace at the price of the interests or the
honour of a nation ii not what a wise statesman covets.
The Government that avows a secede
sear, of war can
taking refuge uuder te " aed shield of
cowardice" long continue at peace. The King at* the
French would do better to is re less alarm about
foreign war, and to he more afraid of civil commotion.
There can be no doubt the reYel.kitiop in Poland
arrested the march of
nt bad prooi of Oitasian legions ,uporr revolu.
tionized France. Tlid Fret`
~a4overnine
this ; yeti it left the Poles to their fate. If they have
not, aftei's4safts, six menthe' conflict with thOreq,,intic