The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-28 00:00:00

MR. BULWER TO M. ISTURITZ.
Madrid, October 3, 1846.
Sir,—Your Excellency begins your note of the 29th
ultimo by assuring me that the opinion of her Catholic
Majesty's Government was not influenced, and that the
decision of the Cortes was not prejudiced by the idea that
the notes I had addressed to you only contained my own
personal sentiments.
I certainly had reason to think that your Excellency
must have been convinced from the first that I had due
authority for what I stated ; and while I was surprised
to hear it asserted in the Congress by her Catholic Ma-
jesty'sow bnliunpiostrel rtshe
,thiamt
plnhrtaadntmseurbejleyctextn which I am re-
pressed notions or
my
re-
ferring, a ri
declarations ng, I a still
wasmore
made
surprisednahnnty object, an now at learningand
thath t
it was neither expected nor intended that it should pro-
duce any effect upon the vote of that assembly.
Your Excellency, at the same time that you reject the
right of her Majesty's Government to make any objec-
tions to the marriage of her Royal Highness Donna
Luisa with the Duke de Montpensier, states in friendly
language that this marriage is not intended to grant any
any political
political
influencep u r
posteo
;a
andny f3o.roeuirg nExantealtlen,n noru alsoto
(wfurtherhila
pointing out to me the great resources of the Spanish
monarchy-, in terms already used by her Majesty's
Secretary for Foreign Affairs)asks me whether it can be
supposed that such a monarchy is likely to fall into de-
pendence upon any other state, how great soever it might
be ? Now the history of the past generally furnishes an
aoristhe
gfruetautreer,
stateand I
nowam tnot,hen I
sheconfess,
in
awarethe
that
m
Charles 111. or Charles IV., when her vast pos-
sessions
e Spainein the New World still remained to her, and
etnopfl
when a proud and valiant navy kept those splendid arse-
nals in busy occupation, which I have but lately seen
mouldering in solitary decay. Yet Spain, at the periods
of which I have been speaking, was in dependence upon
a foreign State, dragged unprofitably into its wars, sad
charged with the penalty of its defeats. Indeed, your
Excellency furnishes me with a more eloquent and
ample reply to your question, than any words of mine
could present. Great, indeed, was my surprise, on
reading in a sentence almost immediately subsequent to
that in which you proclaim the impossibility of
this country being fatally attached to the fortunes of
another some remarkable words to this effect :
"The past and present centuries teach us lessons
not easily to be forgotten. The loss of our mighty
colonial empire, the loss of Gibraltar. that almost im-
pregnable fortress, the more retent destruction of our
navy during war, and the secession of Mexico and Peru
from the mother state during peace, are all recollections"
Associated with what ? Why with that very foreign
influence, that very preponderance of France in Spanish
councils, which the wisest statesman of that time de-
plored, prophesying its consequences with the same
assurance,, and unhappily with the same ill success that
I have intruded upon your Excellency my own equally
attract if less eloquent warnings. The alliance of
families, the personal feelings of courts, then unfor-
tunately governed and misguided the destinies of your
great nation ; and with what security can the hope be
now cherished, that this will not again occur ? At this
moment I see the hand of a young princess of fourteen
years of age, disposed of in a manner contrary to
the earnest representations of at least one great
European power, whose friendship towards Spain is
well known in history : and whose amity might
yet be worth cultivating. I see this marriage secretly
prepared, abruptly announced, hurried with incon-
ceivable rapidity to its conclusion ; it revives the con-
flicting pretensions of dormant treaties ; it threatens
Spain with the removal of her civil wars; it agitates and
dissolves the present happy and peaceful relations of
Europe. These considerations are disregarded. The
delay of 12 mouths in the marriage of a princess of this
tender age is deemed too great a concession for compos-
ing these important interests. I ask, why is this mea-
sure
persevered in? Why are all weighty and opposing
reasons pushed indignantly aside? W hat is the motive
which decides, what is the cause which precipitates this
apparently unpropitious union? I can see no other in
view, I have heard no other alleged, than that the two
courts of France and Spain have determined that it
should take place on a particular day, at a particular
hour, in a particular manner; and that, therefore, as the
Spanish and French courts have thus decided, so it must
be. How then can I, in reporting these facts to my Go-
vernment, tell it to be tranquil; that the influence of
courts in this country is gone by; and that the alliances
which bind and cement them together are of no national
importance, and will never have a preponderating influ-
ence on grave questions of national interest ? lam
aware that facts will now soon put an end to argument;
h
but in closing this discussion. I cannot elpexares stng
the conviction, that in spite of the great abilitywith
which it has been conducted by your Excellency, and
the little talent I have brought to it,
impartial judges
will consider that it has been the lot of the British
your Excellency, to whom as her
of Spain against
their defence would, as you
Catholic Majesty's Minister,
bl entrusted.—l avail, Sae.,
justly observe, be more suits y
BTJ
L LWER.
Minister to defend the true interests and the indepen-
dence

ROYAL AETILLERY.--WOOLWICIL JAN. 26.—
Major H. W. Askwith's company of Royal Artillery (3d
company, sth battallion), leaves Woolwich this morning in
one of the Waterman's steamers for Portsmouth, old Nine
Elms, to relieve Captain Wilford's company (3d coriwany,
1 battalion), stationed at that town. A detachment will also
leave for Devonport. A batch of 100 recruits have been sent
from Lisburn, Ireland, by Lieutenant Clarke, the recruiting
officer at that station, and are expected to join at Woolwich
ffi a
few days. Lieutenant• Colonel Dowse
wich on the Ist of February, to assume the command of the
Royal Artillery at Ballincolig, Ireland. 'The present forage
stores of the Royal Artillery are to be converted into barrack
rooms for the accommodation of the troops. and new forage
stores are to be erected outside the barracks on a piece cf
ground belonging to the Board of Ordnance, in Artillery -
place, opposite the North Arch.
The Journal du Havre announces the arrival in
that ,port.of 35,01,30 barrels of flour by eight vessels from the
United States. This,
. it says, forms part of 100,000 barrels
that have been shipped in the United States for this country.