The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-25 00:00:00

are seldom taken until some fearful catastrophe has
happened, by which the public are awakened to a
due sense of the carelessness and apathy with which
they have regarded matters which he slightest con-
sideration must have shown wou.d inevitably lead
to some such calamity. Day by day we
have witnessed the seeds of disease and
death disseminated from decaying and putrid sub-
stances, from stagnant cesspools, from overcrowded
churchyards, deficient sewerage, inadequate ventila-
tion, and the various other causes by which our bills
of mortality are increased, and yet there are to be
found persons who object to any legislation on the
subject, or to the adoption of those unitary measures
by which the health and the lives of their fellow-
citizens may be preserved. The state of the river
steam-boats has long attracted attention, the necessity
of an adequate authority being established for the
conservancy of the River—the great highway along
which so much of our commerce is borne, on which
traffic to so vast an extent is carried on, and so
many thousands are daily passing, has been uni-
versally admitted ; but still little, if anything
has been done. True it is, there are laws
against the over- crowding of vessels, but they are
practically inoperative. No person is appointed to see
that the regulations are strictly observed, that the
boats and engines are properly constructed, and fit to
be entrusted with the lives of our fellow-creatures.
Like the railways, the mines, and the collieries, they
are left entirely in the hands of those who choose to
embark in a pecuniary speculation, and human
life and limb may be jeopardized to gra-
tify the cupidity of those who only seek
their own individual gain, and who are totally regard-
less of every consideration that interferes therewith,
or by which their actual outlay may be increased.
Any punishment inflicted after the occurrence of an
accident, whether criminally to the under•agents and
subordinates employed, or in the shape of heavy da-
mages to the proprietors, will be quite insufficient to
provide a remedy for the evil. The man who will
deliberately hazard his own safety, for example, by
tying down the valves, as in the present case, by
going into a suspected part of a mine without using
the safety-lamp, by over-crowding the boat en-
trusted to his charge, or by any other species of rash
and reckless conduct, will be little influenced by any
additional penalty be may be condemned to. The
proprietor will balance the increased risk of possible
loss by the certainty of present profit, and,
until too late, they will disregard what may
be obvious to even a casual observer. Habit
will reconcile them to the danger that is constantly
occurring ; they will slumber contentedly on the
volcano. But should they be permitted to involve
others in similar peril ? Most certainly not. Our
present Government has shown that it is desirous to
introduce measures for the preservation of the public
health. Let it also regard the public safety ; and
wherever a private speculation must necessarily in-
volve the safety of any portion of the public, let such
a surveillance be enforced as will necessarily lead to
the adoption of every reasonable precaution and
safeguard.

By the re-establishment of the Salique law in Spain
all the difficulties of succession would be removed,
and the KING of the FRENCH effectually check-
mated. So rational and decisive is this means of ex-
tricating the Peninsula from its present dynastic
dilemmas, that it should obtain the cordial and unani-
mous assistance of all lovers of Spanish nationality.
Those who object to the measure, as an innovation
upon the very statute by virtue of which the present
SOVEREIGN has been elevated to the throne, lose the
recollection that the law, as it originally existed, ex-
cluded females from the regal authority, and was only
abrogated by a hurried decision of the Congress, to
satisfy the selfish ambition of a King who had all the
capacity for becoming a parricide, and all the foolish-
ness to distinguish himself as a fanatic. A precedent
therefore exists, and a precedent of a very modern and
startling character. The proposed change, instead of
jeopardizing the power of the Monarch who is at this
moment installed in the palace of Madrid, would only
stabilitate her influence, would disarm the Monte-
molinists, would baffle all the perfidious machinations
of the Afrancesados, and would immediately tend
to the conciliation, if not to the actual identification,
of the Moderados and the Progressistas. By returning
to the old Salique highway of succession, the perils
which beset the Spanish Government along a path-
way never traversed before the demise of the royal
embroiderer of petticoats would be at once and for
ever avoided. The development of the national re-
sources, the facilitation of political progress, and the
general restoration of tranquillity to a country which
has been unceasingly embroiled during the last half
century, would be the immediate consequence of this
most astute of all diplomatic evasions. The sharpness
would be taken from the sword of her assailants, and
the opportunity would be withdrawn from her in-
triguing enemies by the adoption of such a policy by
the Legislature of Spain. An Ararat would be at
last felt under the keel—a resting-place after the pro-
tracted horrors of that moral deluge which has so long
flooded the fair provinces of Castile and Navarre, and
driven the Ark of the Nation to and fro over the
abysses of anarchy, and through the tempests of
foreign invasion.
That some such ingenious proceeding is essential
becomes each day more and more manifest. The
vicissitudes of Administrations in Madrid testify the
necessity for the adoption of a policy more daring
than that hitherto adventured upon by the predeces-
sors of SALAMANCA. Beyond the frontiers, as well
as in the capital, the exigency of the case is visible.
It is to be recognised in the council-chambers of the
Tuileries, in the drawing-rooms of Malmaison, in a
public hotel and a private dwelling-house in London.
The fact that the misfortunes accruing to the Spanish
dynasty have originated in the immoralities of
Alusoz and GODOY.iS not more undeniable than that
the miseries of civil contention throughout the pro-
vinces of Spain have arisen from the rash repudiation
of authority by CHARLES IV., and the selfish innova-
tion contrived beside the death-bed of FERDINAND
VII. Had the PRINCE of PEACE never emerged
from his original obscurity, the concessions had never
been elicited from his SOVEREIGN in the memorable
interview at Bayonne. Had the Duke DE Mast-
ZARES fingered tobacco instead of crown jewels, the
cupidity of CHRISTINA might have abated, and many
domestic agonies might have been spared her august
and unfortunate daughter. It was when the unnatural
quarrel arose in the Escurial between CHARLES IV. and
the Prince of the ASTURIAS that the real disasters of
the kingdom commenced ; it was when the voice of
the Legislative Chamber rescinded the law of many
centuries, at the mandate of a dying madman, that
difficultiesthethe land of th
of the wretched
chedu was paniard were
s multi-
plied, and wantonly given
over to butcheries and spoliation.

The re-establishment of the Saliqu e law, therefore,
app6rs to us the most facile and reasonable method
of removing the obstacles to the tranquillisation of the
kingdom, and the permanent conciliation of the
various opposing factions. Were the Congress to
regard the matter in this light, and to act accord..
ingly, the views of Louis rIIILIPPE in reference to
the Duchess DE MONTPENSIER would be imme-
diately thwarted, and the establishment of
SpanishanOr-
leans dynasty on the throne of the
Bourbons would appear more than ever impracticable.
"'hen,:indeed, might the patriotic Due DE LA VIC-
TORIA be in a favourable position to serve his coun-
try, by aiding the cause of Donna ISABELLA, and by
throwing into the Administration of SALAXLN,A
the popularity which will most effectually render the
audacious designs of NARVAEZ innocuous. That
Administration has already prepared the way for the
revival of the Salique law by those acts of clemency
which have endeared the SOVEREIGN to her subjects,
and restored many unfortunate exiles and prisoners
to liberty, dignity, and riches. With the ulterior
hope of seeing the offspring of the Infanta LUISA
excluded from the succession by such an enactment
as the one to which we have alluded, we regard with
a double satisfaction the preliminary measure of the
political amnesty. If SALAMANCA only permit his
judgment and the judgment of his colleaguestobe
guided by the spirit of patriotism, we may speedily
anticipate the discomfiture of the treasonous Afran-
cesados, and may yet behold in ESPARTERO the
AVATAR of Spanish independence.

A letter from Alexandria of the 9th says--
We are here occupied with the arrival of a Tur-
kish vessel which came in last evening. She brought
to hie Highness the ultimatum which the Forte has

sent to the Greek Cabinet. It is said that an order
has arrived to MEHEMET ALI to hold a certain num-
ber of vessels, as well as troops, ready to act against
Greece on the first intimation from the Porte. I
cannot say to what point we ought to place faith in
all these versions and rumours ; we are inclined to
believe that the requirements of the Porte are much
exaggerated ; and the mystery which is here thrown
round the arrival of the Turkish vessel and her mis-
3ion, contributes to give birth to conjectures which
ought not to be admitted but with great circum-
spection."

The following is the decree appointing a regency,
promulgated by the Duke of Lucca after his hasty
flight :
" We, Charles Louis de Bourbon, Infante of
Spain, &c. The state of our health requiring some
absolute repose, and being desirous that the expedit-
ing of the affairs of the State may not be delayed by
our temporary absence, and feeling persuaded that
our Council of State, composed of the most honour-
able persons most highly esteemed by the people, will
not cease to occupy itself with ardour with the public
interests, we have ordained and do ordain as fol-
lows :—Art. 1. Our Council of State shall have the
faculty of expediting the ordinary affairs of the State,
as that has been already done during our absence ;
but on the occasion it will have besides the direction
of all affairs as a Regency of the Government, for
which we give it the power, under the presidency of
the Marquis Mazzarosa.—Art. 2. According to the
terms of our motu proprio of the Ist September, the
Council will endeavour to adopt the reforms which it
may believe to be useful, rather following, however,
than preceding Tuscany. Nevertheless, we do not
mean to sanction measures which may injure our
rights as Sovereign.—Art. 3. Our President of the
Council of State and our Ministers, each in what con-
cerns him, are charged with the execution of the pre-
sent ordinance.

" Given at Massa Ducale, the 12th September.
(Signed) " CHARLES LUDOVIC."
The decree was published with the following noti-
fication :

" In the, name of his Royal Highness Charles
Louis de Bourbon, Infante of Spain, &c. &c., Duke
of Lucca :

" The President of the Royal Council of State
makes known that his Royal and Imperial Highness
our well-beloved Sovereign, having believed it right
to suspend for some time, on account of ill-health,
the direction of the affairs of the State, has deigned
by his venerated ordinance, datel from Massa Ducale,
the 12th of this month, to confer on the Royal Council
of State the necessary powers, not only for the
direction and expedition of all ordinary affairs, but
also for the realisation of the benevolent reforms
announced and promised in the royal mote proprio
of the Ist of this month, which was received with so
much joy.
" The public will see in this sovereign act a new
confirmation of the excellent and paternal intentions
of his Royal Highness for the welfare of his beloved
subjects. (Signed) "A. MAZZAROSA.
" Lucca, the 15th September."
It was rumoured that after issuing this decree the
Duke had been seen at Parma. The people were
greatly irritated at what he had done. The chiefs of
the movement represented that his departure was an
abdication, and talked of sending a deputation to
Florence to beg the Grand Duke to cause the throne
of the duchy to be immediately filled up.
As on the death of the present Duke of LUCCA, that
duchy will be incorporated with Tuscany, it is not
improbable that in consequence of the flight of the
Duke " leaving the throne vacant," the Grand Duke
of Tusc,►NY may comply with the request of the de-
putation.

The Gazzetta di Firenze of-the 16th contains an
official letter of the Secretary of Finance to the
Gonfaloniere of the Magistracy of Florence, in which
we remark the following passages, in allusion to the
great national festivity that took place on the 12th :

"It is the will of his Imperial and Royal Highness
that his sentiments of paternal consolation, and sincere
acknowledgment of the popular manifestation of at-
tachment to his person, be this day formally renewed
to you, and it is also his special desire that you com-
municate the same to the other members of the ma-
gistracy of Florence, and to the members of the
committee, who, together with the magistracy, took
a part in directing so successfully a national festi-
val, so remarkable for exemplary order and tranquil-
lity, observed throughout during the movement of so
great a mass of population, unanimously bent upon
expressing its fervent desire of uniting more strenu-
ously than ever with their prince and father, by whose
assistance, seconded by the efforts of all, they justly
hope to see everything promoted, that is conducive to
the honour and advantage of the nation, that has given
new proofs of the noble loyalty and generous intelli-
gence which distinguishes it. His Highness has at
the same time directed that the various municipal
banners which the Municipality of Florence offered
in homage to his Highness on that evening, be con-
spicuously placed in the Church of Santa Croce, of
this capital, in grateful memory of the event."
The intelligence from Palermo is up to the 12th.
Tranquillity had not been again disturbed, and the
insurrection appeared to be everywhere repressed.
On the sth the population of Palermo was thrown
into alarm, by the explosion of a certain quantity of
powder in the fortress. According to the opinion of
the authorities, this explosion was connected with
some project of conspiracy. After it took place pre-
cautions were redoubled, and several domiciliary visits
were made. The papers of the Prince GRANATELLI,
a very honourable man, were seized. In consequence
of the measures taken discontent existed among the
the people. Many arrests had been made at Messina,
and Major-General LANDI had received the alter ego,
that is to say, unlimited powers. On the Bth he
published the following proclamation :
" 1. Military commissions shall be established in
the form and according to the instructions which may
be given. 2. As the duty of every good citizen, of
every good Messinese, is to unveil every machination,
or to denounce those who endeavour to promote such
execrable things, I will receive and listen to all those
who, apart from all private hate, and only on behalf
of :the public welfare, will come and state to me all
that may disturb order. Their names shall be buried
in the secrets of the police, and a prompt recompense
shall be accorded to them, according to the ini‘
portance of the information they may have given.
3. I require that the tribunals shall proceed with the
greatest promptitude possible with the prosecutions,
which, being of a criminal nature, depend on them, in
order that the justice which must punish the guilty
may not be delayed, and that good citizens may be
re-assured."

It was rumoured at Palermo
_that the town of
Reggio had remained in the power of the insurgents
to the 4th. On that day two steamers arrived from
Naples with troops, under the command of the Count
D'AQUILA. Masters of the fort, the insurgents fired
on the troops, and attempted to oppose their disem-
barkation. The vessels fired some shots, and went to
disembark the soldiers at a little distance from the
town. Abandoned to their own resources, and not
receiving the assistance from Messina which had been
promised, the insurgents dispersed after a short
struggle. Numerous arrests are said to have been
made.

Letters from Naples, of the 14th, deny the cor-
rectness of all the rumours which have been spread of
disturbances having taken place in that city.
Another letter from Naples, of the 15th, gives the
following account of the progress of the insurrection
in Calabria :

" The insurrection makes progress in Calabria. A
provisional Government has been established. Its
first act was to abolish the tax on salt, and to change
all the functionaries opposed to its views. On the
13th several battalions left Naples for Calabria,
Puglia, and the Abruzzi. It is said that the insur-
gents have been compelled to abandon the fort of
Mulazzo, but that nevertheless they increase in num-
ber. The King has empowered General Landi to
organize military commissions at Messina, for the
trial of the insurgents who fell into his power.
Twenty-five have already been shot. At Reggio the
nephew of Romeo would not follow the insurgents in
their retreat. He was shot two hours afterwards by
the royal troops."

The Journal de Constantinople of the 7th announces
the defeat of the Albanian rebels by the troops of the
SULTAN. The cholera was rapidly approaching
Trebizond. A letter from the city, dated Sept. 4,
says—
" All intercourse is interrupted with Persia, and
yet our city can prosper only as the intermediate
point between the two empires. The Commissary of
the Porte in Kurdistan has just arrived, though with
difficulty; Raghb-Agha has organized, well or ill,
the administration of Djezireh, Musch, Bayezid, and
Diarbekir; but the insurgent kurds often placed him
in danger in his peregrinations ; they occupy all the
defiles and passages, and levy contributions on every-
thing that passes, caravans amongst the rest. In
Persia, if report is to believed, a revolution is immi-
nent. Already the palace of the Schah at Teheran
withpe
ril ,
theit was
rebelsn e, ce
wssroyt o
demanded
was regularly besieged. As a fire of musquetry had
commenced,' and as the life of the Sovereign was in
come
t h
to
somee ir ;t r reerarr of es
n ge
mpy ea
n t,