The Sun.
London, England, 1815-05-23 00:00:00

LETTER fEOM M. CAIMINCOURT TO VISC9UNT
CASTLEREAGH, DATtn ARIL 4, 1815:
M LoRD,---The Eiliperor ‘va.' anxious to ex•
press directly to his Royal „Highness the- Prince
Regent the sentiments %Odell inspire him, and to
make known to hint the high value which he
places on the maintenance of the peace happily
existing between the two countries. lam tout-
nomded in consequence, my Lord, to address to
vote the annexed letter, and to beg your Excel-
tency to present it to his loyal Highness.
The first wish of the Emperor being, thEt the
repose 'of Europe shoold re inn ill illy t ,
Abicsty has been a!,x:o,ts tl, tuartilest t 11;; liiAl)o*
sit ifrii to tile Sovervi;:Ais who are still
at klennn, and to aliotieer.ovccHA.is. 1 have, &c.
(slgnefo• cAttiNc6iTitx, Dec de Vicvuee.
Ills Excellency Lord Cast!, reog ,

LETTER FROM. MaOUNT CASTLEEr.:GH To

M.CAVLINCOURT.

Downing-street, ,April $3,. 1815.
Sift bare bmn honourett with two letters
front your Excellency bearing date the 4th
frottiyaris, one of then) cover.iug a letter ad-
dressed to his•lloyal Higithess the Prince Regent.
I and to acqukint your Excellency,-that • the
Prince Iteient.has deciineti receiving- time Joier
addressed to him, awl has, at •t he same time,
,riven mite his orders Co tralitqll:t the letters ad-
dressed by your Excellency to me, to Viennn,
for theinform:mtion and cousiderettion of the
f"overeigns kind Plenipotentiaries there tfssembled.
I an;, &c. CANTLEILLAGH.
"(Here I..llov:the Treaties conel7oleil !Jewett, G)-eat.
Russia, :id PrusJiai sign,' at Vienna sn the 25th of March,
2315, for zustintaining etti..e the conditions of the Treaty .of
farts, oust the stipulit/ians deserLoined upon and signefl at the
Congress of Victioa,-the articles of which, ctlicsaily laid lies- ;
fure-Parli,iment a few weclis since, werc at that time correctly
givea tit TuLtit:N.] • .

SUN REV( Mt'.

(No. I.XXVIII.)

vrctry or E NZLafip from Mr Nor.nan Conquest to the Ac-
res:4oa STEA:to.; Tv nv EP., F. 5...1, 4ro.
Pp. 516: Price 3Gs. Longman, flats!, Ite,s, Orme, and
!frown.
The limits of a oewspoper forbidding any
lengthened argument in support of the opinions
it embraces, we should be extremely sorry to ad-
vance any paradoxes, especially in the 'literary de-
partment of THE SUN, Which might call upon us
for lengthened defence. We trust, therefore, that
we shall not be' accused. of peculiarity when we
briefly state our sentiments on the subject of his-
torical composition ; when we coOfess with fear
and trembling that we dislike .a fine style in his-
tory; can scarcely be reconciled to a smooth and
flowing narrative, almost detest the introduction
of the best written argumentative essays in behalf
of or against certain points, and utterly abhor con-
troversial historians of excessive penetration and
knoWltzthie. To us it .has long appeared that the
possession of these qualities tended to the sa-
crifice of facts to the turn of periods, and of troth
to the Uniform grace of language ; that, instead
of the relator of events, :according to the best in-
formation which diligent research•could compass,
it converted histotia mere sophists, con-
tendiog, with little or no inquiry, for their fa-
vourite theories, and substituting acute reasoning
upon problble data for the certainties•which pa.
tieut investigation would have brought to light.
'anting rather_ to know what has really hap-
pened in ancieor times, than what A: or 13. or X
or' Z might wish us to believe with them had
taken place, we confess that we have been much
more dissatisfied than pleased with the perusal of
the most celebrated tenrks of modern history.
- Under these general:. impressions we had often
fortned,a wish •in our mho's. that Some writer
would step forward_ with Tacitus in his miod's
eye, and- favoor us with somt.thing more canti
eating than the dry anftals of otir cotintry's
tory, and not so captivating as a laboured efilodoo
in which the circumstaoces:of ,this history (often
twisted and pervertA to answer Political or po,
!mica' views) were thinly Scattered fiver .the
field, in the midst of endless metaphors, and a
prodigious mass of glowing diction and oratori-
cal ratiocination.
Such a Work as we have desired, we.have now
befo're us in the. first volume of Alr. ToaNEß's
History, which we have perused with UnconiniOn,
and always increasing pleasure. It is a plain and
unadorned statement, at no meretricious
ornamems of- style, btlt anxious for the inure
valuable properties of perspicuity, accuracy, and
truth. The Author has given the leisure of
_years
'to the perfection of his purpose.; be Las coo muted
documents of undoubted authenticity, and front
the_richest stores of the antiquary, Ir.Un the cabi-
nets of the curious, front those mines of informa-
tion which public libraries and private colleations
contain, has diligently dug out the ore, which he
has- presented to the view of the world, sterling
and unadulterated. We are not to be understood
that it is still in its Dative rough state : on the
contrary, though not highly wrought, it is
ciently polished, and though the chain into which
it is formed, is not curiously linked together, it is
nevertheless very clearly combined, and,excellently
adapted to the use
,for which it is intended.
• This volume, which is to be followed by others
as speedily as the avocations Of the /loath!. will
permit, contains an 'introductory Review of the
Progress of Europe
.to the era of the Norman
Conquest, and of its political situatl9ll at that
period : it then proceeds with the History of the
Reigns of WILEIA3I the CONQUEROR, WIELIANZ
RUFUS, HENRY I. STEPHEN, HENRY 11. RICHARD
C(EUR OE LION, JOHN, and liEt,:ny M.; from
alum 1066 to 1272, -and including sketches of the
early age of Chivalry,, Knight-errantry, and of
the Crusades : a History of the Literature 'of
this remote Time emu:kilts the volume.
It wii! occur to our Readers, without our fur-
ther euf.reing our opinions, that a Work of this
faithfully and ably 'executed, must be both

inStructisie and entertaining ; it has to us heen
extremely-so, and notwithstanding -the publica-
tions of the same description already on oUr
shelves,- We will sly,-that a; this portion of Mr;',.
Turner's design is highly valnabe,, so -is its con-
tinuation and completion- a great desideriittim
to every lover of learning. A more useful ad-
dition to our Historical treasures could scarcely
have been hoped for, atter the toils of so many
preceding labourers in that department.
To enable the Public, however, to form its own
judgment upon this Work. we extract from it a •
most interesting Account of the death of Arch-
bishop. B F.CKET, ch we are cettain will pro-
cure an unanimous accord to the critical sentence
we have humbly ventured- to p- rot:out:re upon it,
as a most excellent Wm k, which merits a fore-
most place in every library in the Empire.—After.
tletailing in a perspicuous manner the events of the
earlier pia of this Prelate's career, the Author
concludes as follows
The tl,,i,etided prelwes proceeded to the King in Nor-
raantly, mentioned their degradatien, and imputed it to
Henry asked their counsel. They answered, " It
is not for us to say what ought to he done."—At last one
added, " he is alive, neither you nor your kingdom
wilt have peace.'"fhis dreadful truth completed the king's
wrath, perhaps the mote strongly, because he had to hlame.
himself for appointing to the sacred situation, for politieal
conveuienee, a man who-at the time of his nonihmtiots was of
all others the most ualit s and who had only acted sioce, as a.
knowledge of mankind might hare hat his king to have :Rai-
eipaied. Becket, had been no hypocrite before his consecra-
tion; lofty ambition had characterized all his conduct; and
to Give itthe sovereign• prelacy of England for its field of
action, was an imprudence which a moderate share of wisdom
would have forbidden. -The Ling's anger and disquiet was too
visible in his countenance and actions, that four :swains of his
household, Reginald Fitz-Ursa, tVilliato de Tracy, Hugh de
Moreville, and Richard Bryn), resolved to restore his tran-
quillity, by destroying his adversary. They suddenly left the
court, took different. roads to avoid suspicion, and met to-
gether about the same hour at Saltwuod, near Caoterbury.
Ignorant of their abscipeae Henry held a counsel with his
barons, and complained of Beckets treasonable intentions.
The result - was, that three of them were dispatched to arrest
the Archbishop. But the others arriving first ; anticipated
their put pose.
It was Christ-isms slay. Becket performed high mass hint-
st-If in tine Cathedral, and preached to the people. In this
sermon he took occasion to sac, chat one of their Archbi-
shops bad been a martyr, and that it was possible they might
have':inot her. slat yet unaltered in spirit, With this poSsi bi-
litralistinetly in his recollection, he closed the service of this
sacred day, the nativity of the Divide Teacher of peace, for-
gieeness, and brotherly love, with pronotmeing three new
exeommonleations,. uttered with 'all the !fierceness, aninet-
tints, :sin! lioldness, that indignant ea elognce could express.
011 the filth day afterwards, tile four harons entered Canter-
bury, with a large miliihry force, which they had collected
limas the neighbouring castles. They sent to the Mavor to
bring the citizens armed to the prelale's liaise, on the King=s
service. Finding that the City thhcers'hesitated.. they then
consihanded.that at least they should ierake no stir, whatever
haapen.
Mai twelve aif their knights, they proceeded to Becket's
bed-chumber. It was about ten o'clock. He had just fiuish-
eel his own repast : his family was still at table. tic saluted,
tile intruders, who made no intelligible answer, but sat
down, facing him, ausone the 1110111i9. Reginald told him,
that they came from the King, to have the exemeintinications
-withdrawn; the auspended iestored, and satisfactions given to
the Government on
,his treasonable projects. Becket said,
the Pope had exemumunicated,,and must absolve the krch-
.bishop ; but that Ise would restore the others, if they would
with humble. snbmissiou -pat thent,elves mom his •mercy.—
".From whom had ;son the Archhishoprick ?" 'demanded Re-
ginald. Its spirituals from God and the POpe; said Becket,
' its tempurals from the king.' •'Did nut the king give you all?"
• By no means.' -'the barons murmured, and plashed their
teeth; they remembered the king's efforts to compO his dee-
lions, and they thought his distinction a casuistry. Beeket ex-
claimed, In vain yOU melatue Ille. I/ all the swords of Englaed
were brandishing over my head, your •terrors.eould not move
me. Foot to root, you wouldtind use fighting the battle of the
Lord.' He adLled, Knowing what has passed between %you
and me,' (three of them had bein in huts service. as Chan-
cellor) wonder that you dare to threateia au Archbishop
in his house.! '' We will do mare than threaten," cried Re-
ginald fiercely, and ruse to witlrdraw. His retainers now
gathered rouse! Becket. The Barues seized some of his
Kniebts,.nnil rushed through-tine hall to their- friends, who
bad possessed themselves of the gate, calling them to arms:
Reginald put on his armour in the fore court, and took au
axe from a man at twit k. -As theirablows, to force again
their entrance, were heard, Becket was advised to take an
asylum In the church. -‘ He refused. Some' forcibly pressed
him out; others remarked, that it was (line for vespers. He
then ordered his cross to Ise brought, and slowly followed his
friends to the cloister. He went on to the upper altar,where
he iaed to bear the familynnass. He had scarcely ascended
the fourth step, when Reeinald appeared in complete armour,
and with his 'sword drawn. "Flit her ! to mee--ye servants
of the King." The other three followed, covered with mail,
and brandishing their swords. His friends wished to shut
the dooesagainst their. lie descended from the steps to forbid
it : lie saw that if they intended --Murder, escape was hardly
possible., and he determined to die with dignity and courage.
Yet as the evening- shade was now spreading,, and they were
near the crypt, he might have retired iutis some of
.its dark
-corners, or through :soother door have gained the 'staircase,
and had at least an interval of safety. He declined both.
He :- ither' supplicated nor eoutplained. A voice cried,
Where is the traitor?" He was silent. " Where is the
Archbishop ?"-Here,' answeted Becket—' but' not a
traitor. Why do you enter the church in such a dress?
What is your object?"' That yon should die—it is im-
possible that you can be allowed to live longer." Becket's
only reply. was, Then Igo to death in the Lord's
name. I cominend my soul, and the cause of the Church, to
God and the Saints. I will never fly on account of -your
swords, but J forbid You to touch-my friends.' Some rue at
this moment struck lihnlietWeenalie shoulders, with a sword
fiat, saying, ' fly, or you are dead!' He woold not stir, but,
stretched out his neck to their blows. Others wished td drag
him first out of the Choral, not chusing to destr'oy him there.
.He declared that he would out leave it; and that they might
execute there their intentions or their orders. As thvy drag-
ged him, he resisted, and his friends struggled to hold him.
A blow frets) Trace's sword at one of the-assistants wouncled
Beeket'S.headandarm. When he saw his blood, lie recom-
mended his soul to God. A second blow threw him on his-'
face before. an Altar ; yet Ise haul strength to join his hands as
in prayer, and to cover himself with Isis Cloak, that he might
die deceutiy, In this procumbent posture, another struck
bins with such violence on the head, that the sword broke in
-hes -skull,- and on the pavement:- A fourth blow, also WI the
head; destroyed
Thus perished by foatrnsurd'er, this celebrated man, coura-
geous in his death; extraordinary in his lite—possessed of a
spirit too great for a subject—vast in all his designsee-never
imiasuring his -objects by their practicability, but persuing
them with a vehemence as imperious as his ambition, and
with o perseverance -which-failure only stimulated, and which
email personal danger could neither appal. nor diminish.
.But lilt tourdvr justly excited a sentiment of indignation
through Europe. fireura,'e solemn asseveration, that it was
perpetrated without his privity, and his promises to abandon
his favourite measures, were at lust admitted at Rothe; but
he was enjoined a humiliating penance at Becket's tomb, who
was in time unionized as a saint, and venerated as a martyr.
Ills death expiated the faults of his life, assassination pots
the sympathies of all men ou -the side of the victims. He
died a martyr to the principlea,he chose to maintain; and as
they were favourable to thel papal pretensions, his memory
wise enshrined with every honour that the papal power could
confer.

In our tittles, this politic.al drama has ceased. - We cow-
passionate llecket for his flagitious murder; but we cannot
avoid feeling, that if he had succeeded ,in his struggle, •his
success would flare converted the clergy of England into a
distinct Bransinleal cast released from all legal responsibility,
independent of hoth Crown and Parliament, and towering
.Idgh aboye all in no awful 'sanctity flowing from their order,
• unciumvcted with their moral conduct, and which no personal
vices would have beet) admitted to destroy. Some exhibition
of thii sort has appeared in Spain and Portugal; to the po-
litical misers, awl intellectual (perhaps we may add even
moral) -th•gradation, of both those countries. Its establish-
' tient in l',agland would have favoured its introduction into
'ranee ; min Europe alight 14ve become a new Egypt, go-
verned ',:y an liitTuichy, VVIJUSe leader would bare h,en the
Pope. The gre;:t effect of Henry's stroggl, was to prevent
thi, hturcridous revolution, by subjecting the clergy to the le-
gal tribunals, aad tv the ccm;LitutiuLt or tb,o_!cuunixp 14124 j

-.-'"-

savereign-has tu Alakained a cause more rn6wentoes biSe
sr°7;pie or nianhind ? • tint] of -
Thomas it Becket was :be last of that descrli ne, 04
thus clergymen wh d to rival the tl2o, .00
1,,
raise the cin•eli above the %c7xtr:selt ecciesi3st.lcsi;lie
But after li,ratis„gadilyie.
constitutional power of the tate.'
gle was attempted no more; his fate ivai 13,5notIte Id
cts ton Of the permital danger of such colltli
brlence, that an Archbishop of his talents ant,' "and lir, to
tine
destroyed, without rebellion ill the peoPle opolitiztion•
ty the taught every future metri 00
calculates:the perils as wel! as the .Tatificatio3,o„-wit!'„pi•
Becket had lived in honour and gre‘atness, ,11`;':(115116ier
• I"udest, till he beg-an-the conflict. Al(ntitic'f
chili, a seven years' exile, and a violent deatbi'4celri
ep ya
couipensations. The hazards and the evils of It:1,00111,0r
prize, thus proved to hegreater than Ole goad r 131-
attained. No more -od.ogs, miiistuns, (f)xiheAui°'(fi
Shope n our eccksias.tical history. If r'e,,,„c'et-gaioen",;bo,l
iconic! to,succeed ? ;IA what 'had 0`•
from the lion!. in which he began his saec.•_,..- '4(
the. ealtzedulii'e.traePaipmerd w h i2rl%syti iYid!"; • ,
be •- 1 Peat"- •
Abe
11,:e are sure we. need not ado ari"eurs rec.'
to recommend a Publication wilica
mends itself.

FRENCH PA PERS.

[RECEIVED THIS MORNING

(From?lte Aroniteur of tAr nth of 2

TII,E,TAGA:EcyIvo:D.ditIiAv.III[I:EsIcI:::rti:NTHDHIACENDLIISNOPFIAsTTTUEFfiaIs.;OII,fI,;;,I9,
or
of
tAhn:ol
Ist,
,e Lyons, bed
2 aAtti o(til Onl
5slE,
haveocoi aol b tiles
i(e)usn;tl:c tiailtil:(ll
11141 tev,Altt:
cf.

of cannon, .or ammunition. waggons• 400
" Three, Austrian Generals have bee° vi-01
inehidingGenerals Stahremberg and Seigerc;

latter mortally. ' (ler
Twelve thousand Austrians, who ¶vercfroo
tineel to ar(lclza.,oi,i Piedmont, bare set oU
tMilan for Bologna.'' t• t tb°
„
"ER.' AIA'Y -is confirmed.thantlie
King of Denmark has expressly declared t"
lot
Coalition of Sovereigns, that he. .w°lll4l b 5
join them nor furnish his contingent, Ivltlioce
received a complete indemnity for Norway'
lie only ceded it condition-ally.
RASTADT, Mik-y B.—There has been OP" 0
of Allied troops by the way of Mentz ; 100,1,r;oc
the trangaillity which reigns here one -.°111,,,j0g
suppose that war was thought of—if the ‘"ii-
to
,repairthe fortifications, and the cOMPlete
moment of the place did not announce hustilee

parations.
„ jell°
It is reported that the
..Allies are diSCb For
with Sweden, because it does not see° ti
clOt
take their animosity against France,
(1--,anl°tratioa
there is a question about issuing a 6

against that Power.
. •
st tlic
IRON, MAY o.—The persecutions orule, IV
4/erancesados (Frenchith d Spaniards) I).'lts to
emntrienced. iice persecuting p`iify c"ti(egcle
be directed by England—it is comPsed °
siastics, privileged traders and °
smuggle. • :

(From the Journals de Paris) f"
An Order of the Day front Count eat'
Lient.-General, Aide-de-Camp to the 'Sul

contains as follows : of th°
" Agents of Count de Lille and pgrtizaf)-
g
foreigner -have dared to attempt the (n5°1:511091
lion of the French Empire. It is by flitetirelfa
little notices, printed or in manuscript,.;rsr
'about the streets, in public places, near WI. escoligi
or stuck up during the night, so that the/ crioLls
the vigilance of the police;--it bY sti c
insinuations, and false news, that they eat'iPe' •
tb°
to shake the fidelity of the troops.
"'fire General in Chief cannot tbeo
soldiers whorl; he commands, as to helieceor
accessible to the pct./positions of ealigrlat6Pc" •er
reig-bers; which is the same thing. .1t etie'
,
sary to seek out and know the agent 3 tjt
t
lilies—to seize them and deliver theilir ity°'
councils of war ; the honour and Inagn6alli

the army demand such a reparation•
.s
eqiuti
elel:ley,agerilse.erailnss
instructions
tCiohnise fasni)if CO'
Corps "." ' °tic°
, their camps and cantonments, Pt'aiirEttitccuivileir;ilo)(oll;
rebellion 'idoal circulator of provoCations to desert:l°,4lloo
among the troops- to seduce them and rel°..preti
100..
discipline, shall he instantly arrested And ' r
or who circulates false inte'dicir
1 1 Wii-•
up, iftivr
..e be opreortunity, to a colloci. 0 9 011
" This order shall be read to the "14

parade for three successive days."

NA
s: z (7rom the Journal de l'EmPire) • n
the 3d MAYAr;nndis 16.—The Lieutenant of 0;1'
'le
°
n which is manifested at different por
t loite3
western departments is Principally be-gt 7,
tole pre
textrous
o
to
theerx c 1 e dfte o lci
ttt' ' f
nobles with the means of proving their
iu
D AT positions,
aß;rt:rn; tj; sti ofl-(l;clt:iNe:e7t.
t°
co. pre}ierds Loirc-inferieur, &c. &c: are boond dree t'
Within et
the space of ten days, to the chief city of their. j 113°e
meat, to appear there before the Prefec.;, who
e
tbe. <la); on w r,p
i;;ci! they are to peli before bi9),.3P11, 1)
ot
point; not t!) those ateotm; them whose vot cond yi
uct I'4'
forded 'h•l
gu.,tr;inie_o_, a tits'
he amh-inted t resitle•
Ircti
..7,tlt ,• '
..0 qat --•' •