The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-11 00:00:00

si4- IT L' 24111‘

LONDON, SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 11, 1847.

After an extraordinary alternation of circum-
stances most adverse to the pacification of Spain,
that noble kingdom seems to be emerging from a
century of disasters. One movement on the part of
the Salamanca Cabinet promises to stabilitate the
Government, to tranquillise the provinces, and to
consolidate the Constitution. One movement !—and
upon that one movement the new Administration has
adventured. Farewell to the wily domination of the
Tuileries—to the diplomatic thimble-rigging of
M. BRESSON—to the unprincipled devices of M.
GUIZOT—to the ruthless connivance of General
NARVARZ—to the unnatural schemes of CHRISTINA
—to the avaricious anticipations of Louis Paiurrs!
The sixth paragraph in the Ministerial programme,
published on the 3d inst. in the semi-official organ,
the Especlador—that paragraph which said " The,
illustrious Duh e DE LA VITTORIA to be nominated Sena-
tor in recognition of his eminent services and his high
virtues, and in consequence to be allowed to return to
Spain"—has been more than realised. In what
manner this has been accomplished was formally
announced in The Sun of yesterday evening.
EsPairrEgo has been recalled to Madrid, and nomi-

nated Captain• General of the Spanish forces.
This it is which will in all human like-
lihood tend to stabilitate the Government,
to tranquillise the provinces, and to consolidate the
Constitution.; for the return of the Duke DE LA
Vlcroaix has been happily preceded by an amnesty
such as must already have removed a multitude of
difficulties from the pathway of the Administration
of which General ESPARTERO will prove the de-
fender.

Could his Majesty the KING of the FRENCH have
foreseen the occurrences which have recently trans-
pired in Madritl, he would most certainly have hesi-
tated before driving ISABELLA to the last extremities.
Rather than become the indirect means of the resto-
ration of ESPARTEIIO to authority, he would doubt-
less have delayed they marriage of the Duke DE
AIONTPENSIFR. The fatal die has been cast, how-
ever—there is no escape:from the consequences. Four
years have elapsed since the Regent of Spain sought
a refuge in the metropolis of England—for four
years he has remained in an honourable seclusion in
a modest residence in Regent's-park—for four years
he has sustained the sorrows of banishMent without
perilling his character upon a hazard, or blemishing
his reputation by a conspiracy. That interval of
probation has terminated, and he is summoned again
to the command of the Spanish army by a voluntary
decree of his SOVEREIGN. There is a moral in this
which will not be overlooked by the future historian,
and which cannot but be recognised even by con-
temporaries.

Never, perhaps, was there a greater necessity for
the elevation of a soldier of distinguished courage
and ability to the head of the military affairs of the
Peninsula. Queen ISAUELIA has perceived this ne•
cessity betimes, and she has selected a man of all
others the most peculiarly suited to the emergency.
ESPARTERO was the legal I rotector of her Most
Catholic MAJESTY during the most critical period of
her nonage—it is fitting that he should be her De-
fender now that she is married, and in the full exer-
cise of her royal prerogatives. Besides this, IsA-
BELLA. is every day becoming more powerful even in
the perils of her position. The flagrant criminality
with which she has been treated by CHRISTINA and
Louis PHILIPPE, have aroused against her more for-
midable antagonists the indignation of many millions.
Her domestic isolation has strengthened her cause by
securing the sympathies of her;people. Her courage
in spurning the interference of NARVAEZ has aroused
the admiration even of the most inert and phleg-
matic. The clemency which has been evinced
in the generous amnesty printed in the Gaceta
of the 3d instant has imparted a prestige to the
Government of SALAMANCA, of which it may almost
be considered as the inaugurative act. And although
that amnesty can scarcely elicit an enthusiasm com-
parable to what was enkindled throughout the pope.

lation of the 'Papal States by a somewhat similar pro-
ceeding, it is RI-possible but that the patriotism of
tieonn
of thatt he act is
most
the Spaniards must be excit!dwa
h
coupled with the r,s;cal and re eiev
patriotic of their great captains. Beyond this the
popularity which General ESPARTERO acquired when
in the undisputed exercise of his military and admi-
nistrative genius, has become marvellously enhanced
by the respect inspired by his conduct and his virtues
during a protracted and unmerited exile.
From a consideration of all these things it would
be frivolous to deny that a glorious opportunity is at
this moment afforded to ISABELLA, to her Ministerial
advisers, and above all to the Duke DE LA VICTORIA,
to extricate their country from all those enormous
dangers which have hitherto impended over it,
and which have until now only continued to
darken and accumulate. That great things have yet
to be achieved before Spain can be restored to any-
thing like happiness and prosperity is undeniable.
But the opportunity for their achievement is at length
presented. With numerous and remarkable deficien-
cies, the Cabinet of SALAMANCA is not without the
capacity to co-operate with ISABELLA and ESPARTERO
in vindicating the nationality of the kingiom, and in
developing its vast resources. SALAMANCA himself,
although the Presse has petulantly; stigmatised him
as " a fox in lamb's attire," is enterprising as a finan-
cier, and is consequently well calculated to foster the
deteriorated revenues to an approximation towards
their original competence. His experience in stock-
jobbing cannot but prove advantageous to the national
treasury, while it is anything but prejudicial to his
own individual interests. PATRICIO DE LA Esco-
SURA from his former occupations as a journalist, and
as a subordinate of several former officials, will
carry the advantage of practice in political
handicraft and of familiarity with the popular
sentiments to the Administration of the Interior,
Ros DE OLesto may likewise carry into the direction
of commerce some of that tact for strategy, and some
of those lessons of combined audacity and prudence
which he has acquired in his previous capacity as a
soldier. FERNANDO DR CORDOVA, again, as Minister
of War, will derive authority from the fame and ex-
perience from the career of his memorable and re-
nowned brother. Added to all this, will be the name
of ESPAATERO, as Captain. General of the Army, and
the name of ESPARTERO is itself " a tower of strength."
That we are not frivolously sanguine as to the future
of the Salamanca Cabinet is certain, from the fact
that we argue mainly from what it has already accom-
plished, or—which amounts to the same thing—from
what has already been accomplished since its inaugu-
ration—since the dismissal of the Pacheco Ministry
and the rejection of the Narvaez Ministry. The
publication of the amnesty, and the recal of Esralt-
TER°, are fruits which show that the tree cannot be
withered or unproductive.
Grievously as the French Government has been
worsted in Italy, and precarious as its influence is in
Greece, Portugal, and Switzerland, the paramount
anxiety and discomfiture of M. GUIZOT and his
crowned accomplice will now be in the Court and
metropolis of Spain. How docile were the affairs of
that country but a few months ago!! How obstinate
and perverse have they not become since ! The
intrigues which opened amidst sunshine and fandan-
goes are beginning already to close amidst darkness
and —possibly—the Dance of Death. After all, the
principal difficulty in the Spanish Government is in
the ill-assorted marriage of Queen ISABELLA. That
marriage, however, may be nullified so soon as the
Afrancesadoes have been annihilated. The Ministry
of Madrid know tolerably well how to propitiate the
Sovereign PONTIFF; and already their liberative
proceedings in regard to the amnesty has shown that
they are not altogether indisposed to arouse the sym-
pathies of his HoLusEss. A divorce for her Most
Catholic MAJESTY may be the recompense awarded
by Pits IX. for the generous course entered upon
by her advisers. And we may repose with secu-
rity under the conviction that the name of ESPARTERO,
the Duke de la Victoria, will not sound as harshly
in the ears of Pius as it did in those of his predecessor
GREGORY !

The election for the Sixteen Representative Peers
of Scotland has been brought to a conclusion, and we
regret to say that the pressing claims of the Earl of
DUNDONALD have been disregarded. The Scottish
nobility have not availed themselves of the opportu-
nity that was afforded to them of securing the Parlia-
mentary services of that esteemed and gallant Earl,
of repairing, so far as lay within their power, the
wrongs and injuries under which one of the most
distinguished members of their own body was so long
a sufferer, and proving that they believed their
ancient and honourable order to be, indeed, without
stain or reproach. This untoward result may, to a
certain extent, be ascribed to the manner in which
the proceedings are conducted. The election taking
place of the sixteen Peers, " simul ac semel," private
arrangements are made, by which a list is agreed
upon by some of the magnates, which is supported
by all their power and influence, many of the less
influential electors will gladly support the nominees
of the more powerful, in order to obtain admission
for one or two of their own particular friends into
the number selected by the secret conclave, or with
the hope of doing so on some future occasion. In
fact, the real contest takes place long before the no-
minal day of election on which the arrangements
previously entered into are carried into execution,
with as little prospect of any deviation therefrom
taking place as there is of the rejection of the house

-
ist of directors of the Bank of England or Ease

India Company being set aside, or of an individua
proprietor, whose name was not included therein,
being elected despite of the determined opposition o
the framers of that house list. The numbers polled
for the successful candidates will clearly establish
the fact of this coalition. Five of the sixteen had
each 54 votes ; five had each 53 ; two had .50, while
the remainder had respectively 56, 55, 51, and 49.
It thus appears that there was a difference of seven
votes only between the most favoured and the
least popular of the number. It is not our
desire or intention to say one word in dispa-
ragement of any of the Noble Lords selected
by their brother peers, but we may say that there is
not a single one of the number with whom the
veteran might not have been put in competition ; and
that if their respective claims were submitted to a
more extended constituency—to the suffrages of any
considerable number of high-minded and enlightened
persons, uninfluenced by private motives or private
friendship—an overwhelming majority would be found
to record their votes in favour of the hero whose
name will descend to posterity as well on one of the
brightest as on one of the darkest pages of the national
history. Yes, the Earl of DIJNDONALD will be re-
garded in future ages as one of that illustrious band
who, by their brilliant achievements, their daring ex-
ploits, their unflinching bravery, that might be looked
upon as the offspring of recklessness but for its suc-
cessful results, combining the sober calculations
of the philosopher with the valour of the knight-
errant, maintained their country's honour, under the
most arduous circumstances, and added additional
triumphs to the national flag; while at the same time
his unmerited persecutions, his unrequited services,
and, above all, the deep injustice inflicted on him,
under the colour of law, will remain an indelible
stain on the British nation. Like MILTIADLS of old'
his name will at the same time indicate the glory and
the shame of his country.
The Gallant Earl, in his address to his brother
Peers, which we alluded to last week, seems to have
anticipated the result of the election, and to have un-
derstood the cause to which it might be ascribed. Ile
says, " I feel that if such personal considerations could
j▪
ustifymyoffering myself to the notice of your Lordships,
further perseverance ?alder the circumstances of secret
electoral arrangements unfavourable to me, must de-
mand explanation." lie then detailed the manner
i▪ n which his Parliamentary services might be most
valuable to the British nation. The vast importance
of keeping
our navy in the highest state
of efficiency is now well understood. It is
well known that the best way to avoid war,
to preserve the peace and tranquillity of the world, is
to be ever in a state of readiness and preparation for
any alternative. " Nunquanz non paratus" should
ever be the national motto. If this was necessary,
even in periods of the greatest quietness, when no
threatening cloud lowered in the political horizon,
when no indications of future difficulties could
be discovered by the most astute and closest
observer, how much more essential is it at the pre.

THE SUN,