The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-13 00:00:00

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I.OND4)N„ MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1847.

Sorrows. SHAKSPERE tells us, come but in batta-
lions, and, fortunately for humanity, joys appear to
be of the same gregarious character. The great
national roforms which are now succeeding each
other with such extraordinary rapidity affird a con-
solation to the races of the European family for those
flagrant acts of despotism and spoliation by which
they were immediately preceded. Scarcely has the
independence of Cracow been extinguished by its
incorporation with Austria ; scarcely has the na-
tionality of Spain been assailed by the treasonous
turpitude of the Afrancesados ; scarcely have the
political -eights of the Portuguese been contemned by
the Ministerial partizans of France ; scarcely have
the liber't'ies of Switzerland been jeopardised by the
foreign encouragement afforded to the religious
differencits of the cantons—when the foundations of
society a•ze convulsed by the throes of a popular move-
ment, and those territories which have been for centu-
ries plunged in the darkness of absolutism, are being il-
lumined by the glorious lights of political, social, and
intellectual emancipation. To the inhabitants of a
free kingdom like England—a kingdom which has
long prospered under a generous Constitution—this
spectacle of the progressive liberation of the Conti-
nental communities is one altogether of a sublime
description. We are enabled, moreover, to watch the
advance of freedom with that profound satisfaction
which arises from a consciousness of the beneficent
nature of our own Government. Nor is our own exul-
tation of an entirely unselfish character. In behold-
ing the advancement of liberal opinions in
foreign countries, we recognise the marvel.
lous and almost miraculous progress which
those opinions have latterly made amongst
ourselves. We perceive that the popular movement,
already referred to, is not restricted to a single climate,
to a single religion, or to a single principality, but
that its manifestations are visible in all directions.
We observe those manifestations, moreover, not
merely amongst the millions who have hitherto
groaned under the incubus of despotism, but amongst
those who have partially acquired their independence;
not merely perceptible in the new-born energies of
the nations just awakened to the blessedness of
liberty, but beaming brighter and brighter in the
lands. long accustomed to the glories of a moderate
conshtution. In this respect we exult over the
development of old institutions as well as
over the creation or new—over the improved cultiva-
tion of the oasis, as well as over the blooms and the
verdure which are beginning to sprout through the
barren dust of the wilderness.

That the popular movement among the empires
And princedoms of Europe has become altogether
irresistible, is testified by two conclusive considera-
tions—its magnitude (stretching into all quarters of
the globe), and its simultaneous recognition by rulers
and by the people themselves. How far this glorious
movement has affected Great Britain is shown by the
rapid and decisive abolition of many repressive
enactments, by the disruption and discomfiture
a Toryism, and by the conversion to the cause of
the people of the most enlightened and illustrious of
contemporary statesmen. Beyond the Channel, what
have not been the achievements effected, now by the
Kings and now by the people, in the way of social
and constitutional reforms ? While the guerilla
captains have alarmed MARIA DA GLORIA into a
cessation of those administrative innovations which
must have proved ultimately subversive of Portuguese
nationality—FßEDEßlCK WILHELM IV. has spon-
taneously awarded to his subjects a direct participa-
tion in the Prussian Government. WhiIeLEOPOLD the
SECOND has granted freedom of commerce to the
population of Tuscany—FERDINAND VI. is being
m
warned of the concessions requisite for the
mainte-
nance of his sovereignty over Naples and
the w
Sicilies, by the enthusiastic demonstrations of hiso
subjects throughout the Neapolitan provinces. While
CHARLES ALBERT is boldly avowicg his readiness to
raise the standard of Sardinia against the tyrannous
adventures of the Austrian Cabinet—CHARLES LOUIS
is compelled to bow before the majesty of the people,
and to decree the inaugurative measures of the eman-
cipation of Lucca. _ _

The changes which have just transpired in the
Grand Duchy of Lucca attest the ardour which
animates the Italians in struggling for the liberation
of the peninsula. That ardour has been inspire I by the
glorious policy of the Sovereign PONTIFF. PoAerity
will distinguish Pius IX. as the Liberator of Italy,
as surely as his countrymen termed DANIEL O'CON-
NELL the Liberator of Ireland. And the liberation
of Italy, commenced in the Papal States, has :spread,
is spreading with astonishing swiftness, from the
Cape of Spartivento to the most northern frontiers
of Venetian Lombardy. It will be completed
with more facility than Prince METTERNICH
imagines. Italy a country postesEing A sur-

face of
.9400 - are miles, divided into thir-
teen Sistinct principalities—each of those divisions
governed by a monarchical power, absolute and irre-
sponsible—containing a population of 24,000,000—
Italy, the tomb of dead empires, and the first pro-
moter of European civilization, is throwing off her
chains, is awaking from a sleep of ages, is arising in
all the splendour and majesty of her pristine inde-
pendence. The occupation of Ferrara has only
hastened the emancipation of the entire peninsula.
The Papal EStates have been followed in the
path of reform by Tuscany, by Sardinia, and by
Lucca. Naples must follow in like manner; and any
further aggression on the part of the Vienna Cabinet
can only result in the revolt and liberation of its
Lombardo-Venetian provinces. Most happy for Italy
has proved the day when Cardinal FERRETTI was
raised to the Pontificate, when that patriotic Prince
was invested with the tiara, who was destined to
imbue with his liberal sentiments the councils of a
' member of the house of Lorraine, and ultimately
those of CHARLES Louis DE BOURBON, Infanta of
Spain ! Onwards, brave Italians ! England watches
your course with admiration. Onwards, and remem-
ber that " nunquam Libertas gratior extat, quam sub
liege Pio !"

We have already directed the public attention to
the vast importance of an extensive cultivation of flax
in Ireland, and pointed out the great advantages that
would be derived by all classes in that country
therefrom. There is no point of view from which it
may be regarded in which these advantages will not
be immediately manifest to the most superficial ob-
server. The farmer will have an opportunity of
receiving the largest pecuniary returns from the quan-
tity of land applied to the growth that could be
obtained from any description of crop. He would
realise a sufficiency to pay his entire rent, taxes,
wages, and all other outgoings of his farm from
the produce of a small portion only of his holding.
He would be enabled by the proper application
of the seed to fatten his cattle, and bring
them to the greatest perfection, while a
liquid- manure would be created by the water in
which the flax had been steeped that would greatly
add to the fertility and value of his land. The residue
of his farm would be applicable to the maintenance of
his family, and the production of articles of food of
every description. He would also be enabled to
afford a considerable amount of profitable employment
to the labouring population in his vicinity, and thus
to reduce to the minimum the poor-rate that may
otherwise prove a weighty burden. A large sum,
no less than from five to six millions of pounds ster •
ling, would be retained in the country, that now goes
to foreigners in payments for the raw material used
in the chief, if not the only Irish manufacture
worthy of notice ; while persons of all classes,
particularly women and children, would be actively
engaged, not only in the prelim nary stages, before it
was prepared for the manufacturer's use, but in an
increased ratio in the after stages of manufacture.
.1s an instance whereof we may mention that the
produce of three acres of flax, in addition to the
labour; employed in its cultivation, gave full occupa-
tion for a year to eighteen weavers and forty women,
thus bringing comfort and abundance to the humble
cottages that might otherwise have been the abodes of
.nisery and destitution. Contrast the condition, moral
and physical, of the peasantry in the flax-growing dis-
tricts of Ireland, their peaceful and orderly conduct,
their sturdy independence, their upright and honour-
Joie industry, with that of their brethren in
the less favoured localities, and differences will
at once be discovered that can only be
ascribed to the effects produced by the ex-
tensive cultivation of flax, and the manufac-
ture dependent thereon. We were, therefore, justi-
tified in stating that the extension of that cultivation
would furnish one of the chief and most obvious re-
medies for Irish distress.

With this feeling we were truly rejoiced to wit-
less the tone and manner of the reception by his
Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of the deputation
from " The Royal Society for the Promotion and Im-
provement of the Growth of Flax in Ireland," and his
ready acceptance of the office of vice-patron. His
Excellency most eloquently and ably enumerated
the national advantages derivable from the carrying
out of the objects of the society, and stated that there
was nothing that they could point out to him, either
as vice-patron or in his official capacity, by which the
growth of flax and the manufacture of linen
could be promoted, in which they might
not be assured of his most cordial 'co-opera-
tion, while at the same time he showed that
it was on their own exertions they should depend, and
not on a recurrence to the obsolete and universally
condemned practice of protective imposts. He said,
" As a free-trader he thought that there should be no
restriction placed on the produce of other countries,
however remote from Great Britain, and the principle
of which he approved was, that they should buy in
the cheapest and sell in the dearest market, but that
did not prevent his desiring to see the productions of
his own country cheaper, better, and in all respects
superior to those of other countries." This is the
true principle, the only one from which great results
can ever be attained. Ireland possesses advantages
in its soil and climate which no other flax-growing
country in the world can parallel. The
coolness and humidity of the atmosphere
are better calculated to produce a fibre
capable of being wrought into extreme fineness, and
the value of the crop, varying from 401. to 2001. per
ton, depends wholly on the degree of fineness that
can be attained. If she produced the whole of the
raw material required for her manufacture, as she
might easily do, she need not fear the competition of
any nation in the world therein. We trust that the
flax growers and linen manufacturers will be sti-
mulated by the concluding observations of the Noble
Earl, and the reasonable expectations that may be
thereby occasioned, and also with the prospect of the
more satisfactory state of our commercial relations
with other nations, and increase their exertions to
merit the success that is within their reach. The
cultivators of the soil should no longer suffer their
country to be dependent on foreign lands for the ma-
terial which they can themselves profitably produce,
and which occasions a considerable drain of bullion
from the British dominions, while the manufacturers
should recollect with gratitude the statement of the
VICEROY—" That it was not the custom to nego-
tiate or put forward any particular article to the
special notice of any foreign Government in the in-
ternational communications which arose on questions
of trade, but with respect to the article of Irish linens
he would promise, on the part of Government, that
whenever a question should arise in which that inte-
resting branch of Irish industry could form the sub-
ject of discussion, it should command the best and most
earnest attention of the Ministers of the Crown."

A letter from Berne, of the 6th, says—
" Surprise follows surprise. You know that at the
cad of last year, when the Vorort of Zurich had,
according to the terms of the compact, to resign the
direction of the federal affairs into the hands of the
Government of Berne, the representatives of the
Courts of Russia, Austria, and Prussia, left Berne
(where the corps diplomatique had constantly resided
since 1815) with a certain affectation, and transferred
their residence to Zurich. In addition, far from corn-
pint-lentil-Kr the new Vorort on its entrance into power,
as is the usage at every change of the Directory, they
maintained the most disdainful silence. Since
then, these Ministers have only had with the
Vorort of Berne such relations as were strictly neces-
sary. After eight months' sulking, the Directory must
have been extremely surprised to receive yesterday a
dispatch from the Charge d'Affaires of Austria, con-
taining a note, by which Prince de Metternich com-
municates to the Vorort, to be transmitted to the
Confederated States, a statement of his differences
with the Holy See, and of the
communications ex-
changed between the
ee Imperialtothe CoeaebuinoaettioanhdofthFeerCroaurart.
oTfhletomi
importance of this proceeding cannot be ilis•
puted. First, in what concerns us the Cabinet of
Vienna, which, in the eyes of all Europe, had affected
the most profound disdain for the Swiss liberal party,
3i ,
oreupsrlyesethneted renewalby the Vorortdiplomatic of iane seeks spontane-
with the object of defending itselffo relations,
and that
the phrre;r:
aclteirntna n arbitrary acts, of which it fears
which has shown
More-
over, the Austrian Cabinet, w
very little esteem fur public opinion, es itself, by
the very force of things, constrained to
the judgment of nations, and attempts to 'ustifyinitoseklef
for an act which has happily failed. \VIc
may con
-
elude from this unexpected demonstration thatiateoiir;
in Italy do not assume a very favourable appearance
for Austria, and that the result of its attempt at in-
vasion is of a nature to lessen its disposition to inter-

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