The Sun.
London, England, 1824-08-17 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL JOURNAL(4.

• ( From the Liverpool Courier, Aug. 11, 1024.)
• The intrigues of the Courts of Europe still
seem to be directed towards Portugal and the American States,
• with reference to the great object in . which they appear to have
united, and which they have made the guiding star of their po-
licy—the subjection of all the political changes in Europe and
its dependencies to their own will. We know of no corifederacy
so much. calculated to excite alarm and the spirit of resistance,
in this country, as that which has been thus formed by the Con-
tinental Governments; for, though it may be hopeless with
them to attempt any thing against the liberties of Great Britain,
so long as that liberty exists, so long as at constitutional and
iimitettillonareby continues, it must be the object of their hatred;
and whatever measures can oppose our influence and interests;
whatever may tend to shut us out from the notice of other
powers, and prevent them looking up to us for justice and pro-
tection ; whatever can vex us in our interests and obstruct us in
our commerce, will be resorted to on plan anal system, and with
all that pertinacity which projects that result rather from pre-
judices than principles never fail to supply. No cause was
clearer, none snore just, or politic, or necessary than that in
which we engaged, with all the might and wealth ot' the country,
to win the independence of Europe from the grasp of military
jacohinism, and to set up its legitimate thrones, as the guarantee
of its independence, its return to a permanent peace, and its
progressive improvement. And it was with these views that the
struggle was continued almost to exhaustion on our part, and on
the part of the greater part of the German, anal especially the
Prussian, people, whose heroic efforts, in that last and eventful
' contest ye held up a guiding and inspiring light no future
ages. But that grand and sublime contest, one of the noblest in
the history of modern ages, was not roused into ardour that
Europe might have only to choose betwixt the the tyranny of ra-
dicalism and the tyranny of bigoted and popish politics ; the
attempt to beat down all countries under the rude and vulgar
foot ot armed jacobi nes, or their being placed under the withering
influence of monks and Jesuits. It seems, therefore, a part of
that very plan of rescuing Europe, for which we have expended
so much blood and treasure, that the independence of Europe
should be secured against dangers on both sides. This follows
as a consequence upon what we have done already ; and unless
:
we accomplish the work fully, it had been better that we had not
commenced it. We are convinced, that this confedracy must,
to secure all the moral ends of the last war, be broken up by
the efforts of this country ; and we know of nothing which
could bestow a greater benefit upon the restored Governments
themselves, than that the British Cabinet should take the
highest ground on this important question. It would throw
them upon their own people for support and affection, instead of
leaning upon each other and the armies they can furnish. It
is so in another view. It is impossible that that position into
which they are throwing back the European States should con-
tinue. All the measures pursued, ciliate, by the Holy Al-
liance tend only to foster revolutions, and, by stretching
the how of authority, fatally to fracture it. The peace
of the world, anti the depression of anarchical principles,
that extreme to which absurd and oppressive Government
always goes, both require, that the principle of combination
among these Courts, to controul the internal concerns of
nations, should be relinquished ; and our own interests and
safety, as well as these general political views, demand it—
We have made these remarks with reference to that part of
the news of the week which intimates the plans which the
Emperor Alexander, in concert, no doubt, with the other
Powers, seems to halve proposed for the pacilicution of Spanish
America and the Brazils, and which hold but a bait to their
submission to the dynasties of Spain and Portugal, by the offer
of regulations favourable to the Americans themselves. It is
scarcely worth the while .to discuss these plans; the fact
is, they are not the plans of a mediating power, but of Courts
who assume the right to controul, and who, when they advise,
only do it under an implied menace. They determine what
Government European Spain shall have ; they assume to set the
Queen against her husband and the Prince against his Father,
HI Portugal. This is the principle to which we are hound to
object and make a stand, and we know nothing on which Mi-
nisters could incur a greater responsibility than in notwith-
standing it. Their eyes arc doubtless open; and these new
assumptions of pretension, on so large a scale, to rule the po-
licy both of the parent powers and all their vast dependencies
in every part of the world, will, no doubt serve still more to
quicken their decision. The late news front Cuba indicates
the use which France is making of her power in Spain. The
duties on her shipping are to be reduced from twenty-seven per
cent. to six, whilst those on English cargoes remain the
same. If this be correct, who does not see that the possession
of Spain by French armies amounts to a conquest, and that,
as the Spanish Court is a Inere name, the balance of power is
violated, and that Spain is a province of France ? We see,
now, the interest which France has in the question of Ameri-
can] independence ; she makes war already upon our commer-
cial welfare, and, by keeping up time anti-independent party,
she aims at the extinction of the present free States of America
only to possess herself of their counsels and to raise her interests
upon the ruin of ours. It is impossible that we should long
remain the sport of all this chicanery.

DEVON PO WC COLUMN.—On Thursday last, the
anniversary of his MAJESTY'S Birth-day, the foundation Niie
of the Devonport Column was laid on the site appointed for the
building, which is an eminence near the Town Bali.

A lute number of the Wesiphalian Gareth
says--“ The Egy wino Ophthalmia has suddenly
appeared in the barracks of the military at
Munster , and in point of fact to so violent a
degree, that the 2d battalion of the 18th in.
fantry has been marched out to Tilyte. The
same distressing malady is said to prevail at
Obnabruek."

Frne.—On Saturday night, about eleven
o'clock, the female servant of Mis. ‘Vetherail,
cowkeepar, in Swiss-yard, 7Westmirbster, was
awoke by hearing the horses in the stable, ad-
joining her room, plunging and. groaning very
loud. She got up and went to the stable door to
see what was the matter, when she saw a light
in the loft above the stable ; she alarmed the
family
,and neighbours, and as soon as the stable
door was opened, the fire rushed out with dread-
ful violence ; the whole neighbourhood in-
4aptly became a scene of great confusion from the
'extensive stabling, which vas built entirely of
wood being in great danger; the engines quickly
arrieed; and by very great exertions, the fire was
confined to the stable where it bioke out, which
was levelled to the ground ; one horse.was..fiiund
-
burnt to death, another has since died, and a
mare, in rpal, valued t 100 guineas, is so dread.
fully burnt that it is feared she must be
It appeared nothing but a miracle prevented the
fire extending 'it's rayagei to "the' other stables,
for if it had, besides the great quantities of hay,
straw, &c., upwards of 130 cows would have
fallen victims to the devbiiring elemenL