The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-02 00:00:00

MORNING EDITION•

WARLIKE S YMPTOMS

FRANCE.

The following are some of the statements made by
the Correspondent of a Morning Paper relative to
public feeling in the south of France. We are in'
clined to think the warlike symptoms are much eior
gerated :
You are aware that Perpignan is the capital town of
the 21st military division, which includes within its
circle the departments of the Eastern Pyrenees, of the
Aude, and of the Arriege. The ancient fortification:
of the place were augmented by Vauban, and the citadel
commenced under Charles IX. defends the town• rihe,
ramparts, which arc of brick, are lofty and flAnkea
with bastions, ravelins, cannon-proof "'Vets, and a
deep fosse. The Place d'Ar *nes forms an imineuse
square, the left side of which is composed of very
handsome barracks.
This department is now garrisoned by four regiments
of infantry, of three battalions each—namely, the 13th
and 47th Infantry of the Line, and the 13th and 16k
Light Infantry. There arc, besides, the Ist and 16th
Regiments of Chasseurs and an establishment of the sr
tillery attached to Perpignan, Pratz de Maim
garde, Mont Louis Coliiure, Port Vendres, Fort del
Bains, Villefranche, and Salees, all in the departmenci
of the Eastern Pyrenees. The whole effective force of
the army now spread over this department aloe ij
little short of 12,000 men. The Lieutenant-General
commanding is the Count de Castellano. The troops
are for the most part in good order, and have been for
the last four mobt Lis incessantly exercised ; but the °6;
cers complain much, that notwithstanding the frais de
representation allowed to General Gastellane, few
any of them are invited to his inhospitable boa!).
This produces a want of cordial social feel'
ing between the parties ; but if aay eemer-
gency were to arisa requiring the co-operation
the superior and subordinate officers, it would not.
• 13elle-
in

the least interfere with the exigencies of the service'
1 allude to this circumstance because an opinion Pad

vails in England that there is not that good feeling einii
intimate social union between the officers of the PO% •
army which prevails in England. This is, I thiak,
some degree a mistake. There certainly is "t
91 f
tone of quiet gentlemanly feeling among the offiOr:, •
the line in France which obtains in our own

(for the French officers in this branch of the service

are neither so well born, nor so well bred, as In 0
i
land,) but the mere fact of the offi;:ers not messing 10,
gether in common, as in England, but accordiogo,
rank, operates not in any degree to produce e°,ro
ness, reserve, or absence of intercommunication. or
• any one acquainted with the constitution and the 13-5
f. of the French army a general mess of all the 06cerd
. together would appear iinpossibie. The temper:ooP
frame of mind of soldiers and citizens at Perpigee- bt.
decidedly warlike. Much allowance must be undo is
edly made for the vehement and vivacious tempers
of the people of the south, and I am not dispose se,
visit occasional ebullitions of wounded vanity we to
verely ; but it seems to me, with every dispositi°,llo
make allowances for heated and exacerbated feeling' ti
the settled porpoise of this people is to insult and vieuaas
us by every means possible. In the affair of P.A.
external manners and conventional delicacy the Frell-01
man of the present day, if he be not a Carlist Acid
bred up in the traditions of a bygone school, is bebley
the most savage people in or out of Europe. Dei""jos
of sentiment, respect for the feelings of others, he le
none. Though it 'ivere easy for me on any ocea9nse
pass in any part of France as a Frenchman, tt100g"
language of conversation is as familiar to me as 0111.°00
and the language of style still more familiar, yet I and
never attempted to conceal that I am in hear, ;jot
soul a thorough Englishman. One would think,
under these circumstances, professing, at the '-e0
time, to like the language, literature, and social sYst'd,
of France, and desirous of pleasing and being 131.11:01
I might be permitted to pass through the south vat" it, ,
offensive remark ; but no—far, very far, frel% s
Though I have never in French society breathe 0
word against France or Frenchmen, I have been 010 b,
than twice, between Carcassonne and Perpignall'
ruptly addressed in the following fashion : Noes
Nous allons bientot vous voir a Londres.
allons bruler la Tour de Londres. hoes°
Messieurs, Je ne doute nullement de votre
velJnte! Je ne desire rnieux que vous venessia °hie!)
voir la has. Eh, mon Dieu! vous avez ete si „I've%
reussi depuis Crecy jusq' Waterloo, que vous
bientot vous nutres prendre encore l'initiatif."
;,hte
This is the universal pitch-plaister which st"vft
way silences those boasting braggarts, on what ;el
speeches would be thrown away. But, though sil6Pel;
for a season, they are neither tranquil nor resig'„od'
on the contrary, the memory of defeat maddePslal
galls them, and, as far as my observation extenw"
think they will never rest quiet till they have novePt,P:pe
tunity of wiping out from the public law of 3- 00
what they call the accursed treaties of 1815*
this subject, as on the frontiers of .the Rhinue'
Frenchmen are unanimous. The Carlist, the P.: l a
partist, and the Republican • meet -here aCO t
ground. Nay, in secret conclave, the Louis PhiliPilj •
professes his sympathy and confidence, but prudenlo •
considerations induce him to hold his tongue and "1)14
his time." Judge, therefore, for yourself whether tb% •
are elements of peace, and whether in such a seas°k
and in such a temper of the public mind a sPs' •
emitted may not produce an universal conflagratioa',,
It is not for me to speculate, much less to proph7s;
but, notwithstanding a temporary lull, it strikes roe
the chances of a prolonged peace are every day ul„o4'. •
Dishing. All the activity and energy, all the youog
.;sr,
°
vigorous blond of France, vehemently longs for "of
The monied interests, the bankers, the capitalists, to
some of the large shopkeepers. desire peace, b" kOO
great mass of the proprietors are neutral, and lc'e cy
•
with calm indifference, for "le sal (according to the
pression of Napoleon) 71C tremble vas." I‘llo/ tbjot
are, no doubt, among this class, who look to Ivor old
the realization of their hopes of a return of the
~tbe
dynasty—some, but very few, for a restoration otfee
Imperial sway ; but, I repeat, the great mass, with a 01.
exceptions, is indifferent, while the schools, the
sibs
versities, the clerks, the workmen, and 30,000 sibs
officiers, forming the bone and sinew of the arintils,
stuff, in a word, of which future Hoches. t •
and Murats will be made, are one and all for Pr° tbs
and immediate war. For the present month, or
next three months, or even year, these turbulent oPipte
may be kept under ; but I tell you, in their OW" Jr
guage, ravenir est a eux, and that the man, or the 1 10
nasty who seeks to curb them, will ult;mately ths
the attempt. These men arc impelled by two 01,a,
strangest passions—selfishness, and a sense of tot,the
however imaginary and unfounded. Uniting 14. of
suggestions of a calculating self-interest the ferociti4cl
the military spirit, and the hoarded venom of a "I°4l'oo, •
hate," all the stronger for being repressed for a 150; od
they long for the mament when the lust of rapioeid•
the thirst for revenge may be simultaneously gret.Hbat
This, you will say, is but a gloomy picture ; hut,: joo
I have observed for the last four months afford
proof that the colours are not overcharged.