The Sun.
London, England, 1823-02-05 00:00:00

`—encouraging them tolvirm and intrepid de-
fence of their rights and theirterritorles, from the
injustice and violence with Which they 'ire on the
, .
point of being assailed. •
Our Readers are aware that we bad for some
time looked forward to the Meeting' of Parlia.
ment for a powerful manisfeitation of the spirit
of Great -Britain, and of her resolution to avert,
:if possible; 'the intended outrage upon Spain, or
to aid her in her resistance, if the outrage should
actually be perpetrated. The manifestation of
the spirit of Parliament has been stronger than
our most sanguine wishes ventured to anticipate.
No man can now for a moment doubt that if
war does take place between France and
Spain, Great Britain will be involved in the, con.
test, and that she will be seen combating by the
sile of the oppressed, preserving them from the
ruin with which they are menaced, and scatter-
ing confusion and dismay amidst the oppressors.
It is impossible for any Englishman not to feel
that yesterday was onef of the proudest and most
glorious days in the history of his country !
There is still,
.however, something wanted to
give sublimity to the spectacle Great Britain
now 'presents to the world.—Lord LIVERPOOL,
has, in a manlier, solicited •the expression of
public opinion by the people themselves. We
trust that meetings therefore will be immediately
and universally held, for the purpose of at once
expressing the feelings and wishes of the nation, of
strengthening and supporting the Ministry in the
just and virtuous 'policy which they have adopted,
and of exhibiting, in their full lustre, the magni-
ficence and dignity of 'a great and free nation,
uniting with its GoVernment for the maintenance
of the rights and welfare of human society.
But, whatever may be the case in France, the
'small number of persons in England who were
advocates for the invasion of Spain, are at length
beginning to give way, and to believe, after all,
that war between France and gpain is not
absolutely inevitable I Our own Goiernment, it
appears " continue to use" their efforts for the
prevention.of so great a calamity ; a` d, though
the hopes of success in so good awork must
now be exceedinglyslender, it is, of course clear
that the British Ministry would not persist
in efforts to effect that which had become
utterly hopeless! God grant that its bene-
ficent labours be not frustrated. if France
be deterred from rushing into the perilous
conflict for which she has been so eager, it is evi-
dent that her• pacific dispositioni will he the
result rather of the attitude than of the
counsels of EnglAncl.,,,ju,.,tys respect we
may be allowed to say 'that our own humble
endeavours have had a salutary tendency.—
While those who affected to speak the sentiments
of the British Ministry were daily inciting
France to hostilities, our Readers now see that
we correctly expressed the sentiments of the
,British Cabinet, when we warned France
of the dangers which attended her measures, and
and when we pointed out what was the in-
dubitable policy, and what must he the in-
evitable conduct, of England, if France per-
severed !—lf any thing can now prevent France
from invading Spain, it must be the knowledge of
the, course which •ur Government, ill pursue.
That knowledge will possess increased force in
proportion to the strength with which public opi-
nion is expressed in favour of the views of
the • Government. If the people of England,
therefore, desire that war between France and
Spain should be avoided, they can do nothing
snore effectual towards the realization of their own
wishes, than to assemble every where for the pur.
pose of evincing their resolution to support Spain,
if the war should take place.