The Sun.
London, England, 1823-04-08 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL JOURNALS.

( From the Dublin Correspondent.)

The London Journals of Saturday have ar-
,
*rived, and they bring the important intelligence that hortilities
have actually commenced between France and Spain. So the
Ow** Evening Paper announces; but we observe no indi-
cation of it on any of the Paris Papers which we have received
up to Friday morning. One of these merely states that a slight,
affair of posts between the Royalist and Constitutional Spa.
nerds took place on the night of the 17th, on the Eastern Py-
renees, near Perpignan. This is what often occurred befOre.
The principal part of the French army is stationed on the
Western Pyrenees, about Bayonne. It is in this quarter it
means to penetrate into Spain, while it appears the Spanish
Royalist Corps, or the Army of the Faith, under Baron
, d'Eroles' is entrusted with the duty of either guarding the
'Eastern Pyrenees, or penetrating into Catalonia. It was here
that the Spanish Constitutional troops,, under Mina, made the
irruption above alluded to. It is said he crossed the frontier,
'and defeated d'Eroles on the night mentioned. All this may
true,be _ or it may not. But what is to be inferred from it p
I.lt is this—that the French army cannot successfully de-
fend itself even. on the contracted line of the Pyrenees;
and therefore how shall it be placed, when every step it
takes in advance will enlarge the circle by which it can be.
assailed ?'—There is, we apprehend, a perverse fatality hang-
big over the Bourbons, and driving them on to this enterprise/
We are now informed by the e * * *, which seems to be the
legitimate organ of this Family, that the disaffection Which was
said to prevail among the. French troops on the frontiers has
; not occurred, but the conspiracy alludedto only referred to a
number of persons who were preparing to proceed from Paris
to the army,, armed with the tri-coloured insignia, in or-
der to induce it to swerve from the duty imposed upon it of irt.,
vading Spain.—lt is really amusing to observe the shifts and
expedients the two London Journals, the C • * ' and N * *
T • • *—(and, for the himour of the British Nation, we find
only two which have supported this' iniquitous project)-..are
obliged to resort to,- for the purpose of colouring their shameful
advocacy. At one time the character and, conduct .of Louis
XVIII. are compared with those of William 1n.3 of glorious
memory. What an infatuation—what a prostitution of charac•
ter—what a pervision of history l• We are next gravely told
by one of these Papers, that a dreadful conspiracy is in existence
against all Thinned which embraces the' discontented of all
countries—the ramifications• extend to' the new and the old
world—and all have agreed and sworn to ohe unity of object—.
that of creating. revolution in every nation. Abbi Barnel was
at one time admired for the ingenuity with' which he advanced
a proposition of this. kind;: but he charged the Freemasont as
the authors of thit crime.—The Abbt and his work have, how./
ever, sunk into oblivion ;- and it remained only for' such a sage
politician as the Editor of the C****** to discover a new set
of employer in the great work of retolution. That mankind
will always.furnish a number of persons alive to its best hue/
rests—ardent in their pursuit, and willing to'
,brave 4anger in
their advancement—is matter of glorious triumph. V7e should
indeed lament when , such would not be the case It might
bring to our recollection that period of the history of the world,
from the third to the thirteenth century, when it had been en-,
velOped in political and religious darkness/ That period—
thanks' to the Press—shall" never arrive again. The above
Journals, and their supporters, may lament over the circum-
stancefbut that is all they' can do. The spirit of the age—the
expanded information of matkintf—and. the. grand itnprove-
meats in arts and sciences, have' all contributed to remove from
ur any apprehension that Europe' again will be sunk into mental
obscuration. The sing of Spain had taken his depar•
tore from Madrid' on the' 20th ult., agreeable to the
ahnot4neethent before promulgated. Be was accompanied by an
escort of five, or six thousand men. Upwards of twenty thousand
militia were to occupy the road' leading to Seville, where his
future domicile is fixed. As it is evident that the safety of
this incomparable personage; And true specimen of Bourbon
undemanding, is an object of great solicitude to the Holy
Alliance, we are gratified toperceive that it is also one of equal
interest to the Spanish people. Nothing can raise the character
of this nation more than the deference it, has shewn to the illo-
'narchical principle,, in its indulgence to the faults and frailties
of this individual He had committed errors, that at other
times, and under' other circumstances, would have drawn on
him the utmost rigour of public inination ; but this brave
and sensible,people have drawn an at mirable lesson from the
extravagance and cruelties of the French Revolution, and they
have respected the office, at the same time making allowance
for the aberrations of perverted' education, In this we cannot
but admire their wisdom and moderation. And yet, notwith-
standing. all this clemency, and all the prudence they have dis-
played in effecting a reformation in their institutions—not
shedding scarcely one drop of blood in accomplishing so
great a good for their country—they have been unable to
secure the respect of the other Governments of Europe.—
Whatl an awful lesson does this view of the Spanish Re-
volution afford to the other Monarchs of Europe. They.
should surely pause before they would consent to visit
with the same penalties the moderation of the Spanish people,
and the cruel 'and sanguinary proceedings of die French Jaco-
bins. We are aware that the C*"**" and its copyists endea-
vour to represent the French and Spanish Revolutions of simi-
lar character, and to recognise in 'both a • tendency to destroy
that respect for the Monarch so necessary in all well-regulated
States. But the effect of the sophistry of this Journal would
be, to break down all the distinctions between justice and
crime, between praise and blame, between moderation and
cruelty, and in fact between virtue and vice. If the people of
Spain are to be visited with invasion because they effected a
bloodless regeneration of their institutions, and secured the
Monarch his throne, will it Dot induce the people of other na-
tions, under similar circumstances, not to regard in what light
their conduct may be considered, but to follow the dictates of
a severe and awful justice ? The distinction ought to sink
deep in the minds of those who now wield the power of king-
dom*. Their conduct is in fact on trial—anti .we trust they
will she* that they know how to distinguish between what is
.commendable and what is to be reprobated, and that they will
not pursue the impulse of a blind zeal when they imagine they
ate performing a sacred duty.

DUTY ON STONES.—At the Meeting of the
Town Council on Wednesday the Lord Provost
and Magistrates resolved to present a petition
to Parliament, praying that the duty might be
taken off stones:and slates carried coastwise. The
duty levied on stones amounts to about 27 per
cent.,—to such a sum as had hitherto almost pre-
vented the builders of Edinburgh from using the
Forfarshire stones, except as cisterns ; although
they are peculiarly suited for inside stairs, and
for paving the under flats of houses where there
are any appearance of damp.—(Edinburgh Cou-
rant, April 5.)

EXECUTION or JOHN 'BOLT.—Tilifi unfortunate
young man, since his trial (a report of which appeared in THE
Sum), at our assizes, for attempting the life of Jane Jusland, at
Lifton-park, has conducted himself in a very penitent and
pro per manner. In Conversation on Thursday (the 3d inst.),
with the Rev. Mr. Chave„ Chaplain to the prison,she expressed
the deepest sorrow for having committed the dreadful act„ but
was at aloss to account for the impulse whielt prompted him to
it; his mind, he said, was in such a state of frenzy that he knew
not what he did, hut he had often meditated self-destruction.
—lle affirmed, that she had given him encouragement for 12
Months, during which time he had never parted from her at
night without saluting her; and that. he first heard Prom his
master of her being engaged to another man. To the turnkey, he
said, " I love her ;Bearer than any woman upon earth, and I
would suffer my body this moment to be cut into pound pieces
to do her any, service."
Ile had kill within a few days enter-
tained tes. ofa reprieve ; but this could not be granted With.
out manifest hijtistice to others who have forfeited their lives
for less offences.' Hilt sleep on Thursday was sound anti unin-
terrupted t and yesterday morning (Friday the 4th inst.) he re.
ceived the sacrament according to his desire. At 12 o'clock he was
led out of his cell, and walked with it firm step through the, ave-
nues to the Court-yard. The other prisoners were assembled
there, with whom lie shook hands, repeating several times,
while tears streamed over his face, " Gixl bless you, my
dear fellows—God bless you 1" In his way to the place of ,
execution, he said, " The deed is done, anti cannot be un-,
done—but I. bope God will receive my soul." On the scaf-
fold he appeared to stiffer much inward feeling, and trembled'
exceedingly; btit his manner, as well as his expressions, were
perfectly resigned. When the Chaplain had finished the
usual prayers,. in which he devoutly Joined, he said to those'
around, " Tell her 1 forgiveher,' and I
,hopesho forgive.
me. 77-- If you see my deur parents, tell them I died
happy, and at peace with all mankind." Just before he gave'
the fatal signal, an acquaintance ascended,tbe:platforin to shake'
hands with him, to whom his parting viortis were, ". God bleast
you ; when we meet again, I hope it will be in a better. place.";
About 2b. minutes, past 12 o'clock,, this unhappy victim of
powerful passion yielded his life in expiation of his outrage on
the laws of his country. On his coffin was this' simple inscrip-i
non—" J. 8., aged 21, 11123."—( Exeter Gazette.)
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