The Sun.
London, England, 1823-05-24 00:00:00

preVent fifs union Witfi :Milans whenever he

pleased.

[THE TIMES.
We have referred with some anxiety to the
most recent information from Switzerland, in
order to ascertain the precise danger' with which
that country is threatened, whether from Aus-
triaP interference, or any other cause; for that
there is at the prosent moment something cri-
tical in the state of her foreign relations, no
one, notwithstanding the reserve and equiito-
cations of Ministers, entertains the smallest
doubt. We do not find any evidence that Aus-
tria has either demanded military occupation or
a passage for troops, but' it appears likely that-
some requisitions have been made of the
Diet not generally in use towards independent
nations, and calculated, therefore, to impugn the
independence of this free country. These have
proceeded, ft is said, not from Austria alone, but
equally from the other members oT the Holy
Alliance, and have related chiefly to the shelter
given by them to the Italian and other refugees,
and to the liberty of the press injoyed in the
Cantons. It has been urged to the Diet, that the
" insurrections," for the suppression of which the
Alliance was formed, are to no purpose put down
while Switzerland is allowed
.to become the focus
of new insurrections by sheltering the original au-
thors ; that they must be called on to. leave that
territory,and,to prevent the use that might be made
of sopotentan engine that new restrictions should
be placed on the Press. Though the delibera-
tions of the Diet are secret, enough has trans-
pired to shew that this body has acted with all
the independence of character consistent with
the very delicate situation in which they were
placed. There can be no doubt of their having
firmly disclaimed the right of the Allied Powers
to dictate on either of the points mentioned, as
a violation of their independence, and an inter.
ference with laws of the country. Weak States
are frequently compelled by circumstances to
adopt a temporizing policy ; but though it
is believed that a majority of the Members
of the Diet have granted to the Executive the
power of suspending the laws under which pro-
tection is accorded to foreigners, and even that
of putting further restrictions on the Press, it
'does not appear that the extraordinary powers
have been acted. on, nor that a tone of submis-
sion has been ever adopted towards the Merrr-
hers of the Alliance. Secret intimations have
been conveyed to some of the more distinguished
refugees, of the wish that, by voluntary removal,
they should cease to place Switzerland at variance
with her powerful neighbours, but force has not
in any instance been used. Feeling deeply, at
the same time, the insult to their independence
implied in the demand, the Swiss Government
has determined, we understand, to assume such
an attitude as will show at least a determined
spirit (however physically unable to resist such
powerful antagonists), if the course of aggression
thus begun is persisted in. Orders have been
issued to exercise the militia, the force on
which the Cantons entirely depend for pro-
ection, more frequently ; and it was ex-
pected they would shortly be called inlay
active service. The impression has become go-
neral, that Switzerland is about to be involved in
a war for her independence, we trust erroneously ;
but we have seen letters worthy of credit, which
speak unequivocally on this point. One from
Geneva of the 12th instant, and written by a
member of the Senate, anticipates this calamity
very distinctly ; and at Yverdun, as we learn by
letters of the same date, the students were armed,
and in readiness to march for the defence of the
country if attacked. Others were exercising
themselves as corps of guerillas.

INEW T M Es:l
The dispatch from Gerona is quite sufficient to
settle all doubts as to the progress of the Allied
arms ; and it is only necessary to point out the
relative situations of the places mentioned.—
Bocequillas is about 45 miles in advance of
Lerma, the last head-quarters: and it is 65 miles
from Madrid. t3uitrago, which the French van•
guard were, expected to reach on the 18th, is only
35 miles from Madrid, and within the Somosierra
pass. The defiles of Somosierra and Guadarrama
are most formidable, and would have afforded
A bisbal easy means of defence against almost any
superiority of numbers; but it would seem that
he has not attempted to make a stand there,
but has fallen back on Madrid, which is
incapable of a protracted defence. Probably
he was compelled to do this by the approach
of Gen. Obert on his right flank. The latter Ge-
neral commanding a division of the 2.d French
Corps, had passed the mountains which border
New Castille, and was on the 16th at Siguenza, 77
miles north of Madrid, and 54 east of l3uitrago.
fle communicated with the Royal Spanish Ge-
neral Bessieres by illedhui-Celi, 15 miles further
to the Eastward ; and Bessieres had been for
some time harrassing the runaway troops of Bal-
lasteros, who, instead of manoeuvring in con-
junction with Mina and Abisbal, as some
wiseacres have lately asserted, bad fled to
Teruel, nearly two hundred miles distant from
the former and about 150 from the latter.—
As to Mina, it is really amusing to see what
fond hopes the Liberals had built on the fancied
exploits of this hero, and how completely they
have ended in smoke.

[MORNiNG lIERAT.D.I
Notwithstanding the rejection of Sir ames
Mackititosles Resolutions, it is evident, from the tonJ
of the
speeches,even of those who opposed them, that the
principles
upon, which they are founded are gradually making way.--,
We would alines; suspect that a reluctance to enter upon a
subject of such extent at this period of the Session was among
the chief causes of their rejection. It is certain that some of
the wisest heads and most eloquent tongues have and out
of Pirliament laboured to effect a reforinathin of. our Uri.;
' mine 'Jaws ; yet with all this, and the unique freedom of
discussion and publication which we enjoy,. the despotic 00.
vernmenti of enslaved nations have outstripped 'England in
this career of inithanity and wisdom. This, however, though
matter of regret, is not matter of reproach. An enlighten-
ed Monarch, or a Monarch docile to the 'counsels of an en-
lightened Minister, is. alone' required, in the one case, to
carry Reform Into imMediate effect.' It is one of the few dia.:
advantages of a Constitution like the British; that' prludice,
timidity, narrolimessts of intellect, and various 'ether. coun.
teracting biasses, must be overcome, before *lse' and en.
lightened views can be clothed in tho garb of law. There
is little doubt that much of the opposition which the told.
gation of punishments has heretofore ekperieficed, sprang
from feelings even less deserving of Indulgence, an more sel-
fish. If the Ministers should take up the matter,d as there is