The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-13 00:00:00

[-MORNING HERALD.]

Another gun has been let off on the subject of
a French expedition to South America. The
number of men previously stated to have sailed
from Brest, and whose -destination was said to
have been satisfactorily explained to Sir C.
Stuart, falls far short of the preparations which
now appear to have been going on in that port.
For the last two months, several cargoes of ship-
building materials and marine stores were re-
ceived there from the north of Europe. A for-
midable fleet was in rapid progress towards a state
for taking the sea, and the workmen laboured even
on Sundays. These statements are given on the
authority of Captain Spence, of the ship Wil-
liam, who speaks from his own observation. Pa-
cific assurances have, it is said, been given to
Sir C. Stuart. We have heard that communica-
tions on the same subject had taken place be-
tween Mr. Canning and M. Chateaubriand, and
that the English Ministers demanded explana-
tions of preparations not only in French ports,
but in those of Spain also, especially in Cadiz.
Now it is known, that since, and in defiance
of a pledge given to Mr. Canning, an armi-
ment has absolutely sailed from Cadiz, under
Spanish colours, but really French. Not only
was it prepared by French money, and composed
of French soldiers and sailors, but under the
command of the French Government. The
French Papers stated its destination to be Lima,
hut it is much more likely to have
been directed
to the Havannah. The Island of Cuba is the
only real hold which Spain still possesses, and
even this most precariously. It is evident from
the proclamation of the Governor of the Island,
upon the arrival of Colonel Orlando, and
his re-
port of the fall of Cadiz, that there was a strong
and formidable dispositiOn to proclaim in-
dependence. It was stated that at the time
the proclamations issued by Ferdinand at Cadiz
only had reached Cuba. But his recanta-
tion of them on his arrival at Porta Maria
must also have been known ; for Colonel
Orlando did not leave Gibraltar for some days
after the surrender of Cadiz to the French. The
only doubt respecting the French expedition is,
whether its object be to support the authority of
Spain- or to take possession of the Island in the
name of France, pursuant to an agreement with
the present Government of Spain. The power ty
of the Spanish Government would most likely
induce it to part with Cuba—for a sum of money.
Indeed, it is said that a mortgage of the Island
was offered to the Government of this country by
the Constitutional Government shortly before, it
expired.

[BRITISII PRESS :I
The. Courier,•of late, has talked of nothing
but of armed preparation and war. One of our
Admirals was called by the seamen " Foul-
weather Jack," from his presence being always
ominous of a storm; and the Ex-Government
Gazette is completely a political augur of the
same description. Like the Trojan Cassandra,
it is eternally raving of threatening ills to
come. The worst of it is, that its annunciation
are as wholly unattended to; no one believes them
—they are like the idle wind thafpasses unregard-
`.The tale of the formidable prepararions in
Brest, where, according to the Croaking-Gazette
of
.war, eight sail of the line, five large frigates
and four
,smaller, lour brigs, and five sloops,,
were getting ready for sea, is one, we are per-
suaded, of mere romance. No preparations of
any thing like that amount are making in this
port. Demonstrations so' decidedly warlike
could not escape the vigilance of our Go-
vernment, and would be met at once by
demand of explanation, and a powerful &et
from our. ports. Our lineof-battle ships would
'at once be uncovered, and their topsails bent
to the wind, ready, for action. Any. Ministry
would 'deserve to be impeached that suffered a
hostile squadron, of the strength and numbers
mentioned in
,the Courier, to be armed in Brest,
or any other port of France, without instant
preparation in this country to meet it. The
French Cabinet must know that such would be,
the immediate result of any alarming detnonsta-
dons such as the Courier heralds ; .and that France
now possesses no marine that could cope with,the
naval power of this country. It is strange, that.,
that while the " foul weather" Courier is brewing ,
a sudden storm of, this description,, the French
Mioisterial Papers have not a ripple on their sur-
face. The Journal des Debats. of FriOaYl (M.

'de Villele's Paper) gives the strongest assurances
of the most pacific intentions on the part of
France—a policy this great Power, under exist-
ing circumstances, would be insane not to pursue.
" We read (this Journal says) in the American
" Papers, that England is understood to have pro-
" posed to the United States to join her in re-
" pelling all the attempts which the Continental
" powers may think fit to undertake against the
" independence of the American Colonies. We
are not (the Journal des Dads goes on to say)
" in the secrets of the Cabinets, and we know not
" how far this news may be false or true, but we
" do know that in waging war there must be at least
" two belligerent parties. Now as we perceive the
" Continent perfectly tranquil, and can find no-
" body who thinks of warlike exploits, the United
States may have the trifling pleasure, if they
" desire it, of parading their fleets in triumph
" over seas on which they will meet with none
" but friends." This article forms rather
a strange contrast to that of the Courier and
its Brest story—a pack" of stuff, which this
Paper " may tell to the marines, for the sailors
" never will believe it." France has now am-
bition sufficient to make any attempt, if she
dared,against the power and influence of this great
country ; but she has no naval force, either in
ships or seamen, to risk the contest, that she will
therefore remain at peace ; besides, her finances
need recruiting ; her expenditure in the Spanish
war was monstrous, and, is still, very heavy
for her army of occupation, for impoverished
Spain can supply no resources. Our own de-
cided impression is, that the present state of
peace in Western Europe is not likely to be
speedily disturbed, and that if a storm threatens
anywhere, it is in the east of Europe.—
Lord Strangford's most persevering efforts have
failed in adjusting the quarrel between Russia
and the Porte ; and it will need the most power-
ful influence of Great Britain and France com-
bined to save the latter infatuated and feeble
Power from the clutches of the Northern Giant
and his hordes, that now threaten on the fron-
tiers, and only want a signal to rush like famished
wolves on the Turkish provinces.

REGALIA AND ROYAL WARDROBE

OF CHARLES THE FIRST.

The ancient regalia of the kingdom, on the
abolition of Monarchy in 1649, was surveyed and
valued by order of Parliament in the month of
August, when there was found in the custody of
Sir Henry Mildmay, at the Upper Jewel House
in the Tower, besides a vast quantity of gold and
silver plate, the following crowns, sceptres, robes,
and other Royal paraphernalia. Five crowns of
different sorts, thus described, viz. :--