The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-14 00:00:00

• have been expressed in London to ascertain the senti.
ments of the British Government on this matter pro-
fessedly with a view that the two Governments might
be enabled to take a common course, while at the same
time inch precipitation was displayed at Madrid in hur-
rying. on a course which the French Government had
been informed was one in which the co-operation of the
British Government was not to be expected.
But the marriage of the Queen of Spain is a matter
which concerns Spain chiefly, and other countries only
indirectly; and although her Majesty's Government
may have its own opinion as to the manner in which
that marriage has been settled, they would probably not
have thought it necessary to make any official commu-
nication to the French Government on that matter, if it
had been an insulated transaction, and had not been
coupled with the projected marriage of the Infanta to
the Duke of Montpensier; thus forming part of a most
objectionable political arrangement.
It is the projected marriage of the Duke of Mont-
pensier to the Infanta which renders the present com-
munication necessary, and it is against that marriage
that the British Government must formally remonstrate
and protest.
Such a marriage would give just cause of political
jealousy to other powers, and unless accompanied by
public acts in France and in Spain, of which as yet no
mention has been made, might give rise to questions
calculated to disturb the peace of Europe.
The British Government hopes that the Queen of
Spain may lire many years to enjoy a long and pros-
perous reign, and wishes that her approaching marriage
may be blessed with an ample succession to the Spanish
Crown ; but the uncertainty of human affairs renders it
necessary to contemplate the possibility that the Crown
of Spain might devolve upon the Infanta.
If this should happen, the Infanta being married to
the Duke of Montpensier, that Prince would be placed
in that very position of consort to the Queen of Spain
which the King of the French three or four years ago,
himself, as I have before stated, practically acknowledged
that no son of his ought to occupy, and thus, in conse-
quence of such a marriage, that event which the King of
the French declined to arrive at by direct means might
by indirect means be brought to pass ; and it appears to
her Majesty's Government that good faith requires that
what has been relinquished in one way should not be
sought after in another.
But if the line of Queen Isabella were to fail, and if

there should at the same time exist issue of the marriage
of the Infanta with the Duke of Montpensier, a serious
question might arise respecting the succession to the
Spanish Crown. For it is perfectly clear, that by virtue
of the renunciation made at the peace of Utrecht by the
Duke of Orleans of that day, all his " descendants, male
and female, from that time and for ever, are excluded,
disabled, and incapacitated from succeeding to the throne
of Spain in what manner soever the succession might
fall to their line," and therefore the children and de-
scendants of the Duke of Montpensier would, in conse-
quence thereof, be excluded from succeeding to the
Spanish Crown. But, however plain the words, and
however positive the effect, of that renunciation must be
acknowledged to be, the children or descendants of this
marriage might endeavour to set up a claim in virtue of
the rights which they might allege to have inherited
from the Infanta, and thus, unless all pretence for doubt
on this point were at once removed by some valid act of
renunciation en the part of the Infanta for herself and
her descendants, the stipulation of the Treaty of Utrecht
might be set aside by an evasion, or the peace of Europe
might be disturbed by another war on account of the
succession to the throne of Spain.
But these considerations might also give rise to a
question of more immediate practical application, be-
cause there seems good ground for the assertion which
has been made in Spain, that in consequence of the ex-
clusion of the line of Orleans by the transaction of
Utrecht, the marriage of the Infanta, to the Duke of
Montpensier would be contrary to the law and constitu-
tion of Spain.
Her Majesty's Government can scarcely believe that
a Government so anxious as that of France has pro-
fessed itself to be to respect the tranquillity of neigh-
bouring states, and to preserve the peace of Europe, can
insist upon the completion of a marriage which threa-
tens immmediate danger to the one, and is calculated to
place in serious jeopardy the other.
But even if the objections to this marriage which are
founded upon the Treaty of Utrecht and the law of
Spain were as weak and untenable as the British Go-
vernment considers them strong and conclusive, the
British Government would still protest against this
marriage as inconsistent with a due regard to the ba-
la❑ce of power in Europe, and as necessarily tending to
affect injuriously the nature and character of the rela-
tions between England and France.
It is impossible for the British Government to look
upon this marriage as a mere domestic arrangement be-
tween two royal families. It is a political transaction
between two great European Powers; and it would tend
to link the policy of the one to that of the other in re-
gard to the foreign relations of both in a manner which
would be dangerous to other States.
The British Government attaches great importance to
the maintenance of friendly relations both with France
and with Spain; and as long as the British Government
in its dealings with France shall have to consider only
what may be justly due to the interests and honour of
France; and in its dealings with Spain shall only have
to show a similar respect for the honour and interests of
Spain; there is reason to expect that the spirit of justice
and moderation which it may be hoped will always
direct the councils of England will secure the continu-
ance of peace between Great Britain and those two
Powers. But, if Spanish interests are to sway the
foreign policy of France, or, if French interests are to
sway the foreign policy of Spain, Great Britain may
find herself involved in serious differences with one of
those Powers, without having given it any well-founded
cause of complaint, and may be unable to re-establish
friendly relations with the one without submitting to
what may be unreasonable and unjust demands on the
part of the other.
The British Government considers the projected mar-
riage of the Duke of Montpensier to the Infanta as cal-
culated thus to link together the policy of France and
Spain ; and as France must be admitted, without any
disparagement to Spain, to be the greatest power of the
two, this marriage would tend to affect, most injuriously
for the interests of other States, the political indepen-
dence of Spain.
But the injurious effects of this marriage would not
be confined to their direct operation on the foreign re-
lations of Spain. They would be felt also through the
medium of her internal concerns.
Past experience does not warrant any confident ex-
pectation that Spain will in future be entirely free from
those violent outbreaks which have so often taken place
within her territory of late years.
The French Government has wisely laid it down as
a rule of conduct to abstain from any armed interference
in the internal affairs of Spain on these occasions. But
if this marriage should be concluded, and a more close
and direct connexion should thus be established between
the two reigning families, will not the chance be in-
creased that some -military interference of France in
Spain may not only involve France in a struggle with
the national passions of the Spanish people, but may also
lead other powers again to make Spain one of the battle-
fields of Europe ?
It is impossible that Great Britain can be an indif-
ferent observer of au event which may lead to such re-
sults ; and it is not in the nature of things that an event
so brought to pass, and calculated to produce such
results, should not exercise a most injurious influence
upon the relations between Great Britain and France.
The manner in which this projected marriage has been
arranged, the political views in regard to the future which
it discloses, the possible consequences which it might
produce, not only to the friendly relations between Great
Britain and France, but in many suppo3able cases to the
peace of Europe, induce the British Government ear-
nestly to remonstrate against it, and to express their
anxious hope that it may not be concluded.
Your Excellency is instructed to assure the French
Government that the strong objections which the British
Government feels to this marriage do not spring from
any unworthy jealousy of the natural greatness or of the
just power of France.

In-a
great European "crisis, not very long Eine° gone
by, Great Britain was the foremost to acknowledge the
great importance of maintaining the French monarchy
unimpaired as an essential element in the balance of

pocei in Europe. The present Government of Great
Britain fully share, in this respect, the sentiments of
their predecessors of that day. The British Govern•
meet will rejoice to see France happy, prosperous, and
powerful.
But France possesses within her own ample
territory, and in her own immense resources, the means
of maintaining that high position which Providence has
destined her to occupy among the nations of the world;
and all attempts on her part to establish, by indirect
methods, an illegitimate influence over other States,
which, though not so powerful as herself, are equally en-
titled to perfect national independence, must, from the
very nature of things, end at last in disappointment and
failure. But the struggles through which that failure
will be brought about must be productive of evil to
France as well as to all the other States that may be in-
volved in them.

Her Majesty's Government being desirous of giving
to this communication the most friendly form which is
consistent with a full and authentic expression of their
sentiments, do not instruct you to embody the sub-
stance of this dispatch in a note, but I am to desire
that you will read this dispatch to M. Guizot, and that
you will send him, officially, a copy of it.

I am, &c.