The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-10 00:00:00

MONDA V EVENING, JANUARYI 10,

the Duke of Brunswick were invading France,
that he was, in fact, al ways opposed to war and to
those who advocated it. and that one of the allied
sovereigns said " that if M. Robespierre had lived they
would have had peace"—meaning, of course, peace
on the terms contained in the Duke of Brunswick's
manifesto. Napoleon was, it is well known, con-
nected with Robespierre ; and it was this connexion
which induced Louis XVIII. to write to the First
Consul, urging him to hasten on the time of restora-
tion, for Louis XVIII. no doubt considered that Na-
poleon, who had taken service under Robespierre,
was fully prepared to carry out the views of his
former patron ; besides all which, we have heard
it remarked, during the days of the restora-
tion, -as a proof of the complicity of Robes-
pierre with the Bourbons, that the sister of
Robespierre was in the regular receipt of a pension
from the Government of the Restoration. Mr. St.
John quotes a passage from one of his reports to the
convention, as a proof that his talents have been
much underrated. "The man," says Mr.'St. John,
" who could write an ironical passage like the follow-
ing could not be wholly contemptible :"
" The False Revolutionist. —Full of fire for great
resolutions which signify nothing—more than indifferent
for those which might honour the cause of the people
and save the country—much devoted to patriotic forms,
and attached (like the bigots they war against) to
exterior forms, they would rather wear out a hundred
red caps than do one good action. . . . . Should
we act, they talk; should we deliberate, they commence
by acting; should we defend the territory, they wish to
go in search of tyrants beyond seas and over mountains;
should we retake our frontiers, they are for assaulting
our churches and scaling heaven! They forget the
Austrians to make war on devotees ; should we support
our cause by the fidelity of our allies, they declaim
against Governments, and prepare a decree of accusation
against the Great Mogul!"

Mrs. Crowe, who has recently joined the Mirror
corps, contributes a highly interesting tale, entitled
"The Two Women of Nuremberg," and Maxwell,
also a new hand here, commences one of his unrivalled
pictures of camp life, under the title of " The
Revelations of a Mess Table." The letter on
"The Choice of a Profession," by Clelius, is full of
quiet sarcasm, and "A paper on Pantomimes," by Mor-
ris Barnett, is quite a propos to the season ; but we are
forgetting our old friend " Paul Pevensey," whose
adventures are continued in this number. Paul is
arrested as a spy by the miners out on strike, and
conveyed to their stronghold. The account of a
strike in the colliery districts is admirable ; there is
something very graphic in the description of the
murder of the magistrate, and the reflections of the
writer on popular tumults are worthy the consideration
of the philanthropist and the statesman. Would that
the gentry of Ireland would ponder over the following
passage :

" The insurgents had been taught, through no one
knew what agency, to believe in the lawfulness of as-
sassination. Secret societies meeting sometimes in
remote and desolate places, as in the beer-shop and
ruined windmill above described; sometimes in the ale-
houses and crowded streets of the towns, drew up the
muster-rolls of death, distributed daggers, and coolly
inculcated the principle that to assassinate a rich man
was to remove a public enemy—consequently, a virtuous
rather than a vicious action. Still, to the credit of the
educated classes be it spoken, there took place no instance
of pusillanimous flight. The gentry firmly stood their
ground—confronted the danger—reasoned, when oppor-
tunity offered, with their misguided neighbours ; and
sought to impress them with the belief that their past
neglect and oppression ought rather to be attributed to
the operation of general laws, acting alike on all classes,
for the preservation of barbarism, than to any tyranni-
cal propensities in the possessors of property. Even the
murder of the magistrate, though reports of it spread
like wildfire, mixed up with innumerable exaggerations,
produced no difference in their conduct. They seemed
ready to brave the assassin's dagger, or any other form
of peril to which the circumstances of the times might
give birth, rather than ignobly abandon their posts, as
persons have at various times done in other parts of the
empire, where the consciousness of some deserving may
possiby inspire more craven thoughts. An excited po-
pulace is terrible, but may often be successfully encoun-
tered by a frank and manly courage, upheld by the
consciousness of rectitude—as was proved again and
again by incidents which would all deserve to be nar-
rated, were it my object to give here a complete history
of the strike."

The Mirror begins the new year well. It is equal
to any, superior to most of its contemporaries.

FINE ARTS.
THE ART-UNION. No. CX Y.

With the commencement of a new year, the Art li
-
Union enters upon a new career of enterprise and
excellence. Both in the beauty of the embellishments
and the appositeness of the literary articles, there is
already visible a very remarkable and laudable im-
provement. It is intended, according to the an-
nouncement contained in the prospectus, to issue
every month in the magazine " two full engravings
and an engraving from a statue," these engravings
being copies from originals lent by the munificence of
their distinguished, and, in several instances, illustri-
ous owners. In the number for January, for example,
there is an effective engraving by J. Brown from the
picture of R. Thorburn, being a portrait of H.R.H.
Prince Albert; and the original painting has been tent
by her Most Gracious Majesty. "Landseer's Breakfast
Party" is admirably transcribed by Finden ; and the
graver of W. Roffe, has given a delicate and exqui-
site representation of the Psyche of Sir R. 'Nest
macott. Besides the critical portion of the Art-Union,
which, be it observed, displays as hitherto both matu-
rity of judgment and refinement of taste, there is a
delightful contribution by Mrs. S. C. Hall. Not
" Midsummer Eve," that being already completed,
but the opening of a new serial called " Pilgrimages
to English Shrines." illustrated by foot-notes and
woodcuts from the pen and pencil of F. W. Fairholt.
This instalment recounts a pilgrimage no less inte-
resting than one to " The Burial Place of Hampden"
the patriot, not the bishop elect of Hereford. The
other departments of this monthly journal are filled
with discrimination, and, what is not less important
now-a-days, compactness.

A SERIES OF MODERN MAPS. Parts Xlll.
and XIV. By John Sharpe and J. Wilson Lowry.
This excellent succession of maps progresses in a
manner which promises the fulfilment of the various
merits predicted in the advertisement. The engraver
is as painstaking as the supervisor is intelligent.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, SUNDAY.—Yesterday the Queen and
Prince Albert took their usual early walk.
The Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess
Royal, and the Princess Alice, walked out yesterday
forenoon, and the Prince of Wales and the Princess
Alice took airings in the afternoon.
Prince Albert enjoyed the sport of shooting yes-
terday morning. His Royal Highness was accorn
panied by Lord John Russell, and was attended by
the Marquis of Ormonde, Mr. G. E. Anson, Colonel
the Hon. C. B. Phipps, and Colonel Seymour.
Her Highness the Duchess of Kent arrived
from Frogniolre Royalrognio re House at the Castle yesterday after-
noon, and visited her Majesty and Prints Albert.
Lord John Russell left the Castle yesterday after-
noon, for his residence in Richmond Park.
This morning her Majesty and Prince Albert took
their accustomed early walk.
The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise.
The Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court and the
domestic household attended Divine servic this morn-
ing in the private chapel of the Castle. The Hon.
and Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay officiated.

a meeting of the Trustees a the British
M His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
att
At the Chapel Royal, St. James's, yesterday, the
prayers were read by the Rev. J. Povah, the lessons
by the Rev. T. Helmore, and the communion service
uesned uemd
by the Rev. Dr. Wesley. The sermon was preached by
the Rev. Dr, Irving. The musical service was Men-
on Saturday.
Men-
delssohn's. The anthem was " Rejoice in the Lord"
(Humphrey). Mr. George Cooper presided at the
Ebrington, Lords Sandwich and Canter-
organ. The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, Lord
present.
banudry, wL,
adeyre among the nobility

OF FICIA L DISPATCHES RELAT-
ING TO SWITZERLAND.
M. Guizot has laid before the Committee on the
Address the documents connected with the affair of
Switzerland. They are twenty-two in number. The
most important are the following:—
No 1 is the treaty of alliance, or federal compact.
of the Swiss cantons, entered into on the 16th of
August, 1814.
.No. 2 is the declaration of the 20th March, 1815,
by which the Congress of Vienna recognise the in-
tegrity;and independence of the Helvetic confede-
ration.

No. 3 is the adhesion of the cantons to this declar-
ation.

No. 4, is the act recognising the neutrality of
Switzerland.
No. 5 is a dispatch from M. Guizot to the Count de
Pontois, dated the 10th February, 1845, by which the
Count is desired to invite the Vorort to take measures
for the suppression of the free corps.
No: 6 is a dispatch of a similar tenor, dated the 3d
of March, 1845.
No. 7 is a dispatch of the 25th March, 1845, in
which M. Guizot declares his friendly feeling for
Switzerland, and his respect for its independence.
No. 8 is a dispatch, dated June 19, 1845, in which
M. Guizot desires M. de Pontois to engage the Diet
to discuss in a pacific and conciliatory spirit the
questions of internal policy which would be submitted
to it.

No. 9, dated October 24, 1846, is a dispatch from
M. Guizot to the Count de Flahault, the French
Ambassador at Vienna. In this dispatch, which may
be regarded as the commencement of the project of
a congress in the affairs of Switzerland, M. Guizot
alludes to a note from Prince:Metternich, recommend-
ing a council of the great Powers, and wishing to
know what view the French Cabinet took of the new
revolutionary Government at Geneva. M. Guizot
desires M. de Flahault to inform the Prince that he
regarded the change in Geneva like others which had
taken place in other cantons, and did not intend to
interfere then, but would see what was to be done at
a later period. As regarded the council of the great
Powers, suggested by the Prince, M. Guizot expresses
his perfect concurrence, and desires M. de Flahault
to make this officially known.
No. 10 is another dispatch to M. de Flahault,
dated Jan.2s, 1847, in which M. Guizot acknowledges
the receipt of a communication from Prince Metter-
nich, recommending that the great powers, in order to
prevent the breaking out of civil war in Switzerland,
should declare that they would not permit the sove-
reignty of the cantons to be violated, and the Diet to
have recourse to arms. M. Guizot approves of this
suggestion, and says it is the only way that can have
any real effect. Ile recommends that the representa-
tives of the great Powers should be instructed to make
it, as soon as the question of the expulsion of the
Jesuits, and the dissolution of the Sonderbund, is
brought before the Diet. M. Guizot observes to M
de Flahault, that Prince Metternich does not express
any decided opinion as to whether England should be
invited to join the continental Powers in this declara-
tion. He adds, " I think it is not only proper, but
important, to come to an understanding with England
also in this delicate affair."
In No. 11, which is a dispatch from M. Guizot to
the Count de Bois-le-Comte, dated July '2, 1847, the
Minister for Foreign Affairs expresses his approba-
tion of the conduct and language of M. Bois-le-Comte
in his relations with M. Ochsenbein, and states that
he bad taken an opportunity of declaring this in the
Chamber of Deputies. Our readers will remember
that M. Bois-le-Comte had almost, in direct terms,
told M. Ochsenbein that the Diet could not be per-
mitted to attempt the dissolution of the, Sonderbund
by force of arms. M. Guizot observes in this letter
that he does not approve of an offer of mediation
under existing circumstances, as it could be attended
with great inconvenience, and involve the mediators
in a host of complications. He thinks the best course
would be, according to M. de Metternich, for the
Powers to declare to the Federation that they would
not suffer the cantonal sovereignty to be violated,
and the peace of Switzerland to be disturbed by a
recourse to arms on either side.
In No 12, to the same Ambassador, dated 2d July,
M. Guizot declares that if the Diet should attempt
anything against the basis of the federal compact and
of treaties, it would be guilty of an interpretation of
the federal compact similar to that of the Ministers
of Charles X. on article 14 of the Charter, and would
risk the less of the neutrality of Switzerland,
guaranteed by the Congress of Vienna. N. Bois-le-
C ointe is ordered to state this to the Vorort.
No. 13 is a note dated Nov. 4, addressed by M.
Guizot to the French ambassadors at London, Vienna,
Berlin, and St. Petersburgh, inclosing the project of
a note to be transmitted to the belligerent parties in
Switzerland, in which the arbitrage of the Pope in
the religious question is approved of, and an offer of
mediation is made by the great Powers to assemble in
congress at Baden, and there to receive a delegation
from each of the 22 cantons.
No. 14 is the note alluded to, but as its contents
have been published and are well known, it is unne-
cessary for us to go into details.
No. 15 is a dispatch from the Marquis de Dalmatie
to M. Guizot, dated Berlin, November 10, informing
the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the project of
the note had been communicated to the Prussian
Cabinet, and received its entire assent. The Marquis
de Dalmatie adds that the Prussian Minister for Fe-
reign Affairs had written to ties Courts of London,
Vienna, and St. Petersburgh to announce this fact.
No. 16 is a dispatch from the French Ambassador
at Vienna, dated November 11, stating that the
Prince de Metternich approved of the note intended
for the belligerent parties in Switzerland, but desired
that it might be distinctly laid down that the
_great
Powers were unanimous in their determination.
No. 17 is a letter from Lord Palmerston to Lord
Normanby, dated Nov. 16, and communicated to AL
Guizot two days after, in which his Lordship replies
to the proposition of mediation made by the French
Cabinet. This dispatch declares that the English
Government would be well pleased to contribute in
any way to put an end to the dissensions existing in
Switzerland, but that it conceives that the five Powers
ought first to come to sonic understanding as to the
course to be pursued to effect that object. The dis-
patch then declares, that as the neutrality of Switzer-
land is a matter of importance for the general in
terests of Europe, very grave, and, up to that time,
unanticipated events would alone warrant an armed
interference on the part of the five Powers ; also the
refusal of a certain number of cantons to conform to
the decisions of the Diet must not be considered
sufficient to deprive the Diet of the character
of being the official organ of the Con-
federation in its relations with foreign
Powers ; and hence, if a mediation was to be
agreed on, it should be based on such motives as
would fully comprise these two points. Before, there-
fore, entering on any attempt to arrange the differ-
erences in Switzerland, the first thing to be done was
to decide what were the matters in dispute ; there
appeared to be, on the one hand, the establishment of
the Jesuits in S witzerland, and the separate union of
the seven cantons, under the name of the Sonderbund;
and; on the other hand, the measures determined on
by the Diet relative to that separated body. As to
the Jesuits, the Britannic Government thought that
the objection made to their continuance in Swit-
zerland by the Diet could be most fully justified,
and that, consequently, the Five Powers ought to
apply to the Pope to recal them ; this being
done, the Diet ought not to have any objection to
give up all further proceedings against the Sonder-
bund, but ought to declare that it was fully deter-
mined to maintain the principle of a separate sove-
reignty of each of the confederated cantons—a principle
universally recognised as the very foundation of the
federal compact. Once that the Diet had made this
declaration, the Sonderbund, the British Cabinet
thought, could not have any pretext for continuing
its separate association. Such were the points to be
regulated, should the opposing parties in Switzer-
land consent to a mediation of the five great
Powers ; but should they not, such refusal could not
be considered as any sufficient cause for an armed
intervention. If the offer, however, were accepted,
it would be necessary to establish a conference, corn-
posed of seven representatives, one from each of the
five Powers, one from the Diet, and one from the
Sonderbund. The dispatch concludes by naming
London as the most suitable place for the conference.
—Annexed to this dispatch is a note to be presented,
on the subjects alluded to above, by the British
Charge d'Affaires at Berne, to the Diet, and to the
official organ of the Sonderbund.
No. 18 is a dispatch, dated Nov. 18, addressed by
M. Guizot to the Duke de Broglie, in which the for-
mer announces that the King's Government, taking
into consideration the counter project proposed by
Lord Palmerston, insists on its being well understood
that, in case of a refusal of mediation, all the rights
which may belong to each of the Powers shall remain
entire and thoroughly reserved; as to the place where
the conferences were to take place, that could be de-
cided at a later period, the French Government being
quite ready to accept whatever place might appear
most convenient to the several Courts engaged with it
in the mediation.
No. 19 is a dispatch from the Duke de Broglie, of
Nov. 20, in answer to the foregoing.. It announces
Lord Palmerston's consent to the proviso contained in
Guizot's dispatch, as well as his Lordship's acqui-
escence in a suggestion made by the Duke, that the
seven cantons of the Sonderbund should be induced
to apply to the Holy See, to learn if it was not ad-
visable for the Pope to interdict the order of the
Jesuits from forming or occupying any establishment
-f tie Helvetic -fed