The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-03 00:00:00

rilE

different claimants to the hand of their SOVEREIGN
has been the intrinsic and extrinsic m otive of their
insubordination. But that the phrase
ISABELLA, we should say that her JES'E'Z' had been
be construed into a very sorry comp.': LnratigthotQeauseielyn
" a bone of contention" between a -most powerful
interests of the continental mom !c dies ; and those
bickerings of external diplomacy b !ave aroused a cor-
responding antagonism among the
1393'm subser-
vient to her dynasty.
What must particularly strike
41= ?observation of
every Englishman as the most sa
&Asia story circum-
stances in the proposed espousal of r,
VIEEN ISABELLA
are—first, that no foreign Prins
!Al{ been forced
upon her acceptance ; and, sec nen
y, 1 hat the present
arrangement partakes sonThwhat .0. f the peaceful cha-
racter of a domestic so
that the policies of the
continental Cabin
:ets cannot well he jatz ndiced by po-
litical envy, or the minds of statesmen inflamed by
jealousie'i of each other's success. Whether the
chos'en partner of her .MAJESTY'S destinies be,
according to matchmaking pariam ;.e, the most
eligible among her numerous s aitors perso-
nally, there can be little questi on but that
politically the selection is the result of much saga-
cious forethought. What was hither to a matter of
serious contention 'between the Imper ial families of
Europe will tbe.zeby be quietly rem, ved from the
attainment of any, without causing re gTets or heart-
burnings of even momentary duration. . What, more-
over, was precarious in the Spanish G overnment will,
simultaneously with that marriage, 2 cquire both sta-
bility and strength. Those lawless pirits who have
merely an affection for rebellion and . bloodshed will
have less opportunity, and less excuso for fomenting
insurrections ; and the social condif ion of the inha-
bitants of the Peninsula may so far be melio-
rated, as to afford some reasonal )1e hope for their
greater civilisation. By rnarryir. .g the Infante Don
FRANCISCO D'ASSIS, Queen ISAB ELLA may be com-
mencing a new era of prosperity, tnd glory, and hap-
piness to Spain.
We might uriloubt-adly, in'. the score of physiolo-
gical evils resulting frem incessant intermarriages
between Faecestive generations—as instanced in the
imbecile descendants of the elder branch of the
Boi:enoeze and in those of the Royal Family of the
BRAGANZAS—we might for those indubitable reasons
find cause for regretting the marriage of the young
QUEEN with her cousin. But, considering all the
evils which will be avoided and all the inestimable
advantages which may be acquired by this connexion,
we cannot even here find cause for paramount re-
grets or serious apprehensions. What noble oppor-
tunities will present themselves for the display of a
timely beneficence on the part of the Spanish SOVE-
REIGN ! What opportunities for eliciting the loyalty and
ensuring the affection of the Spanish population!
Pope Pius IX. has, by seizing such opportunities,
and by corresponding with the exigencies of the
time, kindled the enthusiasm of a previously dis-
affected populace, and excited the admiration of every
honest heart in every corner of the globe. All this he
has accomplished within the trifling interval
of the few months which have now elapsed since his
elevation to the Papal chair. As Cardinal MATTE]
FERRLTI his benevolence, and piety, and gentleness
of disposition had already acquired the love and
esteem of his associates and neighbours ; as
Sovereign Pontiff he has thus rapidly obtained
for himself a great and honourable celebrity.
And all this simply by acceding to the de-
mands of a liberal and enlightened generation,
by evincing justice, and candour, and generosity in
his administration of affairs. Such another oppor-
tunity for good things will be afforded to QUEEN
Is a BELLA by her marriage with her cousin, the Infante
Don FRANCISCO; by availing herself of which
opportunity her dominion over a vast and splen-
did empire might be peacefully consolidated,
the well-being of her people might be immediately
consulted, and the union of a divided race might
prove the most brilliant and satisfactory conse-
quence. Discretion, however, should of course tem-
per leniency, otherwise wrong might result from
an extravagant struggle for right. May the
councillors of Queen ISABELLA direct her judiciously
at this important juncture of her history! Such a
golden moment may never occur again. An am-
nesty would be welcomed. Among other paramount
circumstances let it not be forgotten that ESPARTERO
still continues in banishment.
[An additional express, containing intelligence of
the betrothal of the royal couple, has reached us since
the above was written. We have now to congratulate
ourselves upon the performance of the preliminary
ceremony of that marriage, the mere promise o;
which appeared to us sufficient reason to rejoice.]

The sentence pronounced on HENRY will be perused
with the greatest approbation by all, and will go far
to prevent the recurrence of a similar attempt,
which, considering the morbid passion for cre-
ating a sensation that exists amongst our continental
neighbours, would be by no means unlikely, if the
offender was treated as a great criminal, and much
interest excited in his fate. Contempt, however, is
the prominent feeling towards him, and that, coupled
with the degrading nature of his punishment, will
have a most beneficial effect on persons of a similar
class, who might be tempted to act in like manner.
Many who would shrink from death at the hour of its
approach, would not regard it with the same horror if its
arrival was to be delayed for a season, and various forms
and ceremonies gone through in the intervening time.
As in HENRY'S case, the man who could not screw
up his courage so far as to commit suicide, might yet
commit an act which would eventually lead to his
conviction and execution ; and the knowledge that
the punishment for that act would be a protracted
one, compelling him to a life of hard and unmiti-
gated labour, would have much greater effect in de-
terring him from the commission than if it were the
extreme one of death. The manner in which the
would-be regicide received the announcement
of his sentence sufficiently proves that he was
surprised and disappointed at its nature. " On hearing
it read by the Registrar of the Court," says the Journal
des De.bats, "he trembled convulsively, and a sudden
paleness covered his features, in which intense anxiety
was depicted. He appeared to be much shocked. I

would have preferred death to infamy, said he. I ex-
pected something else." In fact, his hope was that
he would be sentenced to death, and that from the
mitigated character of his offence, compared with that
of LE COMTE and the other miscreants who have
sought an infamous notoriety for themselves, at the
expense of the wise and benignant Monarch who
now sways the sceptre of France, he would have
obtained a remission of the extreme penalty, and
been detained for life as a state prisoner,
with comforts and luxuries, which he from his em-
Larrassed position would have been unable by other
means to procure. He took every precaution to pro-
vide evidence to which he might have appealed in
the event of the sentence of death being about to be
carried into execution ; he carefully prepared a
written statement containing an exact recital of all
the preparations he had made, to induce a belief that
his attempt was serious; this he concealed in a copper
tube, plugged at each side with wood, and buried a
depth of eighteen inches in the cellar of the house
where he resided. There appears little doubt that he
calculated that this, which he considered an indis-
putable proof of the truth of his assertion that there
were no projectiles in the pistols, would have saved his
life if really in danger. And he now feels bitterly
disappointed in finding that his condition, in place of
being ameliorated by his act, is far worse:than it was
before. his pride would not permit him to work as
a journeyman at his trade, although he might have
earned a comfortable provision by so doing, and he is
compelled to a much severer description of labour,
unrelieved by any mitigating circumstances.
The great object to be attained in according
punishment is the prevention of crime on future oc-
casions. Our own beloved SOVEREIGN was exposed
to similar attacks. The first offence of OXFORD was
speedily followed by that of FRANCIS, and then of
BEAN : the latter probably resembled HENRY most
closely in his objects and motives. The example
was catching ; imitators followed in the track
of the first criminals, until it was wisely decided that
corporal punishment, flogging—the most infamous
and disgraceful of all, should be inflicted on any
future offender. We are happy to say that from
thenceforward we have been spared the pain of re-
cording any similar outrage. GOD knows we are no
advocates for the lash. Our country has too long
permitted its 109 in both the branches of the service,