The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-13 00:00:00

brieniug

111:31LON, THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1818.

opinion, be an infringement upon the holiest rights
secured to us by the Constitution—an infringement,
indeed, such as would justify opposition
and sanctify even the weapons of insur-
rection. We believe that —we maintain that
—we regard it as one of the primitive dogmas of
our patriotism. Freedom of the tongue and of the
press—a perfect and unconditional freedom of the
tongue and of the press is one of the first principles
of our political creed. It is one of the arch-truths
in our Religion of Government. Without the main-
tenance and vindication of this freedom the whole
system of Great Britain would tumble in ruins on
the instant. The diminution or the abstraction of
this freedom would be to the Constitution what the
abatement or removal of the force of Universal Gra-
vitation would be to the Solar System—chaos, terror,
and destruction. Smother the voice of the People
fetter the language of the Press—and the
whole glory, the whole strength, the whole
vitality of the Constitution will have disap-
peared. No; rather let the tones of the demagogue
or the effusions of the journalist diffuse the doctrines
of sedition over the land than one single un-
constitutional restriction should be imposed upon
the lips or the hand of an Englishman
Rather let the whispers of treason be-
come audible in the tribune and the sweat of
malignity ooze out of the columns of the newspaper,
than the Government should assume to itself any
unconstitutional power of censorship over the utter-
ances of the one or the recommendations of the other!
Nor are we singular in this fanatical devotion for the
Freedom of the Popular Voice. Far from it. Every
Englishman who rightly comprehends the Constitution
of his native land sympathises with us in our reve-
rential regard for the Liberty of Thought. It was
only yesterday that the Prime Minister of England
spoke thus in the House of Commons :—"Sir,, Sir," said
he, " I believe that, according to the spirit of the
Constitution, great liberty of discussion should be
allowed ; that inflammatory language should even be
permitted; and that language that may excite alienation
from our monarchical constitution should be allowed
to proceed to great lengths, because I know that
without the allowance of some abuses of this kind,
the free liberty of discussion could not be main-
tained!" So precious, so inestimable is this
particular phase of our freedom as English-
men, that the First Minister of the Crown
can advocate the continuation of insubordination
and the connivance at treason, rather than imperil,
by any unnecessary interposition, the perfect " li-
berty of discussion."

Yet it is in despite of this indestructible attach-
ment
to the civil and political rights of Englishmen,
that we are anxious for the passage through Parlia-
ment of the Crown and ',Government Security Bill.
The measure appears to us to be justified (simply,
be it observed, as a temporary enactment) by the
extraordinary occurrences which are transpiring every
day, as well as by the flagrant and equally extraordi-
nary conduct of certain persons resident in the United
Kingdom. -We have already said that, in our estima-
tion, it would be an odious and tyrannical infringe-
ment of the Constitution for any Ministry to interfere
with the sane liberty of speech, of writing, of peti-
tioning, or of assemblage. We repeat it—" of the
sane liberty." For there are political madmen who
require the straight-waistcoat of the law quite as
much as those maniacs who are confined in the
Asylums for Lunatics. We ask any man in his right
senses whether he can call the speech delivered in
the House of Commons, on Monday evening, by Mr.
WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN, an evidence of the sane
liberty of the tongue ? We ask, moreover, any man
who is not himself a monomaniac, whether the letters
written by Mr. JOHN MITCHELL, in the columns of
the United Irishman, are examples of the sane liberty
of the press ? We ask, indeed, if they are not,
both of them, more conclusive proofs of the mental
derangement of the Member for Limerick, and
the editor of the United Irishman as politi-
cians), than the eccentricities of Mr. DICE SOMBRE
or the blood-thirsty predilections of the pot-
boy OXFORD? It is for the protection of the
snore rational members of the community from the
ravings of these incurable and dangerous madmen
that the Government proposes to pass this stringent
Bill of Repression—a Bill not conceived with the
intention of diminishing the sane liberties of the
subject, but solely with the determination of putting
a wholesome restraint upon the insane brawlers in the
United Kingdom—a Bill, moreover, la hich cannot but
he especially beneficial, since it degenerates
the rather gentlemanly and even aristocratic
crime of Treason into the ignoble and
vulgar offence of Felony. For these reasons it is
that we regret the impediment which has arisen be-
tween the passage of this measure and the Easter
Vacation, because we regard the Bill less as a Se-
curity to the Crown and the Government than as a
vindication of Decency and Subordination.

Accident or design.--an accident the most infeli-
citous, or a design
baulked the intentions the most deliberate—has again
the representative Legisla-
ture. Yesterday ic'us
c'i
naccording
to the punctilious custom
winl i
o"' at
Sim
o'clock,
Commons adjournedttolif
without hating arrived at any
Parliament, the House of
positive resolutiona
" Crown and Government the
hSe consideration of the
mittee.
Consequently, the h I.t
be indefinitely
as it does among the orders of the
postponed, standing
arrangements day for this evening. Previous
ong
porfopthoseition 13e
interfere with its advancement, if genaents may
not altogether strangled by the arrival Vacation. Easter
From the sentiments which are infere C 11
expressed in the foregoing paragraph it
will by ex.
jectured that we are disposed to regard the cell-
tended Act with approbation. We are
With in-
With the utmost emphasis, with the utrnso‘).
deliberation, with the utmost distinctness,
we:t
I
would express our solicitude to see the measure intro-
duced by the Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
mint passed into a law by the Houses of Legisla-
ture—modified of course in its passage through Cona•
mittee, and restricted to a merely temporary opera
Lion—but still passed into a law, and that triumph.
sntly. We would, however, on no account be misun-
derstood. Oar devotion to the liberal institutions of
England are uudiminished and undiminishable. Anv
iptaference with the sane liberty of speech, of
',Win, of petitioning, or of assemblage would in our

from sympathising in these truly Christian sen-
timents—sentiments the universal adoption of
which would form the most glorious and fitting
consummation to the great revolution i❑ which Pius
has enacted so honourable a part. The concluding
words of this address are full of beauty and pathos.
In speaking to the people of Italy, the patriotism of
the Italian makes itself manifest in spite of the
universal and :impartial philanthropy demanded of
the PorE. He was evidently desirous of calling
Italy the kingdom (as it naturally must
be) the nearest and dearest to his heart,
but he thus expresses himself with a sort of exquisite
and rhetorical delicacy—" If in our universal charity
for the whole Catholic world we cannot call it (the
land of Italy) most dear, Gon has, however, ordered
that it should be nearer to us than any other." That
sentence is of itself a justification of the remark re-
cently made by the new Roman journal, L'Epoca,
that a great principle is expressed by "confounding
together in one—Pius IX. and Italy."

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDA I EYENIIN G, APRIL 13, 1848.

filf. 25c. Bank of France Shares are also 65f. better,
closing at 1,1401. Bons du Triior are new quoted at 39
per cent. loss, and this is not a nominal quotation, as
several transactions took place in them to-day, the
price coming down from 42, at which they opened,
to 39. The Belgian Stocks continue to improve. The
Fire per Cents. of 1640 and of 1842 have each advanced
is the former closing at 57if., and the latter at 581.:
the Four and-a-Half per Cents. were a good deal
demanded, getting up gradually from 49f., the first
price, to 52f., at which they closed, being an advance of
4f. on the day ; Roman closed at 50ff., or lf. advance.
The miscellaneous securities are also higher, the Obli-
gations de la Ville, Quatre Canaux, and Piedmont being
all 10f. better, at 910 f., 660 f., and 7001. The Caisso
Hypothecaire, however, is 10f, lower, closing at 100 f.
Railway Shares were firm, and show higher prices ;
Orleans have advanced 15f., closing at 4401. ; Northern
101., at 327 f. 50c ; Lyons 7f. 50c., at 307 f. 50c. • Rouen,
Viereon, and Havre, sf. each, at 305 f., 220 f., and 170 f. ;
and Nantes 21. 50c., at 335 f. ; Strasburg H. 25e., at
4401. The Exchange on London is 251. 40c. for one
month, and 251. for three months. The money-changers
give 10f. for I,OOOE in silver, and ask 15f. for that slim.
French gold is at 60f.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, Amt. 12.
Boulogne and Amiens, s%—Northern of France, 23/4—
Paris and Lyons, 1:Y8—Sambre and Meuse, 41,4.

to mediate with the King of DENMARK for the pur-
po.• of beseeching his MAJESTY not to make reprisals
on their commerce.

ITALY.

LOMBARDY.

Marshal RADBTsKT has taken up a strong position
on the line between Verona and Mantua, and is en•
gaged in re-organizing his troops. He was expected
at Verona on the 31st, from whence he will direct the
operations of the second corps d'arniee.
The direct communication between Verona and
the army has been re-established ; the truops are
concentrated, and the divisions are echellonnes be-
tween the Adige and the Mincio, in a position
strong enough to defy every attempt. Prince
SCHWARTZENBERG, who retired from Brescia to
Lodi, where he joined RADETZET, was the first to
arrive on the Mincio. _ _

It is said that Count HAwrici, who left Vienna on
the 15th far Milan, is the bearer of an offer, on the
part of the EMPEROR, to acknowledge the independ-
ence of Lombardy on moderate terms.
The Piedmontese Gazette,:of the Bth, announces as
positive that Peschiera has been given up without
opposition to the Piedmontese.
Accounts of the 7th state that the Austrians had
been cut off from Mantua on their way there. About
7,000 Piedmontese traversed Piacenza on the 4th, on
their way to Cremona. The volunteers of Reggio
have arrived at Guastalla with artillery.
The Austrian Governor of Mantua, GORGOUL, has
ordered all the inhabitants to give up their arms
within '24 hours, and has imposed a contribution of
four millions of lire (five millions of francs). In the
Friuli every defile is guarded, so that Austrian rein-
forcements will find it very difficult to penetrate Italy
on that side.

The Duke of PARMA and PLACENTIA has accorded
a very liberal constitution to his people.
The official morning bulletin of Milan of the
6th announces that the province of Brescia is
entirely evacuated by the Austrians, who have
effected their retreat to the left banks of the Mincio,
harassed by the Swiss and Italian sharpshooters, who
have caused them a great loss in superior officers.
Skirmishes had taken place on the 4th beyond the
Chiese, between the riedmontese and the Austrian
rear, commanded by Prince SCHWARTZ ENBERG. The

latter was worsted with a loss of 50 dead and 600 1
prisoners. Prince SCHWARTZENBERG retired to Pes•
cheira, where he left 2,500 men, and afterwards pro-
ceeded to Verona. The Austrian troops who had
lately garrisonedYenice, Udine, Treviso, and Vicenza,
13,000 in number, re-assembled in Styria,
where they received orders from RADETZKY
to march to Verona. On their way
they left 600 deserters. The Piedmontese
troops forming the centre of the army under the
command of CHARLES ALBERT, and the right wing
towards Piacense, are calculated at 40,000 men.
Thousands of volunteers are arriving daily. The
Austrians blow up the bridges wherever they pass.
The last of their columns quitted Deseazano (Lake
of Garda) on the 4th, for Verona. General ALLE
MANDI, at the head of his volunteers, has driven the
Austrians from their positions of Loreto, Montechian,
and Castiglion della Striviere. He was marching, by
the last accounts, upon Peschiera, to try to take it by
assault.

true friends. There is certain hope that the example
of Rome will be imitated by the provinces. In
this manner the operations of war will be rendered
more facile and accelerated. It may then be said
with pride that there has been no citizen, of whatever
social class, who has not shown himself prompt in
every sacrifice for liberating our country for ever
from the shameful domination of strangers."
As soon as the news from Milan reached Rome,
ordinances were published by the Civic Council
and Ministry of War, to the effect that all between
the ages of 20 and g 5, who desired to join the na-
tional battalions marching for the frontier, should
repair to the quarters where an enrolment was
to be opened: that other volunteers should
repair to the office of the Minister of War ) and all
officers of the line not in active service, were invited
to present themselves, that their services, if available,
might be engaged. On that very day upwards of
2,000 had been entered on the national enrolment.
Next day thel Chasseurs and all the disposable forces of
infantry left; some hours later they were followed by
the Dragoons and mounted Chasseurs. General
BURANDO, with the illustrious Marquis D'Amamo,
and Count CASANOGA, as Adjutant-Generals, left the
same night by post.
A great muster of the national volunteers took
place on Friday, on the Piazza of St. Peter's, in pre-
sence of an immense concourse of spectators, who
warmly expressed their sympathy. The Italian
standard was raised under the Obelisk, and the
stirring scene received additional interest on the
arrival of his HOLINESS, who came as usual on the
last Friday of March, to attend a service in St. Peter's.
The greatest eagerness to see him, as if the late
events had surrounded his person with a new prestige,
was displayed by the multitude who thronged both
the interior of the church and the Piazza. On ascend-
ing the steps, the Holy Father (whose aspect even
more than usually wore a noble dignity) turned round
to give his blessing, and exclaimed audibly, " Corag-
gio, gioventu !" (courage, young men I)
Two squadrons of dragoons, and a battalion of
grenadiers, left on the 28th, the latter by steamer to
Leghorn, and on each occasion the departing march
was attended by the most fervent acclamations—
crowds thronging the streets, and occupying the
shores of the Tiber. Invitations were issued from
the civic quarters to the citizens to enter the
files of the moveable corps, and numbers of those in
better circumstances enlisted in the National Guard,
expressly to join the expedition. Amongst these it is
gratifying to enumerate several English gentlemen ;
and the conduct of a young man of the Jewish per-
suasion (Pacifico Tagliacozza), the son of wealthy
parents, who by his own exertions alone induced as
many as one hundred of his co-religionists to enlist
with himself (at considerable sacrifice of his own in-
terests) deserves honourable mention.
The University was temporarily closed, that the
students might be at leisure to prepare, as many as
there were disposed, for devoting themselves to the
great cause, and 150 of these formed a company of
volunteers. The lately established Casino, called
the Circolo Romano, of which Clczaueccuto is
president, and which, essentially democratic, has
made great progress within the few weeks of its exist-
ence, sent out of its complement of 200 members 76
volunteers. Padre GAVAZZI (whose political ideas
combine with evangelical zeal, and who seems a man
fitted by gifts of popular eloquence, of moral as well
as physical vigour, to become the leader of an
enthusiastic people) declared his intention to march in
the van, like another PETER the Hermit, and carry
the cross, if necessary, into the heart of the battle.

In a farewell interview, Pius IX. is reported to
have said to the Padre, " that he had blessed all his
children who were departing in arms, and wished to
give to their march a watchword in the sublime name
of ORDER."