The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-24 00:00:00

'TO CORRESPONDENTS.
No communication can be attended to unless authenti-
cated by the name and address of the writer.
Rejected communications cannot be returned.

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, APRIL 23.
THERMOMETER, Lowest, 44 ; Highest, 49; Noon, 56.
BAROMETER, 29.70.—W1ND N.E.; fine.
APRIL 24.

rHERM.Y3IrrEII, Lowest, 43; Highest. 55 ; Noon, 47.
RAROMETEII., 29.63.—W1ND E., rainy.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS DAY.
Morning .. 16 min. after 5 I Evening .. 35 min. after 5

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAI

tertains, and a sound and discriminating judgment,
by which he can almost intuitively seize upon the
strong points of an argument, and reject the fallacies
which might deceive a less acute and vigorous under-
standing, and divert it from the true grounds on which
a decision should be arrived at. It would be a task
of no ordinary difficulty to find a fitting successor for
such a man ; a person in whose intelligence, experience,
and ability, full and unbounded confidence might be
reposed, and whose public acts have identified him
with the liberal Reformers of the country, with the
party of which Mr. GIBSON is a leading member,
but that happily there is a gentleman whose past
services have been such as to prove him eminently
qualified for the vacant office, services too rendered
during a long series of years under various minis-
tries, in the most responsible and trying situations, in
the very department in which the vacancy has occurred.
It is almost unnecessary to say that we allude to Mr.
J. MACGREGOR, the Member for Glasgow, who so long
and so effi.:iently filled the high office of Secretary
to the Board of Trade, which office he resigned last
year on becoming a candidate for a seat in the Im-
perial Parliament.
The appointment of Mr. MACGREGOR would, in-
deed, testify that the Government were resolved to
enter into an immediate investigation of the all-
important topic of taxation, with a view to a reforma-
Lon of the abuses that on every side are ac-

knowledged to exist ; that the whole question of
the income and expenditure of the country would be
taken into consideration in a calm and impartial

spirit; that those imposts which unduly weighed upon
the industry of the people, that retarded improve-
ments, and were in every respect objectionable,
would be relaxed and modified, and that the necessary

provision for the national burdens and the national

expenditure, would be provided in the manner which
would least affect the great body of the people. Mr.
NIACGREGOR'S appointment would also be viewed by
the Liberal party as an indication that the Govern-
ment still followed in the paths of progressive reform,
and that the secession of Mr. MILNEa GIBSON from
office was not owing to the adoption of any policy of
a retrograde character, or such as could not receive
the cordial and disinterested support of the advocates

of popular rights and popular privileges. In addition
to these important considerations, which should not be
lost sight of during times like the present, the Liberal
party would be conciliated and gratified by the
selection, while the vast stores of information, the
clear and vigorous intellect, but, above all, the
thorough acquaintance with all the details of the de-
partment, acquired through an apprenticeship of
many years, afford advantages to the lion. Member
for Glasgow with which no other person, however
great his ability, could compete, if comparatively ig-
norant or unacquainted practically with these details.
In his great work, " The Progress of America,"
Mr. MACGREGOR has put forward the most
profound views of commercial legislation ;
he has proved himself to be thoroughly acquainted
with the causes that lead to national prosperity, and
by which the natural and acquired advantages may
be turned to the best purpose, so as to develop all the
resources of the country, and to render the people
contented and happy; he shows that he is the advocate
of perfect freedom for and the abolition if every legis-
lative restriction upon labour, industry, agriculture,
manufacture, navigation, and trade. Such a man it is
that is required at the present time, and most sincerely
do we hope that the Government may strengthen
their ranks by the accession of so efficient and
talented a coadjutor, and may thus give the country
so able a Minister.

Austrian domination is at an end in Italy, although
the sword of RADETZKY may continue to desolate
the plains of Lombardy, but without effect. The

sceptre of FERDINAND i; shortened, it can no longer
. . .

be stretched over the waters of the Adriatic. Tent

porn mutantur nos et mutainur in Wis. This indis-
putable truth may receive new confirmation by com-
paring two definitions given at different periods to
one word—ltaly. "Italy," said Prince METTERNICH—
METTERNICH, the Prime Minister of the Austrian

EMPEROR, and the actual ruler of the vast Austrian

empire—" Italy is a geographical expression." Arid
what is " Italy" now —now when that same MET-

TERNICII is fallen from his high estate, and deprived
of his arbitrary power—an exile ?
What is Italy now ? We have our answer in
the magnificent manifesto addressed by the Central
Provisional Government of Lombardy to all the nations
of Europe. This most eloquent and impressive ad-

dress is full of interest. It is the voice of an hitherto
enslaved and unhappy people, making itself heard in
the triumphant chorus of free and emancipated

nations. As such its tones alternately breathe the
exquisite pathos and deep-felt sorrow, the vehement
eloquence of long-repressed indignation and the sub-
lime and exulting enthusiasm of conscious power and
newly-effected independence. In this manifesto Italy
declares the fact of her existence, and solicits the
friendly co -operation of European nations, to enable
her to re- assume her fitting place among them. After
declaring that Italian nationality never ceased to
exist, even during the long period of its servitude—
(for, say they, " treaties may determine questions
between different nations, hut no treaty can dispose
of the rights of a people, destroy the language, and.
establish, by a transitcry act, laws opposed to those
indicated by the hand of PROVIDENCE. The life of
nations belongs to the highest order of things, into
which diplomacy, with its variations subject to tem-
porary incidents, cannot enter ")—the Italians, in
this manifesto, enumerate the grievances to which,
Austria has long subjected them—such as the en-
slavement of the Italian press ; the refusal to
allow the admission of foreign books and jour-
nals; the making the police the arbiters of
liberty, life, and fortune; the suppression of,
speech and thought ; the making no distinction
between political offences and moral crimes ;—and
numerous similar oppressions, and then the melan-
choly consequences are thus beautifully described :
" All this and worse we suffered for mealy years,
keeping alive by all means in our power the spark of
national feeling. We accepted nothing from the Aus-
trian Government, but we were withheld by the dreadful
responsibility that might have re-acted upon ourselves
Irons throwing perhaps prematurely in the midst of
Europe the great question of our independence. The
movements of 182 l and 1830 moved and agitated us pro-
foundly:, and the cry heard throughout the world of the
cruel tortures of Spielberg announced how many noble
and ardent minds were determined to sacrifice themselves
for the national cause. The whole country, nevertheless,
continued to forbear, but still persevering in its per-
petual, though tacit protest, against the Austrian Go.
vernasent, showed its determination to wait ouly for the
day when the measure of its wrongs and our patience
overfluwed. And that day came. At the voice of the
Great Pontiff, whom the Almighty raised up for the
salvation of Italy—fur the salvation of all Christian
people—we were inspired with true citizenship, and
arose more Italian than before. Ills name became the
symbol of our hopes, of our creed ; and our minds, so
long repressed, at last began to expand, and our national
feeling burst forth in an unanim,us tribute of admira-
tion, gratitude, and love to Pio Nino."
Nevertheless, though inspired by the dawning spirit
of independence, nevertheless, they proceed to say,
they had patience. By protests, remonstrances, and
demands they sought the restitution of their rights
in a peaceful manner. But in vain. "The Austrian
Government," say they, " only became cognizant of
our demonstrations for the purpose of eluding them
or turning them into ridicule. Therefore, we re-
solved to try a last experiment, and to prove the in•
tentions of Vienna before all Europe. Victims as
we had been for so many years of the schemes and
frauds of the police, we demanded that that body
should be dissolved, and the preservation of public
order confided to a national guard. We were an-
swered by the fire of cannon and muskets. Then
we felt that the moment of action had arrived, and
we rose. We seemed at least to be patient.
We deliberated, and determined to finish it for
ever. GOD was with us. With a few hundred
guns, with the few arms in our power, with
the pavements of the streets, with the tiles of the
roofs, with our barricades, with the sound of our
church bells, in a battle of five days' duration we
conquered and put to flight an army of sixteen
thousand old soldiers, who had been excited by their
chiefs with promises that our city should be deli-
vered to fire and to pillage. GOD was with us—
with us, the weak against the strong; and,
though unable to open the gates of the city, we
were surrounded by crowds of armed brethren,
calledtogether who
josshastenedof
to divide the
dangersby
thesesounds oa f wttleaart%d the
victory. Scarcely three -weeks have passed, and all
of
theb
Italy holds out a fraternal and succouring land ; the

magnanimous King of SARDINIA has put himself at
the head of the first Italian army which, for more
than three centuries, has defended the Italian
cause, and one voice is on all lips, one sen-
timent in all hearts, Viva rindependenza lialianal
God was with us—with us, the weak against the strong.
All this is eloquent with the true poetry of feeling.
All this is a manifestation of a spit it more inimical
to the authority of Austria than legions of armed
patriots. " The Austrian Government no longer exists
for 214." Such is the emphatic declaration of the
emancipated Italians. "It is now an enemy with
whom we have to fight—an enemy with whom we
can never come to terms. We are all Italians; and,
in the sacred joy with which this conviction in-
ebriates us, we feel a horror even at the idea of any
foreign domination whatsoever. 'We could not be-
lieve in the miracle GOD has accomplished for us, if we
did not feel called on to unite ourselves with all our
Italian brethren—if we did not declare before the
world that never more would we submit our necks
to the yoke of the Austrian Government, or even
enter into a compromise with it. if we
even wished, the thing could not be done.
Ours is a war of defence—of civilization against
barbarism, and we will pursue it fearlessly, prepared
for all, even to the last extremity, with the minds of
men who, placed in a great crisis, can advance, but
not retreat. For these our declarations—for these
our preparations, we call for the sympathy of Europe
—to Europe we turn, asking efficient aid towards
a great work of justice and humanity. The Austrian
Government orders against us a crusade, and excites
its population by every argument of hatred and
hypocrisy. It is for Europe to set them right—to
make them comprehend their true interests—to
restrain them from engaging in an enterprise
in which misfortune and disgrace can alone be
reaped. Let all Europe raise its powerful voice, and
the result must be that the age shall be spared the
shame of renewed Vandalism. Our fate is in the
hands of GOD. Europe is the judge of our actions.
The age is big with events which may recompose on
a new basis all Christian society. Perhaps the day is
not far distant in which all people, putting aside pre-
judice and ancient rancour, may meet under the
banner of universal fraternity, and cultivate alone
pacific relations in which commerce and industry will
go hand in hand, be bound in one common union.
We offer up our prayer for the speedy arrival of that
day." To that prayer every patriot solicitous tor the
welfare of his country, every philanthropist zealous
for the amelioration of his fellow-men, will
utter one unanimous and unhesitating Amen. To the
desire of that prayer heartily and cordially do we
respond, for its fulfilment would effect for the regene-
ration of mankind what the labours of centuries have
not been able to accomplish, and the Utopian visions
of MORE would be realised. But whether or no
the final prayer of the Italians be accomplished,
whether or no the day of universal amity be at hand,
the more immediate object of their desires must not
be neglected. Europe must respond to their appeal.
" Sympathies are treaties," says LAMARTINR, and it
so, the sympathy of the English people has long
since signed a treaty of alliance between England
and emancipated Italy. That treaty it is now our
duty, as one of the European nations appealed to
in the manifesto, to ratify and proclaim in some
unmistakeable manner.

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