The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-06 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY. MARCH 6, 1848.

Europe is already beginning to experience the
effects of the third French Revolution. That is but
natural--it was a necessity. Democracy could not
prove victorious in Paris without exercising a pro.-
found influence over the different forms of govern=
meat in this hemisphere. Not merely was the esta-
blishment of a Republic by the Parisians 'an occur-
r ance calculated to operate either directly or in-,
directly upon the political constitutions of the
of coincident facts rendered that
nent, but a variety
international sympathy inevitable. AVsith the destruc-
tion of the monarchy of Louis PHILIPPP, the: Charter
of 1830 was destroyed ; with the destruction of the
Charter, there was an end of the Treaties' krl-8.15.;
with the destruction of those treaties the coact_
which had for nearly thirty-three years been regarde
as the talisman of European peace was brcke.
Beyond all this it could not be overlooked that
Frenchmen had not only repudiated all dynasties—
the glorious dynasty of. BONAPARTE, as well as the
venerable dynasty of CADET, and that faithless
dynasty of the bortrgeoiiie, the dynasty of ORLEANS—
but they had also jumbled the whole Legislature into
a temporary chaos. The intolerable policy of
GITIZOT had already thrown the country into con-
fusion, but the revolt which caused the sudden anni-
hilation of his authority had made even that confusion
worse confounded. Notwithstanding the exalted
genius of the different members of the Provisional
Government, notwithstanding their unimpeachable
probity, their recognised independence, their in-
disputable courage, and their majestic and even
sublime self-possession_ --in spite of all this, beholding
all this, recognizing and acknowledging all this, it
would be frivolous to pronounce the Republican
Ministry recently installed in the Hotel de Ville as
anything else but a Government of transition. From
the extraordinary capacity evinced by several of those
democratic leaders, we shall continue to be most

solicitous to observe, on the meeting of the National
Assembly, on the 20th proximo, their immediate con-
firmation in those ministerial capacities which they
have already rendered illustrious by their services,
their activity, their wisdom, and their consummate
daring. We would see, for example, such a one as Citizen
LEDRU-ROLLIN definitively installed in the Re-
publican office for the administration of the Interior ;
we would see again the interests of the operative
classes permanently confided to Citizen Louts BLANC
and to Citizen ALBERT, himself an operative ; but,
above all, we would see the diplomacy of Republican
France entrusted to that skilful and reliant genius,
which in the very crisis of the late Revolution
proved the salvation of Democracy, to the
genius of Citizen ALPHONSE DE LAMARTINE,
the instigator and champion of the recent
movement. While, however, we acknowledge the
capacity and integrity of several members of the
new Administration, it is idle to regard it as other-
wise than an Administration of an essentially tern-
porary and provisional character. Befbre the ensuing
April has expired a substantial Government will, in
all likelihood, be inaugurated, the electoral assemblies
being convoked for the 9th, and the National Consti-
tuent Assembly for the 20th proximo—that Assembly
being deputed to decree the constitution, and subse-
quently, of course, to nominate the individual mem-
bers of the Republican Administration.
Although the present Government of France is in
this manner merely consolidated for the moment, the
great Revolution of which it is the immediate
embodiment has proved to be one of so triumphant
and momentous a description, that it has already
produced a wonderful sensation in the different
capitals of Christendom. Even the revolutionary
struggle of the three days of July exercised a visible
influence over the destinies of adjacent states, and the
immortal contest which commenced between the bar-
ricades of Paris and extended to the furthermost
shores of the Mediterranean and the Baltic, was as
nothing when contrasted with that still more glorious
victory which has just been consummated within the
circumference of the Boulevards.

Europe was ripe for-the catastrophe which only yes-
terday terminated in the annihilation of monarchical
government in France. A multitude of extraordi-
nary circumstances had prepared the way for the
insurgent populace. In Berlin, FREDERICK WU,
HELM IV. had spontaneously granted a representation
to his people, and Prussia, comparatively speaking,
was free ! In Italy a concurrence of memorable cir-
cumstances had anticipated the revival of republi-
canism in the land of VERGINAUD and CONDORCET.
Rome had shaken off its incubus of Pontifical
repression, and had arisen in all the glory of its
reborn liberty at the voice of the reforming Pius !
Tuscany had acquired its rights, and re-organized
its Legislature, with. the acquiescence of its Grand
Duke LEOPOLD !—Lucca had been merged into the
emancipated territories of the Tuscans !—Marino
still looked down divinely and serenely from its hill-
top over the regenerated valleys of the Pontifical
states !—Sardinia had responded to the joyful cries
which resounded among the mountains of Savoy,
when the King of PIEDMONT sundered with his
own hands the bonds of its population, and invested
with the lustre of royal beneficence the name of
CHARLES ALBERT !—Even the petty principalities
of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla, were by the
demise of the ex-Empress MARIA LOUISA,
afforded an opportunity of proclaiming their
political independence, and of enabling themselves
and the luckless Modenese to fraternize with their
more fortunate fellow-countrymen !—Sicily had
wrestled its freedom from the covetous grasp of the
Bourbon, and had excited a sullen sympathy among the
more sluggish Neapolitans !—Lombardy itself had
raised the standard of rebellion before the Vice-regal
Palace of Milan, and the blood of its citizens had
attested the fact that their patrotism was unextin-
guished, and that their animosity towards their op-
pressors was inveterate ! Such were the Italian antece-
dents to the French Revolution of 1848. In Greece
a chance of the financial and political advance-
ment of the sovereignty had presented itself in
the unexpected death of CoLETTI—of that statesman
who, by pandering to the pecuniary lusts of GUIZOT,
had jeopardised the authority of OTHO. In Bavaria
the freaks of a wanton had infuriated the multitude to
an assumption of supreme power, and King Louis
had yielded to the demands of his outraged subjects,
through his fear for the personal safety of the beauti-
ful arid capricious LOLA. MONTES. In Switzerland
the Radicals had just conquered the promoters of
the Sonderbund, and pronounced in a popular Vorort
the perfect emancipation of the several cantons. In
Belgium the progress of constitutional reform continued
as steady arri very nearly as pacific as in the islands
of Britain. In Spain the return of ESPARTERO had
but a moment before given the peninsula a gleam of
hope, and in Portugal the national banners of DAs
ANTAS, of SA DA BANDEIRA, and of BOMFIM, were
only furled for a time, while the guns of a British
fleet awed the population of Lisbon into obedience to
MARIA DA GLORIA. If Poland was absorbed
in the territorial greed of northern absolutism,
its refugees were übiquitous and were in-
spired with a sterner resolve than ever
for the ultimate vindication of their nation-
ality. Austria maintained a ferocious tranquil-
lity, but a tranquillity which rendered its vigilance
still more conspicuous, for METTERNICH looked with
jealousy towards Lombardy, towards Hungary, to-
wards Prussia, and towards Switzerland ! Denmark
had begun to stir itself into legislative activity.
Sweden and Norway stagnated into happiness : and
the remote realms of the AUTOCRAT presented, as they
have done for a century and a half, a gradual and
almost imperceptible preparation.
Before the three days of February had arrived
this was the position of the kingdoms of the Euro-
pean continent. Everywhere the genius of demo-
cracy was proving triumphant except in the frigid
regions, of which St. Petersburgh, Vienna, and
Copenhagen, are the capitals. Everywhere there were
visible the antecedents of the great convulsion which
is beginning even now to affect the various Govern-
ments of Europe. How those Governments are being
affected we shall explain to-morrow.

We have received a great many communications
from various parts of the country, complaining in the
strongest terms of improper detention of The 'Sun by
'ate Post-office authorities. • In some instances the
Covers have been' forwiided to us, but unfortunately
they give no clue by which the parties in fault may
be discovered. That the detention is not owing
merely to unforeseen accident may easily be judged,
because if is invariably at the most exciting periods,
when intelligence of the most, interesting Aaracte'r
may fairly be expected, that such occurrences are
most frequent. We have frequently communicated
these complaints to the Secretary of the Post-office;
and demanded that means should, be taken to coun-
teract a practice so vexatious to our subscribers ;
but, although our iepresentationshave invariably been
received with courtesy, and answers have.been"re;
turned, promising that the subject matter thereof shall
'be attended to, no practical benefit has as yetre-
hulted therefrom, and day by day new accounts reach
ur Office, either of the undue detention or total ab-
straction of papers ;from .the parties by whom they
should' have been receit;ed.• , .

We can most pOsitiVeliaffirm that this grievance
is not in any degree owing to any. negligence .or de-
fault on our part. The utmost care is taken to have
Copies of our journal forwarded to all our subscribers
'who may desire to receive theM 'through the Post-'
office, in ample time for transmission by the earliest
mail after publieaton. Not a single paper is delivered
to the public in general, or sold over the counter at
our office, until those required for our regular sub-
scribers have been set apart and dispatched from our
premises. The fault must therefore rest either with
the Metrcrpolitan Post-effiee, or the local branches
through which these copies pass before they are de-
livered to our provincial readers. And we cannot
understand why precautions may not be introduced,
by which the detection and punishment of the.guilty
parties moy be obtained, and greater regularity
insured fo.r the future. There is no reason why
newspapers should not be forwarded with as much
certainty and dispatch as private letters. Yet it is
notorious that such is not the case, and few persons,
we believe, can be found in any part of the country
who have not; repeatedly been disappointed and de-
prived of their e3:pected journal. This would pos-
ibly be avoidied if the hour of departure from the
office where posteti was stamped upon every news-

paper cover, as well as upon every letter, There is
no reason why this should not be done ; a little ad-
ditional trouble may certainly be entailed on the
authorities, but it would be as nothing in comparison
to the safety which it would afford to the public
generally. A tax equal in amount to the postage of
a single letter is levied upon every newspaper, which
must be paid before it can be issued from the press,
The postal facilities that are given are the only
grounds upon which the charge can be justified, and
surely it is not too much to demand in return that
every care and attention should be paid by the Post-
office employes, that the property entrusted to
their hands should not be mislaid, or kept from those
for whom it was intended. Something must
speedily be done. The nuisance has become per-
fectly intolerable. If the parties entrusted with the
arrangements for the transmission of the mails cannot
introduce some better system, an appeal should be
made to the Legislature to render the department
more effective. The point is one in which the
periodical press should cordially co-operate to procure
a reform, as their interests, and those of the public,
are materially affected thereby. We trust that this
public notice may at least produce some attempt to
remedy the acknowledged evil.

The canton of Neufchatel, in Switzerland, has just
thrown off the yoke of the King of PAUSSIA, and has
named a Provisional Government.

A letter from Carlsruhe, of the 29th ult., says :
" At the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies of the
Grand Duchy of Baden held this day, the Govern-
ment announced that it was about to present Bills for
granting an entire freedom of the press, for arming
the people, and for instituting trial by jury. The
Bill on the freedom of the press has been a long time
drawn up. The law on criminal trials is so con-
structed that nothing more is necessary than to in-
troduce the trial by jury, without any other essential
changes. The arming of the citizens is commenced,
and some of them already guard several posts and
one of the gates of the town. Muskets have been
given out. The defence of the city will soon be
complete. A general enthusiasm prevails. At a late
meeting at the Hotel de Ville, cheers were given in
honour of the GRAND DUKE. Seven persons were
arrested last night, but they are said not to belong to
the town. They had been watched several days at-
tempting to disturb public order. This evening
patrols of citizens are parading the streets."
The Prussian Universal Gazette declares that
Prussia will not interfere with France, but will re-
main upon the watch. The Prussian Government
has sent a note to all the German Governments re-
commending them to put their contingents upon the
war footing.

The King of PRUSSIA has recalled his Ambassador
(Baron ARNIM) from Paris, leaving Baron HATFELD
as Charge d'Affaires.
The Duke of limn CASSEL has been expelled from
his dominions, and hia chateau has been burned. The
Duke of NASSAU has fled, and the Grand Duke of
BADEN has given a constitution. Great agitation
prevails at Mayence, Saar-Bruck and Saar Louis.
The King cf WURTESIDURG has accorded to his
people the liberty of the press.
The Augsburg Gazette states that two additional
regiments of Chasseurs and two battalions of Croa-
tians have been ordered by the Emperor of AUSTRIA
to march into Lombardy.
The whole number of Austrian troops on the
frontier of Italy is upwards of 100,000 and 600
pieces of artillery.
A letter from Posen of February 24, in the
Journal de Frankfort, states that the Russian Go-
vernment was concentrating considerable forces on
the frontier of Austria, and that Prince PANED..
WITSCH was to command them ; the whole body
will consist of sixty thousand men. Part of them
had, the letters state, already arrived at their des-
tination.

The German Diet has been convoked at Frankfort,
to meet immediately.
Eighty thousand men are to be immediately re-
cruited in Austria. Archduke John of AUSTRI♦
has taken the command of the division in Styria.

Madrid papers of the 27th and 28th uit. have ar

rived.

The intelligence of the abdication of Louis Pin-
Lirrx was known in Madrid on the 27th, although
the Ministry in the early part of the day pretended
that the state of the atmosphere was such that they
could not rely on the information conveyed by tele-
graph. The Eco del Comercio, however, announced
the fact, but not until the Ministerial speculators had
had time to conclude some most profitable bargains on
the Stock Exchange. In the Chamber of Deputies the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, on being ques-
tioned on the subject, admitted that grave events
had occurred in Paris. Queen CHRISTINA was
so affected that she was twice bled. She
sent for CORTINA to endeavour to form some
new Ministerial combinations, but he refused to un-
dertake the task. She then dispatched the Duke of
AHIMADA to Paris, witla an urgent request to the
Duke and Duchess of MONTPRNSIBR to proceed at
once to Madrid. On the news of the establishment
of the French Republic being received, the Afrance-
sados were in a perfect state of consternation.
" What is to become of the unhappy woman CHRIS-
TINA ?" was asked by those who had heretofore been
her staunchest supporters. She herself, meanwhile,
was making most active preparations for immediate
flight.

A Council of Ministers was held, and Nenvsez
proceeded to the Chambers to demand a suspension
of all constitutional guarantees, and a large increase
to the army. A large army will, it is said, be imme-
diately assembled on the French frontier.
MADRID BOLSA, Fan. 28.—The Three per Cents.
have fallen as low as 25, at which price they were
done to-day. This is a decline of nearly 5 per cent.
since yesterday.

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