The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-24 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDESDAY, MAY 24, 1848,

Alarming intelligence has arrived from different
parts of Christendom in the midst of the festivities o"
the racing season. Seldom perhaps has the Derby
Day been ushered in by tidings so startling as those
which have this morning reached our shores from the
ittptinent. From Austria we learn that the EM-
-I;EROR has fled from Vienna, accompanied by the
Eafraass and several of the principal members of
the Imperial Family. From Athens we hear that most
of the provincee of Greece are in open insurrection.
From Russia, that the Asiatic cholera has again
broken out in Moscow. From Spain, that Sir
HENRSt BULWER has received his passports from
the office of the Due DS SOTOMATOS, toge-
ther with the intimation that only twenty-
four 'Ars are allowed him for his departure from
Madrid —a message which has hitherto been always
regarded as tantamount to a declaration of war.
From Northern Italy the accounts are sufficiently
unfortunate in regard to the army of Liberation, if
only in the circumstance that NUGENT and RADETSKT
have united their forces in spite of the skilful
manoeuvres and chivalrous audacity of King CARLO
Lnairro. In Prussia the Government still continues
in a state of deplorable embarrassment, in reference
priuo pally to the recal of the Crown Prince ; while the
majority of the independent sovereirlities of Ger-
many are regarding jealousy the progress of the
ambitious intrigues of i
at' ac3ERICK WILHELM in the
Federal Parliament Frankfort. Denmark is
still fighting for the integrity
and the naval forcesaiNtsordwo.mayincioomns-,
of Sweden
com-
bined are preparing to
aid t
honfd
invaders.
eFonaramncuee s
Communism.
still
deliverancebal
an eodf
Schleswig from its
between Moderation and
alone remains in a state of comparativeßelgium
quiescence,
and Portugal is being gradually irritated into a re-
volution by the shameless concentration of power in
the grasp of the Cabralists.
Of all these remarkable occurrences the one which
IZltto us to be of the most imminent import-
air FM ourselves is the abrupt
dismis al of cur
Ambassador from the Court of Queen lIABEILA. By

Ithat insolent proceeding on the part of the despotic
Administration of NARVAEZ, the position of Spain
and England, in relation to each other, is altogether
changed—whatever Lord PALMERSTON may (from
motives of diplomatic delicacy) have said to the con-
trary in the House of Commons last evening. A
positive rupture it may not be, but, without any
question, the effect of it will be a decided estrange-
ment between the two Cabinets. England can never
submit without indignity to tie insult which has thus
been offered to her SOVEREIGN through her Majesty's
representative. Silence at such a moment would be
more disgraceful than indifference at a flagrant insult
to the national flag. It would degrade England in
the eyes of Europe. It would be an evidence of poli-
tical poltroonery. And coming after the haughty
missive of the Foreign Secretary, recommend-
ing a constitutional policy to the Ministerial advisers
of her Most Catholic MAJESTY, it would be as con-
temptible as the cowardice of ACRES after his war-
like oath, " Odds daggers and bullets 1" Of this we
are satisfied, that the reputation of England is in safe
keeping in the hands of Lord PALMERSTON, the Noble
Viscount being about the very last man who would
yield to the insolence of a VALENCIA or a SOTO..
MAYOR. Whatever may be the consequence of recent
occurrences at Madrid, the sagacity of Lord PALMER
STON will not be so far baffled, or the character
of Sir HENRY BeLWER be so far compromised,
as to lead to the abasement of Great Britain
in the estimation of the European nations.
Of that there can be no question whatever. And
here we would especially protest against the ass
sertion now current in the Spanish capital, either
that the conduct of Sir HENRY BULWE& is con-
demned, without any exception whatever, by the
English journals, or repudiated by any one member
of her Majesty's Government. Even when Lord
LANSDOWNE commented most severely upon the
correspondence between the British Ambassador at
Madrid and the Spanish Minister for Foreign Af-
fairs, he distinctly asserted that to his thinking Sir
BuLwErt had been actuated throughout by a soli-
citude to forward the wishes and to fulfil the
intentions of his Government, and that however pre-
cipigithatteappheisarflrisnt
tnheoteues o
to thef anyDueone SDE OTOMArt aOR
m
resident at
distance, he made no doubt that his
Excellency had
thought differently (and with j • )
ustice , from his long
acquaintance with Spanish diplomacy, and from his
immediate cognizance of events as they
transpired
around him. Of the falsity of the assertion that the
conduct of Sir HENRY BuLvrEa has called down upon
his head the indiscriminate animadversions of the
English press, the columns of The Sun are suffi-
ciently demonstrative ; for we have throughout re-
cognised the services of this distinguished Ambassa-
dor, and appreciated the probity and eminence of his
diplomatic reputation.
While the relations between Spain and England
continue in this dubious position, it may not be un-
interesting to transcribe a brief calculation of the
maritime power of the former country—the calcula-
tion being taken verbatim from one which has re-
cently appeared elsewhere. Here is the estimate :
" One line-of-battle ship in commission, and one dis-
mantled; five frigates in commission, one disarmed;
four corvettes in commission, one disarmed, two build-
ing; six brigs in commission; five schooners in commis-
sion, one disarmed; five packet-boats, armed; nine ves-
sels of smaller dimensions in commission, and fourteen
steamers, viz., one of 350 horse power, one 300, one of
250, two of 200, oue of 190, three of 100, two of 100, one
of 70, two of 40."

Such is the natal force upon the strength of which
Spain has dared to beard the puissance of England.
It yet remains to be seen, however, whether the pro-
ceeding of the Due DE SOTOMAYOR towards Sir
HENRY BULWER can be regarded as a sufficient
causus belli.

A question of some importance arose last night on
the motion for bringing up the report on the Chester
and Holyhead Railway Bill. Generally speaking, it
is considered advisable that railway companies should
not be permitted to interfere with other means of
transit, more especially that they should not become
the proprietors of steam-packets, it being possible that
if such were the case they might be enabled to im-
pose restrictions and impediments in the way of rival
companies, which would have the effect of creating a
monopoly in that respect highly prejudicial to the
public. In this particular instance, however, the
Committee to whom the Bill had been referred de-
parted from the usual course and sanctioned the
establishment by the company of a line of packets
between Holyhead and Dublin. Without at all en-
tering into the question of the propriety of the prin•
ciple heretofore adopted, it must be admitted that a
very strong case was made on behalf of the company
for its relaxation in their favour. The nature and
circumstances of the intended railway must be borne
in mind. It differs very materially from the great
majority of those that have already been constructed,
or are in course of construction in this country,
where the termini are situated in populous districts,
which would afford an amount of traffic sufficient
to pay a remunerating dividend on the necessary
outlay. Few, however, of the passengers to Holy-
head go thither for the purpose of making any pro-
longed sojourn. It is merely a stage in the transit
between England and Ireland, and the more rapidly it
can be passed the better. As the Right Honourable
Baronet the Member for Tam worth (who had been
chairman of the Committee) truly remarked, " The
Irish metropolis is the real terminus of the line."
The railway will, when completed, form the most
rapid mode of communication between the countries,
shortening by nearly four hours the time in which
the journey may be made—from London to Dublin,
et vice versa. It is, therefore, very desirable that
the conveyance for the entire distance
should be under one control and management,
so that every arrangement with respect to the periods
of the arrival and departure of the several trains and
packets should be made in the most convenient and
suitable manner. The packets might otherwise be so
managed as to occasion a delay of some hours at
Holyhead, which would not only be expensive and
inconvenient to the passengers, but would altogether
neutralize the advantages which the railway directors
might be enabled to offer as an inducement to select
their line in preference to any other route.
But it is not merely on private grounds that the
question should be decided. It is a matter of national
importance that the time within which communications
can be transmitted between London and Dublin
should be reduced to the very utmost degree. When
first-class steam-packets are placed upon the station
and the electric telegraph is laid down along the line,
intelligence may be received from or conveyed to
Ireland in little more than three hours, while the
whole journey may be performed in less than twelve
hours ; so that a person who has breakfasted in one
metropolis may dine in the other on the same day.
Nothing can be better calculated to bind more closely
the links by which the sister kingdoms are con-
nected, and to cement more firmly the union existing
this practical annihilation
of them, than n
a time and space ; affording such extraordi-
nary facilities for social and commercial
in-
tercourse. What stronger argument could be addressed
to and who
dismembermentdtoestihreosethwehoprateofse
The national barriers will, if not wholly removed,e be
at least thereby rendered insignificant, and that which
should be the chief object of the Legislature, viz ,
the perfect amalgamation of both countries, and the
assimilation of their laws and customs, will be greatly
promoted.
In addition to there great advantages, there is
another that should not be lost sight of. It is more
than probable that Valentia will eventually be made
the port of debarkation for the Western Hemisphere.
When the projected lines of railways are carried into
execution, we may hope that the passage from Lon-
don to New York may be made in little more than
seven days, and communications received through
electric telegraphs in even 20 hours less than that
time. It is needless to expatiate on the vast benefits
to England, to Ireland, to our Transatlantic colonies,
and to the United States from such a result. Ireland
will then be made the high road for visitors from the
old to the new world. What the maritime genius of
" WAGHORN " effected for the Eastern Hemis-
phere in opening new and more expe-
ditious routes must speedily be granted
to the 'Western. It cannot be postponed.
The Chester and Holyhead line will form a very ma-
terial link in the chain of communication, and every
I power should be conferred that may aid in producing
the great result. Under all the circumstances we

are convinced that public opinion will confirm the
state ment of the Right Hon. President of the Board
of Trade, " That if ever the House were to permit
railway companies to become steam-boat proprietors,
and the double power to be enjoyed, it ought to be
in this particular case."

SPAIN.

Madrid journals of the 18 th have arrived.

The Spanish Government had on that day sent Sir H.
BULWER his passport, with orders to leave Madrid in
24 hours. This is another part of the plan of reaction
to which we have before alluded, and is the conse-
quence of Orleanist intrigues. It is a somewhat
curious circumstance that since the expulsion of
LOUIS PHILIPPE from France Queen ISABELLA has
been acknowledged by Prussia and Austria, and that
for the first time for sixteen years there is at the pre-
sent moment a Spanish Ambassador at Madrid and a
Spanish Ambassador at Vienna.

The military revolt at Seville on the night of the
13th was a more serious affair than the Government
organs choose to acknowledge. After some fighting
in the streets, the insurgents, consisting of four com-
panies of the infantry regiment of Guadalajara, and
about 100 cavalry, retreated from the town in the di-
rection of Huelva, taking with them two field pieces.
During the row the alarm of the Duke and Duchess
DE AIONTFESSIER was excessive, and everything was
prepared for their embarkation upon the river Guadal-
quiver at a moment's nutice.

There are now few regiments in the army that
the Government can implicitly trust. Almost all
have been tampered with, either by Carlists or Pro-
gresistas.

The civil war in Catalonia is assuming its former
repulsive and cruel character. Reprisals, which, in
the end, will terminate in acts of downright butchery,
are becoming the order of the day. Numerous arrests
of individuals connected by blood with the insurgents
have taken place at Olot and its neighbourhood. They
have all been sent to the fortress of San Fernando,
at Figueras, and the Commandant-General of the
above district (Olot) has demanded permission of
General PAVIA. to imprison the fathers and mothers,
or the nearest relatives of those who have joined the
Matines, until they make their submission to the
authorities.
The chiefs MARSAL, ESTARIUS, CASTELLS, and
PozAs have decidedly chosen the province of Gerona
as the theatre of their operations.
Nothing but the want of funds prevent the Car-
lists from taking the field in force in N avarre, Arragon,
and the Basque Provinces.
Senor ESCOSURA has been arrested at Toledo, and
is being conveyed to Madrid under a strong guard.
General Count MARASOL has been dispatched to
London on a special mission to explain the circum-
stances under which the Spanish Government thought
it expedient to send Sir HENRY BULWER his passports.
SOTOMAYER accuses Sir H. BULWER of intriguing
with the Progressists, and of having fomented the
recent revolt in Seville, and states that he has docu-
mentary evidence to prove these accusations. It will
not be the first time that the Orleanist partizans have
backed up falsehood by forgery. Mr. OTWAY is
left in charge of the British Embassy.
MADRID BOLSA, MAY 18.—Three per Cents., 21;
Five per Cents., 134. Exchange on London, 42.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.

The 3loniteur publishes two ordonnances signed
by the members of the Executive Committee of
Government, ordering the permanent closing of the
club Raspail and the club Blanqui.
The Journal des Debuts says—" It was currently
reported last evening that a serious division had taken
place among the members of the Executive Com-
mittee since the evening of the 15th of May, and that
it was not thought possible they could any longer act
together in conducting the affairs of the country."
The Committee on Labour met on Monday to agree
to their report. They have nominated M. WoL-
Lowsxx reporter.

The Committee appointed to prepare a project for
a constitution meet every day. its sittings last fre-
quently for five or six hours. M. CORMANIN has been
named reporter. M. LANIENNAIS has resigned his
seat in this Committee.

It is said that Sunday had been fixed upon for the
carrying into effect a plot against the National As-
sembly. The conspirators intended to set fire
to the theatres, and in the confusion to seize and
carry off forty members of the Assembly. The Go-
vernment, however, had received information of their
intentions, and adopted such measures as prevented
the conspirators from carrying their intentions into
effect.

We find the following on this subject in the
Coulitulionne 1 :

"It might have been remarked that many legions
of Paris had only furnished a very small number of
men for the review. The following is the reason :
In different quarters the National Guards were
invited not to leave home, for that during the fete
a plot was to break out. The plot was, it was said,
to cut several fountains, to set fire to the theatres,
and, during the confusion, to seize about forty repre-
sentatives, marked out beforehand. It was on this
account that the firemen were all under arms, and that
many were on duty in the mairies of each arrondissement.
The discovery of this infernal project was owing to the
workmen of the national ateliers. One declared that he
had been offered fifty francs to go with his brigade to
Halle. Ile did not hesitate to inform the authorities.
It is positively the fact that the attempt did not take
plane only because the authorities had been warned.
" In the evening, some men, carrying banners, crossed
the Place de la Concorde, shouting ' Vive Barbel !".rhey
separated, however, on learning that the Garde Mobile
were coming up to meet them."
An attempt, which had nearly proved successful,
was made by BARnES to escape from Vincennes on
Sunday. lie had passed several doors when a Garde
Mobile on duty arrested him and conducted him back
to his place of confinement.
The Constitutionnel says that the Government has
received a telegraphic dispatch from Toulon, an-
nouncing that the workmen employed in the Dock-
yard had revolted, and had obtained possession of the
Government Arsenal.

The outbreaks at Rouen and Lyons were contrived
by the clubs of Paris, and intended to support the
communist movement of the 15th of May, had that
proved successful.

It is said that the Prince DE JOINVILLE is in Paris.

The publication of these letters of the Prince DE
JOINVILLE by the Presse has created a great sensa-
tion, and is looked upon as the first formidable at-
tempt at a reaction. The National publishes a long
article on the subject. Speaking of the recent pro-
ceedings of the Presse it says :

"Yesterday the Presse, after drawing a very frightful
picture of our present position, and having asked if the
Republic was to have a President, or three Consuls, or
tiro Dictators, or a Committee, and being opposed to
each of these plans, objections which it considered
serious, it comes to the following significant conclusion:
—' The situation is an impasse, out of which we cannot
go without retracing our steps.' To-day the same
journal is still more clear, so clear indeed that it does
not dare to take the direct responsibility of the idea
which it circulates. It brings the imaginary Citizen
Gilles, who, after arguing on a preceding article in which
France was compared to a sinking ship, concludes, with
the most candid air in the world, with the following inno-
cent phrase :--
'•' If it be to a general shipwreck that the Republican
system is to conduct us, it is better that we should return
to a system which, in point of fact, has given us seven-
teen years of the greatest tranquillity.
" ' UrUSTAVE GILLES.'

" Here then is the question regularly started, and we
now know where the enemy is. He has established his
head-quarters in the office of the Presse, and it is the
citizen Gustave Gilles, who is his trumpeter, The
fanfare is brilliant, and will have its effect. The Presse
which knows how desirable it is to strike while the iron
is hot, follows up M. Gilles's proposition with eight
letters from the Prince de Joinville to an officer of the
navy, for the sole purpose, us it assures us, of proving to
the National that the ex• Grand Admiral is not in Paris.
The proof is, in fact, conclusive, and admits of no reply,
fur as the last of the letters is dated Claremont, near
London, the 11th May, it is evident that M. de Join-
ville, who was at Claremont on the 11th, could not be in
Paris on the 20th, the distance from England to France
is so great."
THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
M. LAMARTINE'S STATEMENT OF THE FO-

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