The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-27 00:00:00

TII2 COMING TIME.

As it is of vital importance that the people of this
country should form correct views of the sentiments
entertained towards them in France, and of the real
character of the man who has mounted to the seat
of absolute dominion, we have much pleasure in
calling attention to a pamphlet entitled " A Few
SVords on France, by a Scottish M.P." The writer
is a gentleman whose name, if it had been given,
would have ensured the deepest interest in his
pamphlet, and who, we believe, would receive a
large measure of gratitude for the patriotic zeal ho
has shown when British interests have baen int-
peiilled by France. Although the pamphlet has
already been presented in a series of papers in the
Saturday Review, yet such is the importance of
the topics included that we deem it a public
duty to assist our countrymen in securing the
benefit of the valuable suggestions it contains. The
writer has spent some time in France with his eyes
and ears open, and his views and statements ought
to disperse those mists which a certain class of
politicians feel a peculiar satisfaction in gathering
around us.

The writer justifies all the representations that
have been given as to the depth of this imperial
man's nature, and the profound secretiveness of
which he is master. "He has not even an adviser
in whom he reposes confidence. The Foulds, the
Billaults, the Walewskis, and the Thouvenels of
the hour are mere clerks, who originate nothing,
and who only affect the policy of the French Go-
vernment by carrying out the instructions which
they receive with more or less zeal and good faith."
The opinions expressed in this pamphlet will be re-
garded perhaps with the more confidence as it is
evidently the object of the writer to give the Em-
peror of the French credit for as many good qua-
lities as he can discover, and in which we must
confess he has been more successful than many
others. However, he says enough to justify us in
looking on him with the utmost distrust, when he
says " a more profoundly unscrupulous man does
not exist," and speaks of him as one who has long
since " got rid of that expensive luxury, a con-
science.'

If the mysteriousness of this unscrupulous man
renders it profitless to speculate on his plans by
anything he may confide to those around him, we
are not left altogether without some means of
seeing the face of mind. His ideas have been
committed to paper, he has " written a book," and
it would be well if those who ought to watch his
movements would make his ideas the subject of
their study. The designs of Napoleon have been
very carefully thought over by the author of a
" Few Words on France," and if a man be supposed
to know his own thoughts, his are such as should
stimulate our preparations for the defences of -this
country, and the safety of our colonial possessions.
The leading idea of avenging Waterloo is shared
largely by the people over whom the nephew of
the defeated Napoleon rules. The writer asserts
that " the navy burns to avenge its defeats, and
perhaps overrates its own strength, great as that
undoubtedly is ; its views are also shared by the
mercantile marine, and by the whole seafaring
the fishermen population—even by of the Channel
and the Atlantic coasts." He adds that is possible
that a campaign on the Rhine might have greater
attractions for some minds, but the French sol-
dier of 1860 cares more for plunder than for as
" idea," and the wealth of London is a great " temp-
tation." It is important to observe that the author,
writing before the Savoy annexation had been.
ventilated, said that circumstances seemed likely to
"make Savoy the first prize," and now we find
that this prize has been seized by the means of
force and craft combined. Napoleonic ideas have
now to receive a further development, and we are
told that the Rhenish frontier, Belgium, and
perhaps Geneva, will follow, if occasion serves.
We are directed to look to the case of Geneva,
with which already French emissaries are pre-
paring to tamper. Then "if Liege is decidedly
hostile to a union with France, we should be sorry
to make the same assertion with regard to Hain-
hault." Belgium will probably before very long
become ostensibly an object of the Imperial cupi-
dity, and the Rhenish provinces will not be
long before some pretended reasons will be assigned
for the annexation to the Empire. It is the
leading Bonaparte idea that France should be
the "nation-soleil" of the Universe, and it seems
to be the deep conviction of the unscrupulous
Emperor that he must fulfil his destiny, by
securing this glory for his nation, at whatever
expense of truth, honour, treasure and life may be
required.
Now, we hold it to be absolutely binding on every
man who has the least political influence, whether
in Parliament, in the press, or as a public teacher,
secular or sacred, to give a true representation of the
designs which are known to be deep in the heart of
the man whose destiny is evidently to be the dis-
turber of the peace of Europe. The writer whom
we have quoted, and whose seasonable papers we
hope will be extensively read, has done good service
by its reproduction in its present form. They arc the
real enemies to their countrymen Nvhc4 are claiming,
on behalf of the occupant of the Traileries, those
peaceful purposes which he evidently does not pos-
s3ss. We ought to open our eyes to our real posi-
tion, and not allow such tiny politicians as John
Bright to delude the nation with assurance he has
no right to give,
and which, if they serve any pur-
pose, only go to 'produce a false security.. No ; let
us hasten the 'work f
and if that gives offence, how much
o prearation for the evil day,
preparation
better for and honour of the -British Em-
pire thanthe safety
to be suddenly made the victim of
treaeLery and a false confidence.—Morning Adver-
tiset.

The Atlantic Royal Mail Steam Navigation
Company's steamship Brazil sails from Galway to-morrow
(Saturday), 28th inst. for St. John's, Newfoundland, and
New York with her Majesty's mails. Messages received
by British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Ccy.npany up to
3 p.m. on 28th inst.