The Sun.
London, England, 1835-10-20 00:00:00

PRAGUE, OCT. 5.

I have just arrived here, at too late an hour of the night
to make any useful enquiry, but in time to enjoy the most
brilliant illumination I ever saw, to welcome the first visit
of the Emperor to the capital of Bohemia. The lighting
up of the chains of mountains which surround the valley of
Toplitz was magnificent, and presented a scene which pro-
bably again I shall never behold, and, therefore; that re-
joicing fitr exceeded this ; but as to the illumination of a town,
the fete of Prague is far beyond that of its diminutive
neighbour, and exceeds the best displays I have witnessed
in any other capital—even that of London during the re-
form fever was not to be compared to it. Long before the
approach to the city, the immense castle, or Government-
house at Prague, which stands on a high hill a short mile
apart from it, was visible, and if the occasion was not
known, we might have supposed it wag on fire, from the
immense blaze it exhibited, and tho. glare which it cast on
the opposite hills ; and as we apprtiached, the different cha-
teaux of the Nobility were to be; seen glaring with the same
lustre. I should first say, tbr,t on the whole line of road
from Toplitz hither, Abent 60 En," j.sh miles, triumphal
arches were erected;'la 1 bound'rouriC'i- with palm and fir,
decorated with ga,?,ands, and having inscriptions of love and
duty, and I;aat the homes of the villagers were ornamented
with festoons of coloured muslins, which had a very pretty
effect. The banks of the river Muldaw, which is crossed
P:. gut half way, were strewed with green branches, and
arches similar to those I have already named, constructed
on the spot where the Emperor's carriage entered the float-
ing bridge and left it. The people were out in crowds,
and everywhere evinced the greatest joy at witnessing their
Monarch for the first time, and proved that the word 'wit-
kommen (welcome), which was decorative here, was written
also on their hearts.

The people of Bohemia are remarkable for their attach-
ment to their Sovereign, and they gladly took advantage of
this occasion to testify their love. They arc also noted for
an independent spirit—indeed I may say are coarsely so,
and therefore there is not the least of slavish lowliness in
their manner ; and those persons who believe a bluff and
rude conduct a proof of such freedom as they think only
can be obtained under a Constitutional Government, will bo
surprised to find it here, in this despotic, but benevolently,
despotic one. The nearer we advance to the capital in Bo-
hemia, the coarser do we find the temper of the people ;
and John Bull himself, nor brother Jonathan, in their most
loyal moments, never exhibited more moroseness ; so that as
we go alonr, we every day learn something in this life, and
we find that servility and bluntness can equally flourish
under the same Government, whether it be liberal or des-
potic. I never saw a more independent and resolute pea-
santry than these. I have passed those of Bohemia ; and.
he who finds in the subdued Austrian a proof of the severe
rule of the Crown, will be at a loss to account for the hardy
spirit of the Bohemian, under the same empire.
The Emperor, Empress, and a numerous retinue, in dar-
riagcs, paraded, as they did at Toplitz, through all the prin-
cipal streets, and they were received, as usual, with the most
fervent acclamations. The crowd that followed them was
immense ; every carriage, private or to be hired, being in
requisition, with myriads of people on foot hurrying, passing
to and fro, and giving every moment the alarm that several
must be crushed to death. At one moment a whole
tide of people would come sweeping along, carrying
those who would willingly stand quiet away with them,
and then an opposite rush coming in contact with it,
screams and cries of women would be heard, and
some calamity appeared certain ; but the manner in which
the police was arranged, who gave an impulse to a part of
the crowd through the side streets, restored order without
any lives being lost. Then would come a string of car-
riages, and then a multitude filling up the vacancy which
they had just made ; then the Royal equipages meeting
from the opposite side, and the bustle and the noise in
clearing the road for the Imperial party, and the endeavour
to remove the unwilling citizens' humbler vehicles from an
advantageous position, with difficulty gained. The willing-
ness of the people to obey, and the certainty that they
would be obeyed, gave the police courage to encounter all
their difficulties, and the affair was so admirably managed,
that I did not see, nor have I heard of any accident oc-
curring, and the immense crowd seemed to have its curio-
sity fully gratified.
The Duke of Cumberland and the Marquis of Douro
have arrived.

I cannot yet say whether any political discussion is to
take place, but I find that the time is allotted, as it was at
Toplitz, for out-of-door exhibitions for the short time in-
tended to stay here. The Emperor of Austria will stay for
a week, as it is necessary he should give audiences as King
of Bohemia, and transact business generally on his accession
to the throne ; but the Emperor Nicholas, it is said, will
remain but three days.
" Remember," said the Emperor Ferdinand, " what the
consequences of an intervention with the French revolution
was. We Austrians and you Prussians marched in with a
host, but we returned without shoes and with bare legs."
These are words of wisdom, and may be taken for an
earnest of the new Emperor's intentions.

The Londonderry, as well as the Donegal Militia,
have been considerably reduced.—Belfast News Letter.

MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK.—The schooner Age-
noria, of Belfast, James Fitzimmons master, on her passage
from Sligo to London, laden with oats and butter, was
driven on shore at Padstow, the 10th inst., and went to
pieces ; all the crew perished. A man from the shore, in
saving some of the wreck, was also drowned. Part of her
cargo, consisting of butter, is washing on shore.

PRAGUE, OCT. s.—The Emperor of Russia did
not leave Toplitz as soon as I said, I believed, he did in
my letter of yesterday. Every one said he bad gone off in
the night, but he waited until three in the afternoon, in
order to hold good that policy which, truly or falsely is at-
tributed to him, of never setting out on a journey at the
time previously arranged. ,The parting between the Em-
peror and his sister, the Princess of Orange, who had come
up the day before to see him and the Archduke Michael,
was very affecting, and gave me a good opinion of the
Monarch, who, if he were not Emperor of Russia—of that
Russia destined to be our enemy—every one must admire,
and, if his manners are not those of hypocrisy, love and
respect him. The Princess of Orange did not come into
Toplitz while all the Court was there ; she remained at the
castle of the Prince of Wallestein, at Dux, but the morn-
ing of her brother's departure she drove up to the chateau,
and accompanied him on parting to the carriage. They
embraced each other most tenderly before the assembled
crowd ; and while she was deluged in tears his sensibility
was also affected, and the ladies who stood round wept
like children. This was no scene got up for the occasion,
and one can know when nature speaks in the eye and on
the tongue of an Emperor as well as that of a peasant,
and Nicholas on this occasion and his sister parted like
two persons who loved each other dearly. Indeed, the
Emperor of Russia gains on me daily, and 1 al-
most regret, from political feeling, giving way to so much
irritation against him. He is, in the first plate, one of
the handsomest men in Europe, with a fine open deter-
mined countenance, that speaks a good anti a brave man ;
and then his conduct to the Empress is so honourable and
attentive that he commands our esteem as much as he does
our admiration. Her health is very delicate, but he is al-
ways at her side ; and at the theatre the night before last
remained for an hour with her shawl on his arm, in order
that she *might be covered before she got into the passage.
They are always chatting and laughing together ; travel in
the same carriage when her health will allow the rapidity
necessary for his affairs, and appear like a new-married
couple ; and I am told—though an Emperor and the hand-
somest man at his Court may be excused if he was occasion-
ally won by other women's smiles—that scandal cannot tough
his reputation, or if he is not always a philosopher he takes
care that. her feelings shall not be hurt, though she is no
longer handsome, and is nervous and delicate, and obliged
to live in a retired manner. But the love of the Empress
for him amounts to idolatry, and she seems to live on his,
looks, and to hang on every word he speaks. In short,
they are a very happy couple, and I am only sorry that. as
Emperor of Russia I must beware of so noble and gentle-
man-like a person ;or would rather be gladly conv:nced of
that which the great authorities at Toplitz declare to be
truth—namely, that he is not wishing for war, 'nor having
the intention to seek it now or hereafter, and that if we and
France only let the Propaganda alone ho will enter into
I bail, even in the King's Bench Court., not to wink in the
direction of Constantinople!