The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-27 00:00:00

HOLLAND.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—In my last letter I confined myself to the con.
sideration of the measures which I trusted Governmen
would take in case of a war with Holland. I now pur
pose to consider the justice, policy, and expediency of the
course adopted by the Conference on this subject ; and it
shall be my object to disabuse the pubic mind of those false
impressions which it appears to me to have in some degree
entertained, not so much from any rational and deliberate
view of the real merits of the question, as from some old,
and, to a certain extent, honourable sympathy with Hol-
land ; and from the recollection of those inimical feelings
which have at various times subsisted between this country
and France. Yes, Sir, it is too true that in this age, when
we boast so of the march of intellect, and our superiority
to prejudice, there still lingers in this country some of that
antipathy to alliance with France, the fully and absurdity
of which Mr. Pitt long ago exposed in one of the
ablest speeches that he ever delivered. " He should
not hesitate," he said, " to contend against the too-fre-
quently advanced doctrine, that France was, and must be,
the unalterable enemy of Britain. His mind revolted from
this idea as monstrous aid impossible, It was a libel on
the constitution of political societies, and supposed the ex-
istence of diabolical malice in the original frame of man."
Such was the energetic language in which Mr. Pitt cen-
sured those who in his day ventured to uphold the
monstrous doctrine that two powers situated as France
and England are,—gifted by nature with the power of
aiding each other's wants, and relieving their mutual
necessities,-s-cliould yet exist in a state of constant jealousy
and distrust. But if such feeline,s of jealousy between the
two powers are censurable at any time, how much more
are they so at a moment when they are about to unite
their efforts, not to conquer, but to pacify ; when they
are about to utisheath their swords, not to provoke war,
but to preserve peace. For what, let me ask, is the
object for which the forces of these two Powers are
about to be employed ? It is not to rob Holland of
one of her ancient rights or privileges. It is not to take
Irom her one particle of territory she rightfully possesses.
It is ;tot to exact from her one condition derogatory to the
honour of hei• Crown. It is simply to take from her the
citadel of Antwerp which dpes not belong to her, and to
prevent her injuring the commerce, not sitnply of Belgium,
but of Europe, by obstructing the free navigation of the
Bebe:ilt, and by re-enacting that Tariff on it, which was
literally propounped to be at an end by the Congress of
Vienna, and which heti been virtually at an end for the
forty preceding years. The present question has nothing
to do o ith the iudependenee of Belgium. It has nothing
to do with the separation between Belgium and Holland.
It is not a poii‘ipal question between Belgium and Hol-
land, but a commercial one between Holland and Europe.
England, Prussia, the Rhenish provinces, all Germany,
are parties concernekl in it. As for the iodependence
of Belgium, that was long ago settled,—was pro-
nounced to be so settled by the Duke of Welling-
ton b fore he left office,,—was acquiesced in by the King
of Holland, who assented to the principle, and at whose
request it was that the Conference assenahled:to consider the
derails of the separation. What does the King of Holland
say now? Does he say, you have deprived me of my ter-
ritories? Does he say, give me back Belgium ? Does he
say, you are disturbing the balance of power ? No such
thing; he says nothing about his right to Belgium; but
he demands the power to impose a tax on the commerce
of Europe—a tax which would tend to ruin the rising
manufactures of other States, in order to aggrandize the
Dutch. This, it cannot beta() strongly impressed on the
people of this country, is the real question at issue.
France and England do not intend to take from Holland
any right or privilege that belongs to her, but they do in-
tend to prevent Holland from usurping a power of taxation
to which neither by vie law of nations, nor in equity, has
she arty right. Those who point with proud exulta-
tion to the former alliances of Holland and Great
Britain,----those who recall the glorious days when
De Witt and Temple united their efforts to maintain
the league of the two countries,—must surely allow
that their alliances were founded on loftier principles,—.

:hose glories were reflected from a purer source, than com-
mercial monopolies. England and Holland united to pre-
serve their own independence, and to resist the encroach-
ments of ambition; but surely it was the cause sanctified
the alliance, not the alliance the cause ; and will any
man who really respects the honour of his country, who
really and truly respects the very principles on which
those old alliances were framed,—who appreciates the true
merits of that patriot, that hero, that statesman, the il-
lustrious De Witt,—who remembers that he saved Holland
despite herself, despite the tricks and intrigues of the
Orange faction ; will any man who bears these things in
mind compare the present conduct of the Dutch King
with the ancient heroism of the Dutch people? They
fought to preserve Europe ; she threatens to preserve the
tariff on the Scheldt ! But the peace, the welfare, the
interest of Europe mu,t not be thus trifled with. As long
as this question remains unsettled, the peace of the world
is at hazard. Vigorous and decided measures can alone
succeed in averting from all states the evils which may
befal them whilst this question is left as the ready handle
for every set of political speculators, and as the tempting
instrument by which either despots on the one hand, or
revolutionists on the other, may raise themselves into noto-
riety on the ruins of the political fabric of Europe.

N

Your obedient servant,

FRANCE.

ALPHA.

TO THE EDITO1? OF THE SUN.
Paris, Tuesday Evening, Oct 22.

Uncertainty still prevails in this city as to the events
which even a day may develope ; while anxiety, as to the
position i❑ which Holland is placed between the speech of
King William and the London Conference, augments
daily. It is needless to deny that the great majority of
the Parisians, and particularly the juste milieu, would re-
jaice at events which would involve in their consequences
the general peace of Europe. Neither would the President
of the Council, notwithstanding the apparent pacific cha-
racter of his declaratim.s, mourn, should the chapter of
accidents draw French armies either into the marshes of

Holland, or over the heights of the Pyrenees, as either
would at least partially divide the great public excitement
anticipated on the meeting of the Chambers.
Louis Philippe—for no one calls him King—is generally
disliked. t, on account of his extreme love of money;
secondly, for the very concessions he has made to the juste
milieu; thirdly, for various infractions on the Constitu-
tional Charter, particularly far the creation of so many
Peers, and the appointment of Marshal Soult to the head
of the Mini-try ; and, generally, for the absence of that
splendour, that brilliancy of character, which, at all pe-
riods of their history, has dezzled the French, particularly
the Parisians, and made them forget that all their magni-
ficent Princes were despots.
For instance, you never hear a Parisian talk of any of
their monarchs, except Francis the Ist, Henry the 4th,
Louis the 1-Ith, and Napoleon. Francis is recollected on
account of the brilliancy of his character, and his intrigues.
Henry the Fourth from similar causes ;—that lie was
despotic there is no doubt, but the sober wisdom of Sully
tempered his ambition, and prevented his general measures
being otherwise than beneficial to France. The despotism,
extravagance, licentiousness, and magnificence of Louis the
14th, are all well recorded. A more splendid despot than
Napoleon never appeared in the whole monarchical drama.
His name is perpetually heard in every cafir, in every street,
in every house,—always in admiration of his actions, even
while they acknowledge his tyranny. If you visit Ver-
sailles you will there, in the salle a manger, see the prin-
cipal successful events of his history displayed, by the first
masters of his time, occupying the walls, until lately
covered with pictures in which the Bourbons alone were
conspicuous.
In the Salon de Mars at St. Cloud, the famous picture
by David, of Napoleon crossing the Great St. Bernard, re-
places that representing the Doc d'Aneouletne's return to
Paris after the Seanish Campaign in 1823. On leaving
the Institat de France two days ago with a gentleman of
high standing in the French republic of letters and the
sciences, we drove in a Cabriolet de la Regie to the Jardine
de. Plantes. On passing the feat of the Pont de Wag, am,
I remarked the disappearance of the Archbishop's Palace
which stood near the Cathedral de Notre Dame, when to
my astonishment our driver, who by the by always sits
inside, exclaimed, in French, which I translate for your
numerous English reader s, " Yee, demolished, Sir, and
very properly ! what are the use of Priests or Bishops?
Only to support Kings aed despots. All men are born
equal, Sir, and should he so, and will be so in France. I
am now a poor cabriolet driver, but I was a lieutenant
under the Great Napoleon. Louis Philippe iv an imbe-
cille,—all Kings are imbecilles and despots. They love the
Priests ; Louis Philippe loves the Priests and the Jesuits
too, but lie is too great a coward to say so. He is, besides, a
hateful, avarie,ous (avare) man. He has broken the Char-
ter, Sir. We must soon again combat for liberty." I
merely remarked to this leveller of all distinctions and in-
stitutions that Napoleon was certainly a despot ; on which
his eyes brightened into fiery animation, and he exclaimed,
" Oui ! oui ! despot, mais brave, c'est tout, Monsieur.—
Yes, yes, despot, but brave, that is every thing.' On
leaving the cabriolet I observed to my friend what an ex-
traordinary fellow our driver was. " Very true," he re-
plied, " he appears so to you, but you may find thou-
sands like him in Paris, and should there be a disturbance
when the Chambers meet, which I much dread, that man
and all like him, who have nothing to lose, will care not
the value of the fare you have paid him, for his life. I
regret also that the great bulk of what you term the juste
milieu ate much of the same character—their animosity
is particularly directed against ail established usages.
Such min require to be drawn away from the capital, and
notlang can do it in France but war. Those who un-
derstand the French character know this well. In Eng.
lard you have advantages that no other power in Europe
now possesses. Your gigantic Colonies, eminently blessed
with every production and every climate under heawn,
serve you, instead of our wars and revolutions, to draw off
the ad venturers and the discontented,—those, in fact, that
would, if they remained at home, destroy that beautiful
spirit of order which prevails in England. Woe be to
you when you lose your Colonies : and if your Govern-
ment and your Parliaments give way to your fanatics and
your doctrinnaires, Great Britain will very soon lose her
Western Empire, and the decline of her naval grandeur
will soon follow. Our greatest statesmen are, depend
upon it, of this opinion." I have quoted the words of
my able friend almost verbatim.
The regiments of the line are gradually drawn from
the provinces towards the environs of Paris. You can-
not now move a hundred yards without meeting detach-
ments of regiments; the drum is perpetually heard. Re-
flect for one moment, that there are in this city, including
the National Guards, at least 100,000 men at the present
hour under arms or ready to mount guard; reflect also,
that the male population of Faris cannot be numbered at
more than -150,000 ; that as there are fewer children in
Paris than in any other town in Europe, scarcely two to
a family, we may consider that there are altogether
200,000 men capable of bearing arms, and you may
then form an idea of the Government, whether municipal
or national, that requires so great a military establishment.
To day, another gentleman of distinguished talents, also
lately returned to Paris from tire southern province, said
to me, it we have no war, «e will certainly have a revo-
letion ; nor con the present Ministry stand a week after
lie [main of the Chambers.

J------S C-.S.

THE MORAL.—" How good it is of the
people who write books," said a little boy to his mother,
With conch truth—" how good it is of them to put mo-
ral' in large letters, to show you what to skip."
THE ENGLISH BORDERERS.—The forth-
coming historical romance, announced under the title of
" Otterbourne," is from the pen of the author of " Der-
wentwater." It must be admitted that the feuds of the
border, so often attended by wily stratagem, and frequently
resulting in bold and destructive encounter, afford mate-
rials of rare value to the novelist. The battle of Otter-
bourne, one of the most remarkable of those contests,
possesses a national as well as a local interest. In this
deadly combat the two powerful houses of PERCY and
DOUGLAS, it will be remembered, were engaged ; and in
depleting their frequent challenges, struggles for superiority,
and mutual inroads upon each others domains, the author
has, we hear, done justice to a theme of such varied at-
traction, that Scary himself might have delighted to
transfer it to his pages.

EXTRAORDINA? CIRCUMSTANCE.—The
cholera (a correspondent writes) has raged very alarm-
ingly at Marlow, so much so that from twelve to fifteen
burials have taken place of a day. Among others, a poor
man, who left his wife early in the morning well, was
much surprised, on his return home, on being informed
that during his absence she bad died of the cholera, and
was buried. Feeling disconsolate and dissatisfied, be be-
took himself to the grave and dug up the corpse. On lift-
ing off the lid of the coffin, he was struck with the appear-
ance of his wile, and thou ght he perceived symptoms of
life, which soon became realised, as, after a while, the
poor woman rose up, and, to the great joy of her husband,
accompanied him home—.and, wonderful to relate, that
night became a mother, and who, with the child, are at
this moment reg,irded by the inhabitants of Marlow as the
greatest curiosities.

g`t.

'I.-.'

CANTERBURY, OCT. 26.

The business of the Revising Barristers is proceeding
here. Considerable excitement is occasioned by the warm
discussions which arise. On the whole, the conduct of the
Barristers is net complained of, except in one case, which
occurred to-day. On Thursday, after a long argument,
Mr. Round (the Senior Barrister) decided that of the
claimants from the Cathedral establishment only the six
Prebendaries were entitled to a vote, and that the subordi-
nates were not entitled. This gave general satisfaction.
But today the electors were surprised to find that Sir
Edward Knatchbull's solicitor, at the instance of Dr.
Russell (Prebendary), demanded a re-hearing of the
whole of these cases struck off, on the ground of fresh evi-
dence being prepared. The Barrister, to the astonish-
ment of the electors, seems disposed to listen to this ap.
plication, and announced that on Monday they would de-
cide whether or not they would hear the matter argued
over again. As the decision has been once formally made,
and " the Ville of Christ Church" discharged by proclama-
tion, surely it must be highly irregular and illegal to revive
the question at this Sessions. The Reformers declare that
if this step is taken they wid demand a re-hearing in
every case previously decided against them.
The approaching contest for East Kent will be a warm
one. The Conservatives, aristocratic and clerical, are
" moving Heaven and earth" in favour of the old Tory
champion, Sir Edward Knatchbull, and to oppose the po-
pular candidate, Sir William Cosway, whose prospects of
success, however, are most favourable. We hope the
East Kent electors resident in London will not omit to
prove their qualifications, anti to appear at the hustings to
give their vote for the Reform Candidates, Conroy and
PI tun ptre.