The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-03 00:00:00

BELGIUM AND ENGLAND.

The commercial Protectionists of Belgium have adopted
a comical way of expressing their detestation of Eng-
land and free trade, in a procession which passed through
the streets of Tournay at the Mid Lent festival last
week. The English nation was personified a huge
big-bellied figure, a sort of Gargantua the Great, with
vast open jaws, devouring all sorts of food in most un-
conscionable quantities, while a number of ether figures,
representing the other nations ofthe world, stood by, starv-
ing. The car of " Perfide Albion" was drawn through the
town with much vulgarand vociferous derision, conveying
Lord Mangefort, as the representative of our country was
nick-named, who was made, every quarter of an hour, to
stop and swallow a heap of victuals, bread, meat,
poultry, and rabbits, butter and cheese, and other com-
modities, of which an Englishman; like the native of any
other country, desires to consume as much as he wants.
After exhibiting this spectacle in front of the houses of
several leading advocates of free trade the mob proceeded
to the river Escaut, and, with cries of " A l'eau lea Ang-
lais I" they precipitated their awkward plaything into
the water. The eatables, however, which Lord Mande-
fort had left were put by till next day, when theywere dis-
tributed among the workpeople of a flax mill, the owners
of which establishments are said to have paid the ex-
penses of the exhibition. The Independance Beige adds
that they sang a soag commencing " Guerre aux Ang-
lais t" and, together with the workmen of three other
factories, paraded the street, at 8 o'clock in the even-
ing, to the music of the marrowbones and cleaver,
with loud threats against the English. Gin and beer
were freely dispensed among them by some persons
who ought to have known better. The Independance
expresses much regret at these uncivil and uscourteous
doings, and remarks :—" No one except those who are
shamefully ignorant of the eonditions and interests of
our country, and of the changes it has undergone, can
pretend to deny the happy effect wh:ch extensive pur-
chases on the part of English merchants and capitalists
have had in bringing about that returning prosperity
which our Flanders has obtained, in contrast to its for-
mer state of utter prostration. The class of small far-
mers, aided by English money, have rapidly acquired
that modest competence which is the general charac-
teristic of our agriculturists ; while the development of
our manufacturing industry has been carried on by
ether means. England, therefore, by affording our
western districts a valuable market for their products,
has contributed greatly to the industrial and com-
mercial regeneration of an important portion of this
country.

THE FRENOII NAVY.—The launch of the Alex Andre,
screw line-of-battle-ship, pierced for 100 guns, took place
two days ago at Rochefort with great ceremony. At two
o'clock the gates of the arsenal were thrown open to the
public,land in a few minutes the space set apart for the
spectators Was filled. In front of the vessel a stand had
been erected fur the accommodation of the ladies. At
about half-past 3 a roll of drums, followed by a burst of
martial music, announced the approach of the religious
procession, at the head of which walked the Bishop of
Rochelle and Saintes in full canonical,.. The procession
having arrived at the vessel a brief address was deli-
vered by the bishop. A little before 4, the tide being
at its highest, orders were given for the launch of the
vessel. The dogshores being then knocked away, she
glided along her "ways" and entered the Charente amid
loud shouts from the spectators. The launch was
effected without the slightest accident either ou land or
water.