The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 24, 1844.

FINE ARTS.
MAPS OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1815.

Captain Siborne, the constructor of the well-known
' model of the battle of 'Waterloo which was exhibited
' so successfully for more than one season some few
years since at the Egyptian Hall, has just completed a
series of maps illustrative of the campaign of 1815,
which was crowned by the memorable victory of
Wa-
terloo, and the subsequent march of the triumphant
British and Prussian armies on Paris. These maps
are eleven in number, are coloured with great
beauty and nicety, and represent with the ut-
most minuteness, and with a simplicity that there
can be no misunderstanding, all the various move-
ments of the contending forces during their three
days' hard fighting. Two of the maps are devoted to
the delineation of the closing action at Waterloo,
and those who study them with attention will
have a distincter and completer idea of that
murderous and obstinately contested battle than
they have yet had. The first of the two maps
gives a view of the state of the field at a quarter before
eight o'clock in the evening, when Napoleon,
all his other chances having failed, had just issued
orders for the final charge of the squadrons of the
Imperial Guard. These brave veterans, who are
coloured in blue, to distinguish them from the British
troops, who are coloured in red, are represented in
the act of advancing at full speed in a compact, for-
midable body, up the long, undulating ridge behind
which the English, with Wellington at their head,
were quietly waiting their approach. The names
of the different divisions and brigades, both horse and
foot, are also distinctly marked, together with the
exact position they maintained at this critical mo-
ment. To the right of the' spectator the Prussian
auxiliary forces, coloured in green, are coming up at
the extremity of the field by the road from Ligny,
moving onward in heavy compact columns. In the
second map, which exhibits the condition of the con-
tending parties at five minutes past eight o'clock in
the evening, we see the Imperial Guard scattered in
all directions, and precipitately retreating from the
ridge, with Adams's division apparently foremost in
pursuit, mingled among them, and the Prussians by
this time close at hand. The representation of this
las. disastrous attack of the French Emperor is deeply
interesting, and places the whole scene vividly before
us. But indeed no spot or movement of any import-
ance is omitted in these maps. We have the attack
and defence of Hugouemont, with the exact appearance
of its garden, the farm of La Belle Alliance, the high
road leading across the field from Charleroi, and even
the inequalities of the ground, its level and its rising
portions, discriminated by shadows of more or less
depth. The same praise that we have given to the
two coloured maps of Waterloo may be extended to
those which represent the battles of Ligny, Quatre-
Bras, and Wavre, at the most critical period of these
sanguinary contests. The idea of these maps is a
perfectly novel one; and the constructor's (Captain
Siborne) skill in military surveying has enabled him
to give a scale of measurement which is characterised
by the most scrupulous accuracy. The majority of
our readers are of course perfectly acquainted with
the particulars of the brief, but glorious and decisive
campaign in Belgium; but we will venture to say
that of all the careful and circumstantial descriptions
they may have read of this campaign, none will give
them so distinct, vivid, and correct an idea of its cha-
racter as these eleven maps. We should not omit to
notice that they are engraved by Freebairn, who has
acquitted himself of a difficult and complicated task
with the greatest skill, spirit, and ingenuity, and dis-
played first-rate abilities as an engraver.

persed. The flanks began rapidly to spread out ; and
then the mass partaking more generally of the panic, ap-
peared as if rent asunder by some invisible power. At
the same time, Halkett, notwithstanding the fierce con-
flict in which Alten's division was then engaged, most
judiciously pushed forward his two right regiments, the
33d and 69th, a short distance, to cover, if possible,
Maitland's brigade from any flank attack that might be
attempted by a part of Donzelot's troops, and such ad-
vanced position offered considerable security to the bri-
gade of guards as it subsequently retired to re-form.
" The British guards had continued their charge some
distance down the slope of the hill, when Maitland per-
ceived the second attacking column of the imperial guard
advancing on his right, and exposing his brigade to the
imminent risk of being turned on that flank. He ac-
cordingly gave the order to face about and retire ; but
amidst their victorious shouts, and the noise of the firing
of cannon and other arms, the command was imperfectly
understood, and the first sense of danger led to a cry of
Form square' being passed along their line, it being
naturally assumed that the enemy's cavalry would take
advantage of their isolated position ; which, however,
was not the case. The flanks of battalions gave way as
if to form square. Saltoun conspicuously exerted him-
self in endeavouring to rectify the mistake, but in vain ;
and the whole went to the rear. The confusion in which
they retired was unavoidable ; but it was not the con-
fusion consequent upon either defeat or panic ; it re-
sulted simply from a misunderstanding of the command ;
and no greater or more distinguished proof could be af-
forded of the excellent order, cool self-possession, and
admirable discipline of these troops, than the steadiness,
alacrity, and intelligence with which, upon regaining the
crest of the ridge, they obeyed the command, then given,
of Halt, front, form up.",

IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
Under this vague expression, which means as much
as another expression in common use Poverty is
no crime "—and both meaning nothing, much errone-
ous conduct is extenuated,',and much evil-doing is per-
petrated with impunity. A man, true enough, is not
to be imprisoned for debt any more than he is to be
hanged for killing a man, but both are to be punished
according to the animus which caused the acts. And
he who has gained credit—he who has been entrusted
with his neighbour's goods or his money, having given
his distinct promise to restore that withiwhich he has
been trusted—who has been believed on his solemn
promise, and then does not restore according to his
promise, is yet not to be punished, if by real, clearly
defined misfortune, ne be unable so to do; but if he
become unable so to do, from voluntary acts, either
before-he made the promise, or from voluntary acts
after he made the promise, or knowing at the time that
he should be unable to fulfil his promise, then he is
punishment-worthy, for he has voluntarily injured his
neighbour, he has done what in him lies to destroy
confidence between man and man, and is so far
a public enemy. His degree of wrong will depend
upon the class of voluntary acts he has committed : he
may have been idle, and as a mechanic has neglected
his work, or has worked only four days a-week in-
stead of six, whereas he agreed to do the contrary,
for , in every act of credit-taking, it
is most distinctly implied, that a man shall
put himself in a situation and continue in it, by
which he will alone be able to fulfil his promise ;
or, as a tradesman, or merchant, or banker,
he most distinctly, yet tacitly, promises that he will
use all due diligence, and observe good, industrious
business habits, for if he does not do all this he volun-
tarily places himself so as to be unable to keep his pro-
mise. Or as a gentleman, a clergyman, or nobleman
when he borrows money, or gets wine and other luxu-
ries on credit, he distinctly promises that he is in and
will pursue such a course as alone will enable him to
keep his engagement; and thus ex uno disce wanes, in
every case of credit, idleness and extravagance, or
voluntary acts of the least criminal character, which
render a man unable to keep his word, and which vo-
luntary acts he also promises not to do. Hence he
who becomes insolvent by reason of his idleness and
extravagance has done an act and acts which are in-
jurious to the public, and he deserves to be punished.
Still more so, when it is considered that he who took
his solemn promise is quite unable to know and to
watch whether he does pursue the requisite course of
conduct. He who lent the money on the goods can
only know how he can give the credit which is asked ;
he can but very imperfectly know how his debtor can
take the credit ; that is the matter for the debtor
alone to know. All this seems so simply clear,
that it were a waste of words—it were crush-
ing a gnat on a wheel, to make such a
parade of reasoning, were it not that quite
the contrary is spoken by many men about town,
who take their cue from the talk of others in high
places, commissioner of insolvency courts, legislators,
law lords, and still more, from acts of Parliament, for
all these authorities declare the contrary, and say, no
man should be imprisoned, who cannot pay his debts,
except by reason of fraud ; whereas, in a commercial
country like this, where millions of treasure are and
must be every hour passing on credit among the people,
where it is absolutely indispensable that men should
believe one another, with just as much confidence, as
they go to the Exchange, believing one another that
there is no intention of assassination ; men must be
punished for every cause of voluntary insolvency.
And this would be the case,lif it were not for the pes-
tiferous influence of class legislation. If those who
were exposed to these dangers made the laws, they
would be protected ; but the laws are made by a
privileged body, who care not for the people, a pri-
vileged body, who as landlords, law lords, tithe eat-
ers, pensioners, and annuitants, have the debts due to
themselves secured by almost irresistible powers,
bringing in many instances (as in rents, tithes, and
taxes) all the machinery they themselves have pecu-
liarly devised, to obtain their claims, and then,
having so done, they " do a bit of humanity ;"
indulge in the luxury of a little cheap bene-
volence by crying out against the unprotected cre-
ditor, who is seeking to get payment of his debt
out of the small wreck that these privileged law-
makers have left, and after 20s. in the pound has been
got on their claims. There would be a little decency
in their outcry in favour of poor unfortunate insol-
vents, if they would consent to make a hodge-podge
with all the creditors ; but no, the tax-gatherer comes
first, and takes away the bed from under the partu-
rient wife, in order to get the money wherewith to
pay the 5,0001. a-year pension to Lord Brougham,
and then this cosmopolitan patriot talks loudly and in-
dignantly about the cruelty of taking the husband to
gaol at the suit of the doctor, who.has been called at
midnight hour, to minister his art to the sufferer,
"trusting" to payment at some future and more con-
venient time. Like the young French Prince who
saw his domestic shedding tears of heart-moving mi-
sery, said, " Why, what do you cry for, I have had
my breakfast ?" So his Lordship, whose pension is fur-
nished by the poor woman's bed, cries out to the doc-
tor who trusted, "Why do you pursue the poor hus-
band thus ? you can't have more of the cat than is in
her skin ; if the poor family can't pay, what can you
get by imprisonment. I've got my five thousand a-
year !" The subject admits of interminable illustra-
tion, and yet the argument itself is in a nutshell.
Rather than the whole nation should be dislocated
in its mercantile relations, and dishonesty and roguery
taught and encouraged by law, it were much better
to give the privileged classes the further privilege re-
specting debt which they claim for others, but with
the object of our protection. It is not that they care
for the poor insolvent, that they are demoralising the
whole nation ; but it is that they, of the Lords and
Commons, and the pious divines of Oxford and Cam-
bridge, may eat ices and drink champagne, and not
be troubled for payment thereof—that they should
thus, to use a homely phrase, set their neighbour's
house on fire to roast their own eggs. Let them Ise-
ware—there is but one step between public and pri-
vate dishonesty. The lax laws of the United States,
copied from the mother country, destroyed the cha-
racter of their traders and merchants, and that they,
having found it convenient not to pay their private
debts, they declared they would not pay their public
debts. As with America, so will it be with England,
if this destructive amateur law-making be allowed its
course.

FRANCE AND MOROCCO.
(From the Church and State Gazette.)
The official organ of the French Government, in
Paris, has just published a manifesto upon the
differences at present existing between the above
countries, which is suspected, -with good reason, to
come from the pen of M. Guizot-himself. It is rather
lengthy ; but its substance may. he comprised in the
few assertions—that war neither exists, nor has been
declared ; that the Government of Morocco is responsi-
ble for the late attack made on the French troops ; and
that the latter will abstain from making reprisals while
they await the answer of the Emperor to the demand of
the Consul- General at Tangiers, for complete reparation.
The manifesto then expresses its determination of
compelling the expulsion of Abd-el-Kader from the
Maroquim territory, and terminates by some remark-
ably high-sounding phrases, not at all equivocal, as to
their meaning, but very doubtful with respect to their
sincerity. This conclusion declares that France is
actuated by no desire for territorial aggrandisement,
or of conquest ; that she does not wish to subdue the
empire of Morocco, and that were she compelled to
subdue it, she has no intention of keeping it. And,
finally, that the space she occupies, and, as she says,
will ever occupy, in Africa, is sufficient for her, and
that she has no desire to add. an inch to her present
possessions.
_ _

1. Now, we have not the slightest inclination to
doubt the gallantry or the good faith of the French
nation generally ; nevertheless, we must acknow-
ledge that we have not the slightest confidence in
the expressions of moderation used on this occasion
by M. Guizot. We have no doubt that he and
his party acting with him are sincere—but sincerity
in France depends upon circumstances ; and the
present French Ministry may be succeeded by
another, who will sacrifice the national honour,
pledged in the face of the world, to opportunities
which may rise, and to advantages attending the
seizing of them. Any one, however slightly ac-
quainted with French history, will agree with us
on this point. Years ago, France made the decla-
ration that the Pyrenees were her natural boundary
on the south, yet when intrigue triumphed, and
Louis XIV. was enabled to exclaim, " Les Pyrenees
ne sont plus?" the expression was hailed with tri-
umph, and exalted into a proverb. She has repeat-
edly expressed herself content with her limits as they
at present exist, and yet it is the darling object of the
Republicans of France to push her boundary to the
other side of the Rhine. Napoleon himself com-
menced his dazzling career -by promises of confining
himself to the internal happiness and security of the
French territory, yet long ere that career had termi-
nated he had borne terror and desolation into
every corner of Europe. It is within the
memory of us all, that when General Bour-
mont was sent to chastise the Dey of Algiers,
the Governments of Europe were explicitly
assured that the object of the expedition was not
territorial aggrandisement, and that when reparation
had been obtained the French troops would retire.
The result we all know ; and the excuse for such re-
sult reminds us of old Dilworth's fable of the two
thieves; the ex-Ministry, who promised to abstain
from seizing Algiers, quietly justify themselves by
saying that they do not retain it; while their suc-
cessors, for the time being, assert, with no less self-
complacency, that they did not take it.
We repeat, that, whatever may be done for the
moment to appease the watchful sovereignties of Eu-
rope, there is a great fear of a serious war springing
out of this question. It may suit France to say
otherwise, but we are satisfied that the mere
occupation of Algiers does not suit her purpose, and
that she is secretly coveting, and silently working
to obtain the possession, not only of Morocco, but
of Egypt. With the latter, however, we have for
the present nothing to do. The former is a splen-
did prize, which is now occupying the unquiet
spirits of the war party in France ; and to that we
confine ourselves. That African dominion, which is
now grandiloquently affected to be despised, occupies
a territory nearly equal to that of Spain, and
whether its population be but of four millions,
as asserted by some, or extended to fifteen millions,
as it is declared by others, there is little to pre-
vent the French, who now are biding their time, to
enter and pronounce that the present dynasty has
ceased to reign. The incontrovertible fact is, that
they cannot afford to despise it ; and their proud
boast of making the Mediterranean a French station
is not likely to be realised until they have obtained
possession of the devoted land. The advantages to
them of such a possession would be incalculable. The
range of hills, inaccessible towards the sea, which
extend from Ceuta to Tangiers, would be, in their
hands, as impregnable as Gibraltar. This alone, with
the addition of Tetuan, would gi ie them the absolute
command of the Mediterranean, much more than they,
at all events, can ever derive from the occupation
of Algiers. Again, on the line of coast between Cape
Spartel and Cape Non, are situated those numerous
seaport towns upon the Atlantic Ocean, which, if im-
proved, are so admirably calculated for opening a
commercial intercourse with Europe, America, the
East and West Indies, and, (including Tangiers
and Tetuan), with the Mediterranean. The interior
is of no less impoitance, situated as the French are in
Africa, than the mere frontier lines. At present they
depend for existence upon their supplies derived from
Europe. The possesion of the territory of Morocco
would relieve them from all accidents and con-
tingencies connected with such a dependent con-
dition. The soil of that territory will produce,
not merely European necessaries, but all the
luxuries both of the Eastern and Western
world. From the wretchedly slight cultivation
which the country at present receives (merely the
burning of stubble, before the autumnal rains come
on), without the application of any manure, and
with a lightness of ploughing that would very much
astonish a Worcestershire farmer, it produces all that
a numerous French army and colony would require ;
for, excepting oats, which will not grow there, the
ground, under its present disadvantages, produces in
luxurious abundance excellent wheat and barley,
Indian corn, and a long and varied list of
esculent vegetables. Fruits are equally abun-
dant, and so are plants, the varieties of
which are capable of being applied to the most
useful purposes both in medicine and the arts.
The mines of the Atlas Mountains, worked, as they
would be, by French engineering skill, could furnish
France, at a cheap rate, with what she most needs,
ere she can bring to complete realisation, the steam-
fleet dream of the privateer prince—namely iron. In
short, Morocco is so placed, that, in the present con.
dition of foreign politics, the peace of the world hangs
by it. It is calculated to become of the highest
political and commercial importance. This is just
such an importance as the French would fain acquire,
in addition to that which it already possesses ; and
when we look upon the map, we cannot but more and
more doubt the assertions of slippery French states-
men, that they have neither aspirations, desires, nor
intentions, directed towards this manifest " coign of
'vantage."
In the meantime, as late as Tuesday last the French
Government announced to the merchants of France,
trading with Morocco, that there would be no war,
but that everything would be settled by diplomacy.
For the present, this is, no doubt, true. France is not
yet fully prepared against a power, strong in pride,
fanaticism, and position—a power to which three
Christian kingdoms (Sweden, Denmark, and Spain;)
still pay tribute annually. The great adversary of
Morocco is fully aware, that in August the hot wind
of the desert carries death upon its breathings : that
in September all the energies of man would dis-
solve and be swept away before the deluge of rain
which then converts the country into a wide morass
(defended from invasion by the rampart of poisonous
vapour with which it is enclosed) ; and that in the
dry season, the locust would be the most efficient
allies ofthe Negro-Moorish troops, by spreading famine
about the path of the intruders. These circumstances
show that time, opportunity, and foresight, must all
be wanted, valued, and observed, ere the first shot
can be safely fired, that will shake the peace ofnations.
That this shot will be fired, we firmly believe,
judging, as we do, rather from the acts than the
words, of _the Ministry of the Tuilleries. The old
Emperor Muley, in 1770, swore by his beard, that no
Christian should ever again enter Tetuan. We fear
our neighbours have especial views on this very city ;
and that they will not be slow to show their disregard
for the commands of the Vizier of the faithful. Once
there, farewell peace ! We had much rather again
I behold, as our grandsires beheld, Moorish cruisers
lying in wait behind Lundy Island, to intercept Irish
traders sailing to Bristol, than the French exacting
satisfaction from Muley Abderrahman, after the
same fashion employed by them to wring it from the
Dey. The lighting from the swivel gun of a steam
frigate would be quite sufficient to protect out mer-
chants from whole fleets of Salee rovers; but the
world must be in flames ere we could make the four
kingdoms, forming the empire of Morocco, too hot to
be occupied by those who now see more glories and ad-
vantages attending the future struggles than are
discernible by the English press. Elmahassen has no
terrors for them. The memory of Christian armies
slaughtered there, is a welcome rather than a prohi-
bition. And certain we are, that when even every;
shadow of cause and reason for an invasion has been
dispersed, they will condescend to plagiarise from
Lord Ellenborough's grand drama in Hindostan, and
we shall see them bringing back those sacred gates of
Seville, the carrying off of which was one of the
greatest triumphs of the mighty Almanzor.

Buried, on Monday last, at Cardigan, with mili-
tary honours, aged 50, Samuel Garman, a pensioner from
the 60th Infantry, who had been in several engagements
with Coloncd Love, and is said, on one occasion, to have
saved the gallant colonel's life. When the gallant
colonel lay wounded on the plains of Waterloo, Garman
moved him to a more retired spot, and out of the way
of the horses, &e. lie had not done so long before nn
ammunition waggon burst, and killed many that were
near where the colonel had lain,—Monmouth Merlin.