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

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 be 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.
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
bands, as impregnable as Gibraltar.
This alone, with
the addition of Tetuan, would gi le 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 importance, 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
snore 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.
Fer 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,)
atilt 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 enorgies of man would dis-
solve and be swept away before the deluge of rain
which then converts the conntry 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'
Moorishte re e cruisers;
Irishs rs
there, farewell peace ! We had much rather again
behold, as our grandsires beheld,
lying in wait behind Lundy Island, to
• traders sailing to Bristol, than the I±rench 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 mar
clients from whole fleets of Salee rovers; but the
—world must be in flames ere we could make the four
kingdOins, forming the empire of Morocco, too hot to
be occupied by those who now see more glories and ad.
vantages attending' the future struggio than are
discernible by the Emi-Jish press, Elmahassen bus 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;
.abadow of cause and reason for an Invasion has been
dispersed, they will condescend to plagiarise from
Lord Ellenborough's grand drama in jlindostan, and
we shall see them bringing back those glared 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
• ta?Y honours, aged 50, SarottOi GP.Froan, a pensioner fronp
• .the 60th infantry, who had been in sOmal engagementa
with Colonel Love' Vi in. is said, on one inu, to have
saved the gallant colonel's life. When the gallant
, colonel lay wounded on the pieine of Waterloo, Garman
moved bins to a more retired spot, and out of the way
of the horses, &e. Re bad not done so long before a*
Munition waggon burst, and killed many that were
pear where the colonel had Ishii—Monmouth 31erlin.