The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-11 00:00:00

PHUT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
/ROE THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
GLOBE.—lnstinctively shrinking from the discussion
of Mr. Ross's motion on Mr. O'Driscoll's re-appoint-
ment to the Irish magistracy, the favourable moment
for shirking the question was seized while Mr. Hume
was speaking. A number of the Opposition Members
had left the House. The well-known signal was given.
The well-trained hacks of Government, who walk
in and walk out of the House as they receive
the cue from their trainers, bolted out. The
Speaker's attention was directed to the fact that there
were not forty Members present. The mace was taken
from the table ; the Speaker left the chair ; and the
House adjourned at a quarter before eight. The
ruse will not, however, effect its object. The sub-
ject of Mr. O'Driscoll's restoration to the commission
of the peace in Ireland involves considerations too
important, in the present excited state of public
feeling in that country, to be allowed to pass away
without a searching inquiry into the facts of the
case. It must be seen whether even the disposition
which the House of Commons has shown to treat with
indifference the high-handed policy of Ministers, in
everything which pertains to Ireland, will induce it to
sustain them in the monstrous perversion of the
prerogative in favour of a political partisan. The cir-
cumstance of a single re-appointment to the magistracy,
in the person of Mr. O'Driscoll, whose delinquencies
had induced the Lord Chancellor to remove him from
the commission, may net be, in itself, a matter of mo-
ment ; but it becomes of importance when regarded
as an indication of the spirit in which the Government
deals with the magistracy ; the character of which, in the
sister country, requires to e raised, and not lowered, to
render it respectable and efficient. The improved social
state of Ireland under the Whigs was, in a great degree, at-
tributable to the care with which the executive in that
country preserved the commission from the introduction
of unworthy individuals. The present Ministers seem dis-
posed to undo all that their predecessors did to conciliate
the people, and preserve the peace in that country. If
they be not stopped in their career, the results may in-
duce unavailing regrets that they were allowed to pro-
voke a nation whom sound policy would have taught
them to propitiate. The first supply night will give
Mr. Ross an opportunity of compelling the attention of
Ministers and the House to his motion for the corre-
spondence in this shameful case, of which we trust he
will avail himself.
STANDARD.—The claim of Sir Augustus D'Este to
the dukedom of Sussex has been rejected by the House
of Leith. This result was, we believe, very generally
anticlrßted from the first. The only question that could
be raised in the case was this, has the Legislature the
power of imposing a personal disqualification upon any
of the subjects of the State ? The analogy of all
laws of all countries determines this question in
the affirmative. No subject can, by change of place,
divest himself of his title to the protection of the
Government of his native country ; or, on the other
hand, relieve himself from his corresponding obligation
to submit himself to the authority of its laws—laws are
therefore of personal as well as of local obligation ; and
his only by overlooking this truth, that any doubt could
have been admitted as to the invalidity of the marriage of
the late Duke of Sussex with Lady Augusta Murray.
A momentary error upon the point was not, how-
ever, unnatural, for the general marriage law of this
country having but a local sphere, it might be easily
at first inferred that every marriage law must be merely
local. The policy of such a law as the Royal Marriage
Act, is a different question from the power of the Legis-
lature to enact it, and it is a question upon which, we
freely confess it, our opinions are much less decided than
they once were. The example of the numerous family
of George the Third—some of them most unhappily
married, some never married, and the whole thirteen re-
presented at this day by four of their children—this
example was calculated to create a very strong impres-
sion against the law which imposed such heavy
restraints upon the marriages of the Royal Family.
It was impossible not to reflect how different would have
been the position of George the Third. in his late years,
if his numerous and flourishing offspring had been
free to form unions with the nobility of England ;
and we still think that the interests of the Monarchy
are not consulted by the barrier raised between the
Royal Family and an aristocracy, in antiquity of descent
and lustre of birth certainly not inferior to the proudest
among the sovereign houses of Europe. On the other
hand, perhaps, the country gains something by the re-
moval of a temptation of no small amount of cabal,
which would be offered by the possibility of a royal
alliance, while it is certain that an influence which might
make the monarch occasionally even too powerful, is
obviated by the isolation of the Royal Family. Let
us take for example the case of George the Third.
Had his numerous family intermarried with the
most powerful families of the aristocracy, as doubtless it
would have done but for the law of which we are speak-
ing, would he have been compelled, as often as he was
compelled, to accept Ministers whom he disliked, and in
whom he had not confidence ? We see the evil here,
_however, because George the Third was a good and
a wise man ; but he might have been the reverse
of both —he might have bean such a man as his
son and immediate successor, who was neither good nor
wise ; and we can hardly regret a deficiency of power in
George the Third, which also operated as a restraint
upon George the Fourth. There is another considera-
tion, of less weight, indeed, but still deserving of
attention. The family that has so happily filled the
throne of this empire for 130 years—never more
happily than in its present beloved representative—
this family must bc, expected naturally to cherish a pre-
ferwiee for sovereign alliances. The prjudice, if it must
he so called, of the reigning monarch, would always in-
cline to unite the members of the Royal Family with
equals in rank rather than with subjects ; but the indul-
gence of this prejudice would sometimes be encountered
by the private inclinations of the prince .or princess
chiefly concerned, and thus would arise differences
-which must extend to jealousy between the monarch
and the people, always ready to favour an honourable
passion, certainly not less inclined to favour such a
ey nrosion when a native of our own country is preferred
u , it to a stranger. This would bring the monarch into
at,situde towards the people from. which certainly good
.could fact arise. On the whole, then, it must be plain
that if the Marriage Act is an evil it is not an unmixed
evil. At present we surely have no reason to complain
of it; for, under no concurrence of circumstances could
England have hoped fur the blessing of a better Sove-
reign, or a Consort more worthy of that Sovereign.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF
PRINCE ALEXANDER DE GONZAGA.
(BY AN OLD DIPLOMATIST.)
After the fall of Napoleon, the allied powers, delivered
from an adversary whose name alone made them tremble,
assembled at Vienna to regulate the future position of
.orations, or rather to appropriate to themselves the
the immense territories that the chances of war had
thrown into their hands, and to sweep away, as far as
nossible, the very vestiges of the vast empire that had
lust fallen. Hero began a series of injustices which it
would take too much space to enumerate, but which may
ly be described as a wholesale sacrifice of the
feeble to the strong, a breaking down of the affections
land sympathies of the people of different nations—
hatred to France being the sole principle of action.
Among the innumerable victims of this iniquitous as-
-I.ociation, which assumed to itself the bouncing appella-
tion of the Holy Alliance, was the Prince Alexander de
sloiszagal Prince of the Roman Empire and of Castiglione
4deilos Stiviere), &c. &e. &c. The family to which he be-
longs is of Italian origin. Its first chief was Hugo, son
of Lothario, king of Lombardy, and great-grandson of
zhe emperor Lothario, who was himself the grandson of
Charlemagne. Prince Hugo married a Princess of Lora-
,tirdy, named Gonz.ingina or Gonzaghi, from whence
atomes the name of Gonzaga adopted by the descendants
Hugo. Gerhard, one of the sons of Hugo, was the first
ip assume the title of Lord of Gonzaga, and he obtained
ayestiture as vassal direct of the empire. His son. Louis,
•N died in .1046, was one of the most remarkable men
avh` 't time. Another Louis, eighth in descent from
of one of the greatest lords of all Italy. Se
New), w
the indomitable bravery of his son, he se-
conded by
descendants all the lordship of Mantua
cured to his
A the Benacorsi, his deadly enemies. In
.conquered onquered fro
.4325 he was reccOnised sovereign of this territory by the
Emperor Charles 1 17 who at the same time nominated
:-,
him
Viceroy of thea.'omans. His government is repre-
tsented to have been m;rciful and able. Louis H., his
grandson, distinguished itimself greatly in the wars of
he Holy Land, and was fortunate enough to secure
11: e friendship of the Emperor Venceslas. Francis H.,
sszl,ebrated for his . military and diplomatic talents,
use elevated to high honours by the Pope Jean
:xxLL, and entrusted with the command of his
roops,. The son and successor of this distinguished
sme, Louis 111., commanded the armies of Florence,
"trenioe and Milan. He was a celebrated general, re-
tuarka,,)le for the execution he committed on the Turks.
lie, bad the honour to receive in his dorninions the Em-
,rarer FrOderie 111., and the King of Denmark, and the
Yops chose' Mantua, for a Congress convoked in 1459, to
it moult on t.tke best means of uniting the Catholic Princes
, make war 0.1,. the followers of Mohamed. Frederic IL,
c ne of his des(vudants, rendered great services to the
3 ope Leo X. (il Grandi) and to the Emperor Charles; his
.1 :srraviate was in consequence erected into a Sovereign
a id iteriditary duchy. Preference was also given to him
i the' possessions of Montferrat, in opposition to the
laike of Pavia and the Marquis of Palermo. Ho had,
wever, the strongest claims to this honour, frem his
rwrriage with the Princess, Margaret Paleologus, direct
iteseendant of the Emperors of Constantinople. The
* .cond snecessor of Frederic; William de Gonzag.a, was
c ilifirmed in an his privilegeS by the Emperor Maximi-
) i in, and received at the same time permission for lino-
& if and his cleauendants to bear the title of " Serene
ighuess," that of "Excellency" having been previously
ai plied to to the chiefs of the house of Gonzaga. At a
sa osequent period, the Emperor Ferdinand I. granted to
tit e, Prince the land of his daughter Eleanor, thus ele-
gem ing• his family even to a higher distinction than it
t previously enjoyed. This Prince William is repre-
84.nr, ted to have been a good man, an excellent soldier,
sty,d• an able statesman. He died very rich, 1,200,000
4as being found in his coffers—au enormous sum for
Vs at ePoch-
Af. er ,tracing the descent of the claimant from this
priia,:. to the present time, the writer adds, the Prince
Vs:)1) A , de Gonzaga was born at Dresden on the 12th
-11. oetuk. r 1-99' his parents being Joseph Louis and the
•
4C-1 Trinv. ess terhazy. He is the sole direct heir to the
sseastot -of his family, and successor of Joseph
111 lige zaga (who died in 1746, without children),
• D ilor o -calla, de la Sabionetta and de Bozzolo. He
- was scarcely 13 years of age when he manifested a deter-
te.3.o**ktstehi tent to a military life, and lie entered into
°----Ik,t,sersite of Trance, desiring to be employed under the
e' of i illust.. laus monarch and general, Napoleon.
in 1814, at the " ,battle of Beni, or Bar, near Crawl, he
Led the extreme 4 .good fortune and distinction to at-
React the.,attentic n ~of the Emperor himself ; he made
Captive a general offic„?r of the enemy's, when Napoleon
idtminded what rc he wished for—the errs QT

promotion ? He replied, that he would prefer the cross,
when Napoleon, charmed with such elevation of senti-
ment, decorated him himself, exclaiming, "I will never
forget you, young soldier I"
Subsequently (in 1816) the Prince Alexander entered
the military service of Russia, and in the war against
Turkey, in 1828, greatly distinguished himself at the
siege of Braila. He received in consequence, from the
Emperor, the decoration of St. Anne.
Up to that time, he doubted not that the rights of his
birth would be conferred on him, and after the death of
his brother, in 1828, he took measures to establish them.
But Austria opposed him. The revolution of July, the
troubled state of Poland, and other circumstances, pre-
vented him from continuing with regularity the necessary
measures. In 1831, however, he desired to obtain an
authorisation to visit his family in Italy • but all his ef-
forts to obtain this object were inutiles, the Austrian Go-
vernment being determined to throw everything in his
way to prevent the discovery of the circumstances which
had led to the investiture of his dominions in the hands
of the Empress Maria Theresa.
After visiting Egypt, Greece, and several other
countries, he proceeded to Spoletto in Italy, where he
wrote to the Prince Metternich, protesting against the
vexation of which he was the object, and, not
receiving any response, he parted for Paris, where
hsspitality was readily afforded him. There he con-
sulted the most eminent statesmen and lawyers, and,
from their representations came to the conclusion, even
more confidently than he had held it before, that no act
of decheance was of value as against him.
In 1841, at London, he espoused Maria Elise, daugh-
ter of the celebrated Colonel Coke, of the family of the
Earls of Leicester, and allied to the Dukes of Athol.
After this event, he sent a protestation to the Prince
Metternich relative to the principality of Castiglione,
&c., making reserves with respect to the Duchy of Guas-
talla, incorporated in that of Parma, erected into an
apanage for Maria Louisa, widow of the Emperor
Napoleon.
In 1843 the Vicomte de Verney declared, in a publica-
tion, that the pretensions of the Prince were founded in
law and reason.
In the same year, the Prince addressed a vigorous
protestation to all the kings, princes, and potentates of
Europe. In this important document he protested so-
lemnly against the injustice done him by the ministers of
Austria. His attempts to obtain justice, however, have
hitherto been unsuccesful, but his courage increases as
trials augment. He opposes the calm of his conscience,
and his duty to the storms of political life, which he has
not created, but which he accepts with a determination
worthy of his noble race. He may succumb, perhaps ;
but he will succumb with the conviction that he has not
degraded his august home, nor failed in his holy mission
of re-establishing the rights of his fathers.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC NATURALIST.

One of my first movements in Nashville was a walk
to the college to see Professor Troot, who is a great
enthusiast in geology. It is to be mentioned to the
honour of the state of Tennessee, that it has been one
of the first American States to patronise science, by al-
lowing him five hundred dollars a year as geologist to
the State, in addition to his appointment at the college
as Professor of Chemistry and Natural History, to
which a salary of one thousand dollars a year is at-
tached ; so that the worthy professor is thus enabled to
enjoy all the comforts of life and to make himself
perfectly happy as the distributor of these sums ; for,
like all philosophic enthusiasts, he places no value on
money, and willingly gives any of the country people
twenty dollars to bring him a live rattlesnake, or
anything new or curious in natural history. Every-
thing of the serpent kind he has a particular fancy
for, and has always a number of them—that he
has tamed—in his pockets or under his waist-
coat. To 101 l back in his rocking-chair, to
talk about geology, and pat the head of a large
snake, when twining itself about his neck, is to him,
supreme felicity. Every year in the vacation he
makes an excursion to the hills ; and I was told that,
upon one of these occasions, being taken up by the
stage-coach, which had several Members of Congress
in it going to Washington, the learned doctor
took his seat on the top with a large basket, the
lid of which was not over and above well secured.
Near to this basket sat a baptist preacher
on his way to a great public immersion. His
reverence, awakening from a reverie he had fallen
into, beheld, to his unutterable horror, two rattle-
snakes raise their fearful heads, and immediately
precipitated himself upon the driver, who, almost
knocked off his seat, no sooner became apprised of
the character of his ophidian outside passengers than
he jumped upon the ground with the reins in his
hands, and was followed instanter by the preacher.
The insides, as soon as they learned what was
going on, immediately became outsides, and no-
nobody was left but the doctor and his rattlesnakes
on the top. But the doctor, not entering into the
general alarm, quietly placed his great coat over the
basket, and tied it down with his handkerchief, which,
when he had done, he said, " Gentlemen, only don't
let dese poor dings pite you, and dey won't ho'rt
you."—Featherstonhaugh's Excursions through the
Slave States.