The Sun.
London, England, 1826-12-12 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

With pride and exultation we present to the readers: of
the Times, a message which was yesterday delivered to
Parliament. This:message vindicates the honour of Eng.,
land, and secures the " safety and independence," we trust,
we may -add the political freedom, "of Portugal, the
oldest ally of Great Britain." It is needless to do more
time refer to the language employed by his Majesty on this
great occasion, for proofs of the positive necessity under
which Great Britain has been placed, of repelling by
force the aggression committed upon her ally, and of in-
dicting an exemplary chastisement on that incorrigible tys
rant, whose existence upon a throne is altogether incom-
patible with the repose and happiness of the nation which
England has irrevocably bound herself to protect. We
cordially
thisgiee his Majesty's advisers credit for having so
far met
prescribed to them by jestice, conscience, and a regard as
crisis in the affairs of Europe on the principles
well to the rights of other countries, as to the highest
interests and most sacred obligations of their own. We
trust that, with Mr, Canning, unlike the wretched
tools of Ferdinand and his , instigators, this manly
message will be followed up by ifigh,lv actions; that in the
roved to mean
policy of England at lease, words will be •
deeds; that as it has been judged wise to ene.:!irage Par-
tugs), and to threaten Spain, so will it be Tegerdeo -honest
and indispensable, to fulfil, according to their effit gel'e;
roes import the promises held out to our aggrievet-s 41.'d
injured friend; and to inflict, even to overflowing,
punishment so richly deserved by the COMMOIr enemy of
Portugal and of England. In the confidence that his
• Majesty and his Ministers are not trifling with the
national energies, or with the real urgency of the
crisis, but that they arc prepared to execute vigorously,
what they have emphatically spoken, we could wish
likewise, that no difference of feeling should betratitself
within the walls of Parliament on this vital subject—
' that party should be forgotten, and common eaters
be made by men of all Metes, classes, and denottrinow
tions, where the faith of treaties, the balance of Europe,
arid the advancement of universal liberty are concern-
ed; expressing that "cordial concurrence mid support"
which his Majesty calls for, by an unanimona votes
and pledging through their several organs in Parliattsent,
the respective interests which constitute the body of (1i
people of England, to the defence of our honour and wel-
fare as an enlightened nations In the nature skip of such
defence,let a bold and characteristic cantle of action be St'
lected. The best defence is to attack the enemy. it is
the most decisive, the shortest, and by conserrimite, be- .
yond all comparison, the cheapest. Ten thousand men
to-day, may save the employment of 100,000 this day two
years. One million of money now, may save hereafter
one hundred millions. This has ever been our language.
In the former war, where the Duke of Wellington fought
and triumphed, it is not yet forgotten how we spurred and
pressed the flagging mules on whom he depended for the
daily supply of his necessities. Here, too, we beseech the
Ministers not to lose a single hour, let there be no halving
no hesitating; send troops at once to Lisbon; cover the
Spanish coast with ships ; bring the no hanger despairing
Spanish exiles—all that ever wait of Ithy influence
or value among the upper classes of the nation—
fifteen thousand respectable families •now scattered over
Europe, the whole west of Europe—bring this meritorious
and persecuted body of men, who ere now taught•by esk , ,
perience the fatal weakness of talking and procrastinating
where they ought to be strenuously acting—invite them
to immediate 'service--restore them to their country—
furnish them with arms, clothing, and, meter the superin-
tendence of British agents, money—let them communicate
with their friends throughout the Peninsula ; and relieve
Portugal, by rousing all that has life in the Spanish pro-
vinces froth Cadiz to Barcelona. With a British force on
the Tagus, and under the avowed protection of this come.
try, a different manifestation of national spirit would be
exhibited from that which, at the moment of the last at-
tack 14 Louis MULL, was hardly lees disgrareful to Eng-
land .sslio did not prevent, than to Spain herself who failed
to resist his aggression.: One word more. We now ask
whether this journal did or did not place the subject
on its just and reasonable footing—whether we did not
speak truly, when we asserted that England. was bound
to repel the audacious outrege upon her ally ; that Eng-
land would be disgraced and trampled on if she endured
the atrocious conduct. of Spain; that this Government
must conic forward boldly, or abandon its moat obvious
and imperious duty ; and that the only chance of preserv-
ing the ultimate peace of Europe, was now to " strike,"
and no longer " threaten ?" Our purpose was an honest
purpose. We were anxious to pre are, and pre-engage,
and reconcile the- public mind to those measures of the
Sovereign, which appeared to us to be inevitable as they
were honourable, that his Majesty's Government should
not have to encounter any feelings of dismay or surprise -
among the people, by which their efforts on behalf of the
national welfare might be disconcerted or embarrassed.—
The King and his Ministers have sanctioned oer judgment,
while they have fulfilled our wishes, and we conclude by
praying " God sped the right."—Times.

We are glad to find that the duty upon Fire Insurance
is likely to be brought before Parliament; and we trust
that the result will be a considerable reduCtion of its pre-
sent amount, which we are convinced may be -brought
about without any diminution of the Revenue. Looking
upon it as one of the first duties of Government to en-
courage habits of prudence and foresight among the peo-
ple, we can hardly imagine any tax more directly opposed
to such a maxim than the one in question. That it has
so operated there can be no question ; for the duty being
in most cases double the amount of the premium it acts in
a multitude of cases as a complete obstacle to many, who
would gladly provide against those accidents and misfor-
tunes which are unavoidably so prevalent. That pru-
dence should be thus heavily taxed, while vice and int•
prudence triumph in impunity, scents doubly mortifying;
nue is thus wrung from the virtuous and necessitous, a
for by the side of an insurance office, where a kite wee-
large gambling-house shall exist, where immense sums ire
daily won and lost at a sitting by the most worthless of
mankind, but which produces no revenue to the State,
beyond a paltry tax upon the cards and dice which the
wretches employ for their mutual destruction. We won-
derthat the ingenuity of financiers does not hit upon some
way of making this all-prevailing vice contributory to the
ptirposea of the'State. Sure we are, that the time is
quite come when a vice which has become the prevailing'
scourge and curse of the age, ought to be either checked
and put an end to, or at least mulcted in such a ways ass
shall deter some at least from falling within its baleful
reach. Let every man, for instance, be compelled to take
out a license to game, as well us to kill
heavy duty be payable on club-houses or nt'ber public
places where gaming of any kind is permitted. Al any
silently winks at while it
rate do not let the State interfere with, soga nasiet.oa:drelveetn:
the exercise of, the most obvious prudence,
reached.—Morning Herald.proffigace which 'might be as easily

At length hostile measures have been adopted against
Spain. Our readers will see from the account of the pre.
ceedings in both Houses last night, that a Message from
his Majesty announced the important intelligence, that the
Princess Regent of Portugal has claimed the aid of this
hostile aggression from Spain; that his
cauptry algaiust T' ed
himself,- in conjunction with his Ma-
inajoity exerted
t han a
;eases aux, the King of France, to prevent WC_ . Wes,.
Jsionj and repeate essurances have been given by the Coon
of ivisa,;(l, of the determination of his Catholic Majesty
neither to commit, nor to allow to be committed, from Ins
ottean.niwiig these
rY'anY aggression against Portugal; that notwith-
dl assurances, hostile inroads into the territory
'of Portugal have been concerted in SPain, and hare been
executed under the eyes of Spanish authorities, hi Por-
tugum regiments which hart deserted into Spain, and
which the Spanish Government had repeatedly and so.
lemnly engaged to disarm and to disperse, The sup.
fort and concurrence of. Parliament,' in maintaining the
aith of Treaties, and securing against foreign hoetilitk,
the safety and independence of Portugal, is of eflye

•,1 :14 4

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eolfidentli aritieipated. An Address is to be Moved in
both Houses to-night, when an explanation of the mecum-
stanceS,WlHch led to this very importaat event will be
giien, Mr. Canniq said, 'a knowledge of the absolute'
case, on which the Message MS prepared, had not arrived
in this country before Friday night. ' Already 5000 men
have been, sent to Portugal; and this step has been taken,
it is alleged,' in complete concurrence not merely with
Frecee, but with. Austria, Russia, Prussia, Arc. We learn
that en order, bag been issued from the Horse Guards, ler
the 'groblirkatiou of six Regiments for Lisbon. This is
certainly a curious state of things. France, commissioned
bsethe Holy Alliance, ente.ted Spain to restore Ferdinand
to abSoltite power, 'and she now garrisons that country.
Eagland, it' appears, is now authorised by the Holy
Alliance, and by France, the power which occupies Spain,
to make war on that country. France is thus certainly
Placed in a very strange position. She acts us conjunc-
tion with the Power declaring war against the .Govern-
meat Which she established and upholds= by her arms. This
is casting out Devils by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils.
That the measure will be popular, we have no doubt.
When was ever a war deelered, in England, which wilts
riot perks at the time? War, in this country, furnishes
initorshate excitement, without immediate danger; and
ttitslY do We, as a tuition, love strong excitement. To
the ).:;Mtibitauts on the Rhine, the Po, and the Elbe, the ans
*.eouncement of war carries instantaneous alarm and appre-
hension ; for it prepare them for military ravages and de-
solution—the interruption of industry---and melancholy
revere 4 of forturies But we can never know' the alarm
inepired by the approach of hoitile troops; we lookwith
that Sort of complacency on the conflicts of armies, which
the Latin Poet attributes to the spectator on shore, who
beholds a ship tossed about in a storm. Our insular
position, our resources, and our naval strength, protect
Os Trains all that is distressing in war itself, though they
ftrinot protect us from the consequences which it entails
on Mi. Now Mr. Canning is no doubt a very clever
man, and the nation haw great confidence in the skill
of his combinations. It is possible, therefore, that the
present hostile demonstration will have the effect of in-
timidating Ferdinand, and at once crushing the Porte-
geese malcontents. The return of the fugitives from
Is •
...spans may also afford a colourable pretext for our interfe-
rence in the domestic affairs of Portugal, which, if the re-
bels had never quitted Portugal, we should not have had.
All may be for the best.. But the expectations of those
enter on a war are seldom realized. The Spaniards, too,
are a singular people--and of all nations their movements
are least to be calculated on according to ordinary
principles. ' Do we then say that Ministers ought not to
support our ancient ? We do not say this; but we
wish sincerely we had not always such excellent reasons
for going to, war. Let it be remembered that we began
the last war in support of an.aucient ally, and Statesmen
of high' name have not hesitated to state in their place in
Parliament, that we should compound for the debt which
it entailed on us. Our Revenue has fallen off, and the
nation is suffering in all its interestsS Our support of
another treeing ally, our fidelity to engagements, may teed
to hilidelit.y to another sort of engagements. It wereto
ire wished that we had fewer allies. That Mr. Canning,
however, will obtain the plaudits of the House, and of the
country too, we do not in the least doubt. We shall have
noble sentiments, at all events, for our money. Who would
think of the. Multitudes dying of absolute famine in Leucite
shire and Scotland, when the national glory is at stake ?
Au ingenious foreign writer observes, that war is always a
resource for English Ministers when they know not bow
to extricate themselves from difficulties. " Whenever the
political system is threatened, an able Minister has always
a powerful resource in reserve, of which, in momenta of
difficulty, he never fails to, avail himself—that of a diver-
sion offered to the national pride in external quarrels end
foreign ware—Morning (Aron*.
Witft wrist Scots.---Tate proceedings iii Parliament
last slight were of the highest importa»ce. The Message
froth his Majesty; presented to both -flon4es, will malice
in every bosom throughout the empire sentiments corre-
spondaic with those which it so forcibly expresses. True
to that spirit of moderation without which the possession
of irresistible power would but render any Government a
curse among the 'nations of the earth—firm its that steady
and noble magnanimity which is the 'proper mirth and at-
tribilte of meavalted greatness--the Government of Great
Britain has been anxious to avert a crisis, which, now that
it has arrived, eau only add to her true glory, give a new
stability to the regenerated Government of her old and
faithful Ally, arid plunge the foe, who hits dared to prow
yoke, her just resentment, into still deeper humiliatioe and
disgrace. But moderation and magnanimity bevy their
just and necessary limits, and the conduct of Spain has at
length • etmtpelled England once. more to show to the
*odd, that she can be terrible in her anger towyds
those who presume too far upon her forbearance ;
that she will be invariably true to her own honour,
and. that she will never disregard the claims of.
any othet Power that has acquired aright to her protee-
We ventured toaay no longer ago than Friday last,
that Pot tugal would not find in England that treacherous.
Ally, who,. sifter having beguiled her into the ;assumption
Doliticel freedom at the hazard of national independence
could meanly seek to keep aloof front the struggle, and that.
Portugal, though the Ally.of England, and inferior to Eng-
land,in -power, was, yet a sovereign and independent State,
and was therefore the only proper judge of the time, the,
• eirceniatenees, end the Manner in which she mightpeeive
without degradation, foreign assistance against her own,'
rebellioes subjects on their abettors. This was our
page on Friday last, and we now find that it is in eosist-
quenee rif the earnest application of the Princess Regent,
of Portugal---air appliCt4lon not, received as We leer n from,
tiecrctary Canning; before Friday night, elanning his
Najetty's aid against an hostile aggression from Spam,
that hi Majesty's Government have determined to taker
effectual measures for " nelintstining the faith of, Trea-
ties, and securing against foreign hostility the safety
and jedependence of' the Kingdom of Portugal, the
oldest Ally of Great tritain." A war, between Spain on
the one hand and Greet Britain oil Portugal on the tithe),
if Spaine should be still so insane as to refuse the ,conces.
sionsw eac-ifiees by whirls peace may even yet be preserwd
cannot, wive persuaded, he either sanguinary, expensive,.
or protracted; and it is most satisfactory to find that
Spain has forfeited the assistance and protection of France
by the sane hase and treacherous conduct which has
drawn !nee her the joint resentment of Portugal and Eng-
The 1011ge of England and Franco have, as his
Majesty's Message informs its, exerted themselves in cons
junction to prevent the aggression
or Spain upon Portugal,
and they must therefore hoe heett equally offended by the
weak duplicity acid the hypocritical professiona of the
sianish court. Whether the troops of [ranee will he
withdrawn already from Spain, thus ;„„,,ilig Ferdinand
the
Monks to the unmitigated consequences of their
wickedness and folly, or be continued in that "flaky: to
preserve its internal tranquillity dining the formation of
such iestitutionteaes may be sufficient to curb the wiry wind
and vicious temper of its Monarch, and thus
afford some
reasonable guaraetee for the peace and safety Of its neighs
hoitrs is ft question which a short time must determine,
This at least appears evident, that the issue of the ereeem
crisis cannot fail to be advantageous at once to the libere
Government of Portugal, and to the enslaved people o
Spain, since the former ran have no effeetuel securi:S' egains'
its inveterate trod perfidious foe, so long as the latter shat
be envied with the uncontrolled domination of so absolutt
and perfidious a Ring---so contemptible a wretch as the
professed " petticoat embroiderer to Mary the Virgin!'
4-Rfoiving Post.
The readers of the Neu; Times will have been prepare(
,
for the important intelligence, we this day have to comma
incest. It is now some weeks since; we first directed pub
lie attention to the state of Pprtugal—to the itelications o
increasing difficultly; and,dangers which:presented them
selves—and to the equivocal relatietut which subsisted
between her and Spain. On More than sue occasion,
within theeneriod.'WehaVe hinted at the sinisterinfluenee

il,A7fain.i,il id _

~~ -

viewing Spain as a free agent in the business--and ad-
verted to the embarrassing:position in which this country
might eventually be placed, by-the solemn obligations she
had contracted with her oldest ally, to protect her from
foreign aggression. It is obvious there were two modes
by Nvbich this aggression might be committed : the
direct---tile -other,
positive anddirect---tile-other, substantially a violation of
neutrality, but assuming a less determinate character. The
first of these would have consisted in sending Spanish
troops to fight the battle of the Portuguese Royalists, as
they are called, and thus-declaring war against
,Portugal,
ffir prefiuming to receive, from her legitimate Monarch, the
gift of a Constitutional Charter. But a proceeding like this
would have suited better the high and pahny state of the
Spanish Monarchy, when her warlike population awed
the nations of Europe, awl her adventurous fleets poured
into her lap the exhaustless treasures of a newly-found
World. The second Was the natural policy of a Govern-
ment bigottcd in its principles, but shattered ,in its re-
sources ; of a Government " willing to-wound, and yet
afraid to strike;" the instrument wielded by a more

powerful hand, which did not, perhaps, aim the blow, but
permitted it to be struck. The Portuguese rebels sought
refuge in Spain; and from Spain they returned. equipped,
organised, and supported, to carry the devastation of civil
war into their native country.. It was consistent neither
with the dignity nor with the good faith of England. to
wink at this perfidious' infraction of neutrality—this real
aggression upon the rights and integrity oc her ally, whom
she stood pledged to defend by the most positive and un-
doubted obligations of treaties solemnly concluded. Re-
. Monstrances were made,
.and made in vain.; the conse-
quences of such a course were fruitlessly urged upon the
consideration of the Spanish. Government; and, at length,
the time arrived when it was no longer possible to refuse
to the Princess Regent of Portugal . that protection which
she claimed at our hands. In the Messagefrom the Thro»e,
which was, last night, sent down to both Houses of Parlia-
ment, communicated to the one by Earl Bathurst, to the
other, by Mr. Canning, it is distinctly stated, that his Ma-
jesty,.in conjunction with France, had, for some time
p
it, exerted himself to prevent this species of aggression.'
l'hese representations, it is added, were met, on the part
of the Court of Madrid, by ".repeated assurances of the
determination of his Catholic Majesty neither to commit,
nor to allow to be committed, from his Catholic Majesty's
territory, any aggression against -Portugal." What fol-
lowed ? A sincere and faithful adherence- to these as-
. surances ? • An inflexible maintenance of neutrality ?. No ;
for we are told, in the Message, that " his Majesty learet,
with deep concern, that, notwithstanding these assurances,
hostile inroads into the territory of Portugal have been
concerted in Spain, and have been executed, under "the
eyes of Spanish Authorities, by Portuguese regiments,
which had deserted into Spain, and which the Spanish
Oovernment had repeatedly and solemnly engaged to disarm
and to disperse." It was thus that the representations of
this country were answered : • it watt thus that her power
was defied, and her patience exhausted. Spain knew that,
in offering an insult to Portugal, she was insulting
England ; for England. wag bound to assert .the inde-
pendence, and vindicate the honour, of Portugal. •We
shall not now inquire, how it has has happened, that a
State so feeble, so pyostrate, .so shaken in .its energies,
had the temerity to provoke the just indignation of the
British Government; conscious, as it must. have been,
that the means of shaking her tottering fabric to its centre
were in our hands. • Let events- disclose • themselves.—

Spain was the ostensible „aggressor; and she has forced
upon this country the adoption of a measure, all the " dan-
gerous consequences" of which, to herself, she has 'yet •to
learn. England has not permitted herself to be idly roused
froth her repose ; but, being roused, it will become her
greatness and her safety to show that such experiments upon
her patience can neVer'biniade with impunity.. The lesson
will not be foe t;pain ...alone, It will - have a wider
rnitge, and practically • accomplish larger results, than
merely teaching• his Catholic Majesty that an " apparent
eonth Willett" in aggressions-so affronting to onr.power will
always be met with suitable energy. His Majesty culls
upon the Parliament to " alTomd him their cordial concur-
retie° -and 'stip-pert, in.' maim ainimr the faith of treaties, and
in securing against foreign hostility, the safety and inde-
pendence of the kingdom of Portugal, the oldest idly of
Great-Britain," We know in what spirit this appeal will
he met ; and we • anticipate 4 unanimous assurance from •
both' Houies of Parliament, of their cordial desire to co-
operate with his Majesty, in asserting the true dignity and
best interests of the country, by enabling him to main-
tain inviolable " the :faith of treaties." He would bei a
bold politiCian, who should venture to define the lonn-
daries• within which this state •of things will hereafter
move--who should undertake to limit the consequences
that may ensue from it. Many are the ,grave and porten-
tots questions involved, more or less remotely, in the pri-
mitive one, of simply defending an ally from ai?gression,
Spain may recede from the dangerous position she has taken;
hut if she be already 'Prepared for this conclusion, how shall
we characterize the imbecile folly of having • driven trs into
a awe, if not of actual war, at least of one very nearly ap-
proaching it ? On the other hand, should she persevere,.
then,,be nt remembered, Spain is in the military occupatitin
of France.' • Her garrisons .and fortified towns are filled
With French soldiers. The British flag will be unfurled
Portugal; but not a.British musket will be fired, not:a
British sword will be drawn, against the Portuguese.; it is
Foreign. hostility.: we have to oppose; foreign aggemaion
We have to repel ; we do not interfere with the strife of
domestic parties ; and where, we ask, 'in the progress of
events, may we not have to seek this foreign hostility,ithir
foreign aggression ? Here we pause for the present., The
:ipecac& of Mr. Canning, this in • the House of
1-,!mnintins and of Earl Bathurst, in the House of Lords,
Will -he looked to, -by the country, with intense • interest ;•
.vith an interest proportionate to • the magnitude of the
testion at. issue.---New Times.

THE A 1 ESSENGER OUTIVIT'rEDi OR TH g Ey.
IT UAL lAA r.--inst week, a messenger at arms, in a tOWII
iiot 15 miles east of this city, was employed to search for, and

apprehend a collier, who had deserted his master's employ. Ao-
Cordingly, the officer lost no time in furnishing himself with a
proper concurrent, and proceeded to the abode of the delinquent,
ivhotn he found, and escorted prisoner into, town for examination.
The hour being too hite to take him before a magistrate, it this
thought necessary to procure a lodging for the night, whither the
trio, the messenger, his concurrent, and his captive, repaired to
vend' the night in watching, if not in prayer. The collier being
Sr }loot, little, peaceable personage,the very mirror of simplicity
F.--it was agreed that the party should, agreeably to the Christian.
eke practice of thecuentry, Nos the night in I bed, tool of course, ‘
Ir. Collier was undreseed and placed between his two guardians.
.--Secure, as they thought, and "happy and throng ee three
in a bed," it was not long ere the vigilant Witten" and his cm-
.urietit were hushed in sleep. Nut so the silly, simple-looking
1 ...... bytive the multitude of his thoughts revolved on.the awkward-
rpess of his situation; and, perceiving that his keepers were both
ik‘leep, he bethought himself of the possibilitypf making his escape.
'There was some diffictilty, here, for the door wee looked without.
If lie next natural resource was the window ; but there was difficulty
r lire also, for be recollected he was elevated- one story, and he
/mat sensible enough rto know that broken bones sometimes
Mendell long leaps ; however, " neceseity ii the mother of
invention," and he resolved to try : accordingly, in the quietest
ay possible, he extricated himself from between his sleepy guards,
"4 hoeing quickly leaped into his clothes, he next proceeded to
esp alit at the window, awl wisely recollecting that the sleepers
night awake, and that pursuit was possible, he returned, and
LAet', k the ltivAmitticniti; bundle up the messenger's trowevis, ton.
rm* the "little all" (Ili. 6d.) he had to defray r' incidents,"
if hat and ehoee, together with the concurrent's shoes and coat,
nod then treeipiteted hints& lo the ground of ' the Miter court,:
keheure he went home, and quietly passed the remainder of the
light in the twine Of his anxious wife—e, much better place, cer-
ainly, than in the dormice vile of jiustier. But judge of the cur-
hiss of the hapless messenger and his myrmidon, when they
„awoke and found that their friend the collier was gone : and how
was their mortification increased, when they felt themselves beg,
wed of their apparel—the IneSeenger -without a rag to Cover' his
nakedness--the concurrent' )itintist his coat and shoes—and, be.
*4l'ol4' bereaved of their prisnlieri and'nennyless. They bemoaned
Itheir hapless conditirm during the lapse of a day, ,while the bin&
Ilady looked about her, and by pity charitably :furnished them with
1....,, obi ...ors. to take them home, which they awl. .....i.-1 in