The Sun.
London, England, 1826-12-25 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP THE 'PUBLIC JOURNALS.

•
,article of 'great importance,' and no leso deli-
each is touched upon in the correspondence of our
Parisian friend, to which we have not yet adverted.
It iv said, that "as a condition of the Zealous co-
, operation of France in protecting Portugal.from the
hostile aggression of the Spanish fanatics, the French
Cabinet has required of the English Ministry, that
they shall" not pOur upon the coast of the Peninsula
the exiled Spanish Constitutionalists." Upon this
subject we must say, that if the Constitutionalists,
Mina, Torrijos, and •Quiroga, choose to return to
their native land, we have no right to prevent them :
they, on the contrary, have the fullest right to return,
when, and bow, and to what point they please : but
with respect to our co-Operation or assistance in that
• • object, we think that, at preSent, we stand precisely
itt'the same situation with respect to the above-named
gallant men, in which the Spanish authorities stood
with respect to the refugee Portuguese. If no Other
tiuniehment hid been meditated or inflicted on Spain
for that violation of the law of nations—if Ferdinand
had ';iot been forced even by his allies, the French, in
conjunction with us, •to retrace 'llia steps, to undo.his
doings, to acknowledge and repair, however unwilling-
ly, his error, the return of his own refugees, under
British auspices, would have been one of the just
means of chastisement. Or again, if we had the sin-
cerity of the French ; if, while' they professed to re-
prehend Ferdinand openly for his treacherous conduct
With regard to Portugal, we had discovered that they
were secretly aiding his measures, we should have had
ri4ht to find them employment on the territories of
Spam) by lending - the aid of arms to the con-
at intional party there. But at this moment not
a shadow of suspicion attaches to the honour
and sincerity of France on this head. Under
existing circumstances, therefore, we think our
duty confines itself to the bare act of affording a kind and
hospitable asylum to the exiled heroes, which they may
enjoy as long as they please, and from which they may re-
tirf whenever they think- fit. Practically, however, we
must ..add, that we should think it not wise in them to
choose this precise moment for their return : for how is
Spain changed 'since the epoch at:which they were obliged
to quit it ? The French still continue to occupy the
strong places; the power of Ferdinand over his own sub-
Pets remains undimished; only he is not suffered to inter-
fere in the concerns of a contiguous State. Nothing has
loccUrted, therefore, in Spain, which, had they been there
. at this moment, could have protected them from the ne-
. • tensity of flying from it as they have done. In the mean
time, Jet them observe how affairs are, in all appearance,
gradually working for their benefit, even without their co-
operation. 'The Constitutional Government will be estab-
lished and upheld by us in -Portugal. This is a great
ob-
ject gained for the
,Constitutionalists of Spain, as Ferdi-
nand and the fanatics deeply feel. The French cannot re-
main much longer in the Peninsula, then the field will be
open for them. But they must not forget that we have no
right to interfere in the internal concerns of foreign States,
if :others abstain. Were the point at issue now, among
Spaniards exclusively, whether a constitutional or an abso-
lute monarchy should be established, Spaniards only should
try the question, and that party would have right which
had the majority and force. We might regret an issue un-
favourable to human liberty : but the friends of freedom
should be numerous enough, or should so predominate in
valour, as to be able'to make their cause triumph by arms,
as well as by argument.—Times.
No honeseEnglishman can ref Use either gratitude or
admiration to the truly noble conduct of the Marquis
. Camden, in relinquishing emoluments which now
- amount to the enormous sum of above 130,000/. to
his country, when he might, without the reproach of
singularity, have put his income as Teller of the Fix-
.chequer into his own
pocket. But Lord Camden
judged more wisely, and felt more patriotically. He
was jealous for the name he bore, and tender towards
• the distresses of his countrymen. It is a duty which
we delight in, to bring such an act and such a bene-
factor constantly before the public eye, to show the'
world that there are such men, and to invite Others to
follow his proud and generous example. His Grace
the Duke of Wellington hag just been, we understand,
appointed constable of the Tower of London—a per-
- feet sinecure. The illustrious Duke has a liberal income
which he has hardly earned, and long may he enjoy what
no man grUdges him. Here, however, is an occasion on
which bis Grace may do a becoming action, and without,
we should hope, any sensible privation in regard to his own
pecuniary comforts. The Duke of Wellington was never
fiind of money; but we belieVe that he does not.winit
it, on his own account, any more than where the public
revenue is concerned. He is, therefore, we trust, in easy
and independent circumstances, and could afford to sur-
render the 1,0001. a year which would belong to him as
Constable of. the Tower, while the dignity would ad
be his,—lbid.

Aa an act of justice which we deem quite indispen-
sable, we have inserted a letter from one of the Jury
AO tried the late action for libel, Harris v. Wheldon,
and gave a verdict with damages against the defendant
• ....one of our contemporaries of. the London press.--
It would be foolish to expatiate on what all the world
feelS7---the wretchedness to which the natioil must be
rech.ice4 whets well-founded suspicion shall predomi-
nate amongst us of a decline in die spirit and indepen-
.„dence of English Juries. Should the public confi-
dence in their purity once relax, we are fit for any form
of despotism, and there is an end of one of the best
'distinction's of the British name. If a sense of this
truth ought, on one hand, to inspire Juries with a con-
s ientioustiess of the deep responsibility under which
they Stand, and of the inestimable value of those rights
which they are sworn to protect on behalf of their
countrymen, so,. on the other hand, it ought to render
the public extremely circumspect as to the grounds on
which they impugn the exercise of his functions
by a juryman in any !given instance. Had the
verdict in. the case of " Harris v. Wheldon"
been directed against the right of publishby a
'Simple report .of what takes place in Pollee-offices,
no person could Join more cordially than ourselves in de-
precating the principle and consequences. of such a verdict;
our-contemporary would then not merely be justified in
complaining of a severity practised against himself indivi-
dually, but of one which involved:the moat essential inte-
rests and Welfare of the whole community.. Some of the
judges may, and we fear do, exert themselves to strangle
by all possible means, the right of circulating throushout
society a correct account of what passes not, Ake
Courtsolone, but every where else where authority comes
contact with opinion. In the present instance, how.
ever, we are happy to find by the statement of our
'respondent, that nothing was less in contemplation of the
jury, than to abet or promote such a system of encroach.
ment on the 'public press. It is distinctly represented in
his` latter, :that the verdict was given on the second libel,
thAditorial comments of our contemporary, while
vthai proceeding was yet in an e.rparte. stage, not on the
original report of the transactions in the police-office. We
-aro pleased to have this explanation t(yoffer, which proves
at least-,that although the judgment under which the jury
acted may have been wrong, their motive was not so re-

While some men; in office are struggling for in-
.creased *skies, and others are contending (Or vested
interest* in sinecures, with as much warmth as if they
Were their paternal estate, it is refreshing to see one