The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-11 00:00:00

PROM THE LEF.DS INTF.LtIGE:siCER•I

This may ,in truth be called " The Age of Revolutions."
That desire of change, that dissontent under existing. institue
tions, Which has been fostered'and encouraged by the liberal
writers and orators of the age, till it has reached ,a height that
threatens, not merely to reform, but to overturn, all established
Governments, has extended to America ; from whence we have
accounts Of. Revolutions at Bahia, Pernambuco,- and illaran-:
ham,_ in the., Brazils ; and it is expected . that, _ere now, the
Constitution of the Cortes has been proclaimed in Rio, the re-
sidence of the Kifig, if, indeed, it be not a meakery to call •by
that august title, one, who (if the event we have anticipated
has taken place), is the slave of a cabal, that, under the stale•
pretence of " Liberty," is forging chains-both for him and the
people. It is notorious, that, in Spain .and Portugal, whilst the
Royal Authority has been almost annihilated, the people have
not neen'benefited, they have only had a change Of.evils ; and
are equally oppressed, and there is as niuclidiscontent existing,
Under the Cortes, as there was under their old dynasties. That
it will be the same in the Brazils, there does not exist a shadow.
Of a doubt. This must be the case in all Violent Revolutions.
o large a part of the people will always he- dissatisfied with,
them, that a different result cannot be anticipated ; for, to pre-
ierve their authority, the new GoVeenmentS must resort to arbia
trary measures, and their -acts are frequently of a much more
questionable nature, than those which forrned the occasion of
an outcry against the old Administrations. In Portugal and
Spain, nearly all the Nobility, the Clergy, the Magistrates, and
no small number of the middling and lower classes, appear to
be adverse to the change -.which has been forced upon' them.'
This portion of the people, however, is not considered worthy
of being conciliated, they are to be coerced into submission ; •
the consequence is, that both those Countries, and Spain, in
particular, are the scenes of tiunult and disorders, unparalleled.
under their old Governments. - Private accounts represent the..
state of society in these kingdoms as most deplorable.—The
old Constitutions of Portugal and Spain were bad enough ;.and
so is that of the Brazils • but military Revolutions will not
mend them ; they wilt only cause a change from bad to worse ;
whilst in the evils to which they give rise, the people will have
cause to regret the change, and lament that they did not place
their interests in the hands of more judicious Counsellors, who
would haVe endeaieurecl to meliorate their existing institutions,
by accommodating them to the increased knowledge of the age ;
and.not by entirely overthrowing them, have given rise to the
.endless dissensions which threaten to' perpetuate feuds and-ani-
mosities bet Ween the different classes of soeietv.—The English
people will do tell to mark the consequences Of the Revolutions
in Spain and Portugal. They should not forget, that these
events have been held oat 'astxamples for then. • They should
not forget, that, at a meeting of sonic of the " Choice Spirits"
Of Reform, held in London, not many months since; it was la-
mented, that. England had.not led the way instead of Spain, in
the works of regeneration. We think it is a great cause for
congratulation, tat, these "Reformers" had not the power.of
" regenerating" old England ;
.as ike! feather new state; under
such-directors, would not be equal I to.her, present one; under
the present calumniated .Administration.—We have felt it a
duty to express freely our opinion upon the events to -which we
have,alluded ; but, we must also declare, notwithstanding. our.
sentiments as to the wisdom-of. the-Changes in the Spanish and
PortueneseGovernments ;
.and our objections to th0..m0d.,? in
which those changes were effected, that' it is with considerable
pain we have heard a report of the conclusion of a seareb treaty I
at Laybach, between the Emperors of Austria and Russia, by
which they pledge themselves to put-down the Reyoltitionary
Governments in Spain by force; and.that, for such liar'
usc, a
Russian Army •is on. its match to Spain. -It is even said, .that
an application has been In'ai4O to the French Government, for a
passage through Prance, for this army. We hope that this re-
port is unfounded ; ,for we perfectly ~-ree with a respected con-
temporary (TILE Sufi),. that, however objectionable the
form of Government, or whatever may be the conduct of its
advocates or opponents, nothing, in our opinion, can justify fo-
reign interference, so long-as the peace of Europe, and the
neighbouring states, reinions..undistprbed and inviolate." If,
however, this report proves correct,' we may look forward to a
long and blood/ contest, for the. Spaniards are made of different •
mettle to the Neapolitans ; and will not succumb quite so tamely
to foreign aggression.

FOR TIIE SUN.

POLITICAL OPINIONS.

MR: EDlTOR—Nothing, surely, can be,more
amusing than to see how the old, and almost
worn Out adage of « Tempora. rnutautur, et nos
mutamur in Buis," is Verified by the- OppoSition.
They prophecy—but when those prophecies are
falsified, instead of taking shame, they pretend
to take credit to themselves! They offer advice
—but when circumstances sheW that to have.
followed such advice would have been ruin, they
hesitated not to turn round- unblushingly, and
to attempt to turn • the tables on Ministers,
with an impudence that passes Upon the many
for wisdom and consistency.
T'other night, when the measure of returning
to cash payments was perfected, one of the many,
who had prophecied that we never could return
to that state, very coolly observed that there
was nothing in it to be wondered-at ! Nay, he
even found out that the point is still unsettled
whether Paper or Gold is the best medium of
circulation !—Then again, can it be forgotten
how many tirades were delivered -against the
Bank for not returning to cash payments, in
order to prevent the crime of forgery ? Yet it
is from the opposition that we now learn that
there is less crime with PAPER than with Gold;
and that in a given time the convictions for coin--
ing, during metallic circulation, exceeded a simi-
lar space of paper circulation for forgery. in the
proportion Of THREE to one.
Then when the Marquess of LONOONDEIZRY
tells them that he has no reason to believe that
Russia and Austria are enemies to the liberties
of Europe, they cannot understand him. But
when, through official information, he tells them
'positively that the Russian armies have received
counter orders,--why.thcn ,Thq Morning Chro-
nicle of. Tuesday, the - Bth of May, finds out
that such counter orders do not arise out of
the moderation of the Allies ! Oh no ! it
can only have proceeded from the dread of
-the questions asked in our House -of Com-
mons two nights before. But now, it is all
Hey! for NEW Constitutions for all the kingdoms
of Europe !" The Constitution of Britain, I sup-
pose, for States as yet in political infancy ! Sir,
they might as 'well expect to fit a 'baby arthe
breasfwith a pelisse, by, giving it the great coat
of the Irish giant ! Look at Britain herself—at
'the . period of the •Wittenagetnote—of Magna
Charter—of the baronial contests with Henry 111.
—of the wars of the Roses—of Elizabeth's gol-
den days—of the civil wars—nay, even of the
Bill of Rights—and then say, would our present
Constitution then have' fitted us ?—a Constitu-
tion which depends as Much upon our social man-
ners and upon public opinion, as upon legal re-
gulations ! It is easy to take away the existing
Constitution of the European States; and even
to GIVE them better ones : but it is not the giving
of a Constitution that will enforce it in practice!
I may give to a man a good watch, but if lie
knows not how to set it in motion,, and under-
stands it not when going, it will be better to
leavo,b4n his old:hour-glass.
IGNOTUS.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

MAJORITY AND -MINORITY

ON LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S MOTION FOR REFORMING COILRUPT
zOitoucos.
MAJORITY.
Ancratn, Lord Fel!owes, W. H. Neale, Sir H.
Alexander, .J. Freeman;le, W. . Ommaney, Sir F.
Arbuthnot,lit.llon. Fane, JOhn Osborne, Sir J.
C. Fane, John Thos. Pitt, Jos.
Binning, Lord Fane, V. Penruddocke, J.
Bourne Itt.Hon. S. Forbes, Lord Pearce, J.
Bastard, E. P. Finch, G. , - Pitt, W. 31.
Bahkes, IL Goulburn, H. Paxton, J. G.
Brecknock, Lord Greville, Sir C. Palmerston, Lord
Millie, J. Gooch, T. S. - Phillimore, Jos.
Buchanan, .L Grant, Rt. Hon. C. Phipps, Gen.
Browne, P. Grant, A. C. ' Roberts, W. A.
Burgh, Sir U. Grosett, W. Rogers, E.
Bathurst, Hon. S. Gifford, Sir R. Robinson, Rt. Hon,
Bathurst, Rt. Ho. B. Gilbert, D. G. F.
Broadhead, T. , Grant, Geo. M. Russell, J. W.
Bankes, G. Gordon, Hon. W. Robertson, Alex.
Bruce, 11. Holmes, W. Somerset, Ld. G.
Barry, Rt. Hon. M. 116tham, Lord Scourfield, W. H.
Blair, J. 11. Holford, G. P. Sotheron, F.
Blair, J. Handley, H. &mitt, T.'H.
Blake, ROI). liardinge, Sir 11. Sneyd, N.
Beckett, 12t. Hon. J. Hare; Hon. R. . St. Paul,, Sir 11.
Cheere, J. M. Hope, Sir W. Sumner, T. H.
Chaplin, C. Balse, Sir C. Somerset, Lord E.
Collett, E. J. liuskisson Rt. Hon. Smith, Chr.
Cooper, S. W. Stopford, Lord
Cooper, 8.. . .Hill, Sir G. Tremayne, J. H.
Chetwynd, G. Irvine, J. ' Trench, F.
Cripps, Jos. Jenkinson, Hon. C. Thompson, H.
Courtenay, T. P. Keck, S. A. L. ' _ 'l'ownshend, lin.ll.
Conrtenay; W. Knatchbull,•Sir E. Taylor, Sir H. . . '
Cocks, -Hon. J. G. Kinnersley, W. S. Titchfield, Lord
Cockburn, Sir G. Lascelles, W. Twiss, I-I.
Copley, Sir J. , Luttrell, H. • Ure, M.
Cranborne, Lord Luttrell, J. F. Vansittart; Hon. N.
Child, W. L. Lowther, John Vernon, Geo.
Cartwiight, It. Lowther, J. 11. Vaughan, Sir R.
Calvert, J. Lowther, Hon. C. Wynn, C. W.
Clerk, Sir G. _ Ltindonderry, Lord Ward, J.- W.
Clive, a Lenox, Lbrd G. WemySs, J.
Cole, Sir L. Long, Rt. lion. C. , Wodehouse, Ed.
Dodson, Dr. Lushingtnn, S. It. Wells, John
Drummond, S. Lewis, F. Ward, It.
Dowdeswell, J. E. /Worland, Sir S. B. Wrottesley, H.
Dunally, Lord Martin, It. - Wilmot, It. -
Doveton, G. lAivliailnens:
JrsLord It. Wilson, Thos.
R Downie, ob. Wallace,llt.Hon.T.
Duncombe, W. Mundy, Capt. Warretider, Sir G.
Eliot, Hon. W. Mansfield, John Walpole, Lord
Ellison, C. . Martin, Sir T. 8... Wellesley, 11.
Egerton, W. . Nightingale, Sir DI. Wilbraham, E. B.
Fynes,..ll. Nolan, M.

' MINORITY.
Althorp, Visc. Fergusson, Sir R. C. Palmer, C. F.
Abercromby, fin.J. Fitzgerald; Lord IN . Pares, Tho.
Allen, J. H. Fitzroy, Lord C. Pierce, Henry
Buxton, T. F. Folkestone, Vitic. Phillips; George
13entinck, Lord W. Franklanci, R. • Phillips, G. jun:
Barnard, Visct. Guise, Sir W. Price, Robert -
Bright, Henry Gordon., Robt. Pryse-, Pryse
Baring, Alex. Grattan, J. Pyrn, Francis -
Be!grave, Vise. Gasket}, Ben. Ramsden, J. C.
Baring, H. Haldimand, W. Ricardo, David
Boughey, Sir-J. F. Harbord; Hon. E. Robarts, Ab.
Burrell,: Sir C. Heathcote, G. J. Robarts, -G.
Beatimont, P. P. Hobhouse, J. C. Robinson, Sir Geo.
Barham, J. Honywoocl, W. P. .•RowleY,.Sir W.
Barham, Jos. F. Hornby, FAmund Russell, Lord 'Wm.
.
Barrett, S. M. Hume, Joseph Russell, Lord John
Becher, W. W. Hurst, Robt. 'Rice,,T. S.
Bennet, Hon. H.G.- Hutchinson, Hon.C. Smith, John
Benyon, B. Heygate, Ald. ---. Smith, lion. Robt.
Bernal, Ralph. Johnson, Col. Smith, Wm.
Birch, Joseph Lambton, John G. Smythe, J. H.'
Brougham, Henry Lennard, T. B. Scarlett, James
Burdett, Sir F.
.:,.,„.14sisort, Sir W. Sefton, Earl of
Blake, Sir F. - !4- Langston, .T. IL Stanley, Lord
Chaloner, Rob. LaWley, Hon. F. Stuart, Lord J.
Calcraft, John Leigh, J. H. Sebright, Sir John
Calvert, Charles Maberly„Thhn Swann, H.
Calve' t, Nic. Maberly, W. L. Tavistock, Marq. of
Campbell, I-ion. J. Macdonald, J. Taylor, M. A.
Carter, -John Mackintosh, Sir J. . Tierney, itt.Hon.G.
Cavendish. Charles Martin, John Townsliend,LordC.
Clifton, Visc. Maxwell, J. Tennyson,-C.
Coke, T. W. Milton, Visct. - Warre, 3. A. •
Colburne, N. R. Monck,".T. I. Webbe, FA.
Concannon, Lucius Moore, Peter Wharton, John
Crespigny,SirW.D. Moore, Abraham Whitbread, Sam. C.
Crompton, Sand. Newman, R. W. Whitbread,.W. H.
Denison, W. J. Newport, Rt. Hen. Williams, Wm.
Denman, Thos. Sir .1. Wilson, Sir Robt.
Duticannon, Vi,c. Nugent, Lord Wood, Matthew
Dundas, Hon. T. ,O'Callaghan, .J. Wyvill; M.•
Ebrington, Visc. Ord, Wm. Whitmore,. W. W.
Ellice; Edw. Ossulston, Lord
- PAIRED on--Davies, Col., Plumer, W.