The Sun.
London, England, 1821-01-08 00:00:00

WEEKLY RETROSPECT.

The WORLD, for the past week, has been in a
state of prorogation. In ITALY, " the cry is
still, they come !" yet hitherto the Austrian
troops have not advanced beyond their own
limits. 'Whether they shall advance, or not,.'

must depend upon the royal interview at Lay-
bach, and perhaps more upon the representations
of the British Ambassador ; for, though the
Chronicle now denies all British influence upon
the Continent, lamenting that the King of NAPLES
was to visit his own son-in-larc, under the gua-
rantee of FRANCE, of a BOURBON, his own re-
lative, instead of Britain; yet even that political
prophet, in perfect keeping with all former ora-

cies, has been obliged to state the broad, staring
fact, of the Neapolitan Monarch sailing on board
a British, man of war, commanded, we believe, by
the very same Officer who picked up the great
NAPOLEON on his flight from his good city of Paris !
Like the oracles of old, however, the Chronicle

sometimes contrives toutter its predictions in such
a way, that we cannot always say its tripod has
not a leg to stand upon. In the present case,
FERDINAND certainly embarked on board a
French man of war—the Ven;enr•—but then she
happened to have an Englibh pendant
Thus may the Chronicle save its credit in the
Strand, just as well as other folks did at
DELPHOS.

But Ministers and men of war seem to be al-
ways in the' way of the Whig's and their friends,
who may say of them as the Yankee did, On ar-
riving off the Surinam river, some years ago, with
his cargo of notions from New England. At that
period the West Indian Islands, all in possession
of Britain, were shut against American bottoms,
and Jonathan thought to do something amongst
the Dutch at Paramaribo ; but on his arrival off
Braam's Point, and seeing the English colours
flying—" What, what !" said he, " be those Bri-
tish sarpents here, too, I vow ! I guess—l won-
der where the h—ll they'll go to next !"
But so it is—no matter in what part of
the world—no matter what the event in aiita-
tion, there is still a British man of war to be
found, and to her do the unhappy still look for
protection. If a tyrant is to be carried off; a
Royal Family to be transported from foreign
aggression to a state of freedom, or to be brought
home in safety to its native land ; if the cause of
humanity is to be protected on C.olumbrian
coasts, or the shores of sable Afric ; nay, if 'midst
the rage of civil contests, Peace should. be anxi-
ous to re-establish her empire, 'tis still under a
British pendant that security is sought for and
guaratlee depended on. Even at the pacifica-
tion of Palermo, only a few weeks ago, the ne-
gociations were carried on, on board a small
English cruizer, that chanced to be in the bay

at that period !
Yet the Wizigs tell us that BitITAIN has lost
her influence—forgetting how lately they ac-
cused Ministers of exercising too much influence
and interference in continental affairs—forgetting
that only a few years past it was their own poll_
tical creed that we should give up all concerns
with the Continent, " husband our resources,"
and leave the Heaven-born Corsican to do as lie
pleased !

To what state such policy would have reduced
us, may be judged even from the present posture
of affairs.at home, though that state is certainly
improving. That we ourselves, -under such po-
licy, could have escaped ruin, perhaps subjuga-
tion, is more than any man, not" Sold to party,
can venture to assert; much then, indeed;should
we have required a Refuse for the Destitute—an
Asylum for the IfouSELEss Toon ! But where
would these have been fonn&in a dilapidated
capital, with a ruined Commerce, and an im-
poveriShed Nobility and Gentry ? Lerthe IVltigs
then, in heartless party feeling, and the Radicals
in vulgar *uproar, carry up their..silly politics to
Carlton Palace, or their political stupidity to
Brandy burgh 'louse ; thecnie to receive well-
merited rebuke, and the•other to be courted with
undignified ribaldry, and flattered. with ..revolu-
.
tionary compliments : be- it our part to pay due'
praise. to that active 'AilantbropyArhich offers to
.the unhappy,----whor the, Whias and. Radicals
only regard as far•as they can make-them. their
tools an asyluM and a .shelter from the incle-
Men'Cies of the season;. in faCt,"prese'rving them,
apparently.in spite of themselves, from,startion
and death!' a.

The judgment with which.lhis .good work of
charity has been carried.on, .is equal,. to: its be-
nevolence. Let. the,P9qa,. 4fo.4:taligitt to
look for Refarni and Bcp!tiiii4,, 'ask. trie:ipselves
where would British. charier .be if Rriti'sh -pro-
• ...
..c• • •
petty were insec.urej,+if, 13nitish xwder-were to be
subverted ' • g: