Star.
London, England, 1830-09-11 00:00:00

FOREIGN lIVTELLICENCIL

OPINIONS IN FRANCE AS TO THE STATE OF BELGIUM.
(The Colutitutiosa.)

We now begin to have a clear view of the afalts of Belgium. The
emotion was mixed up with the affairs of the citizens and operatives.
They are now united in fact, as they have long been in opinion.—
The approach of the troops, and the most disinterested patriotism,
have brought about this happy change. The insurrection is de-
cidedly national and constitutional. An antipathy, which dates as
far back as the year 1814, between Holland and Belgium—an anti-
pathy founded on the difference of manners, language, religion, of
political interests, the most partial policy, and the most tyranni.xl
measures of a most headstrong Ministry, during 18 years have fo-
mented this antipathy, which has now bunt forth with such energy and
unanimity. The desire of an armed and victorious people is the legal
separation of two countries whose interests are different, but who may
be governed under the same sceptre. That Holland and Belgium should

each have its separate representation,—that the fundamental law of the
one should not be that of the other,—that a Viceroy, or an alter ego, it
does not matter what tide, should reside at Brussels,—that the old
united kingdom should know no other union than the acknowledgment
of the sovereignty of the house of Nassau,—that in other respects it
should remain divided into two distinct parts, governed by different
constitutions, legislatures, and administrations,—these are the terms
of the Belgian people, accepted by the Prince of Orange, implicitly
admitted by the King, and about to be ratified by the States. General.
Every shade of French interference is, as is well known, absent from
this revolution, in which theonly question 'now is the divorce of the
Belgians from the Dutch. The matter is between these, and these
only. Neither England nor Prussia have any thing to do with it, and
France cannot interfere unless she is driven, and we would say impru.
dently, into the quarrel, by the other Powers. It rests with the prudence
of William, and his neighbours, to bring this affair to a termination for
the general good. The position of Brussels, of Liege, of Louvain, of Na-
mur, of Charleroi, of Moos, &c. proved that this is a revolt which
cannot be put down by troops. Besides, what soldiers could
be employed ? Dutch ? TM. would make the contest a civil war
—a war of extermination. Foreigners ? The war would then become
European, and: then the throne of Nassau would be swallowed
up in the dreadful tempest, and not without serious peril to its auxins.'
rim. To yield in good time is the only resource—the true remedy—it
is the act of true policy. Putting the matter off would bring the drama
to a terrific conclusion. In the struggle, Belgium would undoubtedly
have the sympathy and the good wishes of France. We should hold
out the hand of friendship as members of the same great family of
freemen, who would remember that they were brothers ; and at the
same time deeply feel that the peace of Europe, the maintenance of their
rights, and the security of that liberty which they had achieved, re.
quired that we should be friends and compatriots.

The Cowrie, Francais.

The Belgic journals continue to detail the grave and important events
which are passing in the southern provinces of the Netherlands; but
amidst the variety of contradictory accounts which we receive of what is
passing, we find one general impression,—that the separation of Bel-
gium from Holland is a point completely decided, and that it would be
against the nature of things, and against the unanimous wish of the
people, to talk of the incorporation of Holland and Belgium. This is li
not the opinion of one isolated city, but of the whole population ; It ex.
tends to the smallest villages, which are in arms to maintain this vital
and national question. The official demands of the Belgians rest upon
this basis, and the Prince of Orange was convinced, in the audience
which he gave to the Brussels Commission, that It was the unanimous
wish of the people.
At this audience, we may be permitted to remark, that his Royal
Highness spoke somewhat too lightly of a neighbouring Power, which
has observed the most strict neuuality. We would ask the Prince,
where was the necessity of demanding of the Belgians whether they
would take arms in case of an invasion from 'Prance? Who could
have put it into his head that there was any intention of invasion on the
part of France? To what purpose could war be declared against a
friendly nation ? Probably the Prince of Orange was too much excited
at the time, and did not consider that the mention of peace or war ought
not to be used so lightly.