The Sun.
London, England, 1827-12-10 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNAL&

Two of our contemporaries (the Times and
Globe) had some observations on Saturday on the
policy pursued by Austria. " There seems (said
the Times), from the whole context of the Austrian
policy, whether foreign or domestic, since 1815, to
levee been but one ruling and actuating purpose at
work in the breast of Francis 11. and his Minister,
namely, that of crushing, in every part of Europe,
the slightest germ of human liberty."—" There
has, we think (said the Globe), been one principle
still more predominant in the AuStrian policy—that
of preserving peace."—Whoever considers with at-
tention the situation of Austria will see why she
should be desirous of peace. Though Austria is
introduced into almost every political discussion, her
real situation is far from being generally understood.
The first object beyond all question (says the
Times) with _Austria would be, to' repel the Rus-
sians further north, and further east, than their
actual position witii;n a few days' march of Vienna.
But if too weak to esect the repulse of Russia,
or even to prevent her fitilher strides to the south
and west of the Danube, lA-hat is the policy of
Austria ? Why, undoubtedly, to stipulate for so
much of Turkey as shall save her 1-lungarian terri-
tory from being enveloped on all sides bee Russia, as
it now is on the east and on the north. Documents
have been placed in our hands which go to prove a
degree of weakness in the Austrian monarchy but
little contemplated by the bulk of political observers.
perhaps, if these accounts be true, there is no power
in Eiieope less consolidated ; because, except in the
Archduc;:y of Austria itself, there is no Govern-
ment so deteted : Hungary, Galicia, Bohemia, the
Tyrol (the once devoted Tyrol), and Italy—in one
and all of these exteSnsive &minions, but more par-
ticularly the first and the last, the Court of which
Prince -Metternich is the ruler, was besieged by
loud ,and incessant complaints' while any hope re-
mained that they would be listned to, but has
since been menaced by deep end elesiPerate re-
sentments. The exclusive object of the Court of
Austria, since by the gallant exertions of its people
it was raised from under the chariot wheels of
Buonaparte, has been to make the same un-
happy people regard itself as functus officio, and
to reduce it to a condition more vile than that
from which its ungrateful Master was rescued by its
sufferings and blood." This statement is, we be-
lieve, greatly exaggerated. In Italy, Austria is de-
tested, because her yoke is oppressive and irritating;
and in Hungary, Transylvania, and Galicia, disaf-
fection exists, as it would under any Government.
In Hungary the Government and the Comitia come
into frequent collision ; but when the Hungarians
and Galicians speak of liberty, they mean by it what
the West India Planters mean—the liberty of op-
pressing their slaves without let or hindrance. Aus-
tria, as a State, is formed of the most heterogeneous
materials. In Hungary and Transylvania the Em-
peror is limited with respect to legislation, taxes,
and levying of soldiers. In the provinces on the
frontiers of Turkey the land is held by military
tenure. In Bohemia, Moravia, Galicia, Austria,
the Tyrol, and the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom,
the Emperor may be saint -^ile without restraint;
for the States have no DOW t- efusing taxes. In
the States in which the Government is unrestrain-
ed, we believe she is generally popular. These
States are comparatively rich and industrious. Mo-
ravia, in particular, has made considerable progress
in manufactures. But Austria is, upon the whole,
a poor State. With a population, according to
Malthus, the latest statistical authority,of 30,006,949
souls, occupying some of the finest and most fer-
tile regions of Europe her revenue is not esti-
mated at more than thirteen millions sterling, and
out of this revenue she has to discharge the
interest of a very heavy debt. The low state of her
agriculture may be inferred from the small number of
her cattle compared to the surface under cultivation.
In a table of the cattle on the square geographical
mile of 15 miles to the degree, Austria possesses
only 2,325, while France, which is greatly under-
stocked with cattle, has 4,630, and Britain 10,777.
The long wars she carried on, are said to have made
great havoc in her cattle. The quantity of her sur-
face under cultivation, such as it is, is proportionably
as great as that of Britain. Again, while in Eng-
land 45 per cent. of the population is employed in
manufactures, and 34 per cent. in agriculture; in
Austria, 69 per cent. of the population is engaged
in agriculture, and only 0 per cent. in manufactures.
Austria derives nearly one-fifth of her revenue from
Italy, and this one-fifth is of great importance to a
deeply indebted State with a small surplus revenue.
From the breaking out of war in Europe, Austria
has more at stake than any other Power; and her
great object would seem to have been, ever since the
peace, to allow of no change or innovation. The
policy of the Government his been characterised
rather by a hatred of change than a hatred of liberty.
In her own territories, Austria is mild, and not un-
favourable to instruction. That she wishes the par-
tition of Turkey we do not believe. The most va-
luable conquests will be at home for a long period.
What she may do, should Russia take the field, is
another matter.—/Iforning Chronicle.
" That boy will he the death of me," says the
old man in the play. " That Duke will be the
death of us !" mentally exclaim the Whigs. In
fact, the Dul:e of Wellington's motions are watched
by the hangers-on of the Ministry with as much
anxious solicitude as if their very fate depended
-upon where his Grace may happen to (line or shoot.
If he goes to visit his friends in the North, and is
there received with the enthusiasm due to his high
renown, the Whig press is immediately at work to
blow both hot and cold upon his progress. In one
breath we are told that his journey is one of intrigue
to overturn their patrons; in the next, that his re-
ception has nothing upon earth to do with present
politics, and that he is only greeted in testimony of
his pact military achievements. But let his Grace
go to Windsor, and be received with the affec-
tionate regard and hospitality known to be felt and
shown by the King towards one of the moat va-
luable and illustrious of his subjects, and the ther-
eaometer of Whiggism is raised (as we described
another to have been the other (lay) above "fever
heat;" but which next day cools itself down into a
sort of fitful consolatution that his Grace cannot pos.'
eihly be opposed to the policy of Ministers towards
Turkey, seeing that the germ of the present mea-
sures originated with his Grace himself at St. Peters-
burgh. Iu fact, we should not at all wonder if the
Duke were to be " the death" of these same Whigs,
by the violent fite of ague, the alternate burnings and
shiverings, which he causes them to undergo. All
the Parliamentary season approaches, theie fits be-
come more severe and alarming. It was remarked
in Mr. Pitt's time, that, by singular good luck, he
frequently had the net's of some victory to help
him, just at a desponding moment, when Parliament
were about to assemble. Whether any such God-
send will attend the new Ministry, on ate first
meeting Parliament, remains to be seen. At present
they have got a victory splendid enough, butt which
they seem anxious, if possible, to disown. But, let
the chapter of accidents produce what it may, report
(says that a formidable Opposition is concerting, of
which Lord Grey is tobe the avowed and ostensible
leader—all parties, Whig, -Tory, and Radical,
having, it is said, acknowledged the importance
of union, and having consented to place them-
selves tinder that Noble Lord's Parliamentary
Generalship. Standing midway between these
rival fortes, but out of the reach, we trust,
of the shot of either, we are anxious for
the combat, and are curious to see who will
turn out to be the best hitters. All the promised
economy which Poor Mr. Canning made so much
fuss about, will, we suspect, have vanished into
s, thin air," and tuns out to be mere than counter-1
acted by the unfortun
results of his own unwise
ig•ign policy, whenl
bill of reckoning comes
fool Portugal, it will of "verse be asked, what has
e,reettie of the treaty to eave
harmless from it,
which hielaid, with so much Triatii solemnity,
We answee f
ParliaMent ee-nree'eed by saying that
, r /motive* ILI sixpencei‘ r b'
befors
ll
Pc" *at al or is ,