The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-01 00:00:00

in consequence of a catarrh, but from midnight till seven o'clock
this morning, he slept very tranquilly. The swelling of the foot
is not considerable.
" THE HAGUE, DEC. 24.—The accounts from Groningen are
still favourable. The number of deaths indeed has not much de-
creased. Last week 40 old, and 13 young persons, died, which is
five less than the week before.

" BRUSSELS, DEC. 24, . —Very numerous promotions have been

made iu the army."

EXCHANGES ON LONDON.
HAMBURGH, DEc. 22.-36 2i ; two months, 35 il i•
LEIPSIC, DEC. 18.—Three Months, 6 161.
BERLIN, DEC. 19.—Three Months, 6 27i.
VIENNA, DEC. 13.—Two Months, 958.
CHRISTIANA, DEC. 9.—Three Months, 6 72.

The Belem Castle, Jones, master, arrived on Saturday
at Liverpool, from the Tagus, but public anxiety was rather
excited than relieved by this arrival, for the accounts she
brings are of a very scanty nature, not a single newspaper
having been brought home by her. She sailed from Lis-
bon on the 17th, at which date several ressels had arrived
in the Tagus from Oporto, bringing the females and chil-
dren of the English-families resident in that City. A
steam-boat had also arrived from the same place with some
prisoners. The following is the extract of a letter, dated
Lisbon, December 16, brought home by this opportunity :
" Our political situation is at present far from tranquil. The
rebels, who have been encouraged by Spain, have entered this
kingdom in considerable numbers, and the inhabitants of Oporto
were much alarmed at their advance in the neighbourhood. They
found the passes, however, well guarded; and have desisted'from
their attempts in that quarter. Meanwhile Aye confidently look
for British assistance, and hope it will arrive ; for, without it,
we eannot but entertain very serious apprehensions for our fate.
We do not enlarge, as the public papers will inform you, as to
what has occurred, and the infamous conduct of Spain.
" Exchange on London, 49i."

At the commencement of a new year, we cannot resist
congratulating ourselves on the success which has attended
our exertions. The fact of our sale being doubled in little
more than six• months, sufficiently attests how far our
friends and the public have appreciated them. In 'another
part of our paper, we have stated one instance of unhand-
some treatment from a contemporary ; but on the whole,
we have every reason to be'satisfied with the courtesy ge-
nerally displayed towards us by our brother Journalists.
We may with pride remind our Subscribers, that we
have been enabled completely to fulfil the expectations
which we held out with regard to the priority of our
intelligence. Some striking instances of this have re-
cently occurred, which must be fresh in the recollection
of our Readers, particularly with respect to the invasion
of Portugal, and the measures adopted in consequence.
We have also, we trust, more than realized our promises
with regard to news of the day, which we have, by great
exertion and expence, given up to a late hour, whenever
any matter of public interest has occurred. We shall en-
deavour by every means in our power to continue to merit
the confidence and support of the public.

The manly.torte of Mr. CAisiNING'S Speech has excited
the applause of liberal nations, and the jealousy of narrow
minded individuals. It eould, *mit be expected that a
speech, worthy of the high-bearing of 'England, should
pass uncensured by the Ultra party in France; and, ac-
cordingly, some of their ablest orators have spoken out
pretty plainly upon the subject. In our Paper of Satur-
day we gave M. DE BEAUMONT'S invective, and to-day
we present the declamation of M. DE C.,HATEAUBRIAND.—
It would of course be idle for us seriously. °to, attempt a
refutation of arguments which have no foundation in fact,
or to deny that the French are brave because the Spanish
Cabinet is treacherous. We war not with the virtues of
our neighbours, but respect their character,, while we
assert our own. The causes which - have called forth
Mr. CANNING'S Speech are not more generally known
than the electric effect produced by his eloquence in
the proper quarter. It was but natural that it should
rouse the latent jealousy of rivals; and that feeling,
once kindled, would not scruple about the means, so
it attained the object of its wishes. Indeed, we are told
that so stormy was the debate in both Chambers,
that it was deemed imprudent to publish the
speeches—and yet Mr. CANNING is blamed for having
softened down the inspiration of the moment when the
tide of eloquence ran high, by the coolness of reflection.—
Te be consistent, men should be just. We do not pretend
to say that the warmth of imagination, dictated by a gene-
rous sense of wrong, might not have led the judgment cap-
tive in a strain of indignation not more impassioned than
enviable,—but if the enthusiast, in the freedom of his
might, waked a chord too truly responsive to the touch of
liberty, what right have those to murmur who profess
that they felt not its stirring impulse—that because they had
nothing to fear, their hearts owned not its sympathy,
These orators affect to despise our threats, while they ap,
plaud our sincerity. They consider Spain as much the
Ally of France as Portugal of England, and fancy them-
selves bound, for the honour of the French nation, to see
justice done. But profession and performance square not
always. France retains possession of Spain, and rules the
Court at Madrid. We pass over the conduct of that
Court, influenced by a master genius, and ask through
whose agency the Resident Ambassadors of Foreign
Powers, with the exception of that of England, hesitated,
nay, evaded, and finally refused to support the Portuguese
Ambassador in his just demand of the Spanish Ministry
to explain how deserters were not only received from Por-
ttigal, but cherished and equipped in Spain for the pur-
pose of invading Portugal, the ally of FERDINAND ? It
may be said that they had no controul over the Represen-
tatives of Foreign Nations,—but had they not FERDINAND
in their power ? Was he not upheld by their arms, and
his actions countenanced by their presence ? And yet—after
all this speaking in a voice of thunder, echoed by their perfi-
dious invasion of the Pyrenees—the sophistry of the Ultras
would make Spain the injured party—Portugal the ag-
gressor, because of its free Constitution—and England the
dangerous propagator of liberal principles, which the honour
of France was bound to restrain, because of their licentious
tendency ! Men may deceive themselVes, but they have
no right to impose upon others. If the conduct of
France has been straightforward, who can doubt her ho-
nesty; but if her policy has been crooked, can the sophistry
of declaimers undo its tortuosity ? The Government of
France has reiterated its friendly disposition to England,
as well as its displeasure at the conduct of Spain, and we
are bound to believe it; but why does M. DE CHATEAU-
BRIAND inveigh against the policy of this country, while
his own KING and Government express their satisfaction?
Mr. CANNING is severely criticised for having glanced at
the combustible materials upon which a despotic Go-
vernment reposes, compared to the solemn grandeur and
sacred security of liberal institutions ; and M. De
CHATEAUBRIAND in the same breath, announces that
England though mighty is not safe, while five millions
of men are groaning under oppression—that though
like /Eolus, she may let loose diSaffected spirits in
other countries, and range them under her banner; yet
she has storms within her own Empire—for she is under
the severe necessity of shooting every year, masses (ye the
working population, who arc in want of bread. But this
is not all—" her distress is daily accumulating in the same
proportion, and that always produces discontent." Now
we do not dispute the inference, but deny the fact,;—
shooting masses of the working population !—Good. We
know not which to admire most, the orator's opinion of
his audience, or their endurance of the speaker. But
the reasoning of this advocate for the national honour
of Frame, Is not more happy than his veracity is
questionable. He says that if England keeps Portugal,
France must occupy Spain;-that is, France having com-