The Sun.
London, England, 1818-05-01 00:00:00

THE MASK FALLEN OFF:--A DIALOGUE.

I was walking, on the Tin&ries one day last week, o❑ that
beautiful Terrace which commands the Seine. The sight of
the Palace where our Deputies assemble recalled to my mind
the stormy Meetings of which I had so often been a witness,
and I gave way to the reflections which the ,recollection ex-
cited. I conceived, said I to myself, that legitimate autho-
rity finds enemies among those who owe their fortune to the
favour of INAeoLcoN, and whose brilliant hopes vanished
with his power; I conceived also that the Children of the
Revolution, nourished by the false doctrines which it engen-
dered, wished to exceed the limits of a judicious liberty, to
possess themselves of the rights of the. Crown, and to lay the
foundation of a. real, in order to escape an imaginary des-
potism : Iconceived, besides, that minds inclined to meta-
physical speculations are too much occupied by abstract
maxims ; despise facts, disdain experienee,'"and without any
regard to manners, customs, prejudices, or passions, pretend
to govern the world by the power of words and the arts of
syllogism. These reveries are inevitable; they have.forfoun-
/lotion, interest, jealousy and party pride, always tyrannizing
• over mankind. But how can I explain the firm opposition of
those who never cease to call themselves the firm supporters
of Monarchy? Their foolish resistance offends the Ring,
draws upon them the contempt of the nation, and becomes a
powerful obstacle to the re-establishment of social order. I
*vas thus thinking, when M. N. met me. " Well," said he,
as soon as he saw we, " what do you say of the Ministry ?
nothing sacred is regarded by them ; all their propositions
,contain a manifest violation of THE CHARTER. This Charter
• was g4ven to us as a pledge of safety in the ihip-wreck of our
ancient Institutions: we are all apprehensive of seeing it
wrested from us---• You are silent—you smile.—yon who, not
long ago, maintained that depriving us of the Charter would
be the prelude to the ruin of the Monarchy 1" " I smile,' re-
plied 1, " at your ardent zeal for the Charter, and that re-
publican susceptibility which renders you so suspicious of
the slightest movements of the Ministers. It was not long
ago Cr-at you were full of hope of seeing those Institutions
,Sourish again whlah time impaired and political revolutions
Save annihilated ; you shudder with horror even at the idea
df a representative Government. I blame your infatuation ;
I believed von incorrigible; and now you induce me to doubt
*inch yonr zeal for the Charter, much as formerly I relied
upon yonr opposition to it." " Your surprize," answered lie,
")s natural. lam going to speak without disguise—hear me:
tau must remember. that in manifesting so great an aversion
to the Charter, I yielded to necessity. My name, my fortune,
perhaps even whateve'r feeble abilities I might possess, would
bare procured me the votes of my friends.; they would have
taken me to the Chamber of 1815, and would have confided to
me the defence of their interests,or rather of their prejudices.
Ntirtured in idleness, at the extremity of their province,
Unskilled consequently in the affairs of the world. they knew
neither men nor things ; they will never comprehend that it

is- not' in human power to revive what existed thirty years
ago. I flattered their illusion without sharing in it : they
bad given me their votes, ought I to have deprived them of
hope? Besides I stood' in need of friends—Of those who
would praise me, avid I was not popular with the "Multitude,
who always-distrust ancient privileges. I was obliged to di's-.
seaside.. I decried the Chamber because my friends were
against it ; I spoke in favour of the Ancient Government, be-
cause my friends required its revival : but I knew that they
required an impossibility; I was
.not ignorant that time
changes the interests and ruanuvrs of a people, and that po-
litical institutions foi tired by men are as transitory as them-
selves. I have fulfilled my obligations to my friends;. 'now I
obey the dictates of reason. I have now explained to you
my conduct, and that of the eulightenid men of My Party."
4' What an admirable policy!" exclaimed I. " What ! that
ardour in defence of your ancient privileges, those struggles
against the spirit of the times, that moral proscription, that
cum:haunt star: cast upon the glory of our armies, those in-
Sults, those menaces against the possessors of national
property, all this clamour, nothing but a pretence to delude
the credulity of honest countrymen, Who believed that your
declamations would change the necessary course of events !
But hare you not reflected that you have raised opinion
against you, and that you have rendered that terrible ordon-
Dance; which will he the destruction of your power, indis-
pensable ? Ry this state policy, the Ministry whom you so fu-
riously abused, end Vie nation which you accused of weaknesi,
hare conciliated all the friends of order and public freedom.
You have laboured to bring it into disgrace, and your efforts
have only increased its popularity." " I do not deny," said
be, " that the Ordunnance of the .sth ad September pre-
vented the execution of our plan : experience plainly spews
it. We ought to have acted with more caution ; but there
were among us some ttnruly members, whoSe inconsiderate
zeal often frustrates the best constructed plan. They rushed
sorsearA ;—we'were obliged to support theni, because it ryas
our m3x4ru never to abandon our friends, whateversthey said
or did ; and, by the way, it is by that political conduct that
we arerobliged to unite ourselves more closely together. As
to the kit, yoU would he wrong indeed if you thought that
the Ord'onnance.of -the Sth of September bas ruined all our
hopes. :Whilst we endeavoured to extend our power, and: the
Tribune remembers the discourse which seemecito be dictated
by blinds hatred, we-pursued with uninterrupted serenity the
accomplishment of,our plait ; and we excited the less. con--
tempt, Res-the crowd, deceived by the appearance of the deli-
rium witbswhich they believed us to be affected, did not
think thatswe were capable of forming a plan and estimating
its effects: We acted like Brutus, who counterfeited madness
while he designed the ruin of the Tarquins. Was any action
in politics more deeisive ever known than this entire renewal
of all the Administrations, effectedin less than three months?
All its agents, civil and military, were replaced by our in-
struments. We regarded neither age, services, not capacity,
nor even a great number. known by Royalty. We were im-
pressed with this axiom—that, in great affairs, half-measures
are always fatal: thus we could truly say, that we had con-
quered France. Our influence is permanent ; the Osdonr
nance of tite.sth of September has given Ministers merely an
ephemeral success." " I agree," replied I, " that you have
refuted and- defeated many things in a short time, and that
Ministers have not effaced your footsteps, but this remark is,
in my opinion, the best eulogium on their moderation and pru-
dence. Tour impatient eagerness would not allow you to be
prudertt. You have 'hewn your power fora day, as spendtbrift3

lavish aria] inheritance. Exampleeould seduce you: the Mi-
nisters have resisted temptation. They hare adopted men of
your choice, with the hope that time and a sense of-duty would
'render them faithful subjects. If then they have discarded some,
it was hecanse they provbd to he irreeoncileable Enemies.
The intention of Ministers was to fortify the State, not to
shake it to its foundation.' "You characterize as prudence,"
said he, "what, in fact, is mere imbecility. Without doubt
sound policy directed the Ministers not to recommence, in-
versely, Les Epuratiwis de 1815. So violent a movement in
the midsst of party contentions produced an exelosion which
might have occasioned the fall of the Throne, and the; dis-
memberment of France : the Ministers did not desire such a
catastrophe. They ought, then, in some measure, to support
our work: • By this means they gain a crowd of Subaltern
Agents, Wile are indebted to us for being so,but who wish not
to commit themselves to the hazard of a Revolution.—
To this extent the most shallow policy finds nothing
to censure in the conditct of Ministers ; but we soon
saw where the danger lay; and by a tactic still more
sure, as it accorded wonderfully with the opinion which the
multitude had formed of our character, we obliged the Mini-
sters to place in superior stations, men whom the loss of their
ancient situations, hatred of the new order of things, hope of
a change for the better,and above all their engagements, ren-
dered implacable enemies of the Ministerial system. We
wished to consider Royalists as among our Party. All those
who adopted our doctrines were sure of our support. We
paid no regard to the rank, fortune, or even morality of in-
dividuals : exceptions Would have been dangerous; we wish
every one enlisted under our hauliers to be esteemed like a
Roman citizen of old. At the least menace of Ministry we
made them bear these exclamations—' The Royalists are
treated like Spartan slaves:-they are dishonoured and
uirseented;---and .the enemies of the King find protec-
tion and honour only at the throne.' By the spell
contained in these words we rendered impotent the
anger of Ministers; at our voice, the arm, as if lifted
to strike us, fell as if paralysed. The Ministers, I knew,
were not duped by this finesse; but, to prevent the triumph
of the enemies of the throne, they found themselves under
the necessity of Favouring those who were. most active in their
endeavours to overturn it. The number of our instruments
preserved their Chiefs, and we reigned with almost despotic
sway." " I adMire," rejoined I, " your dissimulation, and
the excellence of the springs which you put in action ; but I
fear, that all this skill will not produce any useful result."
"You are very quick in your inferences," replied be, "I hare
as yet only developed part of our plan; permit me to proceed-.
These Chiefs, whom the Ministry were forced to spare, unit-
ed by interest and common danger, conversed together in
secret, acted in concert, fomented the spirit of Opposition in
the Provinces, and constituted a distinct Government in the
midst of Government itself, whose maxims and politics were
altogether contrary to those of the legal authority. The most
ardent discovered themselves; they,were wrung, they injured
us and exposed; themselves : it is not always in our power to
protect them from the vengeance of Ministers. Others, more
subtle, affected to he at comity with us ; they bad the art of
appearing to attach themselves to the King ; they seemed to
obey him from a sense of duty, even against their own con-
viction; they, however, took care to apprize our friends of
the hardship of such a sacrifice, mildly exhorting them to be
patient, rebuking their errors with paternal lenity. In tht
mean time, the middling class, which is alWays wounded in its
self-love and interests by a thousand little vexatious which
the Law cannot describe, dies off in anger, attaches itself to
the weakness and ignorance of the Ministeres, who accuse us,
and in so doing only display their own impotence. Hence
this discontent in the Ministerial Party, , those divi-
sions which have so much diminished its energies,
and which have niaitifested themselves, and wilt still
du so, on every new propositon that Ministers may bring
. forward."—" Phus," ,said I," you exult in the hatred you hare
inspired, and you do not fear to increase it, provided the re•
action shall overturn the Ministers—believe me, your perse
.verance will tire them at last. They will perceive that a Go-
vernment cannot be in greater danger than when even those
to whom its preservation is entrusted combine against it.
They will break the slight springs of your influence, and you
will fall with itidelible shame, for having without an object
prolonged a struggle prejudicial to the State and to your selres
" The Ministry," said he, " will not dare to attempt any thing
against those of our friends who pursue our system with
mildness and patience. Observe, they offer no resist-
ance. Their opposition to us is ' every day and all
day long but it never manifests itself openly ; the
whole of its conduct is malevolent; but every act in itself
may pass as innocent.- Let a man stab another, the Tribu-
nals will not hesitate to condemn him ;—let him wound him
in a thousand places, the'Judges will be very dextrous if they
can catch him. On the- leait menace .you will hear repeated
on all sides, they persecute the Royalists !' In an instant
the storm will subside. The Ministers are not Royalists on
our plan ; but are so at bottom, and they wish that none may
suspect them to be otherwise. Their extreme susceptibility
on this head unfolds to you the secret-of our strength."
" This secret," replied,], is not in favour of the Mitiistry ;
we live in a time when men win be judged of according to
t heir actions, and not :teetheir words. Then your- talisman
will have lost its. virtue ethose•Words will not •have the ex.
traordinary effect of makingth:Fttnetionaries who pronounee
them be regarded by the Ministers whom they betray. But
let us end this Chapter. ' Infoim me how you can recohcile.
with your boasted; hive of thee Charter, that 'hatred
,of'those
Ministers, who certainly are nut more the -enemiee of the
Charter than they are of the Throne ? Perhaps this lsostility
against men is t;illY, in otbee,words, a war about plates.":—
" Do not attach too much importance to what we say," said he;
" the truth is, that we donor hate the Ministers; we believe
that they mean well ; we will even. agree, if,you desire it, that
in difficult circumstances:they-have shewn some talents and
strength of mind; but we do not approve of their system, and we
wish to occupy their stations, to make our own prevail. Their
popularity is an obstacle to our designs; we strive to ruin
them in the opinion of the peopld. To hold with them, and
reject their principles, would he inconsistent. The populace
do not trouble themselves with oppositions on doctrines;, but
they are interested in wars between men ; but you know very
well that doctrines fall with those who defend them."

[The remainder of Ais Work to-morrow.]

CORN-EXCHANGE, MAY' I . --We had a few fresh
Arrivals this morning ; the Wheat trade was very
dull, at Monday's prices, and, except in fine ar-
ticles, scarcely any" sales made ; real Fine Barley
supports its price ; the sale of Oats was brisk
and full as dear ; Beans support their price; in
other articles co alteration.