The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-06 00:00:00

1-!rizish Infantry, has been rendered the most formidable
now existing in the world.--Thnes.
Mr. Canning is—and very justly—so.great a favourite
with most men, but especially among those connected with
literature in all its branches, that no sooner is a word
hinted to his prejudice, than a hundred pens are devoted to
his service, and ready to defend him on every Possible:
graund, and at all hazards. Of course, many of such de-'
fenders partake nota little of those 'very qualities which so
strikingly mark the character of the person whose cause
they espouse—viz., that they display quite as much enthu-I
siasm as discretion. We are led to make these observaH
tions from' seeing, in a Liverpool Journal, a long and very
ably-written article in defence of Mr. Canning from the
,blame which has been (by ourselves, among others) im
puted to him, for having given to the world his late speech,,
in a printed form, essentially different, both in substance'
and language, from that in which it was delivered. Mr.
Canning's advocate upon this occasion—who seems to be
'a person intimately acquainted, at least, with his literary
habits—not only justifies what has been done upon this
oc-
casion, but states it to he the. constant practice of this dis-
tinguished Scholar and Statesman, whenever called upon
to correct his speeches for the press, to remodel and alter
them, so as to bring them as nearly as possible to his own
standard of what they ought to have been—somewhat re-
gardless of what they were. It is one of the character-
istics of high genius to feel a diffidence and misgiving of
I its own powers, unknown to common minds; nor can we
be surprised that a man of Mr. Canning's splendid acquire-
; ments and fine taste, should feel anxious that those efforts
of his mind, which are to descend to, and fix his character
land genius in the eyes of posterity, should derive from the,
i master's hand the last touches of his own consummate'
skill ; and, if those touches were confined to mere altera-
i tions and embellishments of language (though none re-
! quire them less than that of Mr. Canning), there would be
'little, if any, ground of complaint on the part of the most
fastidious critics. But it is quite another matter when al-
terations (as in the recent instance) are made in the sense
and language of a speech destined, in the first place, to in-
volve the highest interests of nations, and becoming, as it
mast be, the most important material in the hands of the
future histbrian. To diminish or augment—in fact, in any
way to garble or alter—the sense and meaning of a docu-
ment of such importance, is an offence alike against good
taste and truth, which no ingenuity or sophistry can in
any *ay palliate or defend. That Mr. Canning's ardent
mind, warmed by .the importance of his subject, and
urged on by the applause of minds as ardent, but not so
sound or responsible as his own, may have led him to
give utterance to sentiments somewhat at variance with
his cooler judgment, may be very true, and Mr. Canning
may regret, both as a Statesman and a man of genius,
having done so; but still it was the speech as it was de-
livered that influenced the judgment of the audience, and
Mr. Canning has no right to wish the present age or pos-
terity to believe, that what he did not say was what he
did. However, therefore, Mr. Canning's apologists may
endeavour to justify the practice as a habit, either upon
this or any other occasion, it is impossible for any man to
say that it is not a practice which goes to falsify the truth
of history ; and as such, we humbly conceive, is wholly.
indefensible. No modern orator can have less reason, ge-
neMlly speaking, to disclaim the language and ideas which
fall from him, even in the warmest moments of debate;
but, even as a matter of taste, his real language or ideas
are those which every man would be most anxious to be
put in possession of; while, at any rate, the important
interests which they 'are to effect at present, and the va-
luable records which are to be formed from them hereafter,
can and ought in justice to know no other.—Aforningl

If -we had no other reason than the long delays and
Isilence with regard to the affairs of Spain, we should be
warranted in the conclusion that the negotiations carrying :.
on in Madrid, by our Envoy, are not of so easy nature:.
as many persons at first imagined., Ferdinand de '
',
Bourbon is not a character to. be frightened by distant
danger; he looks around him, and sees only Friars and
Monks, and these are net the men to allow of any con-
cessions -.
to, or reconciliation with, the supporters of the-,
'Portuguese Constitution. They have themselves toomuch ,
at stake; and having gained an ascendancy over the
King's Ceuneils, and an immediate controul over his sub- ,
jects, they cannot now be easily shaken off. They 'con- '
stantly din in his ears, that the haughty islanders have ;.
done their worst; that all the Spanish ultra-marine pro-
vinces
are gone ; the maritime commerce extinct; and
that, as a nation, Spain is now no longer vulnerable to
the masters of the ocean, unless in Cuba and the Philip- i
pine islands; end what with the negroes of the one and e;
the climate of the other, the British, they assure him, '
would be no gainers, even if they were to capture them;
but, if the free institutions of Portugal are allowed to .:
prosper and spread, the secure spot on which the Spanish
Monarchy is yet seated and triumphant, they cry out, will •'
be lost, as well as that holy religion, so long the pride and '
boast of their ancestors. With such advisers as these ,-
continually at his elbows, and besides swayed by the rs.
two Portuguese Princesses residing at his Court, deep s
in the political plots of the day, and thoroughly initiated f"-
in all the secrets of the Apostolicals, Ferdinand must have -''.
more intellect and a larger share of foresight than is usually ~.
attributed to him, if he condescends to humble himself, or
change his ground, on the present occasion, more particu- s,
laely should he be in the least buoyed up with the expects-
don of foreign aid, or even the approbation and good wishes
of those whom he has hitherto considered as his more -..'
immediate friends and allies. The - national honour is
besides roused, and the Church is pronounced in danger..,
Under such circumstances, as these, what reliance, then,
een be placed on the assurances of King Ferdinand, either
al!, regaF4S Portugal or ourselves, even if he were inclined
'to accept the pPAditions proposed to him'? What could
be gained by his now declaring, that he took reipart in the
'armament of the Portuguese refugees, .or his -disavowal of
`:
what has been done by his Authorities en the frontiers
Would any one believe that he was sincere t No; when 1
it is besides proved, that the muskets taken at Amarante •
and in other places, brought in by deserters, are all Spa-pp
nish. What Weolei be gained, if he changed his Minis- I:
tees, as long es the system he pursues is the same ? If,
as for some time has beep expected, M, Onis was to
take the place of his brother-in-law, M. 'Salmon, and
<. M. Herredia should be appointed to the Finance De"-
partment, what good could follow from such a change ? •
The Apostolicals would still govern the King; still hold
influence overbid brother Carlos, and the whole movements
of the Palace would still be directed by the Portuguese
Princesses. Of the sincerity of the Spanish Government I
with regard to-Portugal, we yesterday gave an instance, in
z' the conduct more recently observed by the Authorities on
the frontiers towards Magessi and his rebel followers, when
:' deivep back jets? Spin. Yet, as if Ferdinand had attempted
to punish an one 'of 1' Commanders for interfering, anti
was unable to do it, we ere new told Oet " he is about to I
send an army of eight thoneapd men to the frontiers, for
'. the purpose of disarming and sending into the interiete
r" the inemgents who may return into Spain." This ie add-
•!' ing coarse inselt to perfidy. Last week, on the authority
pf a recent letter from Madrid, we stated, " that 5,000
men belonging to the Royal (guard were to form a corps
of observation on the Portuguese frontiers, and, like a'
second cordon sanitaire, encourage the neighbouring Apos-
i tolicals, as that of the French encouraged the Spanisle
s Royalists, previous to the 46414 of the Duke d'Angou-'
pursued, and cannot now be lame." This project is still
disguised by any specious colouring the Spanish Monarch
may wish to give to his secret design. What the French
did for his Apostolicals in 1823, he thinks he can now do
for those of Portugal. The Church will bear him harmless,
This, he also-verily believes, is the only way of saving his
own throne=—Morning Chronicle. .

The fair authoress of Alinack's says, that, though
she as known the author of Tremaine all her life, she Ter dis-
covered his pasaltra fur a beautiful hand.— Qy. Has she a very
beautiful one herie;if, af.d 1.!..-1 ha ungallant enough not to admire
it? By the way, thia assertion pi tiic I'i4 cuthoresq leads to a
clue, by which some of her friends at least may discoror hcr.