The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-12 00:00:00

of his have upon the freedom of his neighbour, except to
give it that_ additional degree of strength which a political
system always derives from having resisted a hostile as-
sault ? The 'events in Portugal hare proved that the na-
tion prefers the new system ; and the conduct both of the
higher clergy, and of the nobility, makes us hope that an-
other scion from the tree of rational and
_temperate free-
dom has been planted in-a soil where it will take firm root
and flourish. Though we did not plant it, circumstances
have made it our duty to defend it ; our arms will hedge
it round, so that the wild boar of the forest shall not tear
it up, or trample it in the dust. What, then, can the
menaces and frowns of Ferdinand avail, against the free-
dom of Portugal and the arms of England? His im-
potent mischief will recoil upon himself; that which he
hates will triumph before his eyes; he will sink below
even his present degradation ; and the step of liberty in one
part of the Peninsula will make his throne tremble be-
neath him. Even if Portugal and England, satisfied with
checking his machinations, abstain from inflicting positive
punishment upon him, his danger will be great. His
failure in an attempt to extinguish good government in
Portugal, will give hopes and courage to thousands of
those who groan under his sceptre, looking anxiously for
the approach of the day (a day which sooner or later must
ewe) which is to give to Spain a chance of emerging
from that nothingness to which the insane despotism of
Ferdinand has reduced her. The Spaniards who now live
are the same generation that existed in 1820, and 1821,
and 1822, and 1823; and who can look back to the
events of those years without being convinced, that how-
ever much the general worth of the nation may be de-
based by the alloy of a corrupt Priesthood, there do exist
in Spain energies,and feelings, and principle% which it would
require a much more potent hand than that of Ferdinand
to annihilate? The Cortes, it is true, did much toruin their
country. Their negligence, their folly, their extravagances,
their oppreisions, and injustice, their wild speculations, and inca-
pacity_for all practical business, were enough to make Spaniards
weary of their sway. But Ferdinand has made even their era to
be regretted, as a period of prosperity ; and he has impressed on
the world a deep and universal conviction, that while his absolute
authority exists, Spain must continue to be a hideous and disgust-
ing sore in the European body. The recollection of the French
invasion, and the presence of French troops, alone maintain him
on his throne. The former will disappear before the more recent
impression produced by the triumph of the Portuguese Constitu-
tion over his implacable hostility, and by the warlike attitude which
England has assumed ; and even if the French troops should remain
in the Peninsula, they will not be more effectual in repressing
the Constitutionalists of Spain, than the vicinity of the armies
of Portugal anti England must be in rousing their hopes,
their patriotism, and their desire of vengeance, to a resolute
struggle to raise their country froin the abyss into which a bigottett
despotism has plunged it. Ferdinand will have much to dread,
even if the defenders of Portugal remain within their own terri-
tory. But, if he persist in his evil courses, who can doubt that.
we have the clearest right to go beyond strictly defensive opera-
tions? It is only to defend Portugal that our troops' have been
sent to the Peninsula ; and, when the aggression is repelled, it is
not incumbent on the injured party forthwith to sit down in in-
activity, leaving the aggressor at jeisure to collect his strength,
and to attempt again, if it shall please him, what he failed to ac-
complish before. If he makes compensation for his former wrong,
anti gives what shall he deemed reasonable security not to offend
again, those who took up arms for the purpose of defence, ought
not to proceed from defence to attack. But if such compensa-
tion, and such security, be not given, it is the right of those
who have been wantonly assailed to punish the assailant.—New
Times.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S.-JAN. 11

The odds on the Derby experienced a material alteration ; the
two favourites, Web and Tatler, having left off at evens. There
was same report about Web having had a sweat, or, in other
words, having failed in one ; but it was so ambiguous that we
place no reliance on it. For the St. Leger, the only horse which
advanced was the colt out of Olivera, which is now second favourite.