The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-27 00:00:00

etening

LONDON, THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 27, 1845

The bad feeling displayed by a considerable portion
of the Paris press, relative to the disputes between Eng-
land and America, cannot tend to raiso the character of
the French nation, or entitle her to that rank as an im-
partial and generous rival, which her great power and
independence ought to obtain for her among civilised
communities. There seems to be a feverish anxiety
and fear displayed by the writers in the journals,
especially those of the Opposition, lest the misunder-
standing should be removed, and the two most com-
mercial states in the world should continue to live in
amity. One journal calls upon the United States to
remain " firm," and another expresses its conviction,
we should rather say fear, that the storm will
blow over, and that after a little display of bad
temper and much coarse language, a time will come
when both will listen willingly to the voice of reason,
and conciliation be easy. The Siecle, in an article
couched in fair language, contains sentiments but
little calculated to heal the breach, or to en-
courage France to offer herself as a mediator,
or the United States to accept her in
that character. M. G UIZOT in the Texan affair had
sided so openly with England, and displayed such par-
tiality, that the American Republic could place no con-
klence in any appeal mado to the French Government.
4' The United States," says that journal, " have
rejected the idea of a mediation. Is the
remembrance of the deplorable conduct adopted
by our Ministry in the affairs of Texas unconnected
with this determination of the American Government ?
Is it not calculated to give that power the measure of
the friendship and equity of our Ministers, and to re-
move from its mind all idea of submitting its cause tothe
decisive of a nation which formerly never failed it? What-
ever may be the motives which, at the opening of this
new drama, have reduced our Cabinet to the sad position
of a spectator, we sincerely hope that its tardy vigilance
may at least spare us a denouement which would compro-
mise our interests and our honour." We leave our readers
to judge what is meant by a denouement which could
" compromise our interests and our honour," because
they can form a sufficiently correct opinion on the sub-
ject from the spirit displayed by the writer, and the
professions of attachment to American interests, which
pervade all the Opposition journals. Such, senti-
mente are unworthy of France ; they are not parti-
cipated in by the KING or his Ministers, and
we would fain hope by only a small portion of
the people. What adl antag• could
,France gain by a
bloody Isar between England and America ? What
satisfaction could a gallant nation enjoy in witness-
ing the :destruction of property, the interruption of
commerce (and in that respect France would come in
for her share), the blockade of harbours, the slaughter of
thousands of human beings, and all the other calamities
of war ? In every point of view, for these writers
do not see the full extent of the consequences,
the feeling displayed is of a most selfish
eiaracter, ar.d forms a sad contrast to the spirit dis-
played by the British Government, the British press, and
the British people too, when, but a few years ago, France
and America appeared determined to settle their
dispute by guns and bayonets. America claimed a
million sterling as compensation for losses sustained
during the reign of NAPOLEON—the Government con-
sented to pay' thatllarge sum, but the Chambers were
restive;; the lower Chanabeilespecially thought that the
time had gone by for compensation, that it should, at
all events, have been enforced on the dynasty which
bad given rise to the claim, and they absolutely refused