Star.
London, England, 1831-06-28 00:00:00

TO OUR READERS.

SPIRIT Of THE— LUIINALIII.-----61.11"--Readers will be
.A.tre, that during the present important Parliamentary dis-
eussions, combined with the momentous events on the Con-
tinent, to which we devote a great portion of our paper, as
In‘olving the imminent questions of peace or war, we are
oceasionslly compelled to omit the Spirit of the Morning
Papers. For the last two days there have appeared in the
Blorning Papers no original remarks which render this ne-
emit} any sacrifice to our Readers.

A Cabinet Council assembled to-day at twelve
o'clock, at Lord GREY'S house in Downing-
street. It w•as attended by all the Cabinet
Ministers, and by Prince LEOPOLD. The Cabinet
sat in deliberation for a considerable time.

The French Estafette of this morning has
brought us our usual supply of Paris papers, and
original correspondence. From these we have
made selections of such passages as we consider
of interest ; and among them we recommend our
readers to peruse the opinions of the Courrier
Francais on the Belgian question ; the accounts
of continued persecutions in Italy ; and the cu-
rious appeal of the Hungarian Provinces to the
Emperor of AUSTRIA, in favour of the brave
Poles. The liberality of sentiment, and sound
rolicy, which distinguish this document, put to
Anew those States of Europe which make higher
pretensions ; and the remarks of the National,
inch follow the Hungarian address, will be found
v..e1l a orthy the attention of our readers.

The cause assigned in the French papers, which
has induced the French Government to call to-
gether the Chambers earlier than intended, is in con-
,equence of the anniversary of the last revolution,
which the disaffected were preparing to celebrate in a
uninner that might produce tumult and disorder.
The Legislature, therefore, has been convoked pre
viously to the 26th—the anniversary—to assure
tranquillity; and should the present laws be in-
efficient for that oliect, to enact new ones more
Aequate.

Accounts from Warsaw state, that the advan-
tages gained by the Army of General GIELG UD
er that of SAcriEw are confirmed. Two thousand

prisoners, with eight pieces of cannon, have been
taken; GIELG D was pursuing the enemy on the
road to Grodno. The Polish Minister of War has
given nodes, that there is already a sufficient num-1
ber of physicians for the army and military hos-
pitals in Warsaw ; and that, after the 30th June,
no expences will be allowed for the journey of
those who may arrive.

The Mexican Packet has arrived, which sailed
from Vera Cruz on the 6th of May ; and has brought
250,000 dollars on merchant's account. The next
packet is expected to bring a larger amount.
From Mexico we learn that the south and other
parts of the Republic were in tranquillity.

The admirable exposition which we yesterday
presented to our readers in our last page, puts
them in full possession of the causes of the
13elgic Revolution, and justifies the revolt to all
reasonable men. It is a chapter in this history
which will direct all subsequent reasonings, and
confer additional interest on the following Letter
of Prince LEoPoLu, addressed, on Sunday after-
noon, to the Belgic Deputies, who, on receiving.
it, instantly left London for Brussels :

THE BELGIAN CROWN.
ACCEPTANCE OE PRINCE LEOPOLD.

" Gentlemen—l entertain r. deep sense of the
" v,ish of m Lich the Belgic Congress has made
" you the interpreters.

" 1 his mark of coofidence is to me the more
" flattering, thai it was not sought for on my pint.

" Human destinies do not present a more :noble
" and more useful task than that of being• called to
" maintain the independence and consolidate the
" liberties of a nation. A mission of such high
" importance can alone determine me to abandon
" an igdependent position, and to separate mytelf
" from a country to which I have been attached by
tics and recollections the most sacred, and which
" has given me so many proofs of its benevolence
" and sympathy.

" I accept, then, Gentlemen, the offer which you
" make me, it king understood that it will belong
" to the Congress of the national representatives,
" to adopt the measures which can alone constitute
" the new state, and thus secure for it the recog-
" nition of the European Powers. It is thus that
" the Congress will give me the power of devoting
" myself entirely to Belgium, and of consecrating
" to its well-being and j rospeiity the relations
" which I have formed in countries whose friend-
" ship is essential to it, and to secure it, as much
" as depends upon my co-opeiation, an independent
" and happy exis!ence.
"June 26, 1831."

Thus PRINCE LEOPOLD accepts the BELGIC
TII EON E but under a proviso; he does not ac-
cept it as a champion or partisan of Belgic
rights, not as a knight-errant to wised Belgic
interests, and by his own prowess assist in laying
the foundation of a monarchy; but he says, " it
being understood that it will belong to the Con-
gress of National Representatives to adopt the
measures, which can alone constitute the new
state, and thus secure for it the recognition of the
European Powers."

This is as much as to say, I will come as soon 1,
as you have extricated yourselves from a labyrinth
of diplomatic intrigue, adjusted the jealousies of
the powers, and prevailed on your late inflexible
Sovereign to yield certain territories essential to
vour welfare, of which he has military occupation.
Now we consider this as putting the Belgians in
the wrong, and adding greatly to their perplexities—
they have made one election, and while that is re
corded they cannot make another ; and yet he who
is elected says, 1 accept, but you must do things
which, if the Belgians could do with a constituted
head, they cannot do in an unsettled state ; or if
they can, it must be done at a great disadvantage.
If the Holy Alliance have contrived this per-
plexity, they have succeeded to a miracle. The
Belgians must go to war for a king who is not
present, and who exhibits such cold attachment to
their interests. To assure the loyalty of a People, a
Sovereign and they, should be ono for better for
worse. It would damp the ardour and confidence
of any lover to be told by his mistress—" You
have difficulties to surmount, get over them,
and I will be your's." " But I want," he would
say, " one who would divide my cares, and join me
for better for worse." " No," says the lady, " I can
join you only for the better." Under such circum-
stances it might be more easy for a lover to shake
off such a mistress, than for a nation to disentangle
itself in the presence of so ninny enemies. The
results prove, however, that the original plan
was bad—the hawking of a crown is a novelty
in human affairs—and the electing of any but
candidates for better for ttorse is absurd and un-
wise. We confess we bad imagined that there
had been a previous unconditional acceptance, for
it was so understood in Belgium.

But we are told that a mediatory power tenders
its good offices with Kixo WlLLiam ;—and what
will the world think when we state, that this new
friend to freed Belgium is Austria! An Austrian
Diplomatist is gone to Holland to prevail on King
WILLIAM to give up the left bank of the Scheldt,
and Luxemburgh and Limburg! May he succeed,
but if he succeed, it will be one of the memorabilia
of the age.

The statement, which we published yesterday,
proves that if in October, King William had not
contrived to arrest the movements of the Belgians,
they :could not only have been in immediate pos-
session of all they now demand, and of Brabant,

but probably they would have revolutionized
Holland itself ; for the Congress of Vienna,
had put its iron finger on Holland as well as
other countries. To avoid bloodshed the Belgic
philosophers confided in the justice of the five
powers, and we see the result. More blood must
probably be now shed in conquering what is in
bitter preparation, and in the agitation of other
questions which may even lead to general war.
We have never ceased to think that Belgium has
been compromised, ever since the councils of M.
DE POTTER lost their just weight; for such is the
folly of Courts, that there seems in general to be
no golden mean between Absolutism and an Ame-
rican republic. A higher spirit of chivalry in the
chosen Prince might have qualified those difficulties;
but man does not form his own character.

In the House of Lords last night, an order was
made for laying on the table papers relative to the
ctioLERA :%tottuus : a:id it is gratifying to see
.Lord WiNcit LsE.t bringing in a bill for employ.
ment and provisiun for the labouring poor. As soon
as printed we will lay it before our Readers. It
may not be all that is wanted, and it may be only
intended to palliate and reconcile, but every step is
good ; and whatever his Lordship may propose, he
cannot make their condition worse.

In the House of Commons •rut: SPEAK ER gave
notice that members were exempt from service ou
Juries during the sittings of the House.
Mr. EIVNT presented various petitions against
Ty th es, the Corn Laws, ae East India Mono-
poly, &c. &c.

In answer to enquiries relative to Newfoundland,
Lord How ICK stated that it was not intended to
establish a local legislature, nor to support the
claimed right to fish on the French banks ; on
which Mr. ROBINSON gave notice of an in-
tention to move an address to the Crown on those
subjects.
Mr. DUNDAS stimulated the LORD ADVOCATE
to prosecute the Election Rioters in Scotland ; but
it appeared, by the answer, that the Law Authori-
ties had not been lake-warm. A discussion arose
about the Loyalty of the Scotch People; and Mr.
Ross stated that 99 in every 100 in Forfarsbire
were in favour of Reform ; and Mr. Dixon, that
199,000 out of '200,000 in Glasgow held the same
opinions.

In the COMMITTEE of SUPPLY, a discussion
arose about the unwise prosecution of Mr. O'CoN •
NELL, which the anti-reformers vehemently abett-
ed ; but it appeared to have died with what Mr.
O'CONNELL called the Algerine act.
In answer to a question of Capt. Boldero, Sir J.
GRAHAM stated that the fleet at Spithead was
assembled merely for exercise and evolution, and
for no hostile or political purpose.
Lord HowicK stated that Government does not
intend to take any step relative to Colonial Sla-
very, in this Session.

The Ordnance and Navy Estimates were passed
with few observations, except from some of the
anti-Reformers, but on no points of public in-
terest.

On moving the Army Estimutes, Mr. O'Cos -
NELL objected to 189,8031. for the Irish yeomanry,
whose bad and factious spirit was notorious, and
had been so recently proved. Mr. STAN LEY
admitted their party feelings, but defended their
establishment. Lord AvrtisnP and Col. PER-
CI VAL defended the yeomanry, and Mr. CONOLLY
and Mr. LEvROY extolled them. Mr. HUNT im-
peached both their uses and their courage, and
enumerated instances of their misconduct in Eng-
land. Several Anti-reformers, and Sir M. W.
RIDLEY, enlarged on their services; and, in one,
Mr. O'Cox N um. withdrew his opposition.
The other votes were then passed.

The New Strand-bridge-street Bill was read a
second time. Mr. STANLEY announced a Bill
for regulating the possession of nrms in Ireland.
And Lord ALTIIORP brought in Bills for pro-
hibiting the growth of tobacco in Ireland, and for
reducing the salary of the Master of the Mint.