Star.
London, England, 1831-02-02 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The communication from our friend at Skfisstiorp on a mat
election, will be attended to. It has been postponed for a particular
reason ; but by no means lost sight of.

We never expect to find a word of truth in the Lisbon
Gazette. Accordingly, the files of that paper, from the lit
to the 20th January, received this day, are quite destitute
of all intelligence relative to the affairs of Portugal.

The conduct of General Chiopicki, in resigning his powers
as Dictator, that the Congress might be free in their deli-
berations, is one of the finest examples of patriotism to be
found in all history. It not only proves the nobleness of
principle by which the Polish Revolution is directed, but that
a Revolution conducted by such greatness of soul must suc-
ceed, and must establish the independence of Poland.

We have Brussels Papers this day, containing the pre-
liminary debate in the National Congress, ou the important
question—who is to be KING of BELGIUM? The greatest
uncertainty still prevails on this subject ; and there is every
likelihood of a prolonged and stormy discussion among the
Belgian Deputies. There seems to be no chance for the
Prince of ORANGE; the Duke de LEUCHTENBERG is the
most popular ; and between the latter and the Duke de
NEMOURS, the competition may probably continue for a few
days longer. Something like anarchy prevails in Brussels.

BRUSSELS..—NATIONAL CONGRESS.
812 TING OP FRIDAY, Jam. 28.

A large force, composed entirely of dvic guards, was assembled at the
Palace of the Congress. At 11 o'clock, when the gate doors opened,
the crowd rushed to the gal cries, which were filled in an Instant.

M. H. de Brouehere read the list of the pedtlemet received. There
were many in favour of the Duke of Lencittimberg, some for King
Louis Philip, and for the Duke of Silesia.

The President—The order of the day is the debate on the choice of
the head of the State.

Gentlemen,—The Congress being today assembled on the most ire.
portant and serious subject that has yet engaged its attention, and which
will probably never recur again, I think I may be allowed to address to
this august assembly an intresty to conduct the discussion which is
about to commence with all the calmness, decorum, and gravity,that the
subject requires. !,therefore, would request the Members who shall speak
on this occasion to refrain from every personality, as well with respect
to each other as to the several candidates who will be proposed for the
dignity of Bed of the State, to confine themselves to the carsidentios
of the question before us only with respect to the advantages at the in.
conveniences which such or such a choke may offer to the
country, whether to secure peace at home or abroad, or with
regard to our commercial relations, the disposal of the produce of
out mines, oar agriculture, and our manufactures, and with regard to
the treaties of alliance, calculated to secure the integrity of our territory,
and in case of war, the more or less probable chances of an offensive and
defensive alliance to assist us in defending our independence, and making
ourselves respected both by sea and land t in a ward, to consider this
great question only with respect to the political relations, which
comprehend our moral and material interests, setting aside the
personal qualities of the candidates. Lastly, that If in the course
of dismission they are continually led to speak of a family which
the Congress has thought it necessary for the general interest to
exclude from ell power in Belgium, mention may be made of it only in
temperate proper, and decorous terms. To act otherwise would show a
want of tact. taste, and especially of magnanimity and generatity,which
are characteristic qualities of thelleigians.l venture, therefore, to beg my
Itenetuable colleagues to be calm, collected, and even austere, that his.
tory, when it gives account to posterity of this memorable event, may
quote us as a model of moderation and justice. If in my quality of
President, I should have the misfortune to deviate, in the slightest de.
pee, from that impartiality which is the most imperative of
my duties, I beg the assembly to warn me of it. I shall molder this
as the most sensible proof of good will that it can show me on this
cession, and I shall most cordially thank it.
As for the galleries, I recommend and even enjoin them most strictl
to observe Art. 40 dour regulations, which, in ease of inbactioo, will
be immediately enforced. _ _

The president then read the article.
M. Van de Weyer. Gentlemen—On my return from London, I
hink limy duty to give the Congress a short account of my mission.
As soon as we arrived in London we addressed Lord Palmerston,
begging him to communicate to the Congress of the live great powers, a
note relative to the opening of the Scheldt. This note is known to
you, and has been pubUshol. . .

'We bad declared in it that till the armistice was executedbyHollandore
could not enter into any other negociation. We have learned that the
question:relative to the Scheldt, has been considered here as an intervals.
tion. If It could have been so considered, „the diplomatic committee
sever could hays consented to the armistice ; but as it could not treat
direedy with Holland, it was obliged to act through the medium of the
live great Poway. It is with these Powers that it has contracted; nee
vertheless, Belgium has it in its power to resume hostilities, and to make
the engagements taken towards it respected.—When we were made sc.
quainted at London with the protocol of the 9th of January,
we delivered to the foreign diplomatists a note which was afterwards
found to agree with the declaration of the Diplomatic Committee. In
the interval we learned the opening of the Scheldt, and received from
Lord Palmerston the following note :

`• The Congeees' having had before it, by the means of His Excel.
lency, the Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of the Netherlands
the documents respecting the partition of the debt, and relative to
commercial arrangements between the two countries, expresses a de-
sire to obtain from the Belgian Conuuissioners, as soon as possible,
information in writing on these two subjects.

(Signed) Pattrzirrow."
As we never lost sight of the obligations under which we lay, never to
treat of any point the decision of which belonged to the National Con-
gress, we the next day declared to the Congress at London, that the
Provisional °ornament was not competent to treat the question if the
debt, and that this point appertained exclusively to the National Coo.
grow It seems that the commercial arrangements spoken of, was re-
lative to the colonies.

la this state of things, and in consideration of the questions that
me to be treated of in the dooms% we judged it indispensably ne.
enemy to repair to Brunk, keying at London M. Behr, to receive
the commercial communications concerning Belgium. Tbus the

Congress will have to examine the question of the debt, re.
geeing obis* Congress at London has asked for information. I
As foe the eleetios of the bead clam State, we thought it our duty ton.
fain hem ell communication en that subject ; and all the aspens of
our laving convened on it with Priam Leopold or the Prince of
°asap, are unfounded. We have mused to Will oar duty.. Cid.
• Is these notes the Comings Is always called La Coillermos.