The Sun. — 1846-12-14 (London, England)

PRIVY COUNCIL.  Her MAJESTY is expected to hold a Privy Council on Saturday next, the 19th inst. At this Council it is expected that the time for the meeting of Parliament will be determined on, and a proclamation will be issued, summoning both Houses to meet for the dispatch of public business.  We have received information that an order was forwarded, on Saturday to the Tower, from the Board of Ordnance, directing a troop of artillery to be dispatched to Ireland forthwith. The alarming condition of the people in that country, and the frequent recurrence of outrages in many districts, j ustifies the Executive in taking immediate and strenuous measures for the protection of life and the preservation of the peace. Our accounts, published in another column, present a fearful catalogue of murders and robberies; and, from the frightful starvation which is now afflicting the peasantry, there are no lack of incitements to insubordination. On Friday, it will be remembered, we published the account of nine deaths from famine, and every additional packet corroborates the impressions which have been all along entertained a 3 to the destitution in Ireland. We trust, however, that intimidation will be sufficient to restore the population to a sense of their duty, and to an obedience to the law.  Everything indicates that Europe is peculiarly at this moment in a state of transition. Popular power may be regarded as at its culminating point. The two paramount forces of the Continent—the repressive domination of the East and the regenerative constitutions of the West— the hereditary legislation of the North, and the elective legislation of the South— are now more than ever endeavouring to counteract the influence of each other. Time has not tended to lessen their mutual antipathy : on the contrary, their sentiments have become more than ever embittered, their opinions have become more than ever estranged. The common alliance which was expected by many credulous persons to render their reconciliation nermanent, has proved only an additional source of animosity. After After a temporary quietude of thirty. one ea these heterogeneous powers hasrs been compact between sudd.enly broken; their partial reliance on each others been utterly dispelled; the possibility tf any integrity has cordial cooperation between them has been rendered more than ever dubious. The consequence of this abrupt disseverance has already evinced itself in the increased distaste of the two divisions of the C:)ntiner.t for each other. The  monstrous cruelty, moreover, by which that disseverance has been alone effected, has afforded additional grounds for the rancour of the cajoled nations. In the annexation of Cracow, Austria, Russia, and Prussia have not merely violated their engagements with the other continental principalities, but they have likewise directly violated the principles upon which the very Governments of the West are based. Those three despotic Cabinets have not merely violated certain articles of the treaty of Vienna, they have likewise violated the fundamental laws of humanity and justice. In this latter violation consists their chief offence.  Some considerable time has elapsed since the first consideration of this perfidious act by the Northern Powers ; some little time has already elapsed since the seizure of Cracow. It is satisfactory, however, to reflect that decisive protests against this heinous spoliation have been forwarded to Vienna by the Cabinets of St. James's and the Tuileries. The protest of Lord PALMERSTON, couched in those terms of emphatic indignation which are the more impressive, from their calmness and moderation, has been followed by the protest of M.