The Sun. — 1822-12-18 (London, England)

PROVINCIAL JOURNALS.  [From The Bury Gazette, Dec. 18, 1822.]  The loud yell of war which only a few days since spread dismay through half Europe, has already dwindled down to a timid whisper ; the dreadful certainty has shrunk into a doubtful possibility; and the act of Congress which was to " uproar the universal peace," resolves itself into a wise precautionary measure to guard the world from a too wide diffusion of the blessings of mob and military despotism. Were France sanctioned and supported by her allies, we think it very improbable that she would willingly rush headlong Into a war with Spain ; but as she is merely permitted to use her discretion by some of her late conquerors, and that permission with' held by one, to her the most important of the whole; under such circumstances, to engage in any hostilities beyond those which are absolutely necessary for self-defence, would be nothing less than national suicide. The policy of France must be peace. Exhausted by protracted and extensive warfare, ennervated by exertions unparalleled in the history of nations, years of inter• nal and external quiet are needed for her re-invigoration ; are due to the states around her, all of whom are suffering under the consequences of her mad career of mischief. Yet, should she, insensible to every consideration of prudence and justice, attempt to rekindle the brands of national discord, she may perhaps be taught that England, which in her days of might, the could never conquer, which the imperial bandit who wielded her power could not subdue, will not suffer her in her weakness -to disturb the repose of the world " for very wantonness," nor look on inactively while she renews her bloody pranks at the expence of suffering humanity, to soothe her wounded pride. We may perhaps be told that democracy and revolution were the exciting causes of the former war, but that now the Royalists are the persons who stir the strife. Be it so—what then ? We love our King ardently—love him because he is the free King of a free People— because our interests are his and his ours—but we are utter strangers to-a love of royalty which induces a violation of the rights of our fellow creatures. The devotees of the old court of Versailles may be as cruel as the enthusiasts of the Convention, but they cannot be so dangerous. We may fear the fierceness of a young tiger. We laugh at the fury of an old monkey. Whilst the Counsels of France are divided on the question of war or peace, _whilst Princes and Potentates are disposing of the destinies of nations, Spain, the unhappy subject of debate, is suffering all the horrors of war without any of its palliating triumphs; all the miseries of civil strife where conquest is defeat, and where the shout of the victor is choaked by tile sigh of the mourner. In the long catalogue of human ills, in all the hideous list of national calamities, none can compare to that one mighty overwhelming mischief, domestic warfare : the bloody struggle of father against son and brother against brother. Plague, pestilence, or famitie, may be endured. Nation may war against nation, and the soldier may fall in glory.— But in the war which stains our native soil with native blood, no honour is gained by victory, no song of exultation hails the conqueror.: one voice is heard throughout the land, the voice of lamentation and woe. May Heaven avert such a visitation of its displeasure from this happy nation ! What an awfu warning did the consequences of the French revolution hold ote  to the revolutionists in this country, and how seasonably does a similar example occur at this moment. It is not impossible that the present dreadful state of Spain may be productive of  some good in shewing the unthinking zealots, who call them.  „ , ...-...selves reformers, _and imagine the framing a code of laws and remodelling a state, a work of easy achievement and certain ef ficacy; that there is some difficulty as well as danger in tam,  pering even with the most defective forms of/government: that the Constitution of England, like her native oak, is of slow  growth, but noble and lasting in maturity ;, and if uprooted may destroy many in its fall : While the poor sapling widch may usurp its place perhapi will merely serve .to hang its