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(From the Sun.)
(From the Sun.) The foreign intelligence which will be found in our columns of this day is highly important. From Paris, from Madrid, from Lisbon, accounts of revolutionary movements pour in upon us, heightening the gloom with which the prospects of an European war has al- ready overshadowed the political horizon. Thewbole of which we have received, treat the strike of the workmen of the metropolis rather lightly; but in the suddenness and the unexpectedness of this event, we can only discovert he greater ground for alarm. One Journal states that several of those taken had gold in their pockets, thus showing that it was not want of bread that made them turn out; but here, again, we see the greater cause for serious apprehensions on the part of the Government. It may be that distress first prompted the working classes to meditate a turn out, but everything seems to indicate that they will not now be content with work and a higher rate of wages. They regard themselves as not represented in the Legislature, and, setting their rude wits to work, plan Utopian schemes for the representation of trade inter- ests. They naturally enough fall into the errors of those who have hitherto claimed the sole privilege of governing them, and find a panacea for every evil in the Parliamentary representation of rival interests, instead of taking the higher ground, and reconciling them one with the other, and each with all. The insurrectionary movement in Madrid was the consequence of the promulgation of a Royal decree appointing a new Moderado Ministry. The QUEEN REGENT, who remained with her daughters at Valen- cia on the 28th ult., was fast losing all the popularity which she acquired three years ago by proclaiming the Constitution. Among the crowds assembled to witness her arrival at that city, not a voice was raised in welcome greeting. "Down with the Ayuntamientos Bill, and dissolve the base Cortes who passed it," were the only shouts which reached the Royal ear, as her MAJESTY passed through the city. Even the civic authorities prepared no welcome for the REGENT, and the influence of General O'DONNEL was required to obtain for the Royal family the civic box at the thea- tre. Still her MAJESTY with an infatuation for which we cannot account, persists in setting the will of the army and the populace at defiance. Already the embers of a Revolution, which may hurl her august daughter from the throne, are kindled at Madrid nor shall we be surprised to hear that one of the first steps of the Ultra-Liberal party will be to deprive Queen CHRISTINA of a Regency, the duties of which she has proved herself incapable of discharging for the welfare of Spain. The disaffection in Portugal is equally deplorable and disastrous. There is there a faction behind the Throne whose baneful influence is robbing the QUEEN of the affections of her people. It is supposed that the chief of this conclave of intriguers is no less a person than King FERDINAND, who is not content with the regal title without having a share in the di- rection of public affairs. At all events the QUEEN and the Government are alike unpopular, and the nation gloomy and discontented. Money is scarce, and the little talents possessed by the officials is employed in humbugging and overreaching the foreign creditors. Thus, look in what way we will, dark clouds over- spread the political horizon. On the Eastern question we find leading articles in all the Paris Journals of Friday and Saturday. The Constitutionnel of Saturday says that The Sun attempted to prove the correctness of the memoran- dum of the Five Powers, but advanced no conclusive argument on the subject. This is a very easy way of disposing of our proofs. The Constitutionnel would would not have ventured to adopt this free and easy style had our article been transferred to his columns.
(From the John Bull.)
(From the John Bull.) NEWS has at length arrived of the refusal of ME- HEMET ALI to succumb to the ultimatum of the four Great Powers the obstinate old despot declares that he will repel force by force," and that he will act strictly on the defensive. This latter insertion we readily are induced to believe, inasmuch as we can- not well imagine that a man like the PASHA of Egypt -who has lived seventy years in the world-could act so insane a part as to act on the offensive No; MEHEMET ALI, although a tyrannical and determined old man, has too much common sense for that. But still, is not his announcement that he will act on the defensive enough to give rise to great alarm on the f part of the friends of peace? What, we would ask, does his declaration amount to, but one of war-open war-against the Powers of Europe ? If he resist their ultimatum, and be resolved, moreover, to resist any endeavour on their part to coerce him into acqui- escence, why, we cannot see how a regular war could well be avoided. Certainly we are of decided opinion that the Powers have an undoubted right to coerce MEHEMET ALI into submission, and it appears that already have detachments from the English and Aus- trian squadrons proceeded te make a demonstration on the coast of Syria in order to intimidate the PASHA, and we much fear lest this unquestionably proper step on the part of the allied squadrons may not again excite the jealousy of France, and thereby produce the result most to be deprecated. Although the eff- ervescence of the French journals has almost entirely cooled down, still we, who are in the constant habit of watching their tone and temper on the subject of the Eastern question, cannot fail to perceive that con- siderable jealousy is felt by France of any hostile demonstration against MEHEMET ALI. In fact, the Commerce (a Paris paper) of Monday last contains a long accout of the PASHA, in which the crafty old despot is lauded to the skies for his talented career, and for his exertions in furtherance of civilization, &c., whereas a correspondent of the Times, who writes a long and interesting statement from Syria, con- cerning the condition of Egypt, (which country he has thoroughly explored) represents the Government of MEHEMET ALI as one of the most odious and tyran- nical despotisms with which a country was ever cursed, and that all his boasted civilization is merely super- ficial, and adopted with a view to deceive passing travellers. Now we certainly incline to give credence to the latter, in preference to the former statement, as proceeding not from a party biassed journalist, but from a calm and dispassionate observer on the spot. The Government of MEHEMET ALI may appear con- stitutional on the surface, but to anybody who looks deeper, it presents a dark and distressing picture of unqualified despotism and tyranny. Yet this is the man whom the French nation affect to sympathise with. We say affects, because we have long since explained our ideas of the cause which leads France to espouse the insolent preten- sions of the Egyptian VICEROY. Take the following extract from the article in Le Commerce; does it not fully prove our view of the case to be true? After detailing the characters of MEHEMET ALI and his son IBRAHIM PASHA, it goes on to say It is, therefore, easily to be seen from the characters of MEHEMET ALl and his soil, that they will not yield btitat the last extremity, if, indeed, they would not prefer being buried under the ruinsnf theirown power BUT IF ASSISTED BY FRANCE, then there is no doubt but that both would engage in the struggle with desperate vigour." May not we infer from this that the wish of France is decidedly against any coercion of MEHEMET ALI by the other Powers of Europe ? France wishes to make a friend of the PASHA, in order to further her own designs upon the future Sovereignty of Egypt; the idea of possessing that rich and magnificent country, originally started by NAPOLEON BUONAPRTE, has not been lost sight of even by the less ambitious (?) Government of the present Citizen King of France. But to return to the question. How is MEHEMET ALI ito be coerced into submission? May not the hostile demonstrations made by England and Austria bring down Russia to Constantinople, and excite anew the jealousy and anger of France ? We have strong misgiving, whether the result will not be a second battle of Navarino, in which case Russia, as usual, would doubtless be the only Power that would profit by such a contingency. No one can doubt that the interests of England would thereby sustain a serious, if not an irreparable injury. At any rate the resistance of the PASHA, however absurd and contemptible in itself, may ,we are of opin- ion, be the cause of a serious outbreak. Here lies the provoking absurdity of the case. All the Powers of Europe, not excepting even France, seem to be agreed that a war is the worst evil to be apprehended—in fact it would be positively and absolutely cruel were we to be doomed to the misery and ruinous expence of a war, owing merely to the intolerable obstinacy of a superannuated bigot at Alexandria. Only let us look at the danger at present existing with regard to the coercion of the PASHA. If we blockade Syria, other nations will naturally lift up their voices, and enter their protests against a course which will manifestly be a grievous injury to their commerce with that country. If we bombard Alex- andria another difficulty arises—MEHEMET Au has now the Turkish fleet in his possession consequently if we attacked his own fleet, it is not unlikely that the Turkish might be destroyed at the same time, and thus the remedy may prove ten thousand times worse than the disease. Still, England must not allow her conduct to be swayed by any petty fears; provided she acts a straightforward, independant, and honest course, we are by no means afraid of the result. France, we cannot doubt, will, now that her good sense has re- turned, cheerfully join England in taking measures to bring the dispute to an amicable and satisfactory ter- mination. And one word in conclusion. If France and England remain united, Russia must give up all hope of achieving her ambitious schemes but, on the contrary, if they are once severed, then disgrace and defeat will pave the way to the ultimate triumph of Russia, who would then be sole arbitress of the Eas- tern question—ay, and of Europe into the bargain
(From the same.)
(From the same.) RAILWAYS.—Nobody can' deny—nobody means to deny that these wonderful eccentricities are wonder- fully useful in certain cases—for the conveyance of letters-of passengers pressed for time- for merchants hurried for business—for anxious parents longing to catch the last look of a dying child, or of an affec- tionate child desiring to receive the parting blessing of a departing parent-for a run-away murderer-a wholesale forger—or better, if you please, a half-pay iieutenant carrying off a rich heiress—all these (and there are many more) are good reasons for adopting the fire and smoke rattledum-slap" style of flitting. But now, really, to hear of Judges going Circuit by hot water in the same train with the thieves they have to try, and the witnesses who are to vouch for them- and our excellent QUEEN Dow AGER-rcally it is as- tounding—(however, in long distances something may be said)—but prince ALBERT coming to town from Windsor in a railroad train, and returning in another to dinner at Windsor It is all the fault of the Conservatives in Parliament if they had not cut his Royal Highness's income down to thirty thousand a year, he could have afforded to have the QUEEN'S horses to bring him to London. As it is, Slough is to his Royal Highness the Slough of Despond, and he is literally drixen to the Railway. In the Standard of Friday, which we saw after we had written this, we find what follows:- (Private correspondence of the Morning Herald.) Prince Albert travelled to-day for the first time in England, per railway. An express arrived at the Castle this morning, about lutlfpast eleven o'clock, bringing the painful intelli- gence that the Princess Augusta's illness had assumed so alarming an appearance that it was feared her Royal High- ness would survive but a few hours. Her Majesty, who was greatly affected at the intelligence, immediately urged the Prince to lose no time in proceeding to Clarence House. Accordingly Sir Edward Bowater was despatched to the station between one and two, o'clock, to order an especial train to be in readiness to convey his Royal Highness to Pad- dington at three o'clock. At that hour the Prince arrived at Slough, where a train, to which was attached the Sun- beam Engine, with its steam well up, was awaiting his arrival. The Prince .reached Paddington in exactly 23 minutes. His Royal Highness left Paddington on his return to Windsor, in the Company's state carriage, to which was attached the North Star engine, and arrived at Slough in 22 minutes. His Royal Highness more than once expressed the great delight he experienced at railway travelling. The expressions of delight on the part of his ROYAL HIGHNESS at getting back to Windsor at so rapid a pace, nobody can doubt; but, we must beg to observe that, as Her MAJESTY was most anxious that his ROYAL HIGHNESS should lose no time in proceeding to Clarence House, the shortest plan would have been for Sir EDWARD BOWATER to have ordered hor- ses to his Royal Highness's carriage, who in that case would have been at St. James's about two, or half- past, being somewhere about half an hour before a train at Slough could be got ready to take his Royal Highness to Paddington, whence his Royal Highness was afterwards to be driven to the Palace!