Poles a Constitution. How he kept his promise is recorded in the fate of that brave but most unhappy people, on whom he inflicted the terrible sway of the savage CONSTANTINE, whose outrageous violence and revolting crimes drove the Poles to endeavour to obtain, by force of arms, the redress of grievances which they had more than once peaceably implored in vain.

"It is thus," say the consular remonstrants to MEHEMET ALI," that by glancing over a map we find many small States without resources by the side of more powerful empires. They have, however, no oppression nor injustice to fear. All Europe watches over their honour and security."

Well, there is, or rather was, the little Polish State or commonwealth of Cracow, It was "without resources by the side of more powerful empires." Had it "no oppression nor injustice to fear?" Let MEHEMET ALI glance his eye over the map of Europe-he will there still find marked the material limits of the Polish republic of Cracow but if he asks what has become of its political existence, perhaps three of the four powers to the quadruple alliance can tell him, that it is under their protection! If he asks-how that protection has been shown?-he may be told, it is not for the weak to dictate the mode in which they are to be protected by the strong. It is true Cracow wishes to be "saved from its protectors," as Turkey will in due time. Its independence has been trampled in the dust, notwithstanding the "solid guarantee of treaties."

"MEHEMET ALI cannot be ignorant of the great force and importance of a solemn convention. The political system of all Europe rests alone on the faith and religious execution of treaties. It was thus that, in spite of the serious difficulties which surrounded the questions of Greece, Belgium, and Spain, the conventions relative thereto have received their complete execution and fulfilment, although the interests of the European powers with regard to those questions have not always been identical."

This is another passage which we have extracted from the consular remonstrance, which urges upon the Mahomedan Viceroy of EGYPT the bright examples of political good faith and morality, which have always been given to the admiring world by the great Christian powers of Europe.

Truly the moral sensibilities of the advocates of the AngloRussian alliance are shocked whenever one asks, why does not

the English government see that its real interest lies in preventing the power of MEHEMET ALI from being broken down, for in him and in his dynasty alone exists the vitality of the Ottoman power-as a check upon the ambition of Russia! What, say they, shall we be tempted by any view of interest or profit to support the cause of a rebel to his Sovereign-shall we allow the SULTAN to be bearded and set at defiance by his own vassal? European morality revolts at such a proposition, and at every thing of the sort.

Is, indeed, European morality so sensitive touching the rights of Sovereigns over "successful rebels?" Unhappily then, for that "morality," have the consular representatives introduced into their manifesto the cases of Greece and Belgium. As to Spain, there having been a disputed title to the Crown as the ground of its civil war, there will be different opinions as to which party had of right the sovereign power, and which party ought to be considered rebels. That was a question, as we always contended, of a strictly domestic character-one on which Spaniards alone had a right to decide. Our quadruple treaty in that case, and the proceedings which the English Government adopted under it, were flagrant violations of the rights of an independent nation, and attended with great crimes. * MEHEMET ALI, as an "illiterate barbarian," must be exceedingly struck with the high moral character of that Spanish "non-intervention war," and be more and more astonished at the vast wisdom and dignity which preside over the political destinies of Europe, and more especially those of England.

*

As to Greece and Belgium-In those instances no question at all exists as to who had the right of sovereignty, and who were the rebels. As little question is there, that in each case the great powers-whose indignation on account of MEHEMET ALI's successful resistance to the late weak and Russianised despot of Turkey is so great-recognised the rights of "successful rebellion."

The SULTAN was our "old ally" at the period when the Greeks rose in revolt, as now. He had his Greek provinces torn from him, and erected into what is called, "an independent sovereignty," but which is in reality only a dependency of

Russia, as far as the success of Russian intrigue can make it so. On that occasion, England assisted Russia to "sink, burn, and destroy" the fleet of her "old ally." Now, England cannot bear the idea that MEHEMET ALI should detain the Turkish fleet which has been delivered up to him, and which, if he does not hold, Russia will eventually possess as she will everything that belongs to the SULTAN, in due time. The "morality" that dictated the European policy which was signalized by the slaughter of the sea-fight of Navarino, must also overwhelm the mind of the "barbarous" chief of Egypt with a sense of stupendous admiration.

**

The union of Belgium with Holland, under the sceptre of the King of the NETHERLANDS, was also part and parcel of the famous "settlement of Europe." What became of it? Here we have also a splendid example of the "solid guarantee of treaties," respecting which the consuls of the four powers have given expression to so many magniloquent periods! Is the throne of LEOPOLD founded on a better title than that of MEHEMET ALI, supposing the latter should declare himself an independent Sovereign to-morrow? * He has not been indebted to a self-appointed junta of "king-makers" for his political elevation. He has been the creator of his own fortunes. There is not one of the Sovereigns that dictate their own terms to him, who would not have perished in obscurity, if born in as humble a station as the present Viceroy of EGYPT. The consuls tell this distinguished Chieftain-whose whole life has been a struggle with difficulties, and a confronting of dangers-that "there would be glory and wisdom in yielding to necessity and the force of circumstances." There might be prudence, or there might be cowardice in yielding to the "force of circumstances”—but how there could be "glory," we cannot conceive.

* * *

MEHEMET ALI, though called a barbarian, is certainly not a stolid, nor an enervated one. He is too shrewd to be the dupe of such phrases as the following:-"The convention is based only on equity, suitableness, and stability for the future. Its only end is the consolidation of the Ottoman empire." The consolidation of the Ottoman empire

by the instrumentality of Russia, is one of the prettiest fables that ever amused a credulous age! The consolidation of the scattered elements of the Roman empire is just as probable. The truth of the matter is, that Russia wants to get Syria out of the hands of the Egyptian Chief to appropriate it to herself. The juvenile SULTAN is completely under Russian influence, as his rash and giddy father was, when-under the insidious advice of Muscovite agents in his divan-he massacred his janissaries ; and thus cut off the right arm of his empire, preparatory to its invasion by Russia and the memorable campaigns of the Balkan.

While MEHEMET ALI commands Egypt and Syria, Russia fears that England may obtain from him such facilities of communication with her East Indian possessions as might materially contribute to defeat her ulterior designs in that quarter; and so she places the English Government, by her wily policy, in a position of hostility with MEHEMET ALI, anticipating that in any result she shall reap all the advantages of our quarrel with MEHEMET, and our alienation from France.

Oct. 2, 1840.-*** We object to the crusade in which the English Government has been induced to join against MEHEMET ALI, because it is the development of a Russian plot, to completely reduce the last remains of the Moslem power by crushing the only Mahomedan ruler capable of causing very serious disturbance to the Russian schemes, and re-animating in the Turkish people the ancient spirit of hostility to the Muscovite.

Russia made a merit of abandoning the treaty of Unkiar Skelessi―which was about to expire-and contrived to enchain the energies of England in the cunningly-woven meshes of a still more dangerous treaty. England was not bound by that former treaty between Russia and the Porte, because she was no party to it. But by the treaty which is the fatal emanation of the Anglo-Russian alliance, the navy of England in the Levant is bound not to enter the Dardanelles, or make any movement for the protection of Constantinople, except in combination with or by consent of Russia, as well as of her two despotic auxiliaries.

By upholding the claims of MEHEMET ALI against the demands of a confederacy of governments, entirely set in motion, inspired, and directed by Russia, we support, under a new state of circumstances, the old principle of policy by which, in regard to eastern affairs we have been always actuated. We resist the encroaching designs and insatiable ambition of Russia, and thereby endeavour to preserve Turkey from dismemberment, and England from the folly and disgrace of being the tool of her worst enemy.

Letters mostly written upon Circuit.

[The letters from which the subjoined extracts have been made were addressed, at different periods, to a member of Mr. Sydney TAYLOR's family. A perusal of them will, it is believed, be felt as amply repaid. Their light and playful style affords a strong contrast to the graver productions of his pen.]

my

Aylesbury, April 3, 1838.—“ There was but one prisoner defended to-day-and that was one of the prettiest young gipsies I ever saw, with an infant gipsy in her arms-quite a study for Gainsborough. I exercised, I believe, more gallantry than law in her defence; for though my law failed, appeal to the feelings of the jury succeeded, and she went unscathed from the bar to return to her woodland home, among the tents of the children of the wilderness. Various blackeyed houries of the woods were waiting about the Court the issue of the trial, and I suppose the husband was not far off-while young Salomé-for that was the oriental name of the Bohemian bride' stood upon her deliverance,' with her baby, in a case in which palmistry had stood her friend by having crossed my hand with both gold and silver-in the shape of a sovereign and a shilling. M- told me that he was sure every man in court sympathized with the fair culprit, and was glad of her acquittal. So much for the romance of a Sessions Court of Justice."

Cambridge, July 24, 1835.-" I take the opportunity of a little learned leisure' in the academic bowers of Cambridge,