laSL] [ GG3 ] 



NOTES OF THE MOXTH OM AFFAIRS IM GEXERAL. 



His Belgian JMajesty having obtained a respite for a week or two 

 from his neighbour of Holland, is now subsiding into the tranquillity 

 for wliich he was made, and is soberly thinking of fate and his finances. 

 But France keeps its keen eye upon him, and the German's allegiance 

 will be well watched, if it can be done, by posting generals and aides- 

 de-camp, young princes and old diplomatists, in the court of this 

 easy-souled sovereign. "iVith a French field-marshal to superintend his 

 public movements, a whole corps of French officers to drill his troops, 

 a succession of French dukes, counts, and princes royal, to dine and 

 dejeuner with him three days out of the seven ; and the promise and 

 prospect of a French princess to take care of his household — the poor 

 German bids fair to be very handsomely Frenckijied. But this is not all 

 the provision that is made for his allegiance to the Orleans dynasty. A 

 nucleus for a foreign army is already constructing in his majestj^'s do- 

 minions, under a Frenchman ; and we shall soon see it swelling from the 

 micleus, into the proper magnitude. " This legion," to use the language 

 of one evidently well acquainted with its purpose, " is very select in point 

 of officers, you -will im.agine, when I tell you that the son of the 

 famous iMarshal Junot is gone to Paris to ask permission to join as a 

 prkvilc, in which capacity we have already an Italian count. The legion 

 is commanded by Prince Mnrat, son of the King of Naples, and he 

 would be willing to receive particularly English, Irish, and Scotch. 

 Three pounds would be sufficient to defray each man's travelling 

 expenses to Ath from London, but they, of course, must bring pass- 

 ports. We have the distinguished honour of wearing a button with 

 the letter L, and a crown above it, which no other regiment enjoys. 

 As the legion is only forming, we have but 150 men at present. We 

 are in daily expectation of 200 Swiss guards to join us. I tell you this 

 as I am sin-e there are hundreds of poor fellows who would be glad to 

 come, particularly as the legion will be perraanentty kept up, and will, 

 when ■ completed, consist of between 3,000 and 4,000 men. Officers 

 would be required to produce their commissions, with a statement of 

 tlieir services and rank in the regular arm?/, as no mU'dia officers will be 

 admitted. Tliey must come not to Brussels, but from Ostend or Calais 

 direct to head-quarters at Ath. If an officer could bring or send, a few 

 men with him, it would be his best recotiniieiidation." 



The slur on the militia officers is not altogether kind ; except that 

 we must allow that the undoubted heroism of the braves Beiges, has a 

 right to make them pecidiarly delicate in associating with any who 

 have not alike distinguished themselves in the actual field. 



Liverjsool has so much distinguished itself by its virtuous enthu- 

 siasm for ])urity of election, that all good men and true must congratu- 

 late it upon the example which, in i\Ir. Ewart's memorable election, it 

 gave to the dubious piety of the empire. It is unfortunate for the 

 historian of patriotism, that tlie mysteries of that pre-eminent effort of 

 clean hands and incorruptible liearts, had not the advantage of being 

 unColdfd a little more am])ly before the jjroper tribunal. However, it 

 now enjoys a representation ; tliough, m'c grieve to say it, a scandalous 

 mediocrity of principle is implied in the scandalous mediocrity of outlay. 



