London, May 26, 1848.

Dear Sir:—However much we may rejoice in the progress of liberty indicated by the recent French revolution, it is impossible to conceal from ourselves the fact, that French liberty is exposed to many dangers from the irregular manner of its birth. You will probably have received, ere this reaches you, full particulars of the mad attempt made by Blanqui, Barbes, and other fanatics, assisted, I fear, more or less, by Louis Blanc, Albert, and others, from whom better things might have been expected, to overturn the present Government, which, being established on the broad basis of universal suffrage, is certainly, if not the best possible government, at least the government best entitled to rule in France. The example of the 24th of February seems to have put into the heads of these men the foolish notion that in order to rule, it is only necessary to get possession of the building where government is conducted. Accordingly, on the 15th May, under pretence of a demonstration of sympathy with Poland, they invaded the National Assembly, dissolved it, took possession of the Hotel de Ville, proclaimed themselves a Provisional Government, and were in the act of publishing other decrees, levying contributions on the rich for the benefit of the poor, and introducing thus a system of general distrust and terror, which could end in nothing but civil war, tyranny and despotism, when the National Guard, having absolutely rushed together, as one man, with an enthusiastic determination to support their own chosen representatives, they were arrested in the government offices, and now wait the trial and punishment due to their criminal attempt. The National Assembly again met, and I think it will be found, if the Government is not carried away by fear or anger, from the moderate, and conciliatory, and liberal course which Lamartine appears to have chalked out, to any hasty or violent measures, that it has been strengthened by the attempt. The chief thing to be feared now, is, that the Assembly, disgusted and terrified by this display of popular ignorance and violence, may be led to distrust the mild and broad principle on which Lamartine seems to wish to rule the people. Indeed, it has been already rumored that he and Ledru Rollin are about to resign their seats in the Executive Committee, in consequence of the want of confidence manifested by the Assembly.

In the meantime, so much disorder reigns in France, and in the Assembly itself, that the ardor of the friends of freedom in this country, who, immediately after the revolution, addressed to the French nation loud and warm expressions of admiration and sympathy, is somewhat cooled. We thought that the revolution in France would accelerate progress in this country, and no doubt it has done so. But, after all, we must rely entirely on the justice of our cause, and the strength of our arguments; for there is no country in the world, whether it be in the shape of a monarchy or a republic, to which we can point as an example worthy of imitation. It is now several years since reformers in this country, who used to quote America as an instance of the safe and beneficent working of political equality, have been glad to forget your country altogether; for they were always struck dumb by the triumphant finger of scorn with which their opponents pointed at the black plague-spot of slavery still existing among you. I have no hesitation in saying, that so long as slavery is numbered among the institutions of the United States, they are, notwithstanding the sublime truth of their declaration of independence, a truth uttered with the lip and trampled, in the life and not withstanding the amusing complacency with which I notice some of your contemporaries talk of the American Union as the "Model Republic," an obstruction to liberty throughout the world. It is with sincere grief that the reformers of this country have learned that melancholy truth; and it is only in the noble efforts that are being made by so many good men and true, and the increasing success which we see attending them, to cause to be proclaimed from the capitol at Washington, the glad and welcome sound of liberty to the slave, that we take comfort to ourselves, hoping yet to be able to point to America as a proof of the safe and beneficent workings of self-government, and as a model worthy of the imitation of the world.

The war between Lombardy and Austria still proceeds with varying success. The Lombards have not yet decided upon the constitution to be established. A ballot of the population is to be taken on that subject, and it is believed that it will result in an application for union with the kingdom of Sardinia.

There have been further popular commotions in Vienna, the object of which is not well understood here, but they have ended in additional concessions, including universal suffrage to the people. The Emperor fled from Vienna to Innspruck in the Tyrol, on the 18th inst. The ministry immediately issued a proclamation stating that they would rule on their own responsibility until his return, and that they had sent the commander of the national guards to induce him to come back. The town was in the hands of the students of the University.

Messrs. O'Brien and Meagher, two of the great champions of the physical free repealers in Ireland, have been tried in Dublin for sedition, but without result, as the juries could not agree to a verdict. This is taken as a triumph by the repealers, and the most enthusiastic demonstrations of congratulation have taken place in the streets of Dublin. Mr. Mitchell, the editor of the "United Irishman," who, amid all this violence, speaks many a word of

"Truth that winna ding,
And dou'na be disputed,"

is now in prison, charged with felony, under the recently passed "Crown and Government Security Act." The trial has just commenced, and will not likely be concluded for two or three days.

The "Sites for Churches (Scotland) Bill" passed the second reading some days since by a very large majority in the House of Commons. It is called for by the circumstance, that some of the landholders in Scotland, possessing very extensive tracts of country, absolutely refuse pieces of land for chapels for the Free Church Congregations. Of course, if such tyranny were common, and unchecked, it would amount to a virtual repeal of the act of toleration. The bill is liberal and comprehensive, providing that, under the circumstances described, any hundred persons requiring ground for the building of a chapel, without reference to sect, can compel the landholders to let them have a site on fair and just terms. The same principle ought to be acted upon with regard to many other matters; for instance, parks and places of healthful, intellectual and physical recreation and exercise.

Mr. Hume was to have brought forward his motion in favor of Household suffrage, the ballot, triennial Parliaments, and equal electoral districts, on the 23d, in the House of Commons, but as the time of the House of Commons, but as the time of the House was taken up by other business of much inferior importance, it was 11 o'clock before he had an opportunity of introducing it. He has therefore postponed it until the 20th of June.

London is always alive in the month of May, with its great meetings of religious and philanthropical societies. The religious, that is, home and foreign missionary and educational societies' meetings are now over, and passed off without any novel incident, the only thing remarkable being the frequent introduction of radical sentiment in some of the speeches, and the warm reception given to it by the meeting. At the meeting of the "Anti-State Church Association," the speakers generally expressed themselves in favor of throwing most of their energy at present into the movement for reform of Parliament, as the shortest and surest road to all other ameliorations. The Anti-Slavery Society held its meeting on Monday evening, and passed off well. A colored gentleman, whose name I do not recollect, from the United States, was present, and spoke, and was, as usual, well received. The Peace Society held its meeting on Tuesday, when some dreadful exposures were made of the horrid cruelties perpetrated during our Chinese and your Mexican war. A crowded meeting was held last night in the London tavern, in connection with the "People's League," a new organization, having for its object a reform of Parliament, on the basis of "Universal," or, as it is now called, "Manhood Suffrage."—Col. Thompson was in the Chair, and the meeting was addressed by Burnett, Mr. Gardner, M. P. for Leicester, Mr. Miall, &c.—The physical force Chartists had succeeded to some extent in packing the meeting, but everything went off with great enthusiasm and harmony, until the last resolution had been proposed, when they moved, not their usual amendment, but simply a negative to the proposed resolution, which, I regret to say, seems to have been carried.—This conduct proves them to be mere obstructives.

It may perhaps be taken as a curious indication of the effect produced in our court by the recent events on the Continent, that Prince Albert, who has for four years been President of the "Society for Improving the Condition of the Laboring Classes," and has hitherto presided at the meetings, by deputy, thought proper last week to do so in person. The change is by no means to be regretted, for he delivered a speech full of good sense and good feeling, of which I give you a sentence or two as a specimen. "Depend upon it," he said, "it is to advantage of those classes who are so often contrasted, but whose interests are identical, to unite, and it is only ignorance which prevents them from uniting for each others' benefit. To dispel that ignorance, and to show the means how man can help man, notwithstanding the complicated state of civilized society, ought to be the aim of every philanthropic person. (Hear.) But it is most peculiarly the duty of those who, under the blessings of Divine Providence, enjoy station, wealth and education. (Cheers.) Let them be careful to avoid any dictational interference with labor and employment, which frightens away capital, destroys that freedom of thought and independence of action which must remain to every one, if he is to work out his own happiness, (loud cheers,) and to repose that confidence in each other on which alone the enjoyment and mutual benefit of mankind rest." This is sufficient to give you an idea of the spirit of the speech, and surely your southern slaveholders might take a lesson from the example of the occupant of a throne, an institution which no doubt they regard as a relic of tyranny, and which certainly does seem to imply imperfect liberty, expressing his anxiety for the dispelling of ignorance, and the maintenance of freedom of thought and independence of action among the laboring classes. The objects directly aimed at by the society, are the erection of model lodging houses, the establishment of loan funds, and the allotment of cottage lands, in order, as the Prince said, that the working classes "may learn with economy to combine advantages and comforts to which they have hitherto been strangers."

In consequence of the suicide of Mr. Redhead Yorke, one of the members of Parliament for the city of York, there has been a new election in that city, at which Mr. Vincent polled 800 votes in opposition to 1500 united votes of whigs and tories, who, after all, have sent up a man who has declared in favor of household suffrage and the ballot.—This certainly is a cheering evidence of progress.

Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer, our Ambassador at Madrid, has just arrived here, having been sent away at 48 hours' notice by the Spanish Government, in consequence of the cavalier manner in which Lord Palmerston and he urged upon them the adoption of a liberal policy. This incident will probably give rise to a long paper war, but, it is to be hoped, nothing more, as far as we are concerned.—With regard to the Spanish themselves, I presume, hereafter, we will be more disposed to let them fight for liberty in their own way, and keep it if they can, and lose it if they cannot, which probably will be no great loss to them, if only all the European powers can be persuaded to act on the same principle.

An insurrection is stated by the "Presse," French newspaper, to have taken place at Naples last week, in which 400 soldiers were killed, and a large part of that beautiful town reduced to ashes.

The Prussian National Assembly has met for the purpose of forming a Constitution for Prussia. The King opened the Assembly in person. The proposed Constitution is understood to be very liberal, but has not yet been formally published. A general assembly of delegates from all the German States is also sitting at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, for the purpose of forming a great Germanic Confederation, on the basis of a union of people, not, as formerly, of mere princes.—At the opening of the Prussian Assembly, the King of Prussia expressed the hope that the war between Prussia and Denmark would be terminated on the mediation of this country.

I regret to state that the House of Lords last night threw out the bill for the admission of Jews into Parliament. The numbers were noes, 163, ayes, 125; majority, 135. This is much to be regretted, as it shows that intolerance and bigotry are still dominant in that House, and able to perpetrate injustice under the cloak of Christianity; but it may perhaps stimulate the movement for the reform of Parliament.

Yours, &c.,

R. S. D.