The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-20 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—An Income Tax-paying correspondent of the
Times asks, Who is it ?—by this query desiring to ascer-
tain "by whose authority and at whose suggestion, the
gardens of St. James's Park are about to be unneces-
sarily bisected ?"

The authority can of course be none other than that
of the Right Honourable Sir Benjamin Hall, First Com-
missioner of Works. The suggestion is an old one, as
was disclosed by some plans laid before Parliament some
years back, and emanated from his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, who assumes to be, as Lord Cmnpbell
described it, an Alter Ego of the Sovereign, and claims,
as guardian of his son's future interests, to interfere in
all matters connected with what is by courtesy calla
Crown property.

Your Radical baronets, like Sir Benjamin and his
predecessor, are ambitious, and their wives still more so.
Their first object in life aims at the social position and
convenient emoluments of office, and will not allow their
moral courage in defence of public interests to interfere
with their main desire to make things pleasant as to
themselves at the Palace. Nothing but an Argus pub-
lic and their voice, the press, will be able to defeat the
inaticeuvres by which such operations as that i❑ ques-
tion, and fifty others in other departments, are now set
going under irresponsible meddling.
Queen Caroline, the wife of George the Second, con-
templated some such similar project, and asked the
Minister what might be the probable cost. Sir Robert
Walpole replied, " Only three Crowns, madam." A
little plain speaking on the part of our responsible gover•
hors would anticipate a deal of mischief now brewing,
and of which the parties whose peace is chiefly concerned
seem to be altogether ignorant. As, however, our offi-
cials neglect that duty in common with the administra
tive details of their posts, it is the press which must dis:
charge the task, and make known the deep offence which
certain proceedings have engendered in the mind of an
observant public. Income Tax-payer complains chiefly
on the score of expense ; but it is the tricky way in which
these schemes are attempted, and the Parliamentary and
metropolitan recess is taken advantage of, which is ten-
fold more disgusting, and involuntarily reminds one of
the small chicanery of German diplomacy.
The plans and estimates for any such alterations as
now threaten to destroy St. James's Park ought to have
been laid before Parliament, and thoroughly examined,
understood, and approved before the work was com-
menced. The dodge now, however, put in practice is to
begin and carry out a plan, without notice, so far as to
make its completion all but inevitable. No plan or vote
was at any rate brought before Parliament honestly
giving notice of this project, and Sir Benjamin must be
held responsible for any unauthorised and unconstitu-
tional exercise of his power.
The press alone can now prevent the mischief. Thank
God it is in this country still free, and that Princes are
morbidly sensitive of its influence.
I am, Sir, your constant reader,
ANGLICUS.

The friends of the late Lord Robertson, one of the
judges of the Court of Session in Scotland, will be
gratified to see his lordship's name and reputation so
wel! sustained as they have been by his son, Brevet-
Major P. Robertson, of the 4th (King's Own). Duly
a few months ago this gallant officer obtained his com-
pany "for distinguished services," and he has now re-
ceived his brevet majority on the same grounds.
SERGEANT BRODIE, OF THE FIRST ROYAL DRAGOONS.
—This non-commissioned officer appeared on the parade
of the Invalid Depot on Wednesday morning, with
a number of others who are discharged from the servi: e,
for the purpose of being informed the amount of th.ir
pensions • and as the case of Serjeant Brodie was one of
consider Ale interest, not only arriongs':, the officer-L., but
also with many gentlemen of the neighbourhood, they
were very anxious to hear bow the Government intended
to deal with him after what had taken place. On the
previous evening large bets were made that the Horse
Guards could not and would not dare to give him less
than what he was entitled to, namely 2s. per day, for the
services he has rendered, and the very excellent character
ho has borne for the last 19 years he had been inthe
re-
giment, 17 of which a serjeant. Such service alone en-
titles him to the receipt of is. 7d. per day pension.
worthy
To
day,
the great surprise of all parties, this honest and
man is only allowed the paltry pittance of Is. pe
besides the loss of his position and
to knock
whilst the
rnoofckthheidmuedown,
s
been allowed to sell his own c
adjutantwho
was the o
ir)drierri
ce
idp
at
lh eatnrao o ivrerrosnw
commission and pocket the
te
money, and rewarded with a captaincy in the Turkish
Contingent, worth CON* ayear—Montivg Paper.