The Sun.
London, England, 1837-06-24 00:00:00

WILLIAM THE FOURTH.

We quote the following elegant and just tribute tt
the memory of our late revered King from the Alhc.
natim of to-day :

" Whatever opinions may he entertained of the politica-
tendencies of his Government, it must be admitted by all, that
;no Monarch ever lived who was more anxious for the well-be-
ing the people ; who, to use the language of his Successor.
:more earnestly desired " to promote the amelioration of thr
;laws and institutions of his country.' Good cause, indeed,
;have we to revere the memory of William the Fourth. Neve'
~:was this nation more prosperous than under his rule ; and ii
'his name be not associated with victories,' it is—anc
!for ever—with those Reforms which must stand as land-mark:
;through all succeeding ages, marking the progress of know-
tledge and of civil liberty—he has died heir to ' that lasting
`fame and perpetuity of praise, which God and good men have
!consented shall be the .I.c:ward of all who advance the good cf
!mankind.'

,
0 " Here we might stop, but that it is impossible to take leave
of the subject, without offering an earnest prayer that—
All princely graces,
-11 With all the virtues that attend the good,
,may be doubled on his Successor ; that She may Eve many
clays—
And yet no day without a deed to crown it.'
That her own shall bless her;
Her foes shake, like a field of beaten corn,
And hang their beads with sorrow. Good grow with her:
In her days every man shall eat in safety
Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing
The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours :
'.4 England, indeed, has heretofore been blessed almost beyond
example, and her literature has assuredly won its proudest tr-
umphs, under the sovereignty of women. The reign of Eliza-
beth was made immortal by
Hands that penned,
And tonguerthat uttered wisdom.
'That of Anne, the Augustan age as it is familiarly called
i, marks the next great epoch in our literary annals. May the
reign of our young Queen—' the expectancy and rose of the
fair state'—be hereafter equally famed for its intellectual an(
peaceful glories. Blessings be with her ! aye,:and with her
4mother too ; to whom a countless debt of gratitude is due for
the devoted zeal with which she has watched over her child.
hood and her youth, instilling into her mind and heart lessons
is
of wisdom and of virtue, which, in their influences, may be felt
)tin the happy homes of millions—and of millions yet unb\rn."
4 (From the Literary Gazette.)
1
We trust that our youthful Queen, in the midst of all tl e
party questions and contests in which her early years must le
involved, will feel and remember that, important as national
politics are; it is hardly less important to the happiness cf a
,1
~ nation and the permanent glory of a Sovereign, to cherish the
. literature and genius of the age. When most matters of
- other kinds, which agitate the passing hour with strong anc:
deep impressions (strong and deep, only because they belong
to that hour), have shrunk into their real insignificance, of
sunk into their innate oblivion ; still will the beneficent effect:
' A. what thezpress can instil, bless a kingdom and shed a lustre,
beyond all other lustres, on its government. It is, therefore.
. the paramount public duty, as well as the paramount self-con-
cernment of rulers, wisely and generously to encourage th,
useful, the instructive, the refining, and the ennobling effortof contemporary talent and learning. These, royally fostered
the frivolous, the perverting, and the dangerous, will cease t(
'Y trouble present tranquillity ; and the future will reflect a
;splendour on the Monarch to whom the mighty boon was
owed, far more brilliant and lasting than the fame of victories
_, or the triumphs of policy. It is our fervent prayer that the
, Queen may be distinguished above all others, even-of her illus-
trious race, for her love of letters and her high consideration
" for the good and gifted of those who adorn them. Thus, indeed,
will not people have cause to love her, and posterity to remem-
ber her name with gratitude and admiration?
We have a pleasure in closing this brief tribute with a lyri(
from the pen of our justly popular friend, Mr. Lover. It is
the first we have seen to hail the opening of the virgin reign :
may it be prophetic as it is poetical, and auspicious as it it
heartfelt.

All hail to thee Queen of the fair and the brave !
Let the bold song of joy reach the skies ;
Bright, bright o'er the foam of her own subject wave
Sec the star of Victoria arise !
Young Queen of the ocean—prl phetic our fire
To hail thee the greatest we've seen :
Hark ! the thundering strain of the old sea-god's quire,
To welcome Victoria the Queen !
May years full of glory and loyalty's love,
Be thine in thy place of renown ;
So say that we honour thee, means not enough,—
For Britons all honour the crown.
But the crown that encircles young beauty's fair brow,
With fonder devotion is seen ;
And chivalry sheds its romance o'er the vow
We pledge to Victoria the Queen.
Long, long, royal maid, may the olive entwine
With the laurels that circle thy crown ;
But if war should arouse the old lion again,
'Twill be to increase thy renown.
To battle, while rushing, each heart would beat high
To triumph, as wont we have been ;
Propitious to conquest, our bold battle-cry,
" Victoria ! for England's fair Queen !"