The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-11 00:00:00

ow holds in manufactures and in commerce can
testify, In 1834 the vast network of railways now
covering Flanders was projected, and in 1837 the
National Bank was established. The birth of two
sons—one in 1837, the other in 1840—gave assur-
ance of the stability of the dynasty, and the good
government of the country is proved by the tran-
quillity it has enjoyed.

When in 1848 revolution broke out in Paris it
was feared that the sympathy which existed between
France and some of the Belgain provinces might
lead to an outbreak ; but all fears were quickly dis-
pelled by the conduct of the King. As soon as the
news reached Brussels of what had occurred in Paris
to his father-in-law, King Leopold assembled the
leaders of the different parties, reminded them of
the circumstances under which he had accepted the
Crown, and declared himself ready to resign it again
into the hands of the nation if the people really
thought they could be more happy under a republi-
can form of government. He added that violence
was unnecessary, as he himself would like nothing
better than to live in retirement at Claremont. This
declaration put an end to all revolutionary ideas, if
any such had ever been entertained. All parties
agreed in rallying round the King, and when some
insurrectionary bands crossed the French frontiers
and threatened to raise disturbances a very few
troops were sufficient to put them to flight. The
only question which of late years has disturbed the
tranquil progress of Belgium arose in 1857, in con-
nexion with the laws of charitable institutions. The
difficulty which occurred in that year, and the tem-
porary separation which it produced between the
King and the dominant majority in the Chambers,
arose solely from the desperate struggles made by
the Ultramontane party to acquire supreme power
in the State. The King's prudence and energy en-
abled him to foil their attempts, and to curb the re-
actionary as he had formerly curbed the revolu-
tionary party.

Leopold's position as King of the Belgians, how-
ever, sank into insignificance when compared with
the part he played in the State affairs of Europe.
He has occupied a position in Europe which the
most powerful monarch might envy. With singu-
lar unanimity he was chosen the umpire in inter-
national disputes ; the grievances of hostile Govern-
ments were confidentially submitted to him, and the
secrets of most Royal Houses were in his keeping.
Wehave already quoted the title which he received of
" Juge de Paix de l'Europe." The peculiar qualities
of his mind, his calm, judicial intellect, his habit of
close and accurate reasoning, gave him this position.
England and France are deeply indebted to him.
During the reign of Louis Philippe he was the real
connecting link between the two countries, and
whenever an international difficulty arose he it was
who stepped in as a mediator. In the disputes which
arose between the two countries on the Eastern
question in 1840, and in the still more irritating
disputes about the Spanish marriages, he it was
whose influence was brought to bear upon both
parties with the happiest results. Family circum-
stances, doubtless, contributed to his success, for,
as son-in-law of the King of the French and uncle
of Queen Victoria, he could mediate with great
effect ; but these advantages would have been of
little service had it not been for the confidence which
every Government in Europe had learnt to repose
in him.

Our announcement to-day, then, is that the head
and prop of the most powerful family in Europe is
gone. He was the head and prop of it, at all events
in this sense, that he was its guiding spirit. And
now our Queen has lost in quick succession a
mother, a husband, an uncle, who were among the
most illustrious members of the great family. Two
of them at least had an European fame, and their
departure is far more than a family loss. The
Prince Consort we have learnt to regard not only as
" the father of our Kings to be," but as a true King
among us, performing many of the duties of a King ;
and Leopold King of the Belgians had by his age,
his experience, and his many connections come to
be the pacific Arbiter of Europe.

FRANCE.

PARIS, DEC. 11.

The .Moniteur of this morning says—" The death
of the King of the Belgians has produced a deep
and melancholy impression. The loss of a sovereign
who by his wisdom had acquired so high a position
in the councils of Europe, has excited universal re-
gret. The French Court, wishing to manifest its
participation in these feelings, the fetes at Com-
piegne has been interrupted, and the dramatic re-
presentation arranged for this evening at Comp iegne
has been countermanded."

•
Court c" MEN girl 14 br.

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Saturday.
The Queen, accompanied by their Royal High-
nesses Princess Helena, Princess Beatrice, and his
Serene Highness Prince Christian of Schleswig-
Holstein, drove in the grounds yesterday afternoon,
and walked and drove this morning with Princess
Helena.

Her Royal Highness Princess Louise, attended by
the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, also took a drive.

The Earl and Countess Granville arrived at the
Castle yesterday, and had the honour of dining with
her Majesty and the royal family, and returned to
London to-day.

Sunday.
The Queen, Princess Louise, Prince Leopold,
Princess Beatrice, and Princess Hohenlohe, and the
Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting, attended Divine
service this morning in the private chapel.
Her Majesty received this afternoon, with pro-
found sorrow, the announcement of the loss which
has fallen on her Majesty and the royal family by
the death of the King of the Belgians, her Majesty's
last surviving uncle, and the last of his generation
of the House of Saxe-Coburg.