The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-28 00:00:00

_O--

Among the distinctions conferred in honour of that
auspicious event which the British nation is this day
celebrating, with a joy as deep as it is universal,
there is none that the public will consider better
deserved, or more appropriately bestowed, than that
which advances Lord DUNDAS to the Earldom of,
Zetland. The Noble Earl possesses extensive pro-
perty in the county of Orkney, of which Zetland forms
the larger and more populous portion ; as well as the
patronage of almost all the churches in both the dis-
tricts ; and he has used the power derived from these
,ources in such a manner as to endear himself to the
inhabitants in general. But strong as these claims
77-1-17 '..ey are in our view far inferior to that
... Noble Earl derives from having, during
the c tr of a long life, adhered inflexibly, through
ct.s.d ~tt and bad report. to those liberal poli-
• :a.; pr, -iples with which he set out in his
~nd to which her Gracious MAJESTY is
w-.11-irtlown to be cordially and firmly attached.
This Ear;,om, though a new creation in the British
Pte,arre,is notwithstanding of very ancient date ;
And 't a - circumstance not perhaps generally
at the blood of the first Earl of Orkney
all Ze.; ROGNYALD, or RONALD, of Mceri,
, flows in the veins of Queen VICTORIA.
.wtver' is the fact. HAROLD, the Fairhaired,
,uviclued the Orkney and Zetland Islands
'.; ti.e close of the ninth century, constituted
: ~...rldom, dependent on the crown of Nor-
. - gave them in charge to the above men-
. erful chieftain. HROLF, or Rot..to as he
y called, the founder of the Norman
dynasty, was the son of Earl RONALD ; and from
ROLLO, WILLIANI the Conqueror was the fifth in
descent.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
(THIS DAY.)

The Houce,was -,ened shortly after 7, and by 8
o'clock nu ,nbers .Nlembers were flocking in, some
dressed , Court dresses, a great many in military
and naval nnirorms, and a vast number in the uniform
of the Veotnanry Cavalry.
Amongst the earliest arrivals were Lord Sandon,
Mr. B,rnal, Alderman Copeland, &c. The Mem-
l'zrs c,ntinued to pour in, dressed in all sorts of uni-
for,a till q o'clock, when the Speaker entered in his
State robes, the Sergeant carrying the mace, and
wearing all his orders. At that time there were up-
wards of goo Members present, and it never was our
fortune to witness a finer or grander scene than
when the Members all rose to receive the Speaker
as he proceeded to the Chair. The intermixture of
the various uniforms and Court dresses formed as
beautiful a coup cl" czil as could possibly be witnessed.
All the officers of the army and navy wore the col-
lars of the orders to which they belonged. Amongst
those who attracted the notice of the House were
Admiral Codrington, whose breast was covered with
orders ; Lord Wm. Bentinck, Admiral Adam, Ge-
neral Evans, Sir F. Trench, Sir H. Hardinge, &c.

Mr. Walter Campbell appeared in a supe—rlo' High-
land dress, and was loudly cheered. So also was Mr.
Pease, who wore an exceedingly neat Court dress,
which had as much the appearance of a " Friend's "
dress as possible.

Mr. Foster appeared in a superb velvet Court
dress, and was loudly cheered.
Shortly before the Speaker came in, Mr. O'Con-
nell entered the House in a Court dress. which caused
much laughter, in which the Hon. Member cordially
joined.

During the half hour which elapsed before the
Ballot was commenced, the Members enjoyed them-
selves in jeering and laughing at each other.
At half•past nine precisely the Speaker called
" Order," and said that the Ballot was now about to
take place, and as the counties were called the Gen-
tlemen who represented them, and places within
them, would at once proceed to the Abbey.
The first county called was Meath, then Perth,
Flint, &c. It was singular that the first drawn were
those which had but few Representatives, conse-
quently the House was filled for a considerable time
after the balloting began.
Lord W. Bentinck was the last to leave the House.

The Ballot was got through in half an hour, and the
Speaker accompanied by the Serjeant, Chaplain, Se-
cretary, &c., went over to the Abbey at Ten o'clock.

OFFICE OF ORDNANCE.

In Pall-mall, the Office of Ordnance was remark-
able for the splendour and elegance of the decora-
tions. In the centre of the building was displayed
the ancient Ordnance arms, mounted by a white rose
and the crown, above which was raised the Royal stan-
dard, which was of large dimensions, and pourtrayed
in brilliant colours; on either side were two large
shields with military trophies embraced by a scroll,
on which was inscribed Victoria Regina, ornamented
with variegated lamps. The national emblems of the
rose, shamrock, and thistle, entwined in a wreath of
laurel, completed the centre ornaments. On each
wing was a large star in variegated lamps, surmounted
by three Union Jacks floating from the parapet. On
the gable walls enclosing the fore-court a military
trophy of brilliant flags, consisting of regimental stan-
dards, was arranged with great taste, which were placed
in such a way as to harmonise with the other devices,
and to give to the whole the appearance of great mag-
nitude. The whole of the fore-court was appropriated
to the construction of a spacious gallery for the accom-
modation of the Master-General of the Ordnance, the
Board Officers, and the Civil Employes in London.
Seats were also reserved for ladies connected with the
military and civil officers of the Department. The
gallery was constructed upon the most approved
principles, and secured by the substantial cha-
racter of the work from the possibility of
accident. On either side of this gallery was a
plateau, upon which were drawn up files of soldiers,
composed of Gunners of the Artillery, and Sappers
attached to the corps of Royal Engineers, all en
.c-rand tense." The contrast in the uniform of these
men, that of the Cs'a„p.er,s being scarlet, and of the
Gunners blue, •
added much effect of the
coup gpving life and animai;?nto this bril-
liant exhibitic.n of military parade.
The entire arrangements and the style of
dtcoratior; did great credit to the liberality of the
Department, and, to the taste of Sir Frederick
Smithy Commanding Royal Engineers, under whose
directions they were executed by Mr. Chas. Storey,
Clerk of the Works.