The Sun.
London, England, 1823-08-22 00:00:00

" GENTLEMES—We are this day assembled for a very so-
lemn purpose—for . the purpose of laying the foundation stone
of an edifice, to be dedicated to the service and worship of that
Almighty Being, the Giver of all good, who disposes of events
and governs flaunty. A solemnity of this kind ought to in-
spire our minds with feelings of a very serious, but at the same
time of a very grateful nature. It is indeed almost impossible
for any person who entertains a proper reverence for religion,
not to feel serious, and even devout thoughts, arise in his
mind, in. contemplating the service in which we are at
this moment engaged ; lnit it would likewise be- becom.
ing in its to feel' the utmost degree of 'gratitude to
Providence for the manifold. blessings, both spiritual and.
temporal, which, es a favoured people; we hare long enjoyed,
and which I trust, under Divine Provideneet will be transmitted
to our latest posterity.' The increased 'populaticin Oftdinburgh,
since St. George's 'Church was ereeted,-having rendered it in-.
dispe-nsably necessary for the Magistrates and Council to take
measures for building an additional church, for the comfort
and accomModation of the inhabitants of this part of the town,
cannot but consider it as a most auspicious circumstance,
that the foundation stone of Bellevue Church was.laid on this
tlay, the anniversary of our most gracious Sovereign's first
public entrance into our city, a day which may ever be con-
sidered a proud one for all the inhabitants of Edinburgh, and
which can never fail to bring with it very
had
recollections
'to every member of the corporation, who had so great a share
in the interesting scenes ;which passed at that eventful period.
It must be a source of great satisfaction to us all to know,
that the loyalty and attachment to his. sacred person, displayed
by all ranks and classes of men, has been very gratifying to his
Majesty's feelings, and that he still continues .to express the
unabated pleaatires he experienced from his visit to this part of
his dominions.
" Twelve years' have now elapsed ainee the foundation-stone
of St. George's Church was laid, and how grateful ought:we
to be to Providence for the Wonderful Improvement which in.
the count; of these years had-taken place in the British eniPire
in genera!, and of our own metropolis- in, partienlar.' At the
time when that stone was laid, we were engaged in a most ardu
yds contest, and with an enemy the most able, most fOrmideblei
and most Inveterate that was ever oppoled to thi country.:
mint all the great poWers of Europe were then prostrate rut the
feet of tliat.ektraortlihary man, and although of r oWn sail` had
never"been polluted by foieign invasion, atirl n the opinion at
mete of otir•despOlidents (and we had trio many such amOhg
us), our own oxlstence as free and' independent nation'.
was at stake. it Was indeed, true that precisely at that time,
the darkness which had so long overspread- Europe, seemed,
beginning to dissipate, by the successful commencement of our •
Own immortal Wellington's career in- the Peninaula; and which
atenearda shone forth in one continued blaze of glory : But
bent.ve the most sanguine. mind could liisrdly have anticipated'
that in so fey' years after, ywe should have come out of the cell.;
test with such signal honour,• and should. have been plaied in
the high and commanding situation which we now hold. and
Which I mist we shall ever maintain among the nations of Ett
rope. With respect to our, Own metropolis, it might he truly
caul, and he congratulated his fellow citizens upon; it, that the
inere:tsed grandeur of the city, and the yarieata. additional :nom;
Modationa which the inhabitants enjoy; were never in so short
a space of time equalled by any one city in the British doini.
nions, far lest in any other part of the world. The reputation
of Edinburgh, is now widely extended, and not . only the inha-;
bitunta ofOur sister kingdom, but foreigners of distinction from
every part of, the Continent, visit it in great .numbers every
year, and I venture to say, none depart from it, without being
filled.with admiration at the natural beauties. of its -slttualrin,
and the magnificence of its building* We•have this day laid
the foundation of a ehurch,,Which, when completed, will prove
an additional pleasing feature, and be highly ornamental to
this part of the town, the buildings upon winch were so. rapidly
increasing.
" On the spot where I noW•stand, I trust the pure doefrines
of the Christian religion will be taught with fervour, and listen-
ed to with attention ; and that when we ourselves are no more,-
and the present generation shall have passed away, our child-
rot, and our children's children will reap the benefit Of the
pious service in which we have this:day been engaged. Gen--
*lemon, I beg to thank you, and all present, four the attention
with which you have been pleased to listen to the words I have
had the honour to address to you." _ _ _

This address, which was delivered with his
Lordship's usual elegance and correctness, was
received with the most profound attention, and
produced a great impression.
This church, with its spire, will form a stelli-
big object in the approach from Newhaven, as
the new line of road from Claremont Terrace,
which is now making, and a great part of which
is already retied for buildings of a handsome de.
scription, leads directly upon it.—(Etlinburgh
Courant, Aug. 18.)