The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-13 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DEC EM BER 13, 1848.

Towards the conclusion of this memorable year of
revolutions, it is a circumstance in no degree of
small significance to find the SOVEREIGN of England
coming into her own courts of law as a supplicant for
justice. No more felicitous evidence of the elaborate,
gigantic, and yet infinitely delicate structure of our
Constitution could by any possibility have been af-
forded. It is an incident not unworthy of comme-
moration, even amidst the astounding events which are
now either agonizing or paralyzing the nations
of Christendom. It illustrates the harmonious work-
ing of our system of government in a manner beau-
tiful beyond all expression. And, beyond this, it
contrasts with singular vividness the exquisite tran-
quillity enjoyed by thepopulation of this country and
the dismal panic which has descended like a rain
of fire and blood upon the distracted millions of the
continent. While the other dynasties of Europe are
shuddering in their palaces, the captives of a mob of re-
volutionists ! or are flying in dismay before the threats
of an unarmed democracy, the fugitives from a race in-
furiated by evil passions or by the recollections of
despotism ! the dynasty which has presided over the
destinies of Great Britain since the last political con-
vulsion of 1688, still reposes, in the persons of its
living representatives, amidst the pomps of Windsor,
agitated only by a slight invasion of the roya'
privacy, and by the purloining of a few etchings
from the portfolios of the royal cabinet. The
occasion is too remarkable not to demand the
comments of the journalist. The coincidence is too
intimately blended with the remembrance of our
peculiar felicity as a people not to deserve at our
hands some passing allusions—allusions addressed, be
it observed, immediately to our fellow-countrymen
themselves, in the language of pride and congratula-
tion. These sentiments do not originate, by any
means, from the simple fact that the Court of St.
James's is flourishing in unmolested luxury, while
almost all the other Courts of the eastern hemisphere
have been filled with mourning and dismay. We
exult, not because Queen VICTORIA passes her life in
the enjoyment of domestic quietude, now at Osborne
Rouse, now at Windsor Castle, and now again
at Buckingham Palace—while LOUIS PHILIPPE exists
in
gorgeous obscurity at Clarew
ont - while Louis of
Bavaria is forced to an ignominious 'abdication ;
while
FREDERICK NVinuiaaltpremains in sullen anxiety at
Sans Souci
while v;
"While
c AND dwindles into an ex-
Emperor at 011mutz
RLO ALDBILTO retains
his crown
wonlybyigrasoPiiin:Wheaies sword with perpetual
vigilance;while po i\l
rrenftor the ingratitude
of the Romans in his banish
while
FERDINAND of Naples rules the two astieGiliael:ai
;
mes with the
execration of all save the depraved Lazza
while MARIA DA GLORIA beholds the bulwarks
f
her throne crumbling away in the cabals of hero
statesmen; while ISABELLA of Arragon and Castile
hears in her orgies at Madrid the rumoured triumphs
of her enemies in Navarre and Catalonia! Our
exultation at the contrast afforded by the position of
affairs in this country, and in the other countries of
Europe, arises, not from the superior fortunes of her
Britannic MAJESTY, but rather from the circumstance
that with the happiness of the Monarch of this vast
empire is secured the happiness and prosperity of the
British multitude. Yes ! it is this consideration
which overflows our heart with emotions of gratitude
and renews our admiration for the wisdom embodied
in our Constitution.

Other reflections, arising from the case of "His
Royal Highness the PRINCE ALBERT V. WILLIAM
STUANGE and Others," would be sufficient to impart
an interest to the trial this day taking place i❑ the
Court of His Honour the Vice-Chancellor KNIGHT
B,L`OE. To the lovers of forensic eloquence and
LTA erudition, to the admirers of the prose and poetic
fictions of contemporary literature, the report fur-
nished in another portion of this evening's
impression will present a variety of attractions; but
to all classes of the community, without exception,
the hint therein afforded of the lull, the Eecurity, and
the thriving freedom of England, compared with the
terror, the uncertainty, and the suffering prevalent
throughout the continent, will be accepted with feel-
ings as peculiar as they are unprecedented. The in-
cident reminds us in a manner, than which nothing