The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-26 00:00:00

BELGIUM.

CELEBRATION OF THE NATIONAL IN
DEPENDENCE.

BRUSSELS, SEPT. 24.—The 18th anniversary of the
memorable days of September, 1830—the days which
gave national independence to Belgium—commenced
on Saturday, the 23d. The morning was ushered in
with great solemnities, his MAJESTY having resolved
to celebrate it by one of the greatest military ft7tes
ever seen in Brussels. After a grand requiem had
been performed in the ;Collegiate Church of St.
Michael and St. Gudule, the officers of the House-
hold, the Secretaries of Legation, M. QUINETT, the
Minister of Finance, and all the superior function-
aries, the Communal Council, &c., repaired to
the Palace, in front -of which 'his MAJESTY was to
present their colours to the deputations of the civic
guards of the provinces. A splendid throne was
erected in the square of the Palace, and after the
regiments of the army and the civic guard
had been ranged in military array, his MAJESTY,
accompanied by the QUEEN, the Duke of BRABANT,
the Count DE FLANDERS, and the Princess CHARLOTTE,
and attended by a brilliant suite, took his seat on the
throne. At this moment all the flags were lowered,
the bands of the different regiments struck up the
national anthem, the soldiers fired, the bells rang a.
merry peal, and the air resounded with the acclama
tions of the people.
The Minister of the Interior then advanced and
spoke as follows :
"Civic Guards of Belgium,—You are called to receive
from the hands of the King the national colours—the
emblem of liberty, order, and union.
" Under these noble colours are sheltered our constitu-
tion and our independence.
" The country confides it to your devotion, to your
courage, and your honour."

The legions destined to receive the colours were
then called successively. The colonels or lieutenant-
colonels of the legions, accompanied by the standard-
bearers, mounted the platform, and as each passed
before his MAJESTY, the Minister of the Interior
placed the colours in the hand of his MAJESTY,
who presented them to the chief of the legion, who
then consigned them to the care of the standard-
bearer.

At the giving of every flag by the KING the mil
tary bands struck up, and the guns fired.

After the distribution his MAJESTY. descended
from the platform, and, standing in the middle of
the circle formed by the officers, addressed them as
follows :

" Gentlemen,—ln addressing a few words to you, I
am filled with lively emotion, but at the same time with
legitimate pride.
" This beautiful country, seat of the most civilised
people, had long panted for an existence of its own—a
national existence; but, alas, its wishes were often frus-
trated, and the welfare of the country was made subser-
vient to interests which were foreign to it.
" At last, eighteen years ago, you succeeded in con-
quering this existence, so otten longed for by your-
selves.

" Of this independent existence you have made a
noble and patriotic use. You have, up to this moment,
passed gloriously through it, so gloriously indeed that
several countries have adopted your political organisa-
tion as their model—that your name is everywhere ho-
noured and respected, and you hare just reason to be
proud of it.
" Let us study to maintain this noble position. Let
us continue as we have hitherto done. Thus shall we
secure to ourselves renown in history, and a glorious
fu t are."

His MAJESTY, attended by the Duke DE BRABANT
and the Minister of War, and followed by a nu-
merous staff, then reviewed the troops and civic

guards.
After the review his MAJESTY and staff took
their station in front of the palace, when the civic
guards and troops defiled before him. His MAJESTY
then joined the Q,UEEN in the balcony, and was
again received, as he had been throughout the
whole day, with the most enthusiastic acclamations.
The ceremony was concluded at five o'clock.—
,Illoniteur Beige, Sept. 24.