The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-09 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY, &c•

OSBORNE, May 8.

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, ac-
companied by Princess Louise and Prince Leopold,
and her Majesty drove in the grounds this morning
with Princess Louise.

Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice walked out.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury
in Downing-street. The Ministers present were
the Earl of Derby, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke
of Marlborough, the Earl of Malmesbury, the Right
Honourable Spencer 11. lAra!pole, Lord Stanley,
the Duke of Buckingham, Sir John Pakington, Sir
S. Northcote, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Right Hon. 11. T. L. Corry, the Duke of Richmond,
Lord J. Manners, the Right Hon. Gathorne Hardy,
and Lord Naas.

THE QUEEN'S RETURN TO WINDSOR.—Her Ma-
jesty the Queen and the royal family will, it is expected,
leave Osborne about the 17th or 18th of this month, and
return to Windsor Castle for a few days previous to visit-
ing Scotland. Prince and Princess Christian will, it is
understood, accompany her Majesty to Balmoral.
THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.—It IS
understood that the health of her Royal Highness the
Princess of Wales continues to make the most satisfactory
progress. The Prince of \Vales is expected to leave 3farl-
- shortly for Paris, for the purpose of visiting
the Exhibition. It is not unlikely the Queen of Denmark
may leave town, on the conclusion of her Majesty's visit to
the Prince and Princess of Wales, about the same time.

The Earl Russell received Viscount Amberley,
M.P., Lord Dufferin, Lord J. Hay, M.P., Sir R. Palmer,
M.P., the Right Hon. H. A. Bruce, M.P., the Right Hon.
W. H. Cogan, M.P., Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. Snatchbull-
Hugessen, M.P., Mt. Forster, M.P., and Mr. Adams at din-
ner last evening at his residence in Chesham-place.

Lord Stanley, as Secretary of State for the Fo-
reign Department, gave a grand diplomatic banquet last
evening at the First Lord of the Treasury's official resi-
dence in Downing-street. There were present his Excel-
lency M. Musurus, the Turkish Ambassador, and Madame
and Mademoiselle Musurus; his Excellency the Marquis
d'Azeglio, the Italian Minister ; his Excellency Count
Bernstorff, the Prussian Ambassador, and the Countess,
and Countess Therese Bernstorff; his Excellency M. Bil-
low, the Danish Minister, and Madame Bulow; his Excel-
lency Baron Bentinck, the Netherlands Minister; his Ex-
cellency Count Vistahermosa, the Spanish Minister, and
the Countess and Mademoiselle Owens; Count and Coun-
tess de Rilvas, the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl and
Countess of Carnarvon, the Earl and Countess of Dartrey,
the Earl of Longford, the Earl of Malmesbury, Lord Elcho
lion. Thomas de Grey, Lady Constance Stanley, Sir John
B. Karslake (the Solicitor-General), and Mr. E. Egerton.
Later in the evening Lord Stanley had an evening, at
which a brilliant company assembled.

Lord Brougham is expected home from his vill3
at Cannes in a week or two. On his return home to Lon-
don ho will take up his residence at the mansion recently
occupied by the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres in Berke-
ley-square.

IThe Queen has addressed an autograph letter to
Lady Llanover, expressive of her deep sympathy, and of
her Majesty's appreciation of the services of Lord Llanover
when a Minister of the Crown.

DEATH OF THE DEAN OF CHESTER.—We learn by
telegraph that the Dean of Chester, the Rev. F. Anson,
died at the Deanery at Chester at half-past two yesterdaY
afternoon, aged 87.

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S VISIT 70

_INDIA.

The limes of India of the 13th April says
'• We have had other royal princes in this country,
but not yet one of our own blood royal. Now that
the union between India and the Crown has been
accomplished, it cannot be too complete. The bonds
cannot be too securely riveted. There is a feeling
of affection and reverence, vague but strong, among
the natives of India, especially the higher classes, for
Queen Victoria and her family ; and we have no
doubt that the appearance amongst us of one of her
Majesty's sons would evoke the most enthusiastic
demonstrations of loyalty. We have no doubt that
that people would come from afar to do honour to
him, and that his progress through the country
would be something of a triumphal one. And if the
Duke of Edinburgh is to come amongst us at all, he
must not come as a mere traveller or sportsman,
under an assumed name. If there is to be the risk of
the visit, it is right to demand that the empire shall
have the benefit of it. That a royal visit of this kind
would have a good effect—that it would tend to
cement the union of the two countries—is not to be
doubted. We do not know any other objection to
it than that the climate is supposed to be un-
healthy, and that fever or cholera might fasten itself
with fury upon the royal visitor. But if a prince
of the blood royal can come here for the sake of
amusement, without regard for the possible con-
sequences, he can come here also for the sake of
conferring benefits on the state. If then there be
truth in the story of the contemplated visit of the
Duke of Edinburgh to Bombay, we trust that in the
sequel it will turn out to be true, and not merely in
the limited sense of his coming on a hunting expe-
dition. The Duke of Edinburgh may do something
much better among us than slaughter tigers and
bears. We may not, probably, live to see the day
when a royal prince will rule in this country as
viceroy of India ; but our children may see a Queen 0
grandson or a King's son occupying the vice-regal
throne. We do not purpose now to discuss the
question which this more remote prospect suggests.
It is sufficient to consider that which is nearer at
hand. We repeat that if one of the Queen's sons
comes amongst us, we trust that there will be no
effort made to preserve the private character of the
visit. Of the incognito we need say nothing, for
that in India must fail. If the Duke of Edinburgh
should visit this the most magnificent of all the
dependencies of the British empire, all India will
be eager to do him homage. It might for him
be rather dreary work to be lionised—to
be led about by the Governor-General, to be
exhibited at a series of durbars, and to hear ho
Excellency lecture the princes and chiefs of India
who would press forward to offer their respects to
the son of the Queen. But if his royal highness
should complain of this, we are afraid that we must
remind him of the old commonplace, that high sta-
tion has its duties and responsibilities as well as its
privileges and immunities. He may take his holi-
days like the rest of us. He need not " sit up com-
pany" during the whole of his visit. If he likes
the bears and tigers better than Sir John Lawrence,
and the jungle better than the durbar tent, we
would let him devote a fair share of his time to
these more exhilarating pursuits and engagements.
But we are afraid that he must make up his mind
to be "on duty," as the Queen's son, during some
part of his visit, if he ever should honour us With
his presence. And it would be better, perhaps
that this should be well considered before he starts
on his journey. It would not be expedient that 110
visit should be an impromptu one. It ought to be
of such a character that it shall be regarded as all
intentional compliment to the princes and people
of India—a manifestation of the interest taken hi
her Majesty in her Indian subjects ; and, moreover,
he should go among them dona ferens, and depart
leaving behind him many cherished mementoes 0 f
his visit, to be heir-looms in our great families."