The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-08 00:00:00

burgh Evening Courant, makes the following
observations :

" This meeting, which took place yesterday in the Assem-
bly Rooms, was, as might have been anticipated, one of the
most numerous and respectable which has ever been held
in this city, comprising as it did so brilliant an array of
rank and talent. The great genius of Sir Walter Scott—
his widely extended fame—but above all, his amiable man-
ners and his private virtues, endeared him to all classes.
The mildness of his character disarmed hostility, so that he
escaped the usual fate of men of genius, who are supposed
to be standing marks for detraction and envy. His great
popularity was evinced by the crowded meeting which as-
sembled on the first summons to do honour to his me-
mory, and by the enthusiasm with which they hailed the
eloquent homage which was paid to his genius by men of
the highest rank and the brightest talents. Every well-
merited eulogium on him was re-echoed in the applause of
all present ; and we do not believe that there is one other
subject in the wide range of literature or science, in which
could have been convened so large and so numerous an
assemblage."

The speeches at this meeting were worthy of
the occasion. The Duke of Bucc LEUCH
spoke sensibly, and with considerable feeling ;
the LORD ADVOCATE, with his wonted point
and perspicuity ; and Professor WILSON and
Dr. CANTOR in a fine style of impassioned elo-
quence. If there be any event calculated beyond
another to draw forth the energies of a man of intel-
lect, to quicken his every feeling, and bid his whole
soul flow over at his lips, the death of Sir
WALTER SCOTT is that one. When the sad
tidings reach the ears of his countrymen in
India, we anticipate a similar display of fervid
national feeling to that which has just burst
forth at Edinburgh. The monument, we doubt
not, will be worthy of Scotland and the glorious
writer to whose memory it is erected.

The decline of true religious feeling may be
pretty accurately measured by the progress of
cant, just as the vulgar talk most about gentility,
and failing tradesmen set up their carriage.
Entertaining the sentiments we do upon this
subject, it is with regret that we have observed
different classes of our countrymen forgetting
the essentials in the outward forms of religion.
Still we thought that it was the ignorant chiefly
who took up the trade of cant and bigotry.
Loth are we, therefore, to believe the following
statement in the Falmouth Packet :

" The hair-dressers and barbers of Bristol have come
to a resolution to discontinue the practice of opening their
shops on Sunday morning."

The barbers have been proverbially a merry,
intelligent race, and bad is the sign which shows
any alteration in their character. We must
hope, therefore, either that the above is untrue,
or that the barbers of Bristol are behind their
fellows in the rest of the kingdom. If true, we
suppose they imagine that a clean face is as
displeasing on a Sunday in the sight of Heaven
as others fancy hot joints are. Of course
those who think the barbers of Bristol right in
refusing to shave a poor labouring man on a
Sunday morning, the only leisure time he has
in the week, must condemn all shaving in the
middling and higher classes on that day, for
they must remember that even those who shave
themselves make their servants boil the water.
We could illustrate the matter further, but trust
that it is needless.