The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-13 00:00:00

The Royal Tour in Belgium.

GHENT, July 10.
In consequence of the visit of the King and Queen,
this ancient and unusually quiet city has for the last
few days been in a fever of excitement. The occa-
sion has been marked by a series of fetes. Illumina-
tions, fireworks, public banquets, balls, &c., have
evidenced the gratification of the Gandois at a visit
from their Sovereign. It is, however, obvious that
their exists a general feeling that in the present
critical and unsettled condition of Europe the Royal
visit should be regarded as more than one of friendly
communication between a constitutional Sovereign
and a contented people. From the moment of their
entry into the town the royal party has everywhere
been received with enthusiastic welcome, but in the
addresses which have been presented it is easy to
detect the one idea which presses on the public mind.
Thus, in an address which was presented to the
King on Monday afternoon from the students of the
University, nearly 200 of whom accompanied the
deputation, there occurred these passages :
"Nourished from infancy with the pure aliment of
liberty, fortified in the schools and the universities by the
principles of a sound and extended education, the student
youth forms in the great national family an intellectual
militia, the hope of the future. Coming from all parts of the
country, the students are the faithful representatives of all
youthfulßelgium. The students on its behalf declare loudly
that it is unanimous in its unalterable attachment to the
country, in its devotion to the Constitution, and to the
dynasty which is the symbol of that Constitution. Belgium
relies upon her independence, but if, in violation of our
rights and despite our immutable desire to remain Belgians
and freemen, our nationality should be menaced, all, Sire,
inspired by the same instinct of patriotism, will range our-
selves around our King, resolved to fight, to die for our
country."

The King's reply was, of course, more guarded
and general in its terms. "My young friends,"
said the King,—

" I thank you for the affectionate sentiments which you
have expressed to wards me in such sympathetic and elo-
quent terms. Your words and your patriotic acclama-
tions have reached my heart. I recognise with delight the
excellent spirit by which you are animated. It is proper
that from this time forward we should accustom ourselves
to think and to labour together for the prosperity and the
happiness of the country Work hard, so that one day you
may all become distinguished citizens. I again thank you,
and I hope that in whatever part of the country we may
meet again we may ever be animated by the same patriotic
sentiments."

At the opera the entrance of the Royal party was
the signal for an outburst of loyal enthusiasm, which
for a time caused a complete suspension of the per-
formance. Upon another occasion the Bishop of
Ghent, at the head of his clergy, addressed the King
in the following terms :

" Sire,—We are happy to be enabled to offer to your Ma-
jesty the homage of our profound veneration. Each day
our prayers beseech Heaven to bestow upon your Majesty
that royal wisdom which the Lord in old times conferred
upon Solomon, and which was to that wise King the source
of so much grandeur and glory. We also pray that your
beloved Queen and children may be blessed with the most
precious graces and enjoy perfect happiness. Sire, your
august father was pleased to repeat even to the end of his
career that he had found in the clergy the strongest sup-
port of his throne and of the peace of the country ; he
deigned to make the same observation to us at the audience
which ha granted us at Ostend scarcely ten months since.
Your Majesty will ever find the same attachment and the
same devotion in the Bishop of Ghent and his clergy."
King Leopold, in his reply, after acknowledging
the loyal expressions which had fallen from the
bishop, referred to the disturbed state of Europe,
and to the war which was still pending, which, he
remarked, rendered it all the more necessary that
Belgium should continue united in order to remain
strong.

" I have always loved," said the King, " conciliation and
peace ; but God alone can accomplish the good He desires.
We can only do so in a limited degree. For myself, I will
neglect nothing to respond to the confidence of Belgium,
and to fulfil the task which is intrusted to me. It is with
that determination that I reiterate my gratitude, and be-
seech you and your venerable coadjutors to continue, on
behalf of myself and the Queen, the advantages of your
prayers."

Subsequently their Majesties attended a concert,
where their reception was again most cordial, and
still more marked was the enthusiasm of the crowds
which hailed their Sovereign's presence at the races,
to which had been attracted the larger portion of
the entire population of Ghent. The Royal visit,
as far as this town is concerned, must have been
satisfactory to all parties, and it is to be hoped that
the same excellent feeling may be found in all the
other cities which are to be similarly favoured.

SEIZURE OF A VESSEL IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.
—On Tuesday afternoon her Majesty's ship Cale-
donia got up steam in Portland Roads, and proceeded to
sea about ten p.m. She returned on Wednesday morning,
having captured the steamer Greatham Hall, with about
200 men on board, enlisted in this country and intended
for service in the Peruvian army. The Caledonia fell in
with the Greatham Hall during the night in the Channel,
and it is said the latter refused to bring up until a gun was
fired across her bows. The vessel, having committed a
breach of the Foreign Enlistment Act, will of course be
confiscated.

NIAGARA.--Mr. Mignot, an American artist, al-
ready celebrated for his paintings of tropical
scenery, has executed a large view of the Falls of Niagara,
which is now to be seen in the rooms of Messrs. Colnaghi.
The point of view is the Terrapin Tower, and the canvas
is almost entirely occupied by a mass of sweeping water,
on which the spectator looks down, and which, descend-
ing at the Horse-shoe fall, has the appearance of solid green
earth./ From the hollow of the fall rises an exhalation
which hazes over the shore of Canada, shown in the ex-
treme background, The picture is remarkable for bold-
ness and originality, and often as Niagara has been chosen
as a subject by artists the aspect under which it is pre-
sented by Mr. Mignot has all the charm of novelty.
STRIKE OF COLLIERS.---The men employed at the
Mount Osborne Colliery, Barnsley, have been out
since last Saturday morning, having asked for an advance
in consequence of being obliged to walk from one pit to
the other, as the Mount Osborne is connected with the
Agnes and the Old Mill Collieries. The shaft which the
men have been in the habit of going down has just been
turned into a cupola.

I➢IPUDENT ROBBERY BY A CONFIDENTIAL AP-
PRENTICE.—As the overseer of the establishment of
Messrs. Reynolds and Dicks, of 313, Strand, was on the
point of paying the men their wages on Saturday evening,
the 7th inst., it was suddenly discovered that an appren-
tice in the composing room, named James Brown, had,
during the momentary absence of the overseer, swept into
his pocket thirty-seven pounds in gold, and a five-pound
bag of silver, and had darted off with it from the establish-
ment. Although in a very few moments parties were sent
after him, and the police authorities at Bow street were
communicated with, no trace of him up to the present time
has been obtained. He is a well and stoutly-built youth of
about seventeen, with round and good-looking features.
He is just above five feet high, is very unassuming in his
demeanour, respectful in his address, and exhibits an
amount of meekness seldom found in a boy of his age. His
hair is light, inclined to curl, and he has light blue eyes.
A very slight impediment is observed in his speech when
talking quick. It is supposed he made at once to one of
the railway stations, and is now somewhere in the country.
He had on, when last seen, black trousers, short black
coat, light brown waistcoat, and blue cap, with brass but-
tons at the aides.