The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-03 00:00:00

culties and discourrgements ; but though it needed
not the smiles of Royalty to give it tone and lend
it energy, not the less is it appropriate and
fitting that those in high places should come for-
ward and attest by their presence and encourage-
ment that they feel and recognise the full signifi-
cance of the affair. It was very fortunate that the
PRINCESS was able to go yesterday, for great dis-
appointment -would have been caused by her absence.
At the same time all were under great obligations to
her, for the state of the weather rendered the ex-
cursion anything but a pleasant one. Her Royal
Highness is deserving of great credit for the efforts
she always makes to carry out any plan that has
been made which involves the comfort or gratifica-
tion of others, and no occasion was more worthy of
exertion than that of yesterday.

We may truly say that the Volunteers have be-
come a great national feature of the age ; they re-
present the spirit and intelligence of the country,
and supply a deficiency that has long been felt,
but until lately seemed almost possible to remedy.
We are not a warlike nation, and, what is more, we
do not wish to mix ourselves up in the wars of
others ; but it is, at the same time, imperatively
necessary that we should be prepared for conse-
quences, and that we should be placed in a position
suitable for this great country and the interests
she represents. No other mode of remedying
the evil that existed could be found
so efficacious as that of the Volunteer's institution,
and we may rejoice to find that it has now ap-
proached so nearly to perfection both in numbers
and efficiency. The only drawback to yesterday's
affair was the unpropitious state of the weather,
which marred the effect of the grand demonstration.
It was so far fortunate, however, that it was fine when
the PRINCE and PRINCESS
on their way to the passed through the town
Downs. Brighton has not
witnessed so
gay a procession for many a long
year, and the PRINCESS must on her first arrival
have obtained a good idea of the place
under its most favourable auspices. After the
review was over or nearly so the Royal visitors went
to lunch in the Pavilion. Many circumstances have
occurred, and many changes taken place, since the
Prince of WALES'S great uncle used to visit there,
but we may fairly conclude that no alterations that
have been effected through old things passing away
and new things supervening have been so remark-
able as the establishment of the Volunteers them-
selves as an efficient resource to the country in time
of need. Another feature of interest intimately
connected with the affair of yesterday is the excel-
lence which has been obtained by the railways
in the shape of transmission. To allow of the
affair of yesterday taking place, what combination
had to be effected, and what skill exhibited, and it
is a triumph of science that such could have been
done so well and so speedily. We may form
some notion of the utility which railways
would be in affording assistance to the despatch
of troops and artillery when we reflect upon the
traffic of yesterday. As for the real business of the
day, the Review itself, it was very successful, and
displayed in a striking manner the efficiency of the
troops. Lord ELCHO was present, although it had
been feared that indisposition would have prevented
his appearing. He was greeted with loud cheers, and
it was naturally felt that his appearance was a
great advantage. Twenty-thousand Volunteers ap-
peared yesterday on Brighton Downs, which
was as large a number as that of the whole
English army in those bygone days when
Brighton flourished under the auspices of the Prince
REGENT. In many minor points the regiments
have improved since the last occasion of their pub-
lic display, and we may conclude that this grand an-
nual gathering is of service in every respect. On the
whole, there was nothing to have been wished for
yesterday but fine weather, and that was trivial in
comparison with other things of more moment. The
visit of the Prince and Princess of WALES was

most opportune, and it is satisfactory to think of

the great contrast that is observable in the Prince
of WALES of our time and the one who was famous
in the last generation. His Royal Highness has
given promise of distinguishing himself in all those
qualities which his predecessor so greatly lacked,
and his reception whenever he appears in public
testifies to the respect and attachment which is felt

for him. As for the Volunteers themselves, yester-
day more than any other occasion of their grand
field days, showed that they were ready for action
if required, and meanwhile could comport them-
selves with propriety, and train themselves for
future exigencies. In a national sense of the word,
the review which took place on Brighton Downs
yesterday was quite a success, and may well fur-
nish an illustration of our powers to the other na-
tions of Europe.

Judged by the test of public meetings the reform-
ing constituencies are not so much opposed to the
Ministerial measure as the members of the House
of Commons. Edinburgh and Sheffield must cer-
tainly be accepted as fair representatives of the public
feeling in the matter, inasmuch as they hold fast to
the question when other parties and places were
contented to leave it in abeyance. These two cities
held large meetings last evening to consider the
new bill. The gathering at Edinburgh took
place at the Music Hall, and was a very
large one. The movers and seconders of the
several resolutions were respeetiveolny,
amne d these members
of the Edinburgh Bar and working men,
resolutions, which were three in number, affirmed
that the bill was an honest and substantial measure
of Reform and worthy of cordial support ; also that
the meeting should petition both Houses in its fa-
vour, and that the Members for the City should be
requested to give it their earnest support. All three
resolutions were unanimously passed, and the City
Members, who were present, seem likely enough to
carry one of them into effect, for they both spoke
in favour of the bill. Mr. M'LAREN, whether to
conciliate the opposite party or not we cannot say,
endeavoured, in his speech, to prove that
the proportion of the working classes among
the newly enfranchised voters would not be so large
as was imagined. This was a somewhat singular
reason to give for supporting a Bill, framed prin;
cipally to meet the wants of the labouring classes,
and to extend to them those political privileges from
which they have been so longn
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t i Advocate,on, said that in e °nsi
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the
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though she had a good many to claim. with
respect to the working classes, who do not,north
ob
fy
thethe
way, .seem to get much favour
Tweed, the Lord Advocate said that the whole
question had been treated too much from their
pointienlatseslle
intelligence
febnyucietelvm•e and
men, and
did not, he said, enfranchise
and in enfranchising more Wien of
independence they strengthened
the Constitution.
This is undoubtedly true, and
therefore we should have liked to have seen an edu-
cational franchise included in the measure. It is
men of intelligence and independence that we want
both among our representatives and the represented ;
men of original and individual convictions, not
cliques who follow a leader, or political Fenians
who oppose everything ; and though it might
be unwise to alter the whole constitution
by changing the basis of the electoral sys-
tem, yet the addition of an educational