The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-16 00:00:00

LONDON,

that the friends of
.civil and religious freedom should

not through any neglect or apathy on their part
permit any further procrastination of the measure—
we say procrastination, for that is the worst that can
happen ; it is beyond human power to prevent its
ultimate suecess.

Public dinners were yesterday the order of the day.
Her MAJESTY'S birthday was celebrated at many a
festive board, surrounded by the noble and distin-
guished of the land, anti good wishes for her health
and happiness were proffered with no less enthusiasm
by the humbler classes of her loyal people. Queen
VICTORIA'S popularity is something more than
nominal, and justly so, for her claims to the regard
of Englishmen are of a higher character than
can be conferred by the possession of the
sceptre and crown. In the middle of
the nineteenth century, such adornments are compa-
ratively valueless, their intrinsic F lory is departed.
The " king's name" is no longer " a tower of
strength," unless it be accompanied by right royal
characteristics—unless the sovereign gives continually
practical proof of his conviction that the throne is
not elevated so high for the purpose of exalting the
individual, but in order to enable him the bet-
ter to perceive and administer to the wants
of the whole community. Our Constitution
is at the present moment so happily carried
out, that while it allows no opportunity fur the
evil influence of an unworthy monarch—the rights
and the privileges of the people being so entirely
guaranteed by the power of the Parliament, and
the force of public opinion—at : the same
time it gives free scope for the exercise
of all personal virtue and royal influence
for _good on the part of a virtuous and liberally-
minded Sovereign, of which fact we have now a
daily manifestation. It is happy for herself and her
people that it has fallen to VICTORIA'S lot to rule
England in the nineteenth century. Most accurately
has her MAJESTY recognised her position, and most
happily have her personal qualities enabled her to
respond to the requirements of the age. In co-ope-
rating with every work of mercy, in patronising the
sciences and arts, in encouraging with assiduity and
enthusiasm whatever tends to promote the popular
industry, and cement the brotherhood of nations, in
these and innumerable similar good works the QUEEN
has apparently only followed the spontaneous
impulses of her heart. As such, her actions,
welcome in themselves, have been rendered doubly
gratifying to the people. So it is that the birthday
of the QUEEN has been loyally celebrated by the sup-
porters of Democracy. They who have exulted over
the downfsl of ancient thrones, and felt but little
commiseration for the dispersion of the royal family
of France—they who feel little awe at the sight of
the gorgeous regalia, are yet proud to bow the head
in reverence to Queen VICTORIA, because they recog-
nize in her something more than a crowned monarch.
They honour her as being in her high place the
friend of the people, and the zealous labourer
in the great cause of popular regeneration. From
this cause the festivities of yesterday may
be regarded with more interest than is usually
excited by the recurrence of commanded rejoicings.
In addition to the festivities in honour of the
day, a banquet was given, under the presi-
dentship of Major EDWARDES, in behalf of
the proposed erection of a larger hospital
for King's College. The report of these proceedings
will be found in another column, and they will
be read with peculiar pleasure from the fact
of the Gallant Major, who was the subject of such
cordial greeting at the festival, having been formerly
a student of King's College, and having there, to
quote his own words, acquired the "principal portion
of that education to which he owed his success in life,
for," added the successful soldier, " Minerva is the
real goddess of valour, and Knowledge is the tren-
chant blade which she puts into the hand of the tyro
with which he may go forth and conquer."