The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-06 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1868.

Her MAJESTY'S journey to Switzerland is regarded
with much interest by her loyal subjects. At this
season of the year most of those who have wealth
and leisure are already taking wing for the Con-
tinent or the Highlands. Even toil-worn states-
men are for awhile deserting their pasts and seek-
ing refreshment in sylvan solitudes from the cares
of office and the excitement of party warfare. The
most vigorous and unrelenting of their assailants
are contented for a brief space to turn their ener-
gies to the destruction of feathered victims in-
steal of the displacement of Ministers, and
are glad to turn from poring over
blue-boaks and wrangling over clauses and
amendments to the customary pursuits and
pleasures of the autumnal holiday. Even the busiest
of us snatches his few weeks respite, and prepares
for the political, or literary, or commercial cam-
plign of the winter by a brief anticipatory fur-
lough. It is no great wonder that Queen VICTORIA,
wearied of the cares of State, which, even in her
retirement, press more or less heavily upon her,
should share in the general MOVCMC3D, and should
seek that repose and simplicity of life which she is
known so much to prefer to a more stately and
pretentious existence. The change, we regret to
learn, is recommended by her medical advisers on
account of her health, but we may reasonably hope
that a short interval of rest and change will restore
her to full vigour. In place of the usual trip to
Balmoral her MAJESTY has this year proceeded to
Switzerland, where the novelty and beauty of the
scenes will restore her to full vigour. Her MAJESTY
is travelling incognito as Countess of KENT, and
therefore her departure was not attended by any of
the customary forms. The weather was as usual pro-
pitious, and at half-past six yesterday evening the
Victoria and Albert was safely anchored off Cher-
bourg. Extensive preparations have been made by
direction of the EMPEROR for the convenience of the
Royal party, and tha Imperial train has been placed
at the disposal of the QUEEN. From Cherbourg to
Paris is a distance of 230 miles, and Her MAJESTY
will have to pass througli some of the chief towns of
Normandy, Bajeux, Caen, Nan tes, &c. Having ari ived
at Paris, she proceeded to the British Embassy, where
she will remain to-day, and very likely by this time
she will have exchange) courtesies and compliments
with the EMPEROR AND EMPRESS. This evening
the QUEEN will resume her journey and proceed to
Bale, where, it is hoped, the Royal travellers will
breakfast to-morrow, then proc_eding through the
beautiful district of the Jura to their destination,
Lucerne. The spot chosen for her MAJESTY'S resting
place during her sojourn is close to the Lake, and
is situated in the midst of beautiful and romantic
scenery, which will of itself afford gratification to
the visitors. So great are the improvements now
effected in the means of communication between
England and Switzerland that twenty-four hours
will serve to transport a traveller from Charing-
cross to the lake itself, passing at so brief an in-
terval from the midst of the whirl and bustle of a
London thoroughfare to the sublime tranquillity of
the Alps themselves.

Mr. GLADSTONE has certainly began his canvass
early, and let no time elap3e in making his inten-
tions known. As usual his speech to the consti-
tuents was long, and distinguishe.,l for some of his
notable phrases, finding truth here and there, and
scattering his criticisms far and near as it suited
his purpose so to do. 113 began by saying that it
was the first time he addressed his audience, and
then launched upon a description of his doings since
he bad had the honour of being member for South
Lancashire. This circumstances recalls to one's
wind in what divers steps the right
honourable gentleman has troi since these
days, and we may remember the famous saying in
his letter to a constituent at Oxford, that he did not
think the Irish Church was a public question on