The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-20 00:00:00

REGALIA OF: SCOTLAND.

. .
It is well-known, that, liv the Act of-Union, it
is speeially provided, that. the Crown, Seeps re,
and Sword of State, belonging to the'kingdom of
Scotland, are appoissted to remain and be pie-.
'served in that kingdom; and that: these. Royal
Symbols- were carefully deposited- io a strong
chest; in- presence of the Officers of State and
other Tersonages of high dignil, as well as the
Commissioners of the EadMareschali, who claim-
ed, by ancient custom, the custody . thereof, and
:hat the chest was placed in a chamber in the
Castle of Edinburgh, called the Crown-room;
which was formally and strongly secured. Never-,
theless, a strong report went abroad; that during-
the troublesome times of 1715, or 171.8, -or as'
some say, so late as 1745, the Regalia—of Scotland
were transferred to London; and it is eel lain, that,.
at the Jenel Office in the Tower, a Crown has,
been exhibited among -the -other treasures, 'Sup,-
posed and" alleged to be that of Scotland. Others--
'have traced.this report to the artiAces of the Ja-
cnbites, whose aversion at the Union is well
-known, and svho did; all they :could to, excite
_tlirotighout Scotland a feeling that the country
had been degraded, and ber privileges destroyed,
14 that themorable treaty. -
Some years Since, -a Commission •was -issued to
1-„Oa.-0ffre0,.:4,10.:-Si-ate- of • Scotland, awl other emi-
Pent persinS, to open the Crdwn-room, in order
[
to search for certain Records, which, it wits sup-
posed, migt:t have been deposited th'te. .The
room. 'was opened aCeordingiy, and, all thing
seemed to be in_ the same condition in which they
Might have been left in 1707, The dust of a century
lay on the floor, - and on the lid "al ainige chest-,
answering the description of that in which the
reoilia -are-stated to. have-been deposited. It was
even'rentarked by an observer, equally acute and
accurate, that the dust (about six. inches thick)
piesented -a surfacelperfeetly nnitorm and level,
which emild-not have been :lie case had the Chest'
.been opened at any great, ttistiknee ;Of. (line after: it
had been placed in the Crown-room, since, int that
case, a large' quantit y'ot, dost alispftaced from t h-e.
hd of the chest must have-been lying lronon it in
heaps, - But. fitu matter was left to, conjecture;_
for the Commission only warraping a search for,
Record's, of which none were found in 'the Crown-
, room, the Commissiimers did- ma- consider it' as
authorising them to open a chest, which, if it cite-'
taius any thing -at all, holds not the Records, but
the Regalia of our ancient kingdom.
The keen and, irritating feeling of national
jealousy which- mice attached an important point
-of honour ,to the .existence • and preservation of
these, Cinielia, as ihevisible and taog,ible symbols
of Scottish independenee, has been long lulled to
rest by the merging of our separate national con-
cerns in the general. interests of Great Britain.
Yet there is a feeling of mysterious coriosiv with,
which -we are tempted to regard thdted morns,'
chests .which we have locked for centuries, and the
fate of those symbols which anciently represented
theltoyalty of Scotland. It is -therefore with'
pleasure that we inform our readers, that the mys-
tery attached, to this point of our national and
historical antiquities will -probably soon be elear
.ed up, ' ,.•
A comtnission, under the Sign Manual, bag
been recently 'issued to liis Grace the Duke-of
Buceleuch and Queensberry; Lord Lieutenant of
Mid-Lothian, with the principal Officers of- State
for Scotland; tbe•respective beads of the Courts of
Law and Legal Bodies, the Lord Provost orEdin-
borgh,• and other Gentlemen recommended- by
official situations of importance, directing them to
-open the Crown-room, and proceed to apes the
chest its which the regalia are said to have been de-
posited, to make search for the same, and to re-
port the issue of their inquiries to his Royal High-
ness the Prince Regent.—(Edinburgh Courant.)