The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-25 00:00:00

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ion

- reputation is of importance, and such an expedi-
tion should not have been undertaken unless a
lb-rCe could have been sent sufficient to ensure
success. Captain SMITH'S detachment seems
quite inadequate to cope with the large force of
determined marksmen which the Boers can
.41
-collect.
• . Aro.
04044 The announcement of her MAJESTY'S intention to
SyY visit Scotland, has, we perceive, created the most
_enthusiastic feelings of delight throughout the length
and breadth of that country. The Highland Chiefs
‘e4f2 !..,.,are all on the alert, and in the metropolis and its
environs, rejoicings are expected to take place on the
..,,most imposing scale. "In order the more effectually
to manifest the universal national feelings on this
'Cl`,. happy and auspicious occasion," says the Caledonian
Mercury, "it has been suggested, and is strongly re-
ftia commended, that large fires be lighted, not only on
the top of Arthur's Seat, but on other prominent hills
• within sight of Edinburgh, and also on some of the
highest summits along the southern shore of Fife.
Such a manifestation will mark the affection and cor-

diality with which her MAJESTY is universally wel-
corned in Scotland." This spectacle will doubtless be
a magnificent one, but far more impressive will be
the heart-felt, electrifying bursts of loyalty which will
accompany the QUEEN at every step of her progress
through her Scottish dominions. There will be no cold,
forced homage—no showy parade of respect—no gew-
gaw, flaunting state-pageants, to gratify—as on a former

memorable occasion—a vain monarch's love of ex-
ternal pomp and splendour; the national heart will
prompt the national rejoicings, and where this is the
ease, gorgeous Court ceremonials may well be dis-
pensed with. When GEORGE the FOURTH visited
Scotland, he did it, apparently, quite as much to
gratify his own love of holiday display, as to receive
ay the homage of his northern subjects, and accordingly
everything was sacrificed to effect ; there were re-
ti
Views, levees, and public processions by day ; state-
balls, state-dinners, and state ceremonials of all sorts by
night; the eye was dazzled, the head was bewildered, but
the heart was not touched; there was more of the show
of loyalty, than the thing itself; Scotland did her
duty, but no more ; she may have reverenced the mo-
',
Larch, but she could scarcely have entertained any
strong affection for the man ; for the Scotch, gene-
rally speaking, are a moral, prudent, sagacious, and
conscientious people, who have a quick eye to con-
duct, and respect the decencies of society ; and it is
hardly possible that their hearts could have warmed
towards a man whose conduct throughout his
career was marked by reckless selfishness and extra-
vagance ; who violated all the proprieties of domestic
life; who, devoid of principle himself, disbelieved its
existence in others, and was influenced solely by the
caprice of the moment ; who was a bad son—a bad
husband—a bad father—who abandoned in turn every
friend that trusted him ;—in a word, who commenced
his career as a riotous profligate, and terminated it as
a sullen, secluded egotist. Scotland, we repeat,
could scarcely have loved such a man ; it was
to his kingly office, not to himself, that she
paid the tribute of her respect ; but in the present in-
stance, it is the woman, not less than the QUEEN,
that claims her love, reverence, and admiration. Ir-
reproachable in her conduct as a wife and mother, in-
dulgent and considerate as a mistress, and in her cha_
ratter of Sovereign sincerely devoted to the welfare
of her subjects, Queen VICTORIA deserves, and will
receive, every mark of heart-felt affection and veneration
that it is in the power of Scotland to bestow. And here,
while alluding to the Royal Visit, we cannot but call
• to mind the memory of that great and good man,
whose loss his country—and we may add, the whole
empire—still deplores. If GEORGE the FOURTH'S
Visit to Edinburgh be yet remembered with interest,
it is so, chiefly in consequence of Sir WALTER SCOTT'S
' connexion with it. How would this illustrious novelist
have rejoiced in the opportunity of a second time wel-
coming his Sovereign to Scotland! Hundreds of his
countrymen, remembering his enthusiasm on the
former occasion, will miss him, when the QUEEN is
receiving the congratulations of her subjects at Holy-
-rood, and feel a momentary chill at their hearts, even
in the midst of the general rejoicings.

Several of the daily papers yesterday, advert to
the unwarrantable and dangerous conduct of the police
at Kennington-common, on Monday. It appears
that owing to the incorrect accounts published
in some of these journals, numerous communica-
tions have been forwarded to them, complaining
of the unnecessary violence used by that body
during the late disturbances, and stating facts
which fell under the observation of the writers.
One paper refuses to expose the excesses committed
by that force, without the security of personal authen-
tication ; a second acknowledges the receipt of nu-
merous letters on the subject, but regrets that the press
of matter prey nts their publication ; and a third, the
Herald, very properly gives a well-written letter, de-
scribing the wanton and cruel attack made upon a
peaceful and unarmed multitude. This letter is written
by a Conservative correspondent, and, as it appears in
a journal of the same character, it ought to make
some impression on our Conservative Home Secretary.
As for the Commissioners of Police, we put them
entirely out of the question. Their lieutenants, or
whatever other new-fangled names they may assume,
Would not have conducted themselves as they did
during the late disgraceful scenes, unless they had
good reason to believe that they would be backed by
their superiors. The constitution of the force altogether
IS of a military character, one of the Commissioners
holds the rank of Colonel in the army, many of
those under him have, from long practice, ac-
quired military habits, and are, therefore,
the most unfit persons in the world to
act against a multitude without the directions of
the civil authorities. The military cannot attack the
People until the Riot Act is read, and distinct orders
are given by a Justice of the Peace. What right,
therefore, has this new force, in defiance of
the principles of the Constitution, and armed
as they are with deadly weapons, to attack a pro-
miscuous multitude, without similar precautions
for the safety of human life ? We earnestly call the
attention of Sir JAMES GRAHAM to this painful sub-
ject, and confidently trust that he will judge of the pro-
ceedings of Monday according to the real merits of
each case, and not from the reports and insinuations of
interested parties. We were told that strict in-
junctions had been issued from the Home-office, corn
Mending the police to use every possible forbearance,
and not to interfere unless a breach of the peace was
seriously contemplated. Now, all accounts agree
that there was no violence, nor any fear of
violence, on the part of the people, and
that if the speakers had been allowed to
finish their harangues, the day would have passed
Over, as at tho meeting in Clerkenwell-green, with-
out the slightest disturbance. We, therefore,
leave the Home, Secretary to judge whether
his intentions have been faithfully carried out.
Of this, however, he may rest certain, that if he
Wishes this new force to be useful, he must keep it
under proper control, and not leave the ma-
nagement to military officers, always but too much
inclined to treat the people with contempt.
We are anxious to see order preserved and all acts of
violence repressed, and for these very reasons we de-
nounce the late violent proceedings. We have just
received an account of an outrage committed at the
Zoological Gardens last evening by one of the In-
-5 actors who figured on Kennington-common, but
the attack appears so mad and unjustifiable, that wa
refrain from publishing the account till we have fully
ascertained the particulars.

We have received the Paris Papers, which
rare chiefly filled with criticisms on the new
'character assumed by M. TRIERS. The Goverr rnent
journals, and his own paper the Constitutionnel, de-
fend his change of politics on the ground of well-ma-
tured conviction, while the ultra-Liberal papers cha-
racterise it as a wilful and selfish desertion of his
party. The Constitutionne/ thus refers to the matter :
M. Thiers has no idea of assuming power, and he is
far from thinking of it either for himself or his friends.
All who are acquainted with the present situation of
affairs will understand this declaration. M. Thiers
adopted his resolution from higher and deeper reasons ;
for he well remembered that in the year 1830, when the
question of the dynasty was agitated anew, he renewed
his choice in favour of the constitutional monarchy, and
rejected the counter-revolution and the republic. But
we expected these interpretations and calumnies from
the extreme parties ; for to ask them to recognise in M.
Thi;,ms a defender faithful, devoted, and convinced of the
value of the institutions of 1830—to expect the Legi-
timists NI praise M. Thiers for having exerted his influ-
ence in c, Insolidating the dynasty—or to think that the
Radicals would congratulate him for preserving the
Minority of. the young King from the dangers that
might threate.'l it, would be to demand from both parties
too much disint.Vestedness and self-denial. These bursts