The Queen left Woolwich for Germany on Tuesday, the 11th
inst., accompanied by Earl Granville. A somewhat unpleasant incident preceded her departure. Some official person, who must be known to the departments, and who ought to be instantly dismissed, in a transport of flunkeyism issued an order which for twenty-four hours threatened even her Majesty's popularity. Not only were the police ordered to "arrest " all " loiterers " who might wish to look at the Queen but all officials who might chance to approach their own office windows were threatened with instant dismissal. The decree read, in fact, like one from the "Arabian Nights," and the public only wondered that the eats were not officially warned against exercising their proverbial privilege. The order has, we are happy to see, • been pointedly repudiated on the part both of the Queen and of the Secretary at War; but the precautions taken, though not quite so despotic, must have been most offensive to her Majesty. It used to be the Queen's pride that she could move among any collection of her subjects, fifty thousand respectables in the Crystal Palace, or fifty thousand roughs on Ascot Heath, without attendants. If her Majesty is, for the future, despite her own wishes:to be hidden in guards like a Continental sovereign, let them-qtt least be soldiers. The public is accustomed to the Life Guards on occasions of cere- monial, to the policemen only when guarding prisoners.
