The Sun. — London, England, 1830-01-01 00:00:00

°Aging, inasmuch as they abound in the most lattlitig forms of metaphor, and the most eXu inooigruities of imagery. But the em be;.lizhrsents will serve to keep the Magazine from sinking. LA BELLE ASSEMBLEE. .The contents of this Number are good, but what shall we say of the engraving of the Mar chioness of Carmarthen ; why, that it is the perfection of loveliness ; the attitude, the ex prf...ssion of the countenance, with its full dark radiant eyes, and mouth eloquent of sensibility —the heir—the dress—the finely-rounded arm, all conspire to form one of the most enchanting portraits we have ever met with. One or two :none such engravings will do wonders for La CHURCH REFORM. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. MR. EDITOR,—Among the readers of your Paper there must be many as much obliged to you as myself for the publication of two long articles on Church Reform, and it is well that those articles are general expressions of what should be done, rather than reviews of the books, from one or both of which they appear to have derived their pro posals. But it is only right that it should be under stood you are not to be held responsible for the opinions given in either of these books, and that you do not express any approbation of the Reviewer's opinions, beyond what is implied in giving the re views a more extensive circulation than they could else have had ; and the amount of what is so im plied can only be that you wish the subject discussed. If the Prayer-book ever be revised it must be done with extreme care, and after long consideration, for as the revised Prayer-book must be laid before the Houses of Parlinment, so it is too evident to need argument that it should not there and then, amid the inevitable hurry of business, be considered in detail, like a common Act of Parliament, clause by clause ; but it must be passed or rejected at once, in one absolute vote. Peculiar caution is, therefore, requisite before hand in some special com mittee of the House, or other body of a small number appointed to revise the Prayer-book, that there be not in that Prayer-book so revised, when it leaves their hands one such passage left as will occasion the rejection of the whole volume, or induce, what is so much to be deprecated, a grand discussion of par ticular phrases and doctrines before the whole House, amid the bustle of the Session. There Was a small pamphlet of sixty-five widely printed octavo pages, published by Oliphants, Edinburgh, in 1825, and entitled " An Essay on the practicability, advantages, and duty of uniting due conformity to the standards of the Established Church of England and Ireland, with complete liberty of conscience," by the Rev. Napper, Rector of Tamlaght O'Crelly, in the diocese of Derry ; a gentleman who published, in 1816, a powerful reply fo a person who had mistaken the character of the Bible, and doubted the propriety of circulating it among the poor ; for whom it is so well calculated as to form a distinctive character of the Christian religion by that very fitness. The following short account of this Essay gives the thoughts, and as much as possible the words of Mr. Napper. It may be proper to premise that there is con siderable doubt whether the construction put upon the Act of Uniformity by general readers he not much more strict than the words absolutely require ; and whether the Canons of 1603, in those particulars which are not taken from the ancient Canon law, do not depend for their obligation among the Clergy upon an usage which is of questionable authority. " The Acts of Uniformity, &c., since the Reforma tion shew that Parliament, from that period, have been of opinion that the power of making constitu tions in ecclesiastical matters to bind the whole nation is in them ; and it is clear, from 25th Henry VIII. c. 19, that both the King and the Clergy thought it necessary to have the authority of Parlia ment for abrogating part of the ancient Canons, and establishing such parts as are to remain in force."— Tyrwhitt's Bar., 1. XL.—Note. Should it appear that neither the Act of Uni formity nor these Canons establish and call for so strict an assent and consent as may have been thought requisite by many, then may an explana tion be given by some of your readers how such an unwarrantable usage has grown up almost to the force of a law. And what Mr. Napper has urged so well agaiust the requisition of this assent and consent may be expected to overthrow such an usage, as it would have shaken such a law to its basis. Mr. Napper's suggestiens are addressed affec tionately to the friends of the Established Church, and intended to consolidate its foundations. He disap proves and apprehends much mischief from the pro fessions required by law from the ministers of our church, and from candidates for holy orders, and principally the assent and consent under the Act of Uniformity. He argues, that in the midst of the apparent' prosperity of the Church there may be much wrong, of which " many circumstances may " have contributed to conceal the existence long, " even from very vigilant and holy eyes. They may " have been so earnestly directed to other objects, " as to overlook that to which it is now attempted "to direct attention. If a transient glance may " have been cast upon it, the ingenuity of the heart " in finding excuses, the authority of custom and " example, the balancing of evil consequences anti " cipated against evils acknowledged to exist, and " a thousand other possibilities, may have obscured " our vision. But as to the rule of weighing evils " against evils, and choosing the less, it is one of " those proverbial maxims which require clear inter " pretation and careful distinctions, before they can "be admitted as principles of action. Nothing can " justify sin. Our business is to obey, and leave " events to God. For example, we are bound to " forfeit all things, even life itself, rather than deny " Christ, or burn one grain of incense upon an idol's " altar. Nay, we ought certainly to refuse, though " it might seem to human view, as if the safety, not " of an individual or a family, but of an empire, de " pended upon our compliance. Are we then to " pay no regard to consequences ? Certainly we " are; but it is a secondary regard which is due to " that consideration. Where we have no precept " we are to be guided by the soundest discretion; " but we are not to set up our own prudence in op " position to infinite wisdom. 'We do this, when, " upon a calculation of consequences, we presume "to disobey. Obedience, on the contrary, takes " God for its guide, and the best consequences must " infallibly follow. We may not be able to discern " the connexion, but it is us sure as the immutabi- " lity of the Most High. " Under the sanction of these principles, examine " Lion is implored, to ascertain whether sin attaches " to the imperative demand of unlimited assent. " Where great numbers of men are included within " the operation of such a law, it assumes the pro " bability of a wider coincidence of opinions than is " compatible with the varied texture of the human " mind. Hence it offers a very general temptation .. .. " to insincerity, and must be liable to the iinputa " tion of sin. In the progress of time the evil be " comes aggravated : for nothing less than infalli " bility can arrogate such a claim as this, that no " future generation shall be able to discover any thing that ought not to receive unfeigned assent " and consent. If it be said, when such a defect " shall be discovered, let it be pointed out and re " medied. It is well, if the free exercise of this " power be permitted. But is it not prohibited by " penalties and privations ? Every minister of the " Irish branch of the united Church subscribes a " canon which denounces excommunication against " those who shall maintain that there is any thing " in the book of 'Common Prayer a conscientious " man cannot assent to. Is it right that such a " canon should obstruct the very entrance of the " sanctuary ? Is it at all agreeable to the light " and spirit of the age ? So far from it, that per. " haps it may be excused as obsolete. It is high " time that every thing of this sort, which is ob " solete, should be removed. For while they are " nullities as to any good purpose, they operate most ". perniciously in habituating those to prevarication " who are appointed to be the preachers and " patterns of truth. How can we attempt "to cleanse the nation from the horrible " profanation of oaths in other departments, until " we set the example of a pure conscience in our " own ? And until this fruit of repentance be " brought forth, how can we hope that the visita " tions of divine justice shall be withdrawn ? Surely " every solemn declaration which is reduced to a " natter of course and form (whether true or false) " is a solemn mockery, and involves a transgression "of the third commandment. And let us remem- " ber—' The Lord will not hold those guiltless who •' take his name in vain.' The application must be left to every man's conscience in the sight of God. " It is the business of this essay, not to accuse, but to awaken, and that, not by ci.inwrous con veray, but by appealing to the still small voice in " in the reader's bosom."—(P. 11 to 15.) But in order to preclude useless innovations and disorder, Mr. Napper has sketched roinething like what he would wish to be passed as a new Act for " Maintaining Uniformity, &c. without in fringing liberty of conscience," which might enact (P. 19)—" That the Articles, Liturgy, and Homilies, which have been heretofore subscribed " and used, shall remain the, law and standard of " the national Established Church, except the small " omissions and alterations hereinafter-mentioned, " and with the degree of latitude hereinafter pro " vided : And be it further enacted, that the Acts " of Uniformity (so far, &c., or saving, &cc.). be re " pealed. " Provided, that all Bishops, and Clergymen of " every degree and description whatsover, shall be " responsible for all infringements of conformity to " the said standards, in preaching, worship, or other " wise, under the penalties of admonition, suspen " sion, and deprivation ; but that such responsibi " lity shall be henceforth deemed a sufficient secu " rity, without requiring any forms of subscription " or declarations whatsoever, as conditions antece- dent or consequent to ordination, license, induc- " doe, &c. " Provided, that candidates for orders, &c., shall " be both publicly and privately examined, and give " their answers orally, or in writing, or both, ac " cording to the discretion of those who are to or " dais, license, or consecrate, &C., who shall take " for their guides the standards aforesaid, but not " be limited thereby, nor require answers to be given " in a certain prescribed form. " Provided also, that all causes extending to de " privation or suspension, shall be tried by an Ec " clesiastical Court and Ecclesiastical Jury, diocesan " or metropolitan respectively, to be constituted,&c. " Provided also, that if any Bishop or officiating " Clergyman shall be in the habit of varying in any " respect or degree from the Liturgy or other offices, " he shall be obliged plainly to describe that vari ance in the margin of the Common Prayer-book " used by him, or in a sheet to be inserted for this " purpose. That the said book may be called for " at visitations, upon notice to that effect ; and that " the same shall be always open to the inspection of " the ordinary and other chief ministers, and "of the congregation ; and that the omission of " such description shall be in itself a crime subject " ing to the penalty of deprivation, &c. And as to " the variances themselves, if they shall be consi " dered such as ought not to be tolerated, and therefore " should become matter of trial, the respective " ecclesiastical courts aforesaid shalt judge of them " soundly as courts of concience and equity, and " taking for guides the spirit of the standards afore " said and of this statute. " And be it enacted, that a new edition of the " book of Common Prayer be forthwith ordered to " be printed, with blanks for answers in the ordi " nation services, &c., and instead of the form for " absolution of the sick, substituting these words— " ' Peace be unto Thee,' with a corresponding change " in the corresponding part of the ordination of " Priests; and in the rubric before the Athanasian " creed, instead of the words, Shall be sung or said,' introducing may be said, &c., and adding ' the creed itself in the following form," and it is so printed that the first, second, and third sentences ure changed into " Whosoever will be saved let him keep the Catholic faith whole and undefiled ; let him worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity ;" and for " He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity," is substituted " Thus let him think," according to the original Latin; for " It is necessary to everlasting Salvation that he also believe" is substituted " Let him take heed that he also believe," and the last clause is en entirely left out. These are all the alterations made by Mr. Napper. From such an act, Mr. Napper anticipates the happiest results—" A stumbling block would be removed," and the " Church would present an honest front of sincerity and truth." " The gol den mean wpuld, be attained between latitudinarian laxity and rigid conformity." " Moderate dissen " ters, finding the rights of conscience fully asserted, " and an atmosphere of Christian liberty infusing " health into the establishment, would probably be " reconciled to it in considerable numbers, and the " remainder would be partly divested of hostility, " partly deprived of objects of attack. The same " inestimable standards of doctrine and worship in " our Articles, Homilies, and Liturgy, would remain " in all their authority and practical utility, without " the odium of being bound as chains upon the con " sciences of Christians. The Bishops, with their " assistant examiners, would obtain a more accurate " and satisfactoiy knowledge of the qualifications of " candidates for holy orders, &c., in reference to the " doctrines and Liturgy of the Church. It is to be " hoped that no man would, in his own words, make a w i c t o h nfe ou t s s b i o e n i n g o f fa in e i t e h r e i n ; N t v h h e e r e e f/ a e s - i b t le i s s steod he fe i i r t e y, d that some Arians, and even Socinians, have sub " scribed to our Articles. How much better would it " be to ascertain that a candidate had honestly com " pared the Homilies with the Bible, and satisfied " himself of their sound and Scriptural character, " (notwithstanding a few defects) than to receive a " formal assent in stronger terms from one who may " never have read them." " Similar observations " might be made upon the superiority of a cordial, " though not unqualified approbation of the Liturgy, " above the most unlimited but constrained assent. " It would be a great blessing to young men about " to enter into the sacred ministry not to be hurried " into a degree of decision for which they may not " be unprepared. —P. 28 to 30. There is another advantage which many will esti mate as highly as Mr. Napper it is to be hoped : (P. 32) " The regard which would so be conciliated to the Church of England, including the increased practicability of union with other churches where union would be "desirable."—P. 32. To state why a Scottish or American Episcopalian should not hold an English living is easy—but to state why he should not occasionally officiate in our Church would embarrass any persons but those who passed the statutes to that effect. In the Act of Union with Scotland, (sth Anne, c. 8, Art. 25, sec.VII.,) it is recited, as "reasonable and necessary that the true Protestant Religion, professed and established by law in the Church of England, and the doc trine worship, discipline, and government thereof, should be effectually and unalterably secured ;" and, therefore, it is enacted," That the Act of Uni formity shall rersain in force for ever." " It is a mutter of sincere congratulation to all " who would wish to promote such unions as those " alluded to, and to exalt the Church of England in " the eyes of all nations, that an Act received the " Royal Assent on the llth of July, 1823, regulating " ordination by the Bishop of Calmar), which among " other enactments contains the following, referring " to a person ordained either deacon or priest for " the diocese of Calcutta, only, ' That unless such " person shall be a British subject of, or belonging " to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire " land, he shall not be required to take and make " the oaths and subscriptions which persons ordained " in England are required to take and make.' Hence " it may be inferred that these oaths and subscrip " dons are not considered as indispensably necessary " under all circumstances."—P. 36. " It has been argued by some that the New Tes " tameut must contain a perfect model of ecclesias " tical discipline, so as to leave no room whatever " for human interference. They have said, if the " Law of Moses prescribed every pin of the taber " nacle, how much more should we expect that in " the Christian revelation nothing has been omitted ? " Having thus improperly commenced their reason " ings a priori, they have persuaded themselves that 4 ' the fact corresponds with their conclusion. The " true way would be, humbly to begin with what " has been done; and then we may be enabled in " some measure to see the wisdom of it. The " Mosaic economy was indeed exceedingly minute in " its delinca 4 o , •• ; but every candid reader must ad " mit, that noihing parallel to that exact precision is "to be found in the New Testament. Perhaps " the difference of the two dispensations may " account for the contrast. The former was cere " monial and typical ; the latter spiritual and " substantial. The former was burthensome and " limited; the latter free and universal. It is in " the nature of ceremonies to be minutely defined : " a religion of principles can accommodate itself to " circumstances without the slightest compromise. "An elementary dispensation kept its children " under tutors and governors : the gospel intro " duces all believers into the glorious liberty of " joint-heirs Is ith Christ. Specific plans, drawn, as " it were, with a rule and compass, are suitable to " the genius of such a national system as the Jewish; " but the Catholic Church required (if we may so " speak) a basis more liberal, capable of expansion " in the progress of time, and of adaptation in the " variety of regions. Do facts bear out these ob " servations ? Let us appeal to the record. In the " Levitical ritual the times of the solemn feasts " were fixed by Divine authority ; but there is no " precept for the periodical observance of the Lord's " Supper at any stated intervals. 'As often as ye " eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the " Lord's death until he comes.' The same Apostle " from whom this quotation is taken, has left \us " these inestimable general rules—' Let all things "be done to edifying--let all things be " done decently and in order.' But it is evident " that he made some regulations in the Corinthian " Church, which he did not think it necessary or " proper to deliver as models for all other churches " and all future ages. After he had reproved the " abuses of that Church, and given such instruc " tions as the case demanded, he concludes by pro " 'rising thus—' And the rest will I set in order " when I come.' In what manner he executed this " it is impossible for us to know ; and of course a " perfect imitation of Apostolic practice cannot be " our duty. But we may infer that the precise " modes of carrying into effect the general rules are " left to the discretion of those invested with " authority in the various members of the Christian " body. It is here that an opening exists for par " ticular churches to make particular rules, for the " attainment and preservation of order, provided " that nothing be contrary to the word of God, and " that all be done with a view to editcation."— P. 51 to 54. Some trifling deviations, for they are held and termed trifling, from the letter of our Liturgy, are established by usage, and sanctioned by our Bishops. " It may be said that in this case there is nothing " dangerous or reprehensible; and that the wisdom " of our ecclesiastical rulers is a sufficient guard " against abuse. But is not this granting the very " principle contended for ? Is not this a plain con " cession that the real practical safeguard is respon " sibility, and not the previous declaration which " the law requires ? Why, then, so fondly adhere to afruitfulparent of sin, while there are abund- " ant facts to make it ashamed of itself, and to " prove its incompatibility with the nature of man ? " Why not rather nobly trust in honesty and truth, in the intrinsic excellence of our forms of doc " trine and worship, and in the protection of that " God whose blessings cannot be expected except " upon that which can endure the light ? Let not the " language of our solemn declarations any longer be "at variance with the actual state of things. A " principle of accommodation exists and is avowed ; " let it not stand as a contradiction in the face of our " professions."—P. 56 to 57. " In the Britith Review, for August, 1823, the " following directions are given as extracts from the " Bishop of London's charge at his Lordship's " visitation, held in July, 1822. The allegiance " you owe to the church obliges you in every " particular of your professional conduct to look " to her for direction ; and where she either af " fords no definite rule or custom has superseded " her original practice, to yield substantial obedience " at least, by taking her principles for your guide." Again, ibid, "If we would give an effectual check " to the alarming diffusion of impious principles " among the lower ranks, and secure their ad ' herence to the establishment, we must act in " this respect on the views_ of the church, in 346- " stance, if not in form. The instruction which " was formerly given by this simple method in our " churches is now more expeditiously, and, as " far as regards the mere communication of know " ledge, more effectually taught in the national " schools." " Here is an express recognition of custom " superseding original practice ; substantial obedi " ence enjoined in some cases (of course instead of " literal), and a reference is made to principles for " our guidance. And further, the general advice " is exemplified by the substitution of instruction " in the national schools for the ancient method •' of catechising in the churches. But our assent " and consent 'are not given to customs, however " sanctioned, but to what is contained in the book "of Common Prayer. The Act of Uniformity does " not provide for the toleration of substantial obe " dience. What then is this, but as it were plead " ing necessity for a sort of dispensing power? " And, after all, trusting the degree of its exercise, " and therefore the guardianship of uniformity, to " the discretion of the Bishops, and not to the Act ? " How much better would it be to give legality " to a principle so confessedly right and necessary " that it forces itself into operation, and at the same " time to remove the guilt of professions which are " nut able to bear the test of truth." And, in conclusion, the following passage from page 43, may well be submitted to the serious con sideration of those who may be afraid to take ad vantage of the stream that is rising and lead it through deepened and proper channels, and may hereafter find themselves hurried away in the torrent. " It becomes us, in all humility and godly sin " cerity, to search and try our ways, and to re " move from among us every evil, as it is made manifest in the progress of Christian light, shin " ing brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. " Many things may have admitted excuse and pal " liation in the early stages of the reformation, •' which would now be inexcusable. Our fathers " were indeed men to whom it would be the ut " most arrogance not to look up with profound de " fence and veneration; but they were not altoge " tiler emancipated from the trammels of prejudice " and the Anti-Christian habits of preceding times. " No wonder that an age in which even Protestants " deemed it lawful in some cases to burn heretics, " should produce laws to bind conscience. Such " laws may force an outward-conformity, but they " cannot erect a steady fabric of living stones, ce " merited together by the divine attractions of truth " and love. There must be sufficient space for the " mind to move, and for the faculties to grow— " otherwise one moral or intellectual condition can " not be sound—on the other hand, wisdom and ex " perience are not to be thrown aside to make room " for the rashness of innovation." Your's respectfully, 11IXNCUNIENSIS. Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS, the Governor of New Brunswick, transacted business yesterday at the Co lonial Office. Lady MARY TAYLOR left town yesterday morning for Worthing, to enter on the duties of Lady in Waiting to the Princess AuousTA, in the room of Miss WYNYARD. The Prussian Minister visited the Russian Ambassador yesterday morning, at Ashlournham House, Dover-street. SATANIC INTERRUPTION OF A ROBBERY. —A few nights ago Pome burglars entered a barn in the neighbouthood of Stroud, and began helping themselves to some sacks of corn. They found the sucks too clumsy to remove with ease, and wished the devil might take the corn for being so heavy. At that moment a chimney sweep whom the farmer had allowed to sleep in the straw, made his appearance, and the villains supposing him by the light of their lanthorn to be the arch fiend they had just invoked, fled with all the precipitation the most un feigned terror could inspire. —Cheltenham Chronicle. 'THE WORLD OF FASHION. The portraits of Miss Fanny Kemble, as she appears in her different attitudes of Juliet and Bf4vidern, do credit to the proprietors of this Miscellany, which is further graced by a few ?losable articles. The " Bridal Dress" is a •ecnarkably rich engraving, and sits well on the 7,raceful young creature that wears it. THE POLAR:STAR. The first and second volume of this Miscel any, which is a continuation, on an improved a similar work entitled the Extractor, ire now tying before us. From the very cursory ;lance we have yet bee❑ able to cast on them, they ypear to be a well-selected collection of the most interesting tales, anecdotes, criticisms, essays on men, manners, and things, from the lifferent periodicals that have appeared for the last six months. We should add that the ma ority of these, where inconveniently long, have )een abridged with great skill and taste. PORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S. Tao bctting continues so extremely flat, that we can ►nly giver quotation of thy latest prices DERBY. 8 to 1 %get Sir Mark Wood's The Mummer 9 to 1 agst Mr. Petre's Brunswicker 12 to 1 agst Mr. Chifney'e Cressida colt 'l3 to. 1 agst Sir M. Wood's Cetus .14 to 1 sgst Lord Cavendish's Mouse (.6a 17 to 1 aget Lord Exeter's Mahmoud 20 to f aget Mr. Ramebottom's Zucharelli 20 to aget Lord Sefton's Sal colt 20 to agst Lord Cleveland's \Vat Tyler - 25 to 1 agst Lord Tavistock's Custari colt 26 to 1 agst Lord Sefton's Captain Arthur fis to k agat Lord Sligo's Brine 25 to i aget Lord Egremont's Brother to Grampus SO to I. aget Lord Sefton's 'Aloud* tO to 1 agst Mr. Petre's The Major 40 to 1 agat Mr. Houldsworth'a Brother to Lancastrian OAKS. 15 to 1 agst Lord Sefton's Mouebe 9 to ➢ agst Lord Queensberry's Sister to Emma 9 to 1 agst Mr. Stonehewer's Leeway filly i 3 to ; apt Lord Jersey's Filagree f. 16 to l apt Mr. Maberley's Zelus .17 to apt Lord Exeter's Slumla ST. LEGER. 9 to 1 aget Lord Cleveland's Raby 11 to 1 art Mr. Petre's Brunswicker 16 to 1 agst Mr. Richardson's Sir Nicholas .16 to 1 agst Duke of Leeds's Lady Mowbray 22 to 1 agat Mr. Petre's Reginald .21 , to 1 agat Colonel Cradock's The Barber. Court Journal of to-morrow, being the fret Number for 1830, will combine greater attractions haul of those which have preceded it. Among the kurnerons other papers will be one called " The Female ..Nttestrians of the year 1830," naming all the most dis inguisbed, characterising their style of dress, their mode ►4 riding, their horses, &e. ; but the article, which will, perhaps. excite still greater interest, particularly among lac Fesuale Nobility, is a Poem called " The Garland of Bearay," which names and characterises nearly all the mown women of the day who have peculiar personal at *Cow, to the number of about forty! Sandwich Haven is frozen so thick that per ,A9 are skating thereon—a circumstance rarely known so arty in the winter.—Kent Herald. . A rxilway, connecting the towns of Derb3, , lettieglaatn, and Lincoln, is in contemplation, and the asetlf -sad is stated to be particularly favourable as to the We).—. Lincoln Mercury. la',TH.—The new eastern pier, forming a . outinu?tiou of the old one, is now open to the public so ar . aa it goes. This, in good weather, will make one of hR . finest promenad es i mag i na b le, commanding a panora i; view of the Fifeslure shores, different from what could ie obtained previous to its extension.—Scotsman. A white hare was coursed and killed in the wish of Parracombe, on Thursday se'nnight near the nom-. by the greyhounds of the Rev. Mr. BLacsatoee, .f Charles. She is a doe hare, and apparently a leveret, weighing lb , hut of a pure white, not having a coloured lair on her.—Plymoutit Journal. EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE.--A NrSOU residing in Lower Seymour-street, Euston-square, tad three children, the eldest a girl of twelve years old, tow an idiot, and indulged in very extraordinary propel hiss. She delighted in inflicting pain on others, and was matinaally pinching and scratching her little brother and incr. She was sometimes permitted to walk on the flags *fore the door, and she always ran at every person that 'used by to stretch and pinch them in the same manner ; ad whenever she excited a complaint, she answered by a cad hysterical laugh of pleasure. It was found, how 'Tee, that if her hands were kept employed it was some ,estraint on this propensity ; and for this purpose they 'at them into a cord, which she pinched and eratehed as if it were a thing that had feeling, and oughed when she thought she inflicted pain on it. She was left the other day in a room with no one but her orotha, and sister. Her mother presently heard violent aught-r, and the other children ran out saying that her dna, z was on fire. Her mother, on entering the room, head her sitting on the carpet all in a blaze, and laughing Mry heartily. She had, it appeared, gone to the ire, istO which she put the cord, and the blaze running along t c ormkunicated to her dress. Every assistance was ren flered to her, but she WAS so burnt that she died the next ay 21 great agony. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.—A Paris Paper of Sunday contains the following relation :—" A young man, iccompanied by A female, who appeared rather older than h i mself, went to a low lodging-house, in the Rue de Gsl'lue, and hired a room for the night. They installed themselves in it directly, and hermetically stopped up all 'le t om. Yesterday evening, at ten o'clock, the master of the hou se becoming suspicious, went to the Commissary of Pan", *hr, immediately went back with him, accom panied by a surgeon. They knocked several times at the door ; and no answer bring returned, a locksmith was sent far in order to break it open. A most lamentable tacle pres en t e d i tse lf ; the two lovers were in bed, and spec were in a dying condition, from the effects of charcoal, which bad been placed in a large tureen by the side of the WI The most prompt succour was rendered to the un fortrnate beings, and in half an hour they were happily both restored to lif e . It appears that the young man was induced to make this attempt at suicide by the advice of his mistress, who finding that she had not a comfortable home, determined upon putting an end to her sufferings. Every necessary precaution had been taken to prevent the failur e of their plan ; they had both a large quantity of charcoal, and before their attempt to suffocate themselves they had made a will, which was found in their room, signed by them both. They have been sent to the hospi tal of La Charite, and are now almost recovered. The bong man appears glad that he has escaped from so im *Client a death ; but the woman, on the contrary, seems to regret that she has been saved, and has even openly declare,' her intention of relining herself from her do ale"is Rubles. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC! JOURNALS. We have received a quantity of correspond ence on the subject of the Bishop of London's having dismissed all the Whitehall preachers, and put the chapel, no doubt, under a new regime. Our correspondent of yesterday also, who signs himself " Clericus Londinenses," and who evidently belongs to that class of religionists called Evangelical, has put those who suppose themselves more orthodox into a terrible rage by approving of the act. We know nothing of the circumstances ; but this may, perhaps, be the first step of the rumoured reformation of the church ; and if so, as Sterne says by the document headed " Par le Itoi ," in the Sentimental Journey, "itis a pithy prolegomenon." The reason as signed by his Lordship we understand to be, the inconvenience arising from the variety of preachers, there being twelve in the year from either University, resident Fellows." The ques tion appears to us to be, has the institution al tered from its first commencement ? If so, his Lordship is right in recalling it to its original state : if not, it would be a singular and laugh able phenomenon in the church, for one Bishop to endow and appoint a variety of preachers ex pressly as a great convenience, and another to demolish and annihilate the institution of his predecessor, the variety being inconvenient. However, what do the Fellows mean to do ? Their best way of refuting our correspondent's charge, that " they are men of recluse and con tracted habit;," totally incapable of taking a part in the affairs of the world, is to look about them, and see whether the order for disbanding them be legal, and if not, to defend themselves. If they have no chance this way, silence,—silence will become thcon best. The names of the White lhal preachers, now at the time of the present dissolution, are— FROM OXFORD. I'. Wintle, B.D. St. John's FROM CAMBRIDGE. T. Musgrave, M.A. Trinity F. Shelford, B.D. Corpus J. Watts,M:A.Univerbity, E. Griffith, M.A. Merton - T. V. Short, M.A. Christ Christi G. A. Browne, M. A. Church C. T. Longley, M.A. Christ Trinity J. Graham, B.D. Christ's S. Tilbrook, B.D. Peter Church - - B. P. Symons, B.D. Wad- ham C. A. Ogilvie, M.A. Braze- House J. Griffith, B.D. Emanuel H. Robinson, M.A. St. nose W. Jackson, M.A. Queen's C. Rose, B.D. Lincoln Col-, lege T. T. Churton, Brazenose J. L. Richards, M. A. Exeter J. H. Newman, M.A. Oriel Reading Chaplains— J. H, Owen, M.A.— Times. John's H. 11. 13yam, M.A. King's G. Skinner, M.A. Jesus T. Dicke, M.A. Jesus H. Kirby, M.A. Clare Hall T. Crick, M.A. St. John's Howlett, 111,A. and 'William lhe account, which will be found in our Paper of this day, of the execution of the male factors at the Old Bailey, induces us to renew our remonstrances against the practice of suffer ing men, whom it is determined to punish for their crimes by death, to linger out so long an existence between conviction and their execu- The men who suffered yesterday were convicted at the last September Sessions: and how has this interval been passed ? In com municating with criminals out of doors,—in plans of escape,—in attempts at suicide,—and even in projects that might have occasioned the death of numbers of unsuspecting and unoffend ing Christian people. Ought this to be suf fered? We really can see no reason for it either in policy or humanity. In the first place, no thing would so effectually appal offenders at large as the apprehension of a speedy execution when death was determined on : and in the next place, the time which passes between these two awful epochs is but a time of torture, which the more it is shortened the better for the sufferer. Neither do we speak without regard to the duty of repentance ; but allowing time for repentance is allowing time for sinfulness also, in thought and conception, and by mental participation and misprison. If the criminal be really sensible of his guilt, he will not wait for human conviction before he endeavours to make his peace with his offended Maker. He has the time between his commitment and his trial ; and the effect pro duced upon his mind by the sentence of the law should not be seized and kept up with increas ing force till the moment of his execution, which for that purpose ought always to be near. But, according to the present reprehensible system, the man mingles with the world again in every thing but action, the effect of his sentence dies away, or recurs only at intervals ; and he usually has the work of religious preparation to begin, when it is announced to him that his death-warrant is signed.—lbid. The calamitous year of 1829 has at length come to a close, and its events, as well as the characters of those who have figured in it, are now matters of history. We give God thanks that it has ended, silently and miserably, like a disturbing dream : and that, having witnessed the perjuries, the follies, and the crimes of public men, it did not also witness their punishment, or the convulsions which such men and such mea sures were calculated to bring down, like the wrath of Heaven, upon a nation. It has passed away into the tomb loaded with the offences of degenerate statesmen—tainted with the revolting apostacy of needy courtiers and unprincipled placemen—and desecrated by more calamity and more unrighteous persecution than has marked any year since the accession of the house of Brunswick. When we look back on the transactions of the last twelve months we are at a loss to de cide whether we should express our surprise at what has occurred, or more execration of the men whose deeds do " Blur the grace and blush of modesty, Call virtue hypocrite"— 1011. " 0 such a deed, As from the body of contraction plucks The very soul, and sweet religion makes A rhapsody of words." It is difficult to determine whether the inju ries these men have inflicted, or the apathy with which their injuries have been suffered by the nation, are most to be detested or lamented. Yet sure we are the guilt has carried with it its own punishment. Sure we are that our indiffer ence to our own interests, our indifference where the public morals were concerned, our indiffer ence where the ascendancy of the reformed reli gion was at stake, has been visited upon the nation in terrible judgment, to such a degree that a state of profound peace has been scourged with all the manifold terrors and privations of a state of war. We could not be a poorer, a more divided, a more oppressed, or a more unhappy people, if we actually were an invaded and conquered country. We could not suffer the pangs of hunger more acutely, nor could crimes be more numerous, nor could discontent be more general, if the war horses of France trampled over our corn-fields, and every city and town in the united kincidom were garrisoned by foreign soldiers. We are humbled even in our own eyes by our own mea sures—we are reduced to helpless penury by our own speculations—our foreign policy is the laughing-stock of all Europe—at home the hum blest artisan ridicules the specifics of the Minis t; r, and the destitute veteran, as he exhibits his rags, thinks of Waterloo with a sigh, and de plores the ruin which its hero has inflicted on his country. Twelve months ago the nation in dulged the sanguine belief that the Duke of Wellington would correct the policy and the errors of his predecessors. During the Ad ministrations of Mr. Canning and Lord Gode rich, his Grace was the leader of the opposition phalanx in the House of Lords. He opposed Mr. Canning's Corn Bill on grounds which he abandoned when he became Minister. He re sisted, when he recorded his ideas of . political madness, that very measure which he al;proved when his notions of madness were exploded, and when he was raised to a situation for which he candidly avowed himself disqualified. He re sisted Mr. Carming's Emancipation Bill, and carried it afterwards in the force of his own protestations and opinions. Lord Lyndhurst did the same. The Chancellor, on a moment's notice, forgot the sentiments of the Master of the Rolls. Mr. Peel became a different man after his second birth in Westbury. His uni versity sentiments were thawed by the congenial refraction from the obscure furnace of a Jew jobber. Honour became an obsolete and inde finable term. The consciences of public men were bought and sold like stale rab bits in an overstocked market. Con sistency was bartered for a song. Pride was melted in the crucible of self inte rest, and character deemed as worthless as the commodities in Rag-fair. Thus, fron: the noblest position, the Minister, in one evil hour, sunk to one of the deepest obloquy and shame—fiom a station of honour to one of re proach—from a point of dignity and reverence to one of execration and contumely. But, not withstanding all this, when the Duke of Wel lington was placed by his Sovereign in that high place which he has desecrated and disho noured—when he was raised to that station which it was thought he would fill with honour to himself and advantage to the country—all eyes looked up to him with hope—all hearts were flushed with expectations. He was sup ported generally by the Press. The Times alone, now his greatest slave, censured the ap pointment, and libelled him in the grossest man ner. The mass of the people were satisfied, and anxiously looked forward to his introduction of some measures of amelioration—to some correc- Lion of the fallacious and pernicious system that prevailed—to some cure for the million evils in flicted upon us by Mr. Huskisson, the economists, and the liberals. That the Duke of Wellington has disappointed the hopes of the nation it would be a mere waste of words and time to labour to de monstrate. Look at his position then, and look at what it is now. Look how low he has fallen, not in the estimation of his King only, but in the estimation of the nation at large. Look at the condition of the country when - he came into power, and contrast it with the rags, the misery, the discontent, and the despair of the present moment. Look at the situation of the proud people who trusted him, and who now execrate him—at the hopes he inspired, and the con tempt he has provoked—and the magnanimity and fame he leant upon, and the hatred and mistrust he has engendered. Look at the Duke of Wellington when his character as a states man was brighter than his sword, and consider him now, with the deep and dark stains of per -secution upon his reputation—the cries of the hungry cursing his policy—the clergy of the Protestant Church lamenting his apostacy—the ship-owner complaining of broken promises— the agricultural labourer a pauper, and the weaver toiling at his loom without the comforts of a fire. Look at his former opinions and his present libe ralism—the Tory of former times herding with rapacious. Whigs—the idol of Lord Eldon court ing the smiles of Lord Rosalyn—the associate of Lord Liverpool twirling the crirls of Lord Ellenborough—the supporter of Lord London derry dandling Lord Holland—the hero of Wa terloo sitting with Sir George Murray—the col league of Lord Wallace discussing the rule of three at the Board of • Trade with Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald—and the admirer of Sir Charles Wetherell the employer of Sir James Scarlett, the importation of a slave-ship, member of the brigand of reporters, an old hack of the news papers by which he earned his bread, and the supercilious and malignant persecutor of his former opinions. All this is melancholy as re gards the times in which we live—it is disgust ing as regards the character and the professions of the Duke of Wellington. But, distressing as are these coincidences, the condition of the country induces much more painful feelings. We pass by here the Duke's nefarious conduct on the Catholic question. We pass by his hypocrisy and deceit. We pass over his sophistry and inventions. We pass by his mere military tricks by which he betrayed his friends and alarmed his Sovereign ; and we come at once to the condi tion in which he has, with his eyes open, and surrounded by all his apostate associates, plunged this now unhappy country. in the commencement of 1829, the utmost re liance was reposed in his measures. Russia had been frustrated in her first attempt upon Turkey. The interference of England to pre.. serve the balance of power in Europe, and pre vent further aggrandizement, was expected.-- The struggling interests of the nation required protection, and the inroads of foreign compe titors required investigation and correction,— The wool•growers called for inquiry and redress. The silk-weavers were going fast to ruin, and they relied on the generous interposition of the Minister. The ship-owners had the year before been promised the anxious attention of the Pre mier. The glovers were reduced to wretched ness, and they naturally looked up to the Duke of Wellington. The lethargic proprietors of the West Indies, and their still more lethargic agents, confided their cares to the guardianship of the Duke of Wellington. The country saw its cheap currency anathematised by a former Administration, and they hoped for redress at the new Premier's hands. The tide of cala mity had set in with a strong current, and the country looked for resistance and relief from the hero of Waterloo. Their eyes were even then opened to the visionary and fallaciouspolicy of the Canning and Goderich Cabinets, and they placed the utmost dependence upon the wiser measures of the then favourite of the King. Alas ! how have they been disappointed ? The first grand act of the session was a fraud—the first innova tion a flagrant insult to the house of Brunswick. The peace of the country was not only wantonly endangered, but the tenure by which our Pro testant princes hold their right to the throne was openly, mercilessly, and ieklessly, violated by the Ministry. All other interests were merged in the carrying of this one guilty and unconsti tional measure. The rights of merchants, and the interests of agriculturists and manufacturers, were all overlooked in the exertions made to precipitate this pemicipus ineows. WI loogan