The Press.
London, England, 1858-07-10 00:00:00

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660

THE WEEK.

IT is now quite understood that her Majesty and the Prince Consort will
visit the Emperor NAPOLEON at Cherbourg at the commencement of the
next mouth, and will afterwards proceed up the Rhine to Coblentz, there
to meet the Prince and Princess FREDERICK 'WILLIAM of PausslA. Re-
turning to Osborne, her Majesty, after a short stay, will take her journey
northward, visiting Leeds at the end of August, and thence proceeding to
Balmoral. _

We have just heard that a rumour was spread in Paris yesterday that
another unsuccessful attempt on the Emperor's life had been made by an
Italian at Plombieres. We cannot learn that this rumour has reached
the best-informed quarters in this country, and we give it no credit. But
we are bound to report thus much—that such a rumour was in circulation
in Paris when our letters came away.

The progress of public business is most satisfactory. The India Bill
was read a third time in the House of Commons on Thursday night,
amidst much cheering, Lords PALMERSTON and JOHN RUSSELL joining in
the vote ; the former Noble Lord, as he said, " giving, not a grudging,
but a cordial and hearty assent." It was introduced to the Peers
last night, and the second reading was fixed for Thursday next,
—the committee to follow on Friday. So that this great measure
may be finally passed by Monday or Tuesday week. The Bill for
the purification of the Thames was promised by the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER "early next week." As this may be a brief and simple mea-
sure, it need not occupy the Houses more than a few days. The 26th is
the day now spoken of for the Prorogation.
We are happy to add, that the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER an-
nounced last night the purpose of the Government to bring in a Bill for
the commutation of Church-rates early in the next session.

Sir Joint TRELAWNY, having done the Church as much open mischief
as he could, by pushing a Bill for the abolition of Church-rates, for the
first time, through the House of Commons, now turns aside to do her
a still worse turn in a quieter and more insidious way. He knows that
it is a matter of non qtant lamentation, that too many of the working
classes neglect public worship. lie knows, also, that those of them who
do attend, find the afternoon and evening services the most suitable
and convenient. He therefore proposes to open during that part of the
day the public galleries and museums, to draw away the working men
from the House of God. Reckoning on the known courtesy of the
members of the present Government, and on their desire to oblige, Sir
Jousr TRELAWNY introduced, a few days since, a deputation to the Marquis
of SALISBURY, to request his Lordship to consent to the opening, on
Sunday, of the Sheepshanks Gallery and other collections under his
authority. The deputation dwelt, in the usual strain, on the benefits which
might thereby be conferred on the working-classes. The Marquis reminded
them that there was the obvious drawback, that the servants of those
institutions would be deprived of their day of rest. To which they rejoined
with the usual plea, that the interests of the few ought to give way to
the interests of the many. This plea, however, is deceptive ; and those
who use it know that it is so. They apply for the opening of a single
institution, such as the British Museum, or the Sheepshanks Gallery;
and they urge that the persons who will suffer privation by such an
opening are but few. But they well know that if the principle be once
conceded, the practice must grow and become general, till those who
will have Sabbath-labour imposed on them will be reckoned by tens of
thousands. Of course, to open one public gallery or museum is to admit
that it would be right to open all. The pressure would be continued, till
all such places under the authority of Government were so opened. Next,
how could the prohibition of the Sunday opening of the Crystal Palace be
continued, if the British Museum and the National Gallery had been
opened? Clearly, the thing would be impossible. Could one private
speculation like the Crystal Palace be allowed to open, and others, like the
Great Globe, or the Polytechnic, be obliged to remain shut? This could
never be thought of. All exhibitions must be free to open on Sundays,
as on other days of the week. Would it be deemed right to exhibit paint-
ings, but not to perform music ? Such a distinction would be absurd, and
could not for a moment be defended. But if musical performances were
reckoned legal, the question would immediately arise, What musical per-
formances ? Could we have a censor of the orchestra, with authority to
permit "God save the Queen," and "Rule Britannia," but not the "Bay
of Biscay " ? No; musical performances of all kinds must be everywhere
allowed. St. James's Hall and St. Martin's Hall would be rivals of St.
James's and St. Martin's Churches. Nor would it long be possible to
draw a distinction between performances in a hall and performances in
a theatre. Sunday, then, made the universal holiday and day of exhibition
and sight-seeing, implies at once the labour of thousands. But this is
only the beginning of the evil. The sanctity of the day being abandoned—
the commandment of Go') being thrown aside, what is to protect the work-
ing classes front the demands of their employers ? If it is lawful for me to
amuse myself, and to compel other men to work that I may be amused, it
must be lawful for me to work myself. Hence, if any employer demands
my services, it becomes a mere question whether I am strong enough to