The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-12 00:00:00

SWITZERLAND.

The conflicts which have arisen in the cantons of
Neufchatel, Fribourg, and Vaud, respecting the
establishment of the railroads which are to connect
central and western Switzerland, have determined
the central Government to submit to the federal
assembly a measure which will decide that question.
The assembly is to meet on the 21st January to
consider the matter.

THE RING OF SARDINIA AND TUE
I.ELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sp.,—May I request you to publish in your paper
the accompanying memorial to his Majesty the
King of Sardinia, and the gracious reply which I'
had, the honour to receive as chairman of the com-
mittee ?—Your very obedient servant,
Dec. 11. SHAFTESBURY.

"To HIS MAJESTY VICTOR EMMANUEL IL, KING OP

SARDINIA.

"Sire,—We whose names are undersigned, officially
connected with various societies representing almost all
bodies of British Christians, desire to express to your
Majesty the satisfaction which we feel in common with
all our friends, at the coruial alliance which exists be-
tween your Majesty and our gracious Sovereign, of which
your Majesty's visit to this country is a gratifying proof.
"Observing, as we have done with sincere pleasure,
the enlightened policy of your Majesty's Government,
we beg with profound respect to offer to your Majesty
our grateful acknowledgments fur the liberty which has
been granted to our fellow Christians in Sardinia, your
Majesty's faithful and loyal subjects, who do not belong
to the Roman Catholic Church.

' We venture to aqiure your Majesty that the defer-
ence which has thus been shown t, the supreme autho-
rity of Him by whom kings reign and princes decree
justice,' and who claims it as his divine prerogative to
be the only Lord and Sovereign of the human conscience,
has been and will be to the people of this country the
occasion of many and devout thanksgivings, and of their
earnest prayers, that it may please Almighty God lon
to preserve your Majesty at the head of a free people
and a constitutional Government, and by his blessing to
make your reign increasingly prosperous and happy.
'• We are assured that there is no greater security for
the throne of monarchs on the one band, and for the
prosperity of their subjects qn the other, than the main-
tenance of the principles that it is the right of all men to
worship God and profess their faith according to their
own conviction of Christian truth and duty, in every
way which is not contrary to morals or good order, or
to that obedience to Government which the Word of
God enjoins. And we therefore humbiy present to your
Majesty the expression of our earnest hope, that the
religious liberty which is now enjoyed in Sardinia by
your Majesty's eracions favour may be secured to all
classes of your Majesty's bubjects by bringing the laws
of the country into harmony with this great truth.
" Should your Majesty, under the blessing of God,
accomplish this most desirable and important object, it
will not only be the greatest benefit which your Majesty
could confer upon Serdiiiia, but it will attract to your
Majesty the admiration and bympatbies of all free and
enlightened nations, and-history will record your Ma-
jesty's honoured name among the most renowned Princes
in Italy and her-moat-illustrious benefactors.

" J. B. CANTUAR (Archbishop of Canterbury), Presi-
dent of the Society for Promoting Chriatian Know-
ledge.
SHAFTESBURY, President of the British and Foreign
Bi)le Society.
YIARROWBY, Vice-President of the Bible Society and
Church Missionary Society.
A. KINNAIRD, Vice-President of the Colonial Church
and School Society.
GALLOWAY, Vice-President of the Church Missionary
Society.
ROBERT BICKERSTETH, HOD. Sec. to the Irish Church
Missionary Society.
C. MELBOURNE (Bishop of Melbourne), Vice-Presi-
dent of the Society for the Propagation of the Gos-
pel, Bible Society, &c.
E. E. VERNON HARCOURT, Vice Chairman of the
Council of the British Branch of the Evangelical
Alliance.
Sir CULLING EARDLEY EARDLEY, Bart., President
of the British Branch of the Evangelical Alliance.
R. ALEXANDER, Major General, Life Governor and
Member of the Committee of the Church Missionary
Society.
PETER LA TROBE, Secretary to the Church and Mis-
sione of the United (or Moraviau) Brethren.
EDWARD STEANE, D.D., Honorsry Secretary to the
Committee for the Promotion of Religious Liberty.
Sir THOMAS DYKE ACLAND, Bart., Vice-President of
the Bible Society- and Church Missionary Society.
Sir HARRY VERNET, Bart., Home and Colonial School
Society.
Sir S. MORTON PETO, Bart., Treasurer of the Baptist
Missionary Society,"
And 69 others.

Reply of his Majesty the King of Sardinia, read by
the Sardinian Ambassador, the Marquis d'Azeglio, to
the deputation, and transmitted to the Earl of Shaftes-
bury, Chairman of the Committee for Promoting Re-
ligious Liberty :--
" Meskieurs, —Je vous rends grieve de la marque de
sympathie quo vous venez ins donner aujourdhui.
"Les reformes qui ont j marqu6 mon regne
soot l'indice le plus sur pour juger des principes qui me
dirigent. Pour titre durables, elles doivent marcher avec
l'esp-At du siècle et dependre des lois de la prudence.
Je me plais croire quo nous sommes tous d'acoord sur
co point.

"II m'ezt Men agreablo do voit les efforts quo j'ai
faits pour assurer Is liberte de conscience dans toes tats
dignement applai63 par les priucipaux representans de
l'epinion rgiigiense en Angleterre. Dies sujets out 6,;ale-
ment compris rues sentimens cot cljard, et se soot
montr33 en tour points dignea de l'emancipation qui
lenr a 6..6 accord4o sur ce.point important.
"Jo me plais, Messieurs, s voir dans la perite de ces
tendances uu trait d'union de plus entre nos deux pays.
" VITTORIO EMMANUELE."

Translation.
" Gentlemen,—l return you my thanks for the ex-
pression of sympathy which you have this day given me.
"The reforms which have hitherto marked my reign
are the most certain index by which to judge of the
principles that guide rue. These reforms, in order to be
lasting, must advance with the spirit of the age and de-
pend upon the laws of prudence. I rejoice to believe
we are all agreed on this point.
" It le very gratifying to me to see the efforts which I
have made to insure liberty of conscience in my States
worthily appreciated by the principal representatives of
religious opinion in England. My subjects have equally
comprehended my sentiments in that respect, and have
shown themselves in every way worthy of the emanci-
pation which has been conceded to them in this import.
ant matter.
" It is a satisfaction to me, gentlemen, to see in the
similarity of these tendencies an additional bond of
union between our two countries.
"vrrromo EMMANUELE."

DEATH OF JONES THE PUGILIST.—The prize fight
which took place yesterday between Madden and Jones
has terminated fatally. One of the principals in the
affair, Jones, died this morning, at Long Reach, at
about half-past two, from the injuries he received
during the fight.
ILLNESS OF ME. JOSEPH STURGII.—We regret to state
that our highly esteemed townsman has bees suffering
from illness of a dangerous character. The disease is
erysipelas iu the head, and for several days Mr. Sturge
was in a perilous condition. On Friday morning he was
rather better.—Birniinghant Journal.
Tier Maje,ty has commanded the publication of the
sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Caird, of Errol, in
Craithie Church, in October last, during her Majesty's
sojourn at Balmoral. The sermon is entitled "The Re-
ligion of Comm or Life." It is no ,ecret about B.slnioral
(says the Glasgow Daily Mail) that Prince Albert ex-
pressed his high satistaction with Mr. Cainfa pulpit
discourse and appearance by stating that he had not
heard a preacher like him for seven years, and did not
expect to enjoy a like pleasure for so long a period to
come.
Films IN ALDERSGATE-STREET.—About half-past 12
o'clock this morning a fire broke out on the premises of
Messrs. Gash, Wright, and Co., distillers and recti-
fiers, of Aldersgate-street, which in a very short time
destroyed a large amount of property. The establish•
moat abuts on Castle-street, Falcon-sgeare, and the iu•
habitants of this confined locality were greatly alarmed
for souse time after the outbreak, but the timely arrival
of several engines and a full supply of water happily re-
lieved their anxiety in less than an hour. The lliOnr
portion of Messrs. Gash's premises having burnt itself
out, the fire was retidily got under without damage to
the adjoining property. beyond a few broken windows
and scorched panels. The Aldersgwastreet front of the
distillery is not damaged, and the business will soon be
resumed. The fire-escapes were on the spot, and Mr.
Braidwood directed ,his corps with his accustotned deci-
sion and energy.