The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-25 00:00:00

ferences reconciled. I confess I dislike the conditional
declaration of independence adopted at last Assembly. I
thought it unnecessary, and I feel it prejudicial ; for we
are often taunted with the Act of the Assembly in Is-
pealing the Auchterarder case to the House of Lords. 1
The Dean of Faculty, in pleading before the Lords of
Session, n►akes repeated and contemptuous allusio s to
those misty notions, which are too ethereal to be bodied
forth in language. If there is one thing of which I
am more confident than another, it is that here all
philosophy is on our side. Not Christianity alone, but
a thousand other subjects have relations to native
I antipathies and approvals, resting on the most legiti-
mate foundation, hut not without reasons—reasons
theply felt yet incapable of being adequately commu-
nic tted. I cannot imagine a more painful spectacle
thin to see such men—once the pride and the pre-
Besting sa't of our land—placed under the rough
handling of a jeering ungodly advocate, while coarse
contemptuous clergymen were looking on and enjoy-
ing the spectacle ; while the loud laugh from the seat
of the assembled ,corners completed the triumph over
religion. Such was the policy of Dr. Robertson, so
highly lauded of late in high places—a policy which
dissevered the Church from the families of Scotland
—a policy of which the re-enactment now threat-
ened would make your Establishment not worth
three years' purchase.—(Hear.) And ye professing
friends of orthodoxy', have a care lest by a too resolute
adherence to old prejudices, you strip the Church of
all her moral weight. Think of the deadly enemies by
whom we are surrounded ; and beware, lest by division
you alienate the affections of the people of Scotland.
The just discernment of Gospel truths on the part of
our home-bred peasantry, though they are unable to
as-ign the principles of reason on which they proceed,
is not more marvellous than their just perception, but
inability to assign the philosophy of taste. Let it be
recollected that the method of receiving objections to
presentees was as little warranted as the veto act in
the opinion of the House of Lords ; and if we fall
back on that principle, as the Reverend Doctor pro-
poses, other cases may be brought before the Civil
Courts similar to it, cut down by actual decision.
It is . better at once to get a measure sanc-
tioned by Parliament. Every fresh rebut can
only weaken the Church, till we may be brought
so low, that if the blow of annihilation be in-
flicted, we shall fall without regret.—( Hear, hear).
Really, troubled times bring into juxtaposition very
strange bed-fellows ; and we find ultras in Patronage
leagued with the ultras of Chartism and Radicalism.
Look you to it. The whole community will bid God-
speed to the patriotic labours of those to whom the task
of adjusting the present difficulties shall be committed ;
and if the Government with whom the negotiation may
be conducted, is one which is anxious to uphold ancient
institutions, respect will be had to the constitution of
the Church ; and it may be well understood between
the two parties, aiming at a common object, that all
temporary awkwardness, arising from particular cases
being undisposed of, shall be overlooked. I can say
that liberal concessions of the most extensive holders
of ecclesiastical patronage will not be wanting.—
(Hear.) If there be one object which I have more
at heart than another, it is to harmonize the upper
with the lower classes of society ; aed I do hope
it will serve to temper the violence of the out-
burst of popular feeling, when it is known that very
mar.y of our patrons are willing to submit tneir
prerogatives to any regulations which may be found best
for the good of Christianity.—( Hear, hear.) They are
willing to give up freely and ungrudgingly their legal
and hereditary rights to secure the peace and moral ad-
vantage of the community ; and they are most desirous
of a popular check on their own powers. It is not only
that this shall be, but their own conviction that this
must be. Even amidst the symptoms of a coming ex-
plosion there are elements of adjustment ; and the ark
of our Zion, after being tossed among the billows, shall,
with the breeze of an approving Heaven, amidst the gal-
lant and skilful seamanship of her best men, pass unda-
maged through the perils that surround her, and reach a
haven where she shall repose in safety. After referring to
a pamphlet, entitled " What is the Duty of the Church,"
which recommended that the Church should be popu-
larized when the Government was popularized, the Rev.
Doctor concluded by proposing his motion, (which ap-
peared in The Sun of Thursday).
Dr. Meta rose and said he could not coincide with
the tendency and bearings of either of the propositions.
After a short speech, he moved a resolution to the
effect, that a Committee be appointed to consider and
report as to the plan which may be best calculated for
attaining the end they had in view, and whereby, con-
sistently with the acknowledgment and enforcement of
such civil rights as are recognized by the law of the
land, the spiritual interests of the Christian people, the
judicial character and privileges of the Ecclesiastical
Courts, and the professional character and usefulness
of probationers, may be effectually maintained, and the
union between Church and State preserved entire.

The Earl of DALHOUSIE seconded the resolution.
Dr. BRYCE said that the simple question before the
House was, whether they would abide by the system of
1834, or whether they would return to the state of the
case which existed before the introduction of that illegal
act. He confessed that it appeared to him passing
strange that a single doubt should linger around that
question.—(Laughter.) For himself he had no difficulty
• - - •

whatever in answering it. He would go farther, an

say that when he saw the hesitation arising around him,
he felt inclined to doubt whether he was speaking to
honest men and clergymen.—(Cries of " Oh, oh,"
" Order, order," followed by loud and prolonged hissing.)

The PROCURATOR said he did not rise to allude to
the remarks of Dr. Bryce, but merely to state that it
was not consistent with the character of that House to
indulge in hisses.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. TisomPsoN, Dundee, said, he would not defend
the hissing, but he thought the language of Dr. Bryce
highly improper.—(Hear, hear.)
Dr. BILYCE continued—lf ever there was pledge
given by a body of men, it was the one voluntarily
given by that House when they appealed the case of
Auchtetarder to the House of Peers, that they would
acquiesce in the result. No man pretending to candour
and honesty could deny that the plain language of that
appeal was that whatever the decision should be, it
should be obeyed.—(Great confusion.)
Mr. E. MONTEITH rose to order. The Rev. Doctor
who moved the second resoltvion had stated that he
held a very different interpretation of the subject in
question from that now stated by Dr. Bryce ; and was
the House still to be told that no man of candour or
hanesty could hold that opinion.—" Hear, hear," and
" Go on.")
Dr. BRYCE said, that the motion of Dr. Cook was
directed to the point, how, under the circumstances in
which the Church was placed, they were to instruct
their Presbyteries to act. The instructions of his
Reverend and Learned Friend were very distinct and
very precise. His (Doctor B.'s) objections both to
the motion of Doctor Chalmers and that of Doctor
Muir was, that they did not meet the circumstances in
which the Church was placed. The Church had to
consider not only what they should do in the particular
case of Mr. Young, but how they should dispose of
the other cases which ntight arise, and these circum-
stances the motion of his Reverend and Learned Friend,
met honestly and openly. He was strongly of opinion,
that the only course which the Assembly could pursue,
in consistency with their appeal to the House of Peers,
in obedience of the law of the land, in regard to the
interests of the Church as an Establishment, was the
course pointed out in the motion of his Rev. and
Learned Friend Dr. Cook, to which he for one should
give his most cordial support.
After some further discussion, Dr. Coox replied,
when a division took place—
For Dr. Muir's amendment .. l6l
For Dr. Chalmers's
Majority —36
And on another division on the original question and
Dr. Chalmers's amendment, there were—

For Dr. Cook's motion 155
For the amendment
Majority 49
The House adjourned at tw•o o'clock this morning.

ADDRESS TO THE QUE.:I'N FROM
THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF
LONDON.

Yesterday a very numerous deputation from the Com-
mon oouneil of the City of London, waited upon the Lord
Mayor, and presented the following requisition to his
Lordship :
To the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor of the City of
London.
We. the undercigued members of the Court of Com-
mon Council request your Lordship will convene a Court
i,f Common Council on an early day, to consider the ex-
pediency of presenting an Address to her Majesty on the
recent trying circumstances in which her Majesty has been
placed, and expressing the confidence of the Court that
her Majesty:will be guided in her counsels by such Minis-
ters only as will earnestly exert themselves to procure the
extention and confirmation of the liberties and franchise of
the people, recognize equal civil rights, without distinc-
tion of sect or party ; improve the condition of the working
classes, and promote the cause of universal education.

Dated this 20th May, 1839.
This requisition was signed by 82 members.
The Lord Mayor fixed next Thursday for the discuision
on the subject.
It is expected that an amendment will be proposed,
and a long and vigorous contest may be anticipated.