The Sun.
London, England, 1837-12-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THIMMAY, 1)VCRIVIBEll 2i, isit

with the wishes of the Kent constituency.
petition was handed to the sixty-nine freeholders o
Eltham, and signed by no less than sixty-four r' Can
there be a stronger or more convincing proof of the
necessity of the Ballot, than is contained in the above
passage ? We could adduce many other instances of
a similar character ; but the question is one so
generally understood, that it would be superfluous to
attempt to throw new lights cti it by means of
further practical arguments. Suffice it, therefore,
to say, that the Ballot is a protection to which the
people feel that they have a legitimate right ; and that
it is a question which they will never cease to agitate
until it be settled in their favour, even though by per-
tinaciously insisting on it they occasion the abrupt
evanishment of Lord JOAN RUSSELL from the
Treasury Bench. That we do not speak without
warrant, is evident from every day's experience.
Meetings in favour of the Ballot are taking place in
all parts of the country ; and it is edifying to ob-
serve how different is the language now held, from
that held but one short year since, on the same
subject. The Noble Lord, by his recent cavalier
declarations, has put an end to a world of ceremony.
He has compelled the people to speak out without
reserve or disguise ; to come at once to the point in a
blunt, business-like fashion ; and boldly insist on the
Ballot, where before—in the confident hope that Mi-
nisters were not decidedly hostile to it—they con-
tented themselves with the mild language of suppli-
cation. We are grateful to his Lordship for having
drawn forth this energetic spirit. It is a reviving draught
of which we stood much in need. Had we continued our
old fashion of measured and courteous remonstrance,
never should we have had even a chance of obtain-
ing the Ballot ; but now that we are rousing our-
selves—now that we are showing our teeth and set-
ting up our bristles—in n word, now that we are
giving daily proofs that we are really in earnest, and will
not be diverted from our end even by the frowns of a
scion of the house of Bedford—why, now that we ate
acting in this determined spirit, there is every hope
of our efforts being crowned with success. We must
take care, however, that we do not sink back into
lethargy. The exertions we make to-day we must re-
peat to-morrow, or we shall be in a worse position
than we were in before we stirred. The general sense
of the country must be manifested boldly and unequi-
vocally, before the question of the Ballot comes on
for discussion in the House of Commons ; or its op-
ponents will make a point of urging the usual stale
objection, that the pear is not yet ripe.

The

The Birmingham " Loyal and Constitutional Asso-
ciation"—a Society of Tories, under the above title—
held their annual meeting at Dec's Royal Hotel, Bir-
mingham, on Tuesday last. Due notice of this im-
portant event was given in the Tory Papers, and every
means adopted to secure a gathering upon the occa-
sion. But alas !—man is born to disappointments and
sorrow, and nobody but a Tory would think of claiming
exemption from the lot of humanity. The hour of
meeting arrived, the Noble President, the Earl of
BRADFORD, had his speech cut and dry for the once.
sion—all the officers of the Society were in attendance
—a goodly row of benches was provided ; but the
Members of this Society---where were they ?
About fifty or sixty answered to the muster-roll—all
that could be collected in town and country on this
memorable occasion ! The Times, and other Tory
papers, will probably magnify this affair into a most
" numerous and respectable meeting," and talk of a
" reaction" in Birmingham in favour of Conservatism :
but believe it not. If such an impudent falsehood is
attempted to be foisted upon the public, pray set it
down as a TORY LIE! The funds of the Society,
like many of its members, are in a deplorable state of
decay, the best proof of which is afforded by the fact,
that they could not muster sufficient to get up a dinner,
as has been the custom for the last three years.
Nothing but a guzzle can catch the gudgeons, and
make the Tories eloquent► But when there is neither
money nor credit, what is to be done ? Just endea-
vour to make a virtue of necessity (the only virtue it
must be acknowledged that is found amongst Tories)
—they say that the " present distressed state of the
trade of Birmingham renders this a very inopportune
season for political feasting" II I What sympathy
for the suffering poor I What more than Roman
heroism ! What noble, what exalted self-denial I
The Tories of Birmingham feel so much for die wants
of their fellow-creatures, that they could not think,
poor souls, for the life of them, of indulging in a
dinner. Surely such men never could have lavished
money, under the old Corporation rule, in feasting and
corruption, while their poorer brethren were starving
around them I

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

PROTEST AGAINST THE MUNICIPAL OFFI

CERS' DECLARATION BILL.

DISSENTIENT :-

1. Because the declared purpose of the Bill is to relieve
persons whose conscientious scruples prevent them from com-
plying with the existing law; and it is the avowed principle of
the Bill that no class of men ought to be excluded from civil
office on account of their religious opinions. Nevertheless,
the operation of the Bill is confined to three classes of Dis-
senters alone, as if its principle did not extend equally to all.
2. Because this violation of principle, and this injustice to-
wards all who arc thus excluded from the benefit of the pro-
posed Act, is not justified by a consideration of the numbers
whom it will relieve—these being a very small, though re-
spectable body of persons.
3. Because, even in the relief proposed to be given ti those
persons, there is a wide departure from the true principles of
Religious Liberty, by the declaration of religious belief which
is exacted. This declaration is framed upon the assumption
that the State has a right to inquire into the spiritual faith of
its subjects—a position which has been the stronghold of in-
tolerance in all ages ; and may still, if maintained, be used to
defend every kind of persecution.

BROUGHAM.
RADNOR.
DENMAN.
VASSALL HOLLAND.

FIRE A,T OSCOT COLLEGE,

(PROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT BIRMINGHAM.)
Wednesday Night.
Information reached Birmingham last night, by a messenger,
sent express, for all the fire-engines which could be spared, that
the Roman Catholic College of Oscot, Staffordshire, was in
flame•. The intelligence has spread the greatest alarm through-
out the town, and we anxiously look for further particulars re.
spccting this sad event.

TO TILE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Birmingham Fire Office, Dec. 20, 1837.
Sia,—Being informed by Mr. Mansell of his having for-
warded to you a report of a fire at the New Catholic College,
near Birmingham, I am requested by him to state (since my
return therefrom), some further particulars respecting it. On
arriving with the engines, I found the fire had broken out in an
upper story,where some carpenters had been employed, and
had made a fire in an open fire-place, and in consequence of
the proximity of the timbers of a part of the roof adjoining (the
brickwork being roughly pointed), they had taken fire, but
being early discovered, the fire was extinguished, with damage
not exceeding five pounds in amount. find the fire attained
an ascendancy, no doubt, from the extremely high wind, and
the scarcity of water on the spot, the whole building would
have been consumed.

I am, Sir, your's, respectfully,
JOHN SIAINIONS, Secretary.

The Duchess Countess of Sutherland will give her
last dinner party before the Christmas recess this evening, in
Hamilton-place : her Grace, with the Duke and Duchess of
Sutherland, will join the party about to assemble for the ho-
lydays, at Lord Francis Egerton's delightful seat, Oatlands.
The Archbishop of York is receiving a large circle
of friends at Bishopthorpe, his seat near York.
An annual tax has just been laid upon dogs, from
the Ist of January, 1838, in all the towns and communes of
the province of Brabant, in Belgium, and is fixed as follows:-
3.A per head for every greyhound; sf. per head for sporting
dogs of every description ; and 2f. per head for all other dogs.
The only dogs exempt from the tax are those that serve to
lead the blind. The net produce of these taxes will be applied
as an encouragement to the communes for paving the roads,
widening and giving regularity to the streets, constructing
bridges and other public works, and for the improvement of
the communications.

CHANCERY COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

The LORD CIIA ritELLO heard liintitia OtitiOdg 634* none
of which possested &ay points Ot intetest except to the partieS
tettc:etned.

VICE-CHANCERY.—(THIS DAY.)
LE*Ii.—TIIE POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS.
this case came before the Court upon demurrer. The
bill was filed by the Guvernor and Directors of the united pa-
rishes of St. Andrew Holborn, and St. George the Martyr
above Bar, against the Poor Law Commissioners, for the pur-
pose of obtaining the order of the Court, restraining them from
proceeding to enlarge the workhouse in Little Gray's Inn lane,
on the ground that they had no authority to do so. 'to this
bill the defendants put in a general demurrer stir want tif ju.
ris,lietion. That demurrer now came on for argument.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, with whom was Mr. TOMLINSON,
was addressing the Court on behalf of the Poor Law Corn-
mis,:ioners in support of the demurrer when our reporter left.
The case will doubtless occupy the whole day.