The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-29 00:00:00

TURNPIKE ROADS:

Sir C. BURRELL postponed his motion relative to
Turnpike Roads.
MALTA.

Mr. HUME said, that circumstances had occurred,
which rendered it unnecessary that he should proceed with
his motion relating to the liberty of the Press in Malta.
TAY FISHERIES. _ _

Lord STORMONT moved for leave to bring in a Bill
to amend the law relating to Fisheries in Scotland, in so
far as they affect the River Tay.
Mr. WA RB URT ON said if he were correctly informed
the object of the Noble Lord was, to exempt the River
Tay from the regulations which applied to the other
rivers of Scotland. He considered it improper that
the provisions of Public Bills should be frittered
away by Private Bills of exception, and although
strictly speaking this might be called a Public Bill, yet it
was a particular Bill, and he should feel it his duty to di-
vide the House on the question. He considered the present
subject was not a proper one for a Public Bill, and he
should therefore oppose leave being given to bring it in.
Lord STORMONT looked upon the Bill as a public
measure, as it was for the advantage of the proprietors of
the fisheries on the river Tay•
After a few words from Mr. Jervis, Mr. Pryme, Mr.
Green, Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Hume,
Lord STORMONT withdrew the Bill.
The House then resolved itself into Committee on a
Divorce Bill, but previous to Counsel being called in
Mr. HUME felt bound to call the attention of the
House to the propriety of Government adopting. some
other mode of deciding Divorc:3. Bilis. It was a scandal
to the Government and to the officers of the Crown thin
sonic other tribunal bail not been devised for that purpose.
If Bills of this sort were decided hi another place the time
of the House would be greatly saved.
Counsel were then called in, but were immediately
afterwards, together with strangers, ordered to withdraw,
on the motion of Mr, HUME, who moved that the House
be count,el.

There being only 30 members present, the House ad•
jourued shortly after Eight o'Clock.

NATIONAL EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN

Sett,—Amongst the various opponents to the Govern-
ment plan of National Education, the Wesleyan Metho-
dist Society appear to have taken a part-1 say, they ap-
pear to have taken a part. But, Sir, it should be known
to the nation at large that the Wesleyan Methodist So-
ciety as a body are not opposed to the Government plan,
but a large majority of them cordially approve of it. It
may be true that to a considerable extent petitions are in
c.lurse of signature at the various Chapels in the min=
nexion, lint that the public should understand how 'the
above-mentioned petitions were concocted, is the object of
the present letter, hoping also that you will consider the
matter of sufficient interest to insert it in the columns of
your widely circulated paper.
At a District Meeting of Wesleyan Methodist Minis •
tcrs, held in London, it was resolved to petition Parlia-
ment against the Government plan, and that directions
should be sent to all the SUperintendents of the different
circuits to consult with the leading friends of the Circuit,
and to prepare petitions for the following Sunday for sig-
nature.
You may judge what kind of consultation took place,
when I state the fact that in one of the Bristol Circuits only
three persons were consulted, one of whom strongly ex•
pressed his disapprobation of such a purely vexatious
course, the other two having the assurance of the preacher
that the opposition was on ptirely religious grounds, con-
sented to the dictated course, and this is what is called
consulting tise people. However, with all the effort to
keep the matter quiet until the Sunday, it became known,
and, to the honour of a large portion of the Society here,
I have never seen a stronger feeling. of disapprobation ma-
nifested than upon this attempt to interfere with our civil
and religious rights.
A letter which appeared in last Saturday's Mercury,
from a Wesleyan Methodist, excited general attention, and
in the Circuit referred to led to a requisition being adopted,
and signed: by nearly the whole of the leaders and local
preachers residing in town, requesting the Supeintendent
to withdraw the petition ; and I am happy to say that the
object was effected, so that no petition made its appearance
yesterday in the Bristol South Circuit, as the Distracters
would have willed it.
But in the Bristol North Circuit, the petition was in all the
Chapels, and the would-he-called Ministers of Christ,
and his charitable, peace-making doctrines, acted fully
up to their " instructions," in converting the pulpit into a
rostrum of political denouncement and sectarian anathema-
tizing. Popery was described by these bigots as having
put on its seven-leagued boots, and infidelity, linked
in kindred band, was preparing for war against " our
holy religion." Under these statements, and coming
from such authority, some were induced tl sign it.
An individual, and a member, remarked to one of the
preachers, [of what 11 that the design was to embarrass
the present Ministry, and if possible to induce them by
that and sundry acts to abandon office. He said "He
knew it, and that was the thing desired." Yesterday they
even took the petitions into classes which were meeting for
the renewal of their tickets, and one of the preachers called
those Methodists " miscreants" who refused to sign.
Surely this is not in accordance with Mr. Wesley's direc-
tions. who says in his advice to preachers, "your business is
to save souls."
If Methodist preachers are thus to become political par-
tizans, and make the pulpit the vehicle of political matter,
calling those who are conscientiously opposed to them
such unchristianlike names, they may rest assured that
they will alienate the affections of the people from them,
and lead to greater divisions among them than have ever
taken place. A very large majority of Methodists are
firm supporters of Liberal measures; and who, although
they took no part in the late matter of Dr. Warren and
I others, have nevertheless been sorely displeased with the
Tory political bearing of the Retrospective Magazine, and
the Watchman, yet hoped it was to be attributed to the
influence of some few individuals at the head of affairs.
But finding that an arbitrary effort is now making to attack
insdiously a Liberal Government, under the cry of
Popery, they well know what steps to take to maintain
their rights against magazines, newspapers, and political
Wesleyan Ministers' District meetings.
Not wishing that it should appear that the Jvlethodists
as a body are taking a part in this bigoted and irrational
opposition to a measure which, if carried out, would alone
immortalize any Government, I have troubled you with the
above statement. 1 am, yours, &c.
A WESLEYAN METHODIST.
Bristol, May 27, 1839.

days,

BOASTED TORY RE-ACTION IN
THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—l herewith send you a copy of a placard exhibited
in the window of your spirited agent, Mr. Wiley, No. 12,
Haymarket, Sheffield, which I am sure will give you and
your Liberal readers much satisfaction. as it has given to
thousands of the inhabitants of this loyal Borough. who
are neither under the domination of Lord Wherneliffe,
the embryo Irish Lord Lieutenant, or Feargus O'Connor,
the would.be Premier.
Official return of the circulation of Sheffield newspapers
Ist Quarter in 1838. Weekly Average,
Mercury (Tory)
Independent (Whig)
Iris (Radical)
Ist Quarter in 1839.
Independent (Whig)
Mercury (Tory)
Iris (Radical)

tice of the case,
Mr. JONES could not agree to the lenient proceeding
ecommended by the Noble Lord.
Lord J. RUSSELL said—thinking that unanimity in
ch a case was very desirable—he would not insist on his
pr, (position, nor object to a short confinement of Mr.
Lo. vibond.
. it C, BURRELL disclaimed any vindictive feeling.
r. ERLE was of opinion that the case was not justly
undte-tood by gentlemen opposite ; and that it was by no
smean means so serious as they represented it. Mr. Austin (the
eminent' Counsr.l) who had been engaged in the case,
hid said that the two petitions were substantially the same,
and there bed been no intention to defraud any party.
This petitio‘n had been presented,to the House with the
knowledge of Mr. Benj. Lovihond, who took no measures
on this ease until the BilivesAning to the House of Lerds,
and the Parrett Ndvigation Company offered him 160/. 're
come forward in the wiy he had done. He trusted tl e
.house would see there was no inte.ntion on the part of
Mr. 11. Lovibond to do any injury, and would not visit him
'seith serous put.ihne-nt.
Mr. FRE SHFIRLD said that althceo,gh ail tampering
with petitiouS must be condemned, wt he considered,
under the circumstances, enough would bt, done by the in-
fliction of the least posiible punishment.
Ir. HUME did not think there was at:y evidence of
se, and ssould suppert the proposition of DREADFUL ACCIDENT.-011Monday nfernoon
the Noble Lord for a reprimand, a little girl, five years of age, residing at No. 38, Queen-
Mr. MILES said the individual at the bar had called street, Seven Dials, fell from the first floor into the area;
on him and asked hizn to preyeet the pctitiom_ H, had re- distance of twenty-five feet, and fractured her skull in so
commended hint to give it into the hands of some Wmber dreadful a manner that she lies without hopes of recovery.

.... 2,033
.... 1,750
.... 923

Patriot (Whigling.)
Increase in the sale of Liberal papers, weekly, 1,523.
Decrease in the sale of Tory papers, weekly. 26.
You will oblige a host of your readers in Sheffield by
inserting the above.

Yours, &e.
A REGULAR SUBSCRIBER
•; Turned Tory May 14 1839.