The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-13 00:00:00

MAJFSTY'S popularity, and. instead of establish it
ing her soveleignity on the affections of her people,
to raise it upon a basis of terror, aggression, and
arbitrary power.
But they are too crafty to commit themselves
in all their organs, to the same disreputable means
of bringing her MAJESTY into odium, which they
have attempted in the Morning Post. While that
journal denounces the depravities of the QUEEN'S
household, the Times bears testimony to the virtues
of the Ladies of the Court. The smooth spirit of
JOSEPH SURFACE passes like oil over the turbu-
lent waters of that Stygian lake, and reduces it to
tranquillity. Adopting the bland amenities of a
courtier on the threshold of place, the Times ad-
dresses a strain of superfluous compliment to the
very individuals whose reputations are so grossly at-
tacked by the Post, so that the Tory statesman, as
occasion serves, may glide with a good grace from
the contagion of the Post, and take refuge in the
artful civilities of the Times. Your genuine Tory
—a class of which Sir ROBERT is the faultless
model—has something in him of the nature of the
Lybian serpent, which is said to sting at both ends
But whether he distil his venom in the colours oJ
parasitical flattery through one extremity, or un•

blushing falsehood through the other, it is equally
rank and pernicious. Happily upon this occasion,
if the Tories have betrayed the guile of the ser-
pent, they have not succeeded in exemplifying its
wisdom.

Our Paper contains two reports of meetings
to which public attention may with propriety be
directed. At the meeting of the Society for the
Protection of Religious Liberty, his Royal High-
ness the Duke of SUSSEX presided, and was re-
ceived with the greatest cordiality. The two
speeches of his Royal Highness are worthy of
his high reputation for Liberal sentiments. At
the meeting of the City of Westminster Lite-
rary, Scientific, and Mechanics' Institution, the
SPEAKER presided, and promoted the objects of
the Institution in a heartfelt manner. The Right
Hon. Gentleman has long been distinguished
for his devotion to the cause of popular instruction.
It is delightf.d to find the first Subject and the
first Commoner of the Realm engaged on the same
day in presiding over meetings, with different ob-
jects, both of which tend to the perfection of man-
kind, and the advancement of liberty.

In another part of The Sun will be found a
letter from Mr. CHILDS to Mr. JOHN THORO-
GOOD, the victim of Ecclesiastical oppression, now
lying in Chelmsford gaol, which well deserves the
serious consideration of the Dissenters at large.
The great error of the Dissenters, as we have often
had occasion to remind them, has been a disposition
to rely too much on the exertions of others, and
too little on their own. Now we look upon it as
one of the plainest axioms of common sense, which
every man's experience, be it ever so circumscribed,
is sufficiently ample to confirm, that those who
trust to others to do that for them which they can
do for themselves, and in which they are most
deeply interested, are sure to be badly served.
One of the mischievous consequences of this
shuffling off upon others the duties which we ought
to perform ourselves, is that it necessarily begets a
belief of our insincerity. If, while the Church-
rate is held up as an intolerable grievance, com-
bining in itself a violation of religious principle
with the grossest injustice in a civil view, those
who are suffering under this grievance, and com-
plaining loudly of it, will not put their shoulders
to the wheel to get rid of the evil, what other con-
clusion can they expect either their enemies or their
friends to draw from their conduct than that they
are not sincere in their professions ? It is not by a
few cases of self-devotion like those of Mr. CHILDS,
Mr. THOROGOOD, and others, that a cause which
has to contend against the power of the English
Hierarchy can be rendered successful. It is by
means of such a well-organized and general plan of
operations, as, while it comprehends and encourages
individual resistance, shall call into action all the
resources which the Dissenters derive from their
numbers, their political influence, their intelligence,
and the justice of their claims, tWat their deliver-
ance from religious thraldom must be achieved.

It is now more than eve/ necessary that the
Dissenters should show themselves in earnest
in their own cause. Self-defence, if nothing
else, requires it. Their isolated and desultory
efforts have had the effect of rousing the Established
Sect and its minions to a sense of danger, and, con-
sequently, of provoking the desire of revenge. We
have lately seen that this vindictive feeling has been
manifested even on the Bench, the sacred seat of
justice. An attempt has been made on the part of
a Judge of the land to crush, by unexampled and
most unrighteous severity, the opposition which the
Church-rate oppression is exciting. Would this
attempt have been made had the Dissenters and
their friends among the members of the Establish-
ment, who are equally with them opposed to Church-
rates, showed that formidable front to the enemy
which they might have done ? We think nat. It
is our opinion that the supineness of the Dis-
senters has invited this attack, and that unless it is
shaken off, and a more energetic career entered upon
without delay, the cause of abolition will soon be
in a much worse plight than even its enemies an-
ticipate.

The Cabinet Council, which met on Saturday at
twelve o'clock, remained in deliberation for up-
wards of four hours. It is understood that after
the explanations which will take place this even-
ing on the part of the Liberal and Opposition
Leaders, the House will adjourn for a fortnight to
allow time for the various arrangements which are
in contemplation. Lord MELBOURNE will not
desert her MAJESTY under the present circum-
stances, but continue to conduct the QUEEN'S Go-
vernment.

We see by an advertis e ment in another part of
our Paper, that the members of the Religious
Freedom Society are to dine together on Wednesday
next. The list of the stewards is a sufficient
guarantee of the principles of the Society, and that
it is worthy of general support.

The French Papers of Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday, have been received this morning. After
a debate of four days' continuance in the Chamber
of Deputies, M. MAUGUIN'S motion for an Ad-
dress to the Crown was adopted ; but in a form so
modified as -to render it quite a milk-and-water
affair. Every phrase conveying censure of the con-
duct of the MOLE Administration was carefully
struck out ; and on balloting for the usual com
mitte of nine members to draw up the Address, four
names were drawn of the old Ministerial party, and
five of the Opposition. The President of the
Chamber is, by virtue of his office, a member of
this Committee, and hence those Journals which
claim him as a convert to the Court contend that
the numbers are equal, while those on the other
hand, disposed to see in his acceptance of the Pre-
sidency no dereliction of principle, no abandonment
of party,—maintain that the Opposition have six
votes to four in the Committee. In truth the point
is not worth contending. The Committee consists
of MM. DE DALMATIE, THIERS, CUNIN GRI-
DAINE, DUCHATEL, GANNERON, DUFAURE,
LANYER, CALMON, BERGER, and PASSY, the
last virtute nuzcii. with the exception of THIERs
these are all men having a secret leaning to the
Court, and therefore an Address concocted by them
is likely to be a very innocent affair. Had MM.
MA uGuIN and ODILLON BARROT been among
the names on the list, se should have had more
corlfidence in the proceedings of the Committee.
It does not appear that up to a late hour on Sa-