The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-10 00:00:00

these ghostly Prelates to the quick. Their pecuniary
sensibilities are alarmed, and they are frantic in conse-
quence. Was ever such an exhibition of spite, rage, and
indecent precipitancy, as that made by the Episcopal
Bench last night in the House of Lords? The Bishop of
LONDON absolutely foamed at the mouth ; his lawn
sleeves shivered, like a slack sail, with the excess of
his emotion ; and he pounced upon Lord MELBOURNE
with a vehemence and disregard to all the courtesies of
society, which are far more calculated to excite
astonishment than veneration. Had his Lordship
been within reach, we are by no means cer-
tain that the Premier of England would not have
been levelled by a blow of the episcopal fist.
We trust that all Reformers—Dissenters more
especially—will bear in mind the conduct of the
Bishops last night in the House of Lords. Such
conduct is unparalleled, even in that eccentric institu-
tion. Without waiting till the subject came formally
before them ; knowing nothing of its nature, except
what they may have gathered from the journals
of the day ; setting all the customary forms of
legislation at defiance ; and giving way to the dictates
of a blind, ungovernable passion—these ghostly men,
these ministers of peace, of charity, of forbearance,
fitly represented by Cantuar and London, rushed head-
long upon Lord MELBOURNE, just as if they would
have torn him, and all who sat near him, to atoms.
How his Lordship escaped with life this apostolic
assault and battery, which one Bishop made on him
in person, and fifteen by proxy, is to us a miracle only
to he accounted for, on the score of a special interposition
of Providence.

As an apology for his indecent fury, the Bishop of
LONDON observed that " he did not speak merely for
the interest of the Clergy, for that was the last object
to be considered on such a subject, but for the poor
people of this country. There were two millions of
poor people in England who were without the means
of religious instruction, and to what other source
could they look for means, if the present plan
were adopted ?" Amiable, exemplary apostle! How
anxious for the welfare of the poor he has all of a
sudden become ! He does not speak for the interest
of the Clergy ; oh no, not he ; the pockets of
the Church are the very last things he considers ;
he is solicitous only to promote the welfare of the
two millions of poor people who are without the
benefit of religious instruction. This is noble
—this is disinterested—but how comes it that the
good Bishop has only just now made the dis-
covery that there are so many poor people un-
preached to ? Surely their spiritual wants were just
as pressing four years since as they are now—yet not
a word did we hear on the subject till the Church
found it to its interest to profess a considerate regard for
the poor ! But this priestly device is too stale—too shal-
low—to answer. We ail know its motive, and appreciate
it accordingly. Regard for the spiritual interests of the
poor ! How well this phrase becomes a Bishop
rolling in wealth ; the great would-be Conservator of
the pockets of the Church ; who rolls to the House of
GOD in Pharisaic state ; and in his capacity of Legis-
lator, seldom or never gives a vote that is not of a high
Tory character. Regard for the spiritual interests of
the poor ! And this from a high Tory Bishop ! W e
have no patience with such cant.
However, despite the opposition the purblind,
frantic opposition—of the Episcopal Bench, one thing
is certain—namely, that the Church-rates must be
abolished. The sentence has gone forth against them,
and execution must follow, as a matter of course. Let
the Lay Lords protest, let the Spiritual Lords rave—
still the measure must be carried, as surely as that to-
morrow's sun shall disperse the gloom of to-night. The
Dissenters have but to insist—to persevere—to co:1-

federate—to be successful ; and if we know anything
of these resolute, high-principled men, they are not of
a nature likely to take fright, or be deterred from their
purpose, by the infuriate ravings of the Episcopal
Bench.

Another encouraging circumstance is the language
held last night by Lord MELBOURNE. " I take leave,"
said the Noble Lord, " to assure the House and the
country, that the opposition of the Right Reverend
Prelates shall in no degree influence me to alter the
course I have marked out for myself on this question.
Convinced as I am that it is a measure most important,
most beneficial, and most essential, no opposition
—wheresoever it comes—shall deter me from
persevering in it to the last." This is manly, inspirit-

ing language, and such as will give the country re-
newed confidence in the energies of Government. We
shall conclude these remarks by calling on the Dis-
senters to "agitate—agitate—agitate"---as Lord AN-
GLESEY observed, on the question of Catholic Eman-
cipation. Without incessant agitation they will do
nothing ; with it, everything.

The discussion on the measure for abolishing
Church-rates will be renewed on Monday, when the
country will have an opportunity of judging what
course the Tories intend to pursue in opposing it. As
yet they appear to have formed no regular plan, and it
is curious, therefore, to observe the various and discord-
ant reasons with which Members of both Houses seem
prepared to urge it. During a short discussion in
the House of Lords the other evening, a Noble Lord,
celebrated for halting between two opinions—for end-
ing a speech with an argument at variance with another
with which he commenced it—and whose vote no man
could possibly ascertain from his language, considered
the plan a mere sleight-of-hand trick of the CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER; the Bishop of EXETER
considered it a bona fide performance ; and Lord EL.
LENBOROUGH could not make up his mind, and
really say whether the Right Hon. Gentleman was at
his old practice of thimble-rigging till he saw the
figures. In the Commons the reasons for opposing it
are equally diversified, some denouncing it as Church
robbery, others as a plan to rob the lessees, and a third
party calling it a concerted scheme for destroying the
nationality of the Church. Even the Bench of Bishops,
after sitting in conclave, cannot agree on the argu-
ments. The pious, disinterested, and heavenly-minded
Bishop of LONDON, with becoming meekness and
uplifted eyes, declared last evening that the interest of
the Clergy was the last object to be considered—he
objected to it for the sake of the poor people of
this country. But the Archbishop of CANTERBURY,
who has been put forward on this occasion, had
the simplicity to let out the real cause of the op-
position, and that cause was, " that the effect of
the scheme would be to make the dignitaries of
the Church mere annuitants, and deprive them
of the advantages incidental to the possession of
and." But though thus differing, they are agreed
on one point—as they have hitherto agreed on al-
most every measure that can give popularity to the
Whigs they are agreed in opposing the plan,
and notwithstanding all they have done, are pre-
pared to add another to the many favours they have al-
ready conferred on the present Government. How
thankful the Whigs ought to be for such assistance
The Tories have on all occasions, and in the fullest
sense of the old proverb, shown that they are the best
friends of the men who so rudely turned them out of
office in 1830. These men in fact give life and health
to their political existence. In every measure on which
the votes of the Radicals are doubtful or dangerous,
the Tories come to their aid and swell the majority.
When any measure of a popular nature, such as the
Reform Bill, or the Municipal Bill, or the present
Bill for the abolition of Church-rates, is brought for-
ward, they are up to a man against it—they make the