The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-15 00:00:00

LONDON,
WEDNESDAY EVENING. MARCH 15, 1837.

Ir.► the House of Lords, the business was again yester-
d.sy chiefly confined to the presentation of Church-rate pe-
titio►ns. Lord BaotronAm suggested that the same eourse
should be pursued in respect to the petitions presented for
;Ind against the abolition of Church-rates, as had been
rit!opted when the Reform Lilt was under discussion, viz.
the enumeration of petitions and signatures, in order that
the numbers might be reported by the proper authorities,
and communicated to the House. There had, no doubt,
been more petitions against than for the abolition ; but the
nur•tber of signatures was greatly in favour of the aboli-
tionists. One petition alone, from Birmingham, had 19,000

sigt atures

LORD CHANCELLOn laid on the table two Bills ;
one to amend the law relating to trial by jury in Scotland ;
the other to authorise his Lordship to receive affidavits
made in Ireland and Scotland.

The Bills on the table were forwarded a stage, and the
House adjourned till Thursday.
In the Commons, previously to the presentation of
Church-rate petitions, there were some proceedings relative
Ita;tway Bills. In the course of them Lord LENNOX
gave notice of his intention to call attention to the infrac-
tion of a rule of the House, which declared that a Member
shoul(I not act as agent on any private Bill.

Lord J. RUSSELL, in reference to the business of the
House, named Friday for moving the Navy Estimates ; the
following Monday for going into Committee on the Irish
Municipal Corporations Bill ; and Tuesday for the intro-
eurtion of the remaining resolutions relating to Canada.
Mr. BAIV,NG stated that the correspondence and papers
on the subject of the Missing Whalers, before ordered,
should be forthwith furnished.

The adjourned debate on the Church-rate question was
then resuio.ed. It occupied the House the remainder of the
night, and was again adjourned till this day. Sir W. FoL-
LETT fired the first shot against the impregnable ramparts
of the Cb urch-rate abolitionists ; he was feebly seconded
in his attack upon the resolution before the House by Mr.
CAYLEY, Mr. LAW, and Mr. PEMBERTON. The speakers
in supper t of the Ministerial proposition for the abolition
of the oionoxious impost, were the ATTORNEY-GENERAL
and Lo rd Jour; RUSSELL, who, it will be seen, com-
pletely demolished the flimsy fabric of the High Church
faction. By the overwhelming force of stubborn facts,
follows by unanswerable arguments, they drove their op-
ponent s out of the field ; and so far as principle, policy,
and jui tice are concerned, an easy but decided victory was
obtain ed.

Th at part of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S speech which ex-
poses the treachery of the Bishops merits especial notice.

The debate on the Church-rates was again adjourned
last night. Sir Wm. FOLLETT opened it by a speech of
prodigious length and dullness, full of special pleading and
petty legal objections. The House heard him with mani-
fest impatience, even his own party contenting themselves
with a few faint cheers—for it is impossible to yawn and
cht: er at the same time—thereby showing the sense they
entertained of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman's inor-
dinate prolixity. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S reply was
pertinent and conclusive, free from pedantic technicalities,
and characterised throughout by strong good sense, not un-
mixed with caustic sarcasm. But decidedly the most
effective speech of the night was that delivered by Lord
JOHN RUSSELL, who made terrible havoc with the
sophistries of the Tories, and sundry edifying com-
ments on the present Episcopal clamour about the
three millions of poor people whom the Bishops,
for reasons of course the very reverse of interested, have
just discovered to be destitute of all spiritual instruction.
." It had been stated," said the Noble Lord, " that the dif-
ficulty of religious instruction among the people was a
matter of greater importance than the abolition of Church-
Yates ; but what course had been taken by the Church
Commissioners with respect to that subject ? They pro-
posed that 15,0001. should be given to the Archbishop of
CANTERBURY ; 10,0001. to the Bishop of LONDON ; and
proportionate sums to the other Bishops, in order that
the dignity of the Hierarchy might be maintained. They
also proposed that the number of the existing Prebendaries
should be reduced, and that their income should be applied
to the increase of religious instruction ; but they after-
wards recommended, that as their proposition had created
some dissatisfaction among the Clergy, and as it excluded
the Crown and the Bishops from the exercise of their pa-
tronage, some of the vacancies should he filled up, in order
that the expectations of preferment entertained by the
Clergy might not be disappointed. It consequently ap-
peared that though it was asserted that there were up-
wards of two millions of persons without the benefit
religious instruction, the Church Commissioners did
not think it right, for the purpose of providing for the
wants of that large body, to trench on what was due to the

dignity of the Hierarchy, to the patronage of the Crown and
of the Bishops, and to the expectations of the Clergy. If
such was the opinion of the Commissioners—that though
the demand for increased spiritual instruction was great, its
consideration should be postponed, in order that a muni-
ficent income might be provided for the members of the
Hierarchy, was it not to be permitted to simple men, such
as they (ministers) were, to think that for the sake
of religious peace, the settlement of the Church-rates
was fully as important as the Commissioners considered
the maintenance of the dignity of the Hierarchy and the pro-
servation of the patronage of the Bishops to be ?" These
stinging remarks will, we take for granted, have the effect
of causing these Apostolic Prelates to discontinue their cry
about the " three millions," and their famished condition as
regards spiritual nourishment. They will see at once the
glaring absurdity of persisting in a Jeremiad on this sub-
ject, when one member of their fraternity owns to a
reformed income of 1.5,000/., and another to a ditto
of 10,0001. per annum. But, as we said before, and
shall often have occasion to repeat, the opposition of the
Bishops to the abolition of Church-rates, is founded solely
on pecuniary considerations. They imagine that their Ex-
chequer is threatened with invasion ; hence they are in arms
to repel the danger, those of course heading the van who
imagine—for it is mere imagination—that they have the
most to lose. Let Church-rates be once abolished, is their
cry, and who knows how soon we may be called on to con-
cede other Reforms, and among the foremost, a portion of
our incomes ! At a late hour the debate was again ad-,
journed over till to-night.

Effectual means must be taken to put down Orange
Associations in Ireland. Until they are utterly destroyed,
root and branch, there never can be peace in that country.
The confidence arising out of long impunity, and the con-
sciousness of having powerful supporters near the Throne,
prevent the Members of such Associations from hearing,
with a dread .of disobeying, the commands of their So-
VEREIGN. • Misled by a blind intolerance which the
ignorant among them mistake for an excessive loyalty,
and which the bettor informed indulge out of the hatred
they bear to their oppressed Catholic countrymen, they
traitorously dare to constitute themselves Guardians of
the KlNG—sole supporters of the Constitution—and only
defenders of the Church of these realms. Such is their
modesty that they will be content to save the KING from
himself, the Church from the Parliament, and all three
from the People ! But it is time they should learn that
England stands in no need of such assistance as these
ruffianly Associations—red with the blood of their fellow-
countrymen—are eager to proffer her. She has suffered
too much from their misrepresentations ever again to
be deluded by them. Despite of the Orangemen,
Ireland must and shall have justice done her ; and
this- cannot be tendered without a total eradication of all
Orange Lodges, and other secret and illegal Societies.
For upwards of a century has Oran,,geism, in one form or
other, proved the deadliest curse of Ireland. Its malig-
nant influence extends to every relation of social life. There
exists not a spring of happy human intercourse which has
not been poisoned by it. No spot is sacred from its ac-
cursed intrusion ; and wherever it appears charity dies, ac-
companied by all the virtues that sanctify human fellow-
ship. Those conversant with the state of party feeling it:
the various districts where Orangeism is rifest in Ire-
land, mast kno.v that ‘vhereve.r its advocates come
is contact with their Catholic countrymen—whether in the
family circle or the crowd—at the hospitable hearth or by
the " narrow house," where all feuds should be forgotten—
bloodshed is only prevented by a dread of the avenging powcr
of the law.

The measures hitherto taken by Parliament to purify
the Irish atmosphere or this social pestilence have only
increased its irulence. Its progress is less open and
exposed ; but its attacks are as frequent and more dan-
gerous because insidiously made. What cannot be
done in the face of day is perpetrated in the night by
hired agents, who add to the sanguinary zeal' of their em-
ployers all the innate meanness, cruelty, and habitual false-
hood of the spy and the informer. Ireland is at present
overrun with such detestable characters, whose business it
is to inveigle the discontented among the working classes
into secret Societies, either in favour of Orangeisre, or
against the Government. These wretches delude the po-
pulace with promises of money, and the countenance of
certain influential personages ia the State, if they will take
oaths of secrecy, and become members of illegal Societies.
It matters not to them whether the misguided men who
listen to them are in favour of an Orange or Papist
Ascendancy. They have gained their end, and accomplished
the wishes of their employers, if they can only seduce them into
an illegal combination. The more Ribbonmen they are
able to denounce, the stronger is the hold they expect to
have upon the ignorant prejudices of Englishmen, and the
greater is the apparent self-preserving necessity for Orange
Societies.

Now, after the exposures that have been made of the
dreadful effects of Orange Societies in Ireland—after the
knowledge Parliament has obtained of the pernicious and
treasonable designs of such Societies, even as regards the
supreme Government of these realms, it is passing strange
that more effectual measures have not been adopted with
a view to their utter suppression. It cannot be that the
Ministers dread the malign influence of the Grand Master
of this treasonable Institution. Wherefore then do they
not deliver Ireland from this worst of social and moral
pestilences? A Bill making it penal to issue warrants
in the name of any Lodge or secret Society in these
Kingdoms, and empowering Magistrates to inflict a heavy
summary punishment upon individuals convicted of belong-
ing to, or acting as the agents of such Societies, would
meet with no very violent opposition in either House of
Parliament ; and such an Act—if strictly and properly
enforced—would soon crush the spirit of the partisans of
Orangeism. Mild measures will not repress the violence
of such treasonable factions•as that of the Orangemen 0f
Ireland. They must be so sternly dealt with as to be con-
vinced thereby, that the Government is bent upon the
total destruction of Orangeism, both in Ireland and Eng-
land. Such severity is the more necessary, as they are
secretly supported by personages of the highest rank, who
lead them into the error of believing that Ministers will,
but dare not, attempt the forcible suppression of Orange
Lodges, knowing the opposition they would meet with at
the foot of the Throne.

While the blustering advocates for the continuance of
Church-rates, and other ecclesiastical oppressions, are for
ever bawling about the comparative insignificance of the
Dissenters, and the deep-rooted affection which the people
entertain for the Established Church, and everything be-
longing to it, they are rather chary of bringing the matter
to the test of experiment. They have no delicacy in mag-
nifying the power of the Church, and multiplying the num-
ber of its adherents ad infinitum ; but bring them to
book—try to get at the data from which they calculate—and
you immediately perceive a consciousness of weakness, and
a want of confidence in the grounds of their professed be-
lief. They shrink from the ordeal of facts, because they
are afraid of the truth.

An instance of this sensitive apprehensiveness occurred
last night in the House of Lords. Lord BROUGHAM re-
commended that their Lordships should take the neces-
sary steps to ascertain the number of signatures attached
to the petitions for and against the abolition of Church-
rates. With respect to the number of petitions, the Noble
ans:l Learned Lord observed, there could be no doubt that
there was a majority against the abolition, while in the num-
ber of sigl:atures, there would be found a majority of fifteen
or twenty to Sine in its favour ; but it would be satisfactory to
the House to know exactly how the matter stood. The
Bishop of HEasFea.", in attempting to reply to Lord
BROUGHAM, made much such a figure as MT. GRANVILLE
HancouaT did on Monday night in the House of Commons
—that is to say, he stultified Nmself, and fortified the argu-
ment of his opponent. 'rho Right Rev. Prelate asserted
that an immense number of petitions had been presented
from separate congregations, xnd also a great number
from whole towns, cities, and even counties—thus very sa-
tisfactorily accounting both for the number of petitions and
of signatures. Lord WHARNCLIFFX could not se; the advan-
tage of printing the number of signatures—we should have
been surprised if he could—and th.ere, the matter ceded.
After this rather interesting disen.ssion, the Marquis of
LANSDOWNE presented a petition si;zned by the great ma-
jority of the rate-payers in the parish of Westbury, Wilt-
shire, which we think deserves the gravest attention from
two classes of Churchmen—namely, those who hold the
doctrine that there is no opposition to Church-rates in
agricultural parishes, and those who with Sir W. FOLLETT
contend that the law, as it stands at vesent, can compel

the inhabitants of a parish to assess themselves for the sup-
port of the Church. The rate-payers of Westbury state that
they have for seven years successfully resisted the payment of
Church-rates, and pray that this impost may be abolished.
Now, the great clamour raised against the Ministerial
plan is pretended to be based on the insecure footing on
which it places the Church. Will these stedfast and
conscientious supporters of the Establishment tell us
whether, even acccording to their own views of the
security of a State Church, the plan of the people of
Westbury be preferable to that of the MELBOURNE Ad-
ministration ? If they are satisfied that it is, then we say,
let such friends of the Church vote against the latter to-
night in the Home of Commons ; and they may rest as-
sured that if they are successful, the Westbury mode of sup
port will soon become universal.

The main argument of the Bishops against the proposed
substitute for Church-rates, is that the revenues of the
Church are not now adequate to the religious wants of the
people, and that if any portion of it were deducted to keep
the Churches in repair, the National Establishment would
be endangered. Now, we ask all reasonable and impartial
men—(we put the Bishops out of the question, for if their
incomes were ten times as large they would make the
same howlings about spoliation and robbery)—we ask them
to look at the real state of the question, at the amount of
Church property, and the patronage and influence and
power connected with it ; and say whether it is not more
than sufficient for the religious instruction of the people of
England ? According to the Returns (we appeal not to
mere statements, but to facts) there are 10,473 benefices
with an annual income of 3,184,0311., and according to
Mr. FINLAISON, the annual rental of Church lands amounts
to 1,514,6461., making altogether a yearly revenue of
4,698,0311. for the religious instruction of a population
of 14,000,000. But enormous as this is, the patronage
of the Bishops, Deans, and Chapters is equally enormous ;
and patronage in this instance is the same as property, for
a Bishop can provide for his sons and his daughters and his
poor relatives out of the property of the Church, and
spend, without anxiety about the future, his large income
in splendour and luxury. Not one-tenth of the people of
England have the most remote idea of the wealth of these
meek and humble shepherds of Christ's flock. The Arch-
bishop of CANTERBURY, with the Dean and Chapter and
other Dignitaries of the Diocese, have in their gift 232
benefices, with an annual income of 85,746/. ; the
Bishop of LONDON and his staff have 235, with
an annual revenue of 104,4291. ; the Bishop of LIN-
COLN and his dignitaries have 307, with a revenue of
92,637/. ; and taking them altogether, these poor plundered
oppressed Prelates, Deans, and Chapters, have the gift of
3,810 benefices, with the moderate yearly income of
1,128,786/. ; and not satisfied with this, these very Bishops,
who cry out plunder and spoliation, have proposed to rob
the Deans and Chapters of their patronage, and transfer it
to themselves ! The sacred writer, in the spirit of pro-
phecy, had such men in view, when he indited the remark-
able;words—" The priest's servant struck the flesh-hook of
three teeth into the cauldron, and all that the fled:-Bonk
brought up the priest took to himself."

The French nails of Monday have not yet arrive&
The delay is doubtless occasioned by the stormy state o:
the weather.
DUTCH FUN DS—AusrEttoam, March Li
Money. Bills.
-1 et,i.al Debt, `2.t:', per Cent
Ditto, ditto 5 per cent
A,.ieest svunic, -lc, per r,lit .
Ditto, ditto, 1.14? per cent 7el4 iti ~
Commescial Company, 4.• per ent ls2i, 18
I.litto (1A:311 and h!tl3) 5 pc, cent.
EXChalige on London, One month._ .......
Two mouths
AUSTRIAN FUNDs.—% [ENNA, Mown 4.
Five per Cents. Mctall:ques
Four per Cents.
Three per Cents.
11.snk Shares
—.lllgemeine Zelliditg, M.erch 11.
HAmnunG BOItSEN HALLE, Mane!! 10.
rills. Mousy.
Austrian Mctalliques, 5 per cent.
Ditto iitta 4 per cent.
Ditto ditto . 11 per tem'
Ditto Bank Shaves i"1,1 1210
Angles-Russian Loan

l'ap'er Inscription, 0 per cvnt. .5 -.I %_.
Russian 5 per cents. :Metal.
Russian inseriptiori, Hope and Co., 3d and 4th
Series
Ditto, Certificates
nirttiguese Regency Bonds, 5 por Cilit 47
Ditto, 3 per cent 3 )•i'i, 30Ii
Dutch :M, per Csuts.
Ditto 5 per Cents —
&Wish Ponds, 3 per cents.
New 'fickels .. Ifs; 4 150
Agoglo- Danish Loan, 3 per I,,,itie 72 714:
Norwegian Lsan of 1!t14, 4 per cents.
Spanish, in piastres, 3 per Cents -
- Cort2s Loan, 5 per Cent 2.3C., 23.7 i
Greek 4 percents. 18:13, guaranteed by France 93 91:}.2
EXCHANGES ON LONDON.
HAMBURG, MARCH 1,1.-11 84 ; two mouths, 13 N.
CHRISTIANIA, FEB. 28—'Three months. 5 0.
STOCKHOLM, MARCH 3.—Two months, 11 40.
'Sr. Pacr,oruautr, Fes. 28-three months, 10 7-!G.
BERLIN, MARCH 7.. Diree in.riths, 6. 21.
—Hamburg Payers, March 10.
PRUSSIAN oUNDS.—Buar.rx, Korot 7.
Bills. Money.
St. Schuld. Sch., 4 per cent 102% 101.4
Prio,simi English Loan, kW, 4 per wit 100
Vscli.mge on London, three months 624
' . —Prussian State Gazette. March B.