The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-12 00:00:00

TILE SUN, LONDON, TIIIIRSDA r. DEC-.6ilin 12, 1839.

intention in charging Mr. FROST with treason, for
the Judge seems to have some doubts whether the
riotous assemblage of a parcel of men without any
known general object, be an act of treason. It is
not so clearly an act of treason as the systematic
attempt of the Reformers in 1832 to overawe the
House of Lords, or as the continual efforts now
made day after day by nearly half the news-
papers of the Empire, to excite the people to
overawe the two Houses of Parliament, and
make them abolish the Corn-laws. Why there
is not a Liberal Journal throughout the em-
pire; which does not tell the people that the
Legislature will yield nothing to justice, but all to
compulsion. In this law there are great incon-
gruities, and we cannot believe that either it or re-
ligion will be recommended to the discriminating
part of mankind, by the Judge and the Clergy-
man having combined to make obedience to it a re-
ligious duty, and to accumulate on the heads of the
unhappy offenders against it the additional odium of
having offended against religion.

Amongst our extracts from the Evening Papers
will be found the explanation which the Globe
gives of the seizure of the Vindicator. That pub-
lication, which cannot be suppressed it appears, as
an unstamped Newspaper, for it is not a News-
paper, contained a letter recommending assassina-
tion. Such a letter, with such a recommendation, let
it proceed from whomever it may, cannot be looked
on with too much horror, or be too severely repro-
bated, but all men are put on their guard against
it by the publication, and measures can far better
be taken to prevent such an abominable crime
than if it were planned and recommended in secret.
There are very few combinations, and no conspira-
cies, which will bear to be brought before the public.
We were blamed at the time for publishing the pro-
ceedings of the Convention, but we are convinced that
our publishing those proceedings, though dictated
by no hostility to the Convention, was far more effi-
cacious in bringing about the dissolution of that
assembly than all the abuse which was poured
out against it. We quite agree with our Correspon-
dent, " A Constant Reader," that to suppress a
quiet and peaceable mode of expressing mens' opi-
nions is mischievous, because it makes them adopt
a secret means of diffusing and enforcing their
sentiments. Whatever might be the doctrines of
the Vindicator, and we are quite ignorant of them,
we have so much confidence in the good sense and
right moral feeling of mankind that we cannot
approve of any interference with its circulation.

Our readers will remember that we some time ago
callcdtheir attention to the work of "Marcus," which
advised assassination by wholesale, and pointed out
how " painless extinction" might be brought
about ; but that work was never suppressed,
nor did the Tories demand its suppression. The
Earl of ORFORD and the Times, somewhat more
than three years ago, called for a bloody war in
Ireland, but the Earl was not impeached, nor the
Times proscribed. The very act of assassination
is slowly and deliberately performed every day by
the Corn-law making Legislature. It is not w -
sassination generally, therefore, at which the Tc-
ries, and those who follow their lead, feel any
horror. Some of them have no objection to
an asassination of the people, but they do
not like an assassinationlof which themselves per-
chance may be the victims. If works must be
suppressed because they expound improper doc-
trines, let us at least have even-handed law, and a
censorship that shall cut out every phrase and sen-
timent from every publication displeasing to the
ruling classes. Let us also have a gag put on the
mouths of the GREGGS and the M'GHEEs, whose
doctrines tend to stir up strife, and lead to assassi-
nation on a great scale, as well as on the mouths
and pens of a different class of firebrands.

Ecclesiastical affairs in Scotland seem to get
more and more embroiled every day. This is the
natural consequence of that constant tendency
toward domination, which is inherent in all State-
created establishments of religion. The evil prin-
ciple may sometimes lie dormant in the constitution
of the Church, as disease does in the human con-
stitution ; but there nevertheless it is, and it will
show itself whenever a combination of circumstances
favourable to its development takes place. En-
croachment and usurpation are inseparable from the
priestly character, whatever be the system of faith
professed.
It would, perhaps, be difficult to find in the
annals of any Church, not even excepting that of
Rome, a more impudent attempt on the part of the
Clergy to ride rough-shod over the rights of the
laity, than the passing of the Veto Act by
the General Assembly of the Church of Scot-
land. The effect of this enactment, had the
Assembly been able to give it validity, would have
been to transfer the entire patronage of the Church
from the hands of those who now lawfully enjoy it,
not to the people, as was pretended by its advo-
cates, but to the Clergy. There is only one thing
that can match the arrogance of this claim of un-
limited jurisdiction, and that is the contumacious
effrontery with which it is persisted in, in defiance
of the solemn decision of the highest tribunals in
the kingdom—the decision of the Court of Sessicn
confirmed by the House of Peers.
This perverse opposition to the law of the land
by a body of men who, above all others, ought to
set an example of obedience to the law, has, we are
sorry to say, lowered the character of the Church
of Scotland much in public estimation. It has
also produced, and is daily producing, conse-
quences fatal to the peace and good order of the
Church, as well as dist! essing to many of the Clergy
themselves. It is now impossible, whenever the
veto' is exercised by a parish, for the ministers 01
the Presbytery within the bounds of which the pa-
rish is situated, to avoid subjecting themselves either
to the penalties of the civil Jaw, or to the ven•
geance of the Ecclesiastical Court.
A case of this kind, in which the Reverend
Gentlemen found themselves in the very awkward
dilemma we have described, lately came before a
Pi.esbytery in Aberdeenshire. As it illustrates ad-
►nirably the working of the Veto Act, we have
inserted a pretty full report of the proceedings in
another part of The Sun. It will be seen that the
Reverend Court set aside the " veto," thus obey-
ing the law of the land, and disobeying the law of
the Church. What is to be the end of all this
confusion ?

The 11 Mediternzneo states that the French
and English fleets were still at Ourla.. on the 26th
ult. Admiral STOPFORD had at first intended to
send a part of the English . fleet to Malta, and
proceed with the remainder to Athena, but he had
suddenly changed his mind. The Dido and Ha-
zard corvettes, which Admiral STOPPORD had sent
to cruize between Miconi and Naxos, had rejoined
the squadron. The Powerful and Gorgon of the
line, and three French ships of the line, were at
Smyrna. The Castor was to go to Constantinople to
relieve the Carysfort ; and it was supposed that the
Hydra and the Gorgon would be ordered to Alex-
andria. The same Journal adds that the settle-
ment of the Eastern question was not so close at
hand as was generally supposed. AtEIIEgET ALI
rweaaslit
at the independent Sovereignty of
difficulties, and in
reality
anitlinneuda y starting fresh
Egypt.

The Madrid Journals are of the 2d inst, ThP
QUEEN REGENT had consented to accept the
resignations of Captains-General s
—EOANE and
VALDEZ. In truth her MAJESTY'S pretended
unwillingness to part with the services of these
gallant awl liberal officers was but a piece of Court

acting, intended to impose upon the Constitutional
party. Generals IVIONso and BUERENS are spo-
ken of as their successors. A letter from Calanda,
of the 30th ult., published in the Eco de Arragon,
a Saragossa Journal, of the 4th instant, contains
the following account of the position of the
hostile armies at the above date. The first divi-
sion of the QUEEN'S army with the head-quarters
of the Commander-in-Chief, at Mas de las Matas.
The second division at Aguaviva and Tenebrosa,
which they arc fortifying. The third division has
a brigade at Castelszras, and another in the envi-
rons of Huesa, Hijar, Andorra, Alcorisa, and Ca-
landa ; arc well fortified, and have strong garrisons.
The positions of the Carlists are as follow ;
The chief, BOSQUE, is at Belmonte and Corollera,
from whence he makes his excursions. LLAN-
GOSTERA is at Monroyo, and from thence his
lines extend to Molinos and Ejulve CABRERA
is at Villarbuengo, but it was not believed he would
long remain there. Th© Carlist garrisons have
been increased by the new recruits to guard the
prisoners.

A French vessel was seized by the Spanish au-
thorities at Santander charged with smuggling, and
with not having her papers regular. She was
bound to Oporto. ,

Great preparations were making in Madrid for
the elections. Never was there such a political
contest in Spain as there is likely to be when the
new Cortes assemble.

The Paris Journals of Tuesday have all reached
us, but they bring no news from Africa of a later
date than the accounts received yesterday. Ac-
cording to private letters the French were expecting
that a formidable attack would be made upon the
garrison of Mascara, which was but indifferently
provided with the means of successfully repelling it.
The Consul of AnD-EL-K A DER at Oran had
likewise been arrested by order of Marshal VALEE
as he was on the point of leaving that town to join
the camp of the Emir.
Two other persons have been arrested in Paris on
charges connected with the last Infernal Machine
explosion. Some arms and ammunition were found
concealed in their respective residences. On the
morning of the 6th instant, the office and private
apartments of the editor of the Journal du Com-
merce of Lyons, were searched by the police for
the discovery of a correspondence between Prince
LOUIS NAPOLEON and the Marquis DE CROUY
CHENEL. The search was unsuccessful, as no
papers of a treasonable nature were found.
The Monileur of Tuesday is completely silent
about the reported Bonapartist conspiracy.

The accounts from Saragossa are of the 3d. The
Pilaw de Bayonne continues to say that Espartero is
going to undertake the siege of Segura.
The correspondent of the Sentinelle des Pyrenees
writes that the campaign is terminated.
Arrangements continue to be spoken of, but their
bases are not known. It is affirmed that the conditions
will he settled at Paris or at Bourges.—Le Co✓tslilu-
tionnel.

A letter from Saragossa of the 3d informs us that
many sick and wounded from the army of Espartero
have arrived in that city, where the General-in-Chief
was daily expected. The inhabitants of Saragossa are
persuaded that no operations against Cabrera will be
attempted during the winter. O'Donnell, whose move-
ments are combined with those of Espartero, is retreat-
ing like him. It seems that the Count de Morella
thinks of harassing them in their retreat--Le Gazette
de Fra ?ice.

THE ARMY.—The 6th Regiment of Light Infantry
and the 31st of the Line had been ordered to quit
Lyons and repair immediately to Toulon and Marseilles.
The former was to embark for Algeria, and the lattrr
to replace the 38th in Marseilles. General Parchappe,
who commands two brigades at Lyons, was forthwith to
proceed to Africa. The3d company of the waggon train in
garrison in Lyons was also to leave for Toulon. Several
officers of the military administration in Strasburg had
received orders to set out in twenty-tour hours for
Toulon. A battery of the 6th Regiment of Artillery
was likewise ordered from Besancon to Africa.
BRUSSELS, Dye. 9.—M. de Gerslacher, Minister of
the Grand Duke of Baden at Paris, has been intrusted
by his Sovereign with a special mission to the King of
the Belgians. This mission is on occasion of the open-
ing of official relations between the two countries. Ile
had a private audience of his Majesty on the 7th at the
Palace of Laeken.
We have mentioned that the notaries of the ceded
portion of Luxemburg, eleven in number, who had been
provisionally retained in their functions, were suspended
'try Messrs. Stift and Hasenpflug, but having obtained
an audience of King William, they received the assur-
ance that all of them should be reinstated.
A letter Irom Maestricht says, that the Commissioners
have issued a circular dated the 29th of November,
stating that they have resolved to put into execution
the convention relative to the navigation.
The King gave a private audience on the Bth, to
the Count de Jounione Walwork, Minister Plenipoten-
tiary for the King of Bavaria at Paris, who has come
to Brussels on a special mission to the King.
The Chamber of Representatives continue the dis-
cussion of the several portions of the budget.
It is said that. the Chambers are going to de-
liberate on a law against anonymous libels. We
do not know what may be the fate of
the discussion .vhich it will occasion, but, at all events, it
must do much good, even though the law should be re-
jected. For in this case it mo Ild doubtless be sufficient
it the first power in the nation had made solemn and au-
thentic declarations to stigmatize for ever the authors
of such attacks on character, made under the cover of
the anonymous press. It would be sufficient, we say, if
the Legislature declared that every anonymous attack on
individuals is unworthy of any credit, because it is the
work of a coward, who hides himself like an assassin, to
attack unwary passengers.
VIENNA, DEC. 2.—The Princess Amelia of Saxony
has declined the offer of apartments in the Imperial
Palace, but has cheerfully accepted the use of the
Court equipage and servants placed at her disposal,
and the many other marks of deticate attention. Every-
body was eager to treat the illustrious visitor with the
regard due to her. Her Royal Highness left Vienna
this morning.
For some weeks past the waters in the Danube have
been so unusually low that the navigation is attended
with the greatest difficulties, and the communication by
steam-boats was obliged to cease about Presburg. This
favourable opportunity is taken to complete the blowing
up of the rocks near the much dreaded whirlpools,
which still obstruct the passage.
The latest accounts from Presburg are again more fa-
vourable. The tick iAlt point of the freedom of debate,
on which the Diet hes been more than once in danger
of coming into difficulties, is likely to beg ttled in a
.atizfactory manner, the Government having, it is said.
riven very aufficient assurance on the subject. A
'avourable iinpresaion has been made in the Diet b 1 tha
affer of the Government to pay out of the pub-
ic treaanry the expense of the four new courts of j us-
tice, and a court of appeal, to be created in Hungary.