The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-25 00:00:00

111 E SIITN, -LONDON, FRIDAY '''',EVENING, 7APRIL 411".25, 1862.

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" ALBERT the Good ;" yet there, down at South
Kensington—not in the building itself unhappily,
but in its contents—we have for the time being at
least a memorial of him ! If but the structure were
worthier of the treasures of arts, and sciences, and
nature accumulated together within it ! It might
then be perpetuated as a store of machinery and
design, constituting the PRINCE CONSORT'S most
appropriate memorial. Unhappily, thanks to the
hideous result of Captain FOWKES'S ingenuity, that,
of course, is not for one instant to be thought of. The
sooner we make a clearance of that abominable dis-
play of ingenious audazity iu the way of
piling together a mass of architectural
solecisms the better. Hard by, however, further
north upon the green award in Hyde.park, where
once stood for a while the Fairy Halls of glass,
containing the glories of the First Great Exhibition
—there we cannot possibly do better in the way
of honouring the memory of our lamented PRINCE
than by so combining sculpture with architecture
in an appropriate memorial, that London may,
as we suggested the other day, thenceforth rival
Edinburgh in the possession of a work of art
worthy of comparison with the SCOTT Monument.

We hope the clergy will attend to Mr. GLAD -
STONE'S speech at Manchester, for it may do them
more good than half a dozen Episcopal charges;
and we hope, too, they will visit him with signal and
appropriate retribution, for that would be an unspeak-
able boon to us poor miserable sermon-hearers.
What in the world our clerical, and perhaps our
lay hearers may ask, has Mr. GLADSTONE'S speech
at a distribution of educational prizes to do with
sermons ? We will tell them. But, the unfortunate
preliminary is, the confession, that of all the penances
poor laymen are called to endure, that of hearing a
sermon, if we do not happen to be drowsy, is about
the worst. We mean no disrespect to the clergy ;
but we may appeal to our neighbours pretty gene-
rally whether this weekly social infliction is not
one from which we always most thankfully escape.
We do not call it a religious infliction, because it is
no more a part of either natural or revealed religion
than fasting on Good Friday. That which makes
the sermon a bore, is the very opposite of religion.
It is its conformity to an artificial standard of
Anglican propriety—about as remote from that
furnished by the sermons we read in the New
Testament—those of the Great Master or of his
Apostles— the sermon on the Mount, or the sermons
of PAUL and PETER—as a modern bishop or deacon
is from any resemblance to primitive apostles and
the primitive men in holy orders.
When, then, we had read the first column of Mr.
GLADSTONE'S speech, the first thing which struck us
was—why, surely we have been reading a sermon ;
the next, why, no, a sermon, it cannot be, for we
read it with deep interest—again we glanced back
and were compelled to see that it was a sermon and
nothing else ; and, of course, the last thought,
which we dare but whisper to our reader's ear, was,
—Heaven send us such sermons every Sunday morn-
ing, and we shall not be often wanting in our bodily
and wakeful presence.
We then, naturally, asked ourselves a few ques-
tions abut the cause of the difference between a
Chancellor of the Exchequer's sermon and that of
a dean, .or a doctor of divinity, or of the regular
parish priests. We set aside the genius of Mr.
GLADSTONE—of which some exquisite touches ap-
peared in this introductory part of his address. All
clergymen, cannot, more than all gentlemen in
other professions, be geniuses. But we thought we
saw in Mr. GLADSTONE'S speech—indeed, it is
generally to be seen in his speeches—some quali-
ties which would change the style of nine-tenths
of the sermons in the kingdom, and make them
always bearable, often attractive. Mr. GLADSTONE
always speaks from conviction, and almost always
because he really has something to say, and he lets
his manner show it. Now nothing can make up
for these qualities. Why do we listen so coolly to
the polished, well poised sentences of Sir BULIV ER
LYTTON, or to the elaborated sarcasms and ingenui-
ties of Mr. DISRAELI—in their public speeches we
mean ? Because it is impossible to believe that
there is anything like conviction beneath them.
We admire the feat, indeed ; and.we could attend
to such feats, on pulpit topics in the pulpit ; but
all clergymen could no more rival this, than they
could the performances of BLONDIN. But Mr. GLAD-
STONE'S ingenuities, and touching sentiments, and
eloquent illustrations, are as much the product of his
heart, as of his intellect—we may say of him what
the highest authority would have said of a good
man—that out of the abundance -of his heart his
mouth speaketh.
Altogether reversing this, our Sunday preachers
have contracted with few exceptions—a manner
dignified enough it is true—and an utterance I
ro-
tund, so far as vocal organs permit, monotonous, or
cadential, starched as their cravats and bands, and
authoritative, as if they swore to renounce the
POPE'S authority, only to become Popes themselves.
Such a manner might be endured, if high genius
atoned for it, just as we tolerate for this reason the
intolerable manner of the two Tory orators above-
mentioned ; but it is death to all attention when
the speaker has no such claims on us. Nearly all
the really popular preachers we hear of, have a
1 manner just the reverse. Their theological benti-
meats may be as diverse us possible; their educa-
tion and the polish of their style different ; they
may be popular, so to speak, with the thinking few,
or in the more proper use of the word, with the
plebeian many ;—but they all feel that they have
something to say—something of which, be they
right or wrong, they, at least, are thoroughly con-
vincedand as the corollary, they cannot use the
humdrum style clerical. Four more different
speakers, and with very diverse creeds also, there
can hardly be than the half-heretical Churchman
MAURICE, the popular Baptist SPURGEON, the
almost equally popular, in his own country, Pres-
byterian, Dr. GUTHRIE, and he who has so often
foretold the date of the world's doom, Dr. CUMMING.
Their creeds are no concern of ours, but the
common quality which all of them possess as
attractive preachers, is a great concern of
all of us. If we are to hear a sermon
once a week, or to be classed by the Bishop of Ox
FORD amongst the godless, then in the name of
mercy to our ears, let it be one resembling the
speeches of mortals on other occasions. We do not
ask for one with all whose notions we shall agree,
any more than ask for that in political speeches.
We do not ask for no slip—no deviation from per-
fect literary or oratorical taste, any more than
we do in other public addresses ; we only ask that
we shall have something said because the speeker
wants to say something, and with the unchecked
manner of one who so feels.

As to reading sermons, who ever thinks of such a
thing ? We recollect reading a set of sermons when
we were lads—hori eseimus referentes —they were by
WILLIAM COBBETT. Now we do not want the
clergy to become politicians—that might spoil our
trade, and according to the old adage respecting two
of a trade—editors and clergymen might then be
likely to disagree. But we are not likely to forget
the substance of Mr. COBBETT'S sermons, though
we have never read them since, and clergymen must
confess that it would be something gained in their
vocation, if they could produce such lifelong im-
pressions. Now WM. CoBBETT's sermons, which,

for this reason, we commend to the attention
of our clergy, possess those essential qualifications
for securing attention to which we have just ad-
verted, in an eminent degree. He has something to
say, and he is determined that you shall understand
what it is. Totally different in style and subject as
were Mr. GLADSTONE'S touching remarks on Lan-
cashire distress, on the sorrows of our Widowed
QUEEN in relation to it, and on the loss of PRINCE
ALBERT in regard to education, we have no doubt
that many will remember this admirable lay
sermon, as long as he would a sermon of WILLIAM
COBBETT. All now we ask of Sunday pulpit per-
formers, is that they become Sunday speakers, and
that thus they retaliate on Mr. GLADSTONE for in-
vading their province, by entering also on his. Let
them forget they are "priests"—and remember that
they are men ; and we and they shall be all the
better for the change.

LATEST NEWS.

PARIS, APRIL 25.

The Constitutionnel of to-day published an article
signed by its secretary, M. Boniface, asserting that
the consolidation of the public debt of France will
shortly be effected by the presentation of a bill to
the Chambers, proposing that from October next
there should be but one kind of public security
bearing 3 per cent. interest, and providing the
means for effecting the conversion of the remaining
Four-and-a-Half per Cent. Rentes.

The Court of Cassation has decided that a mar-
riage contracted with a convict in ignorance of his
real character cannot be annulled.

CADIZ, APRIL 24.
The French steamer Asmodee has arrived here
with news from Vera Cruz to the Ist inst.
No important change has taken place in the posi-
tion of affairs.

FRANCE.
PARIS, APRIL 24.

The Patrie announced a few days ago that the
French artillery had invented a new projectile,
capable of piercing plated ships, txnd of producing
effects hitherto unknown ; and it added—
" The principle of this invention will remain a
secret ; but we are assured that the fact of its
existence is now placed" beyond all doubt."
M. Mathieu (de la Drome) once a representative
of the people, lost no time in claiming the invention
as his own. He states that he communicated the
fact to the Minister of Marine on the Bth, and
again on the 11th of the prooont month, together
with all the necessary details ; and, so far back as
the 26th of December, that he submitted, under
cover to the Academy of Sciences, the drawings and
descriptions as mentioned in the Patrie.
M. Mathieu's claim is well founded. In February
last the English Admiralty were informed of his
invention, but did not know the nature of the
means he employed.
The " boulet mine" (for so this new infernal ma-
chine is called) is described as capable of destroying
six-inch iron-plated ships, at a distance of more than
3,000 yards. If it really possesses this wonderful
power, Great Britain, Gibraltar, Malta, &c., will be
less accessible than ever, and the superiority of iron
ships will not have been of long duration.
A letter from Cherbourg of the 20th inst. says
that the Minister of Marine has resolved to submit
the iron cased frigates lately launched to a decisive
trial to test their seaworthiness. The Couronne,
which has arrived from Lorient at Cherbourg, is
selected for the experiment. She is to be sent across
the Atlantic. A question which has given rise to
a serious controversy among seamen as to the possi-
bility of a completely iron-cased vessel accomplishing
the voyage will thus be solved.
The association established in Lorraine, under the
direction of Marshal Canrobert, for the improve-
ment of the breed of horses, and of which the Prince
de Beauvau is a warm supporter, has announced
that a racecourse is to he established at Nancy, and
that the first meeting will take place in September
next.

The Moniteur publishes the following note :
" In conformity with the law of February 12, 1862,
the holders of 41 and 4 per Cent. Stock and of
Trentenary Bonds, residing in Europe and Algeria,
had a delay of two months granted them, for mak-
ing known their adhesion to the optional conversion.
That delay expired on the 15th inst. It results
from the declarations made that the amount of the
titles converted is as follows :-41 per Cents.,
131,821,331 fr. of rente deposited by 412,292 hol-
ders ; 4 per Cents., 1,632,614 of rente deposited by
1,929 holders ; of Trentenary Bonds, 604,329. The
titles nonconverted amount in 41 per Cents., to
40,241,185 fr. of rente; 4 per Cents., 456,236 fr.;
and Trentenary Bonds, 70,725. The above result
can be modified, but very slightly, by the declara-
tions of conversion of persons residing in the French
colonies, and to whom the law of the 12th of Feb.
accorded a delay of one year to make known their
decision."

BOURSE, April 24.—The market has been buoyant,
and prices show an improvement on the closing
rates of yesterday. Threes, for the Account, which
opened at 70f. 50c., are now at 70f. 65c., with a
good business doing. Theßailway Share Market
has been less animated than the Rente, but prices
have been pretty steadily maintained. The market
receded slightly towards the close, and left off as
follows :-
4t per per Cents ... 98 55
Do. end month.... 98 70

3 per Cents

D. end month.... 70 55

New 3 per Cents .. 69 55

Do. end month.... 69 60
Credit Mobilier.... 833 75

Bank Shares 3117 50
Credit F oncier 1515
Belgian 4t.. —
Piedmontesc Fives 69 55
Italian Loan 69 10
Austrian
Spanit,h Threes 52 50
Home Debt

Do. end month.... 837 50

RAILWAYS.
Cash. Account.
Orleans 1292 50 .. 1290
Northern
Now ditto 9BO
Lyons and Mediterranean 1141 25 1140
Geneva .. 3BO 380
Southern
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard 3 585 .. 583 75