The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-24 00:00:00

THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR.

Not a syllable of truth is contained in the repre-
sentations of a Protectionist print, attributing the
absence of the French Ambassador to what it is
pleased to:style a " difficulty" between the Govern-
inents of France and England. Count Walewski,
as our readers are aware, left London last week for
a few days, in order to attend upon his Imperial
master—an incident certainly not so uncommon as
to create any extraordinary remark. We believe
that, lie has already returned to his post, and this
is the beginning and end of the story. The two
Governments remain, as formerly, in a complete
unanimity of opinion respecting the interests of
the Western Powers and of Europe in the dispute
which is. now convulsing the East. What course
of policy they may ultimately decide upon adopt-
ing is a point which events must contribute in a
great measure to determine.—Times.

PROFESSOR MAURICE.

( Front a Correspondent.)

It seems that so long as the world lasts, men who
are true to the dictates of their own souls will suf-
fer much at the hands of those opposed to them.
One more proof of this, is the fact that the
" Council" of King's College have deprived Pro-
fessor Maurice of the chair of Ecclesiastical
History, on the ground of want of orthodoxy !
Let the Council sit in solemn conclave, and send
forth to the world a distinct and positive definition
as to what is and what is not orthodox—and all
mankind will assuredly bless them, and their me-
morable names shall be handed down in grateful
remembrance to posterity ; but we much fear
they would not all agree on any point of
theology or religious definitions. We had given
them credit for a greater development of enlight-
ened liberty than they deserved, and little thought
they emulated the proceedings of the dark ages.
It is a sad sight to see a handful of poor frail
mortals sitting, in the plenitude of their power
and wisdom, on judgment on a man whose outer
life is the counterpart of his inmost soul, and
whose learning and religious feeling are deserving of
the deepest consideration.
If the rev. gentleman had occupied the chair of
theology, we, perhaps, might not have thought
the step so rash a one, but we believe the proceed-
ing to be the fruit of bigotry and canting religionism.
These petty movements form but the bubbles on
the surface of the current, which will, ere
long, burst out into a storm that shall
dissipate much, if not all, of the present sys-
tem of Church discipline ; its ritualism and cere-
monialism will be swept into oblivion, and prove
the prelude to a brighter dawn for all true Church-
men

The Rev. Mr. Maurice, we believe, to be one of
those who live in hope of a better time—one who
deplores the corruptions now existing, and so pro-
minently discussed by Churchmen, the press, and
society generally.
Out of evil cometh good. Corruption calls into
activity much talent, virtue, and nobleness. As
true is it that the evil in the Catholic Church
ushered in a Luther, as that the fallen condition of
man was succeeded by the Deluge. Every age has
its reformers, both literary, political, and religious,
and the Luthers and Melancthons of our present
time are not altogether silent, but wait till their
voices will be heard.

The world has ever been advancing from age to
age—new discoveries, new inventions, new light,
new truths have had their birth, and old obsolete
forms, traditions, and exploded theories have given
place to them, but the step taken by the King's Col-
lege Council would certainly imply that they be-
lieve mankind to be unprogressive, in every sense
of the word, and that the " orthodoxy" of bygone
times is suitable to all ages. Men's minds are as
diverse as the features of the human face, or the
leaves of trees. There never can be uniformity of
thought. We might as well try to make the
trees grow alike ; therefore, from colleges profes-
sing freedom, th bitter wrangling upon " ortho-
doxy" and " heterodoxy" should be for ever ban-
ished. It is an apple of discord, an evil spirit,
which lowers the dignity of man, impedes the pro-
gress of truth, obliterates genuine Christianity,
and gives birth to much bitterness.
While we regret, as Churchmen, the exhibition
made by these collegiate oracles, we have this con-
solation, that they possess not the wisdom that
enricheth. What is true will live. That truth can-
not be hooded, but will ever go forward with the
banner of progress, and be the fire and scourge
which, helping to drive out the darkness and cor-
ruption of the land, shall bring men to the sun-
light of boundless life.

An advance of 91. 10s. per ton in the price of copper
was announced yesterday by the firms in that trade.
THE STEAM-SHIP GOLDEN AGE.—The American
steam-ship Golden Age, which sails on Saturday next
for Australia, will not take any mails, the Go-
vernment allowance of two pence a-letter, and
one penny for newspapers, being deemed insufficient
by the owners, while premiums of 1,0001. are being
granted to ordinary sailing ships for the same
duty. If the vessel had been an English one, the
Post-office could have compelled her to carry a
mail upon their minimum, terms, as they are now doing
in the case of the Liverpool Brazilian Steam Company,
paying meanwhile to other ships on the same route a
heavy subsidy ; but in the present instanoe they are
powerless. It is understood, however, that although
the Golden Age refuses to take a mail, she will carry
letters gratis for such persons as may send them on
board, and, as she made the fastest trial trip yet known
across the Atlantic, and has therefore given every pro-
mise of a short passage to the colony, the mercantile
community will probably avail themselves, as far as pos-
sible, of this privilege.
ST. PETERSBURG.—Advices from St. Petersburg reach
to the 15th inst. The shipping season was considered
over, as there were no vessels remaining to load, and
the navigation would be closed before any others could
be engaged. From Odessa the dates are to the 11th.
i e anticipated reaction in the rate of exchange had
taken place in a very decided manner, the quotation
having suddenly become 4 per cent. less unfavourable
for this country—an alteration which will soon react
upon St. Petersburg, and be likely, therefore, to check
some of the further remittances of gold from London
o
known to
wbecaot ntemplated during the present week. The
continuedprice
of
wheat
he
on a large
preceding
was still advancing, and the purchases
scale,althoughweekno.t
Theto the same
extent as during the
taken altogether by the Neapolitan
45,000 quarters, and a further amount
Government was
amount was wanted.
Freights were again higher.
With regard to the war
question fluctuating reports continued to be received, but
110 fear was entertained of a stoppage of business.
ALTERATION IN FRENCH TARIFFS.—Great interest
was excited yesterday by the news from Pa ns regarding
the modification of the duties on iron and coals. The
reduction on pig iron is from about 625. 6d. per ton to
408. 6d. per ton ;on bars and rails from 81. and 7
lOs. l.
16s. 3d. (according to their being imported in foreign
or French vessels), to 51. and 4/. 6s. 3d. ; and on sheet
iron, from a rate which was almost prohibitory, to 81.
The'dimunition as regards pig iron is scarcely equal to
what some persons had anticipated ; but in manufactured.
iron it is rather greater. A large importation is ex-
pected as an imm
consequence of the measure,
and it is stated in private letters that more than 60
vessels, of between
100 and 200 tons, have been char-
tered at Bordeaux, where the price of pig iron is about
8/. 108., to bring both iron and coals. In the London
market yesterday no particular alteration was caused,
the movement having been previously looked for.
There was a rise, however, in pig iron of about ls. or 2s.
per ton.