The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-22 00:00:00

ANOTHER OLD CASE.-IN RE NEWBOLD.

This bankrupt was described as of Sheffield and New
York, merchant, and this was a dividend meetirT. The
commission is dated 1828, and the circumstances are
similar to the above.
The amount of the dividends will be declared in a
few days.

SHERIFFS' COURT.
(Before Mr. Under-Sheriff Burchell.)
LIBEL.-BADMAN V. VISCOUNT DRUMLANRIG.

This was an inquiry to assess damages in this case,
which was un action for libel, and defendant had suffered
judgment to go by default of plea.
The damages were laid at 1,0001., and the action was
founded on a letter inserted Bell's Life, containing
strictures on plaintiffs conduct respecting 'a proposed
fight between him and Hayes.
Mr. Robinson appeared for the plaintiff, and said that
from a comniunication made to him by the defendant's
solicitor he had no doubt the jury would be spared all
trouble in the case, which was adjourned by consent for
a fortnight to effect an arrangement.
There were a great number of veterans of the P.R.
in court. _

The other cases in the list were withdrawn.

THE GOVERNMENT POLICE BILL

GIVEN UP.

While Lord John is obstinately defending Church
rates, which are tottering on their last legs, Lord Pal-
merston is wisely and gracefully yielding to the sense of
the nation with regard to a pet measure of his own, and
giving up what would have occasioned him certain de-
feat bad he endeavoured to maintain it. The Consta- '
bulary Bill proposed by Lord Palmerston, and exposed
and opposed in the Daily News from the beginning, is,
in deference to public opinion, to be withdrawn. A de-
putation-consisting of the mayors and representatives of
important corporations, waited on Lord Palmerston yes-
terday, for the purpose of stating the objections enter-
tained throughout the country on the subject of the
proposed bill. The objections to centralisation were
strongly stated, and the deputation showed clearly not
only that the principle was not adapted to this country,
but gave examples that interference with local self-go-
vernment had proved extremely prejudicial. It was
quite clear that the deputation had thoroughly made up
their minds as to the bureaucratic tendencies of the Con-
stabulary Bill, and the demonstration was therefore va-
luable as a token of the popular feeling on the subject.
Lord Palmerston, although not admitting the force of
all the objections against his pet progeny, Gum ono depu-
tation that he was not prepared to force any measure
against such strong and unanimous representations as had
been made to him. He, therefore, should withdraw the
present bill from the consideration of Parliament.
There is another great victory against the centralising
principle, which would, if allowed to take root here,
destroy at once those institutions in which the English-
man has received half his education. It is our munici-
palities giving us local self-government which have made
us independent, fit for business, capable of originating
and carrying out reforms. If man is, as Aristotle calls
him, a political animal, then is the Englishman the most
political animal. He has received his education in a
school of local politics and is ready to join in general
politics. It is because other nations have not had this
education that they are not capable of managing their
own affairs when by accident the management fall into
their own hands. Centralisation Bills will take away
this power and this opportunity, and they must be op-
posed. Lord Palmerston deserves much praise for his
ready yielding to rational opposition in the present in-
stance.—Daily News.

ANOTHER SUCH VICTORY, AND
CHURCH RATES ARE LOST.

The House of Commons has decided, by a majority of
27, against the abolition of Church rates. Taking the
House of Commons, as it is, a body which imperfectly
represents the nation, it is a matter of wonder that so
many as 182 members could be found to record their
votes in favour of a measure which was intended to re-
medy a great national wrong. That it is a great wrong
has been admitted by some of the best Churchmen. It
does not fellow that because the State chooses to recog-
nise the principle of an establishment, by selecting one
religious denomination, and investing it with the pro-
perty and dignity of a State church, therefore those who
dissent from this church should pay for the buildings of
the establishment. It may allow the church to keep it
own property, but it cannot consistently call upon mem
bers of other denominations to assist the State Church
by their contributions. None but the merest bigots
assert this. Lord Derby, even so late ago as 1837, said—
" I am ready to acknowledge that church rates, as they
stand, do form to the Dissenters a serious and substan-
tial grievance." Every one admits the evils of church
rates as they stand, but yet they are kept up. They
are, it may be added, a reproach to our institutions; for
if the inhabitants refuse a rate, there is, according to
Dr. Lushington, no power in the Ecclesiastical Courts
to enforce the payment necessary to keep up the Church.
Lord John Russell, in the course of his speech, proval
too much. He said that having in this country a
monarchy, a hereditary aristocracy, and other institu-
tions with which the Church was bound up, if one of
these institutions fell, the other would be immediately
destroyed. Believing, then, as he does, that church
rates are necessary to keep up the Church, the inference
that naturally follows from his statement is that our in-
stitutions depend upon the retention of church rates.
Now that church rates are doomed no one can doubt.
If, then, their abolition takes place during the life of
Lord John—and it is to be hoped that he will live long
enough to see that event—he will ~tand amidst the ruins
of a monarchy, a hereditary aristocracy, a State Church,
and other institutions connected therewith.' Lord John
may be assured that when in a House composed of a
very large proportion of members of the hereditary aris-
tocracy, who are all interested in the maintenance of an
aristocratical church and the ecclesiastical regime as it
stands at present--when in such a house 182 members
can be found voting for a measure for the abolition of
church rates, these rates are verging towards their dis-
solution. There is no life left in them.—Daily News.