The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY *EVENING, MAY 30, 1853.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
'Under the management of Mr. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, MAY 30,

Will be performed ELOPE NIEITS IN 'HUH LIFE. By Messrs.
R. Sullivan, Chippendale, Howe, W. Farrell, Buckstone, Rogers, and
Compton ; Mrs. Filzwilliam, Mrs. L. S. Buckingham, and Misses
Reynolds and L. Howard.
After which, MR. BUCKSTONE'S ASCENT OF MOUNT PAR-
SASWs.
To be followed by THE BO HIDING SCHOOL BALL.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean.
THIS EVENING, MAY 30,
Will be performed the Tragedy of MACBETH. Principal cha-
racters by Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean.
To be followed by BLACK-EYED SUSAN. Characters by
Messrs. T. P. Cooke. Wright, Meadows, Mainers, Graham, Eve-
rett, F. Cooke, and Saker ; Mrs. W. Lacy and Miss Murray.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Vestria.
THIS EVENING, MAY 30,

Will be performe 1 THE WONDERFUL WOMAN. Characters
by Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, H. Butler, and Rosiere ;
Madame Yestris and Miss Mascn.

To be followed by THE LAWYERS. Characters by Messrs. C.
Mathews, P. Ni atthews, and Rozby ; Mrs. F. Matthews, and Misses
Robertson and Ellis.
After which, A B X LLET DIVERTISSEMENT.
To conclude with LITTLE TODDLEKINS.

ROYAL OLYMPIC; THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager. Mr. Barren.
THIS EVENING, MAY 80,

Will be performed WILLIAM TELL. Characters by Mes rs. H.
Farren, 11. Marston, Diidear, G Cooke, Kinloch, Bender, Clifton,
and F. Charles ; Mesdames Anderton, H. Gordon, E. Turner, and
Adams. _ _ _ .

To conclude with MACBETH. Supported by Mr. Samuel Mac-
beth, Mr. F. Robson, Mrs. Sarah Macbeth, and Mrs. A. Phillips.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke.

ASTOUNDING NOVELTY.—Arrival of the celebrated and intrepid
31. ALPHONSE THEVELIN, the First Gymnasiarque tErien of
France, and Inventor of the Cybistioue Games ender the French
and Belgian Ba'loons, who wit make his First Appearance in this
Country TO-NIGHT.
SECOND JUVENILEE EQUESTRIAN MORNING PER-
FOR AIANC E

Will take place on WEDNESDAY, .June 1, commencing at Two
o'clock. By kind permission of Sir Charles Adam, and by compli-
mentary invitation of 51r. W. Cooke, the boys of Greenwich Hes•
pital School, with their Band, will attend.
THIS EVENING, 3fet 30.

And during the week, the Entertainments will commence with the
highly successful Hippo Deama, with new scenery, costumes, and
appointments, entitled THE CHASE, er LIFE ON THE TURF—
illustrating a Sporting Man's Career.

To be followed by M, Alphonse Thevelin in his incredible Per-
formance of TE$ JEUX CYBISTIQUE ; or, The Four Trapeze—
with the wsuderful Vaulting Traverser .Erien of 130 Feet from the
Slack of the Stage to the Centre of the Ring, for the First Time in
Europe.
To conclude with brilliant Scenes in the ARENA. by the most
talented Artistes of the day.
Box-of lice open daily from Eleven to Four. Stags Manager, Mr.
W. West.

DAILY WEATHER TABLE.

MONDAY, MAY 30, 1853.

State of the wind and weather at each of the following
places at nine o'clock Saturday morning. The stations
are arranged in order of latitude.
HASTINGS—W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
SOUTHAMPTON—W., strong breeze—overcast.
FOLKESTONE—S.W., gentle breeze—overcast.
TUNBRIDGE—S.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
BASINGSTOKE—N.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
GREENWICH—W.S.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
STRooD—W. gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
SWINDON—Ni., light breeze—cloudy.
CAMBRIDGE—S., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
YARMOUTH—S.W., calm—cloudless.
HOLYHEAD—S.W., gentle breeze—fine.
LANCASTER—S.W., gentle breeze—overcast.
WHlTBY—Calm—principally clear.
DARLINGTON—W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
SHAD—S., calm—very cloudy.
The returns from the following places indicate the state
of the weather on Friday morning at nine o'clock
HASTlNGS—Calm—cloudless.
SOUTHAMPTON—W., gentle breeze—cloudless.
FOLKESTONE—S.W., gentle breeze—overcast.
TUNBRIDGE—S.W., gentle breeze—cloudless.
BASINGSTOKE—N., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
GREENWlCH—Calm—partially cloudy.
STROOD—W., calm—foggy.
SWINDON—N., light breeze—cloudless.
LEIGHToN—N.W., gentle breeze—cloudless.
CAMBRlDGE—Calm—cloudless.
HOLYHEAD—N., gentle breeze—fine.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Taos DAT —Morning 43 min. after 5 Evening 10 min.aft. 6
To-Moaßow—Morning 38 rain. after 6 Evening 7 min.aft. 7

THE WEATHER.—Sus OFFICE, MAT 29.
THERMOMETER, IN TICE SHADE.
74—higlicst since noon yesterday.
51—lowest this morning and during the night.
60— this day at noon.
BAROMETER, 29.95—going up rapidly.
WIND, N.N.W. —Light breeze, with heavy showers of
hailstone and rain, thunder and lightning—sunshine
occasionally.

MAY 30.
64 highest since noon yesterday.
50—lowest this morning and during the night.
e—this day, at noon.
BAROMETER, 30'06.
WIND, N. to N.N.E.—Light breeze, and cloudy weather,
with sunshine and partial rain.

~a dim
ak,L. 4'
tatll t nit U14443/4

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 30, 1853.

Turkey is secure of support both from the
French and from the English Government. Of
this there can no longer be any doubt whatsoever.
After the explicit declarations made in the House
of Commons by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, and in the
House of Peers by the Earl of CLARENDON, there
cannot be any further uncertainty as to the policy
now being carried out in the East by the diplo-
matic representatives of her Britannic MAJESTY in
concert with those of his Imperial Majesty NA-
POLEON 111. That policy is distinct and obvious.
It has been clearly defined by .the virtual Prime
Minister of England. It is dedicated to the
maintenance of existing treaties and to the con-
servation of the integrity of the Turkish dominions.
So plainly indeed has this been avowed that the
future is easily conjecturable upon certain contin-
gencies.

According to the latest intelligence, the re-
newed and (this time) confidential negotiations
carried on until late on the night of the 21st-
-22d instant between the DIVAN and Prince MEN-
scancorF—had been so definitively and so ab;-
ruptly closed, that early on the last-mentioned
date, namely on the morning of the 22d
of the present month of May, 1853, the
Russian Ambassador hastily took his departure
from Constantinople. It was added that the
rest of the Legation was preparing to follow his
Highness immediately afterwards to St. Peters-
burgh. From this it is manifest, of course, that
amicable relations have positively ceased between
the SULTAN and the AUTOCRAT. It remains to be
learnt what will be the course pursued under these
circumstances by the latter Potentate. It re-
mains to be seen whether, stung by the disap-
pointment of his ambitious hopes, irritated by
the decisive conduct of Ann-UL-Mznan, enraged
by the summary rejection of his ultimatum, and
beside himself with remorseful wrath at having
thus broken faith to no purpose with the majority
of the Allied Powers of Christendom—the
Emperor NICHOLAS will, for once in his career,
throw aside all considerations of prudence, and
evince a determination to develope, at all hazards,
the daring scheme upon which he has recently
adventured. Supposing him thus egregiously to
belie his whole reputation, supposing him thus
to forego, by one insensate enterprise, the whole
of his past credit for cautious, wily, and astute
statesmanship in the direction of the affairs of his
vast and irresponsible Government—there can-
not now, fortunately, be any doubt as to
the immediate consequences. Directly the
CZAR manifests openly any warlike antago-
nism to the Sublime Porte—he will find him-
self opposed not only by the united patriotism of
the Osmanli population, but by the simultaneous
support accorded to the SULTAN by the French
and English Governments. That may be looked
upon, we think, as a positive and reliable certainty.
The Cabinet at Paris and the Cabinet at London
are of one mind as to the course to bepursued under
any such lamentable contingency. They are
mutually pledged, in fact, to obstruct by force of
arms any warlike aggression upon the European
dominions of ABD-UL-MEDJID. The integrity of
the Turkish Empire is to be maintained by them.

at all risks, and the conditions of existing treaties
are to be enforced at first by their associated
diplomatists, and ultimately, if necessary, by their
combined armaments. Should the sword be drawn
by Russia, the united fleets of France and Eng-
land will at once appear at the mouth of the Dar-
danelles.

Indignation may prompt the CZAR to strike a
blow for the European diadem of the Sultan ABD-
UL-MEDJID. But prudence will doubtless remind
him of the folly of thereby provoking an unequal
contest between himself and the majority of the
most powerful Sovereigns of Christendom. Am-
bition may goad him on to attempt the seizure
of Constantinople. But reflection will probably
assure him of the little likelihood there is of his
succeeding in that endeavour, opposed as he would
inevitably be forthwith, not merely by the prowess
of the armies of Turkey, but by the formidable
armaments, both military and maritime, of Queen
VICTORIA and the Emperor NAPOLEON. Added
to all which considerations, there would yet
remain another of a rather terrible and obtrusive
character. It cannot but be remembered by the
Czar NICHOLAS in his calmer moments of medita-
tion, that, in the question at issue, the right is
altogether on the side of ABD-UL-MEDJID and his
allies, the great Western Sovereigns—the wrong,
the infamy, the dereliction of duty, the violation
of principle must be his own exclusively, his
own the enormous crime of breaking at last with
the curse of an atrocious war the blessing of a
prosperous and protracted tranquillity.
Although England has latterly seen the most
gifted, the most skilful, the most patriotic, and
the most experienced of her Statesmen removed
by the oddest of all the freaks of the Coalition
from the Foreign to the Home Department, she
has nevertheless had reason, within the last few
days more especially, to exult in the circumstance
that the present Ministry has been in any manner
leavened by the genius of Viscount PALMERSTON.
Shortly after the formation of the present 011a-
podrida, pr Hoteh-potch, or Pot-pourri Cabinet,
we took occasion to exult in the fact of our
foreign policy being at any rate guarded from
the possibility of degradation—the obvious secu-
rity being the acceptance of office, even though in
a new and unexpected capacity, by the most illus-
trious of our Foreign Secretaries. We regarded
the one redeeming point in the last Whig Ministry
during the first fivo years of its existence—to be
the fact that Viscount PALMERSTON was at the head
of the Foreign Department. We have con-
sidered all along the one redeeming point in the
Coalition Cabinet—to be the fact that the
same eminent Statesman has a seat in the
Councils of the Government. The last few
days have, in regard to this, proved clearly
enough the correctness of our opinion. But for
the resolution shown by Lord PALMERSTON, the
foreign policy of that excellent ABERDEEN would
have been once more in the ascendant. The
power of England would have been made to sub-
serve the interests of Russia. British diplomacy
would have been made to succumb to the arro-
gance of the ambition of the AUTOCRAT. Happily
for the honour, the influence, and the repu-
tation of our Government, the Premier was
in this Turkish question placed in a minority
in his own Cabinet, and the manly, the bold, and
the patriotic foreign policy of Lord PALMERSTON
has been definitively selected as the foreign policy
of the existing Administration. Whatever events,
therefore, may now transpire in the East, English-
men may rest confident that the wisest, because
the noblest and the most chivalric, course will be
pursued, in concert with France, in antagonism
to Russia, and in support of Turkey by her
MAJESTY'S Government.

There was no portion of the Common Law of
England in which, before the desire for legal
reform became universal, so many evils had sprung
up, so many deficiencies were apparent, as that
relating to the Evidence by which the matters at
issue in any suit were to be substantiated or dis-
proved. These evils had arisen, these deficiencies
been occasioned, by the almost ludicrous fidelity
with which certain rules established for the pur-
pose of eliciting the truth were followed, although
the over-stringent and slavish adherence thereto
but too frequently defeated the objects for which
they had originally been framed. The letter was
regarded rather than the spirit of the law, and
the most absurd decisions were arrived at under
the influence of regulations which, although they
would have made useful servants, became very
exacting and despotic taskmasters. No exception
whatsoever was tolerated. The substantial merits
of the case were disregarded ; while the most re-
fined and casuistical arguments, tending to the
exclusion of straightforward and bond fide testi-
mony, and thus calculated to bring the
administration of justice into contempt and
disrepute, were listened to with respect
and admiration, and especially favoured by the
various tribunals. Every witness who had any
interest, however infinitesimal in the result, or
against whom a verdict or judgment could at any
future time, or under any circumstances, be given
in evidence, was carefully excluded, until the
state of affairs arose which has been so graphically
described by the Commissioners, when the witness,
" however small and insignificant the amount of
his interest, was presumed to be incapable of re-
sisting the temptation to perjury, and every judge
and juryman was presumed to be incapable of dis-
cerning perjury committed under circumstances
peculiarly calculated to excite suspicion and
watchfulness." We can easily conceive how great
an amount of injustice must have been perpetrated
under this system, " not only in cases brought
into Court, and there wrongly decided in conse-
quence of the exclusion of evidence, but in num-
berless cases in which parties silently submitted to
wrongs from inability to avail themselves of proof,
which, though morally conclusive, was in law in-
admissible."

It is almost unnecessary to say that a system
leading to such results occasioned loud and general
complaints. Many energetic attempts were made
to obtain a relaxation of some of the most strin-
gent rules ; but it was long before any success,
however trifling, attended their disinterested
exertions. Persons who witnessed the serious
inconveniences of every-day occurrences—the re-
peated failure of justice, through their operation,
were cognisant of the extent and magnitude of
the evils—clung to the abuses with a desperate
fidelity ; and any attempt to improve the admi-
.nistration of the law was regarded as an assault
upon the venerable fabric, built up during succes-
sive ages, and " reform" and " destruction" were
regarded as synonymous in " the good old times,"
when GEORGE the Third was King, and Lord
ELDON occupied the woolsack.
At length, after the passing of the Modern
Magna Charta, and the abolition of some of the
nomination boroughs, the first step was taken—
very limited in extent, it is true—but still in the
right direction, and operating as the admission
of the sharp end of the wedge, and thus leading
to the more important concessions that have since
been made. At first all that was allowed was
that the testimony of persons against whom the
verdict or judgment in the cause might be given
in evidence, should be receivable ; but any
direct interest, however trivial, if amounting
to the value of the smallest coin of the
realm, still remained an insuperable bar.
Ten years subsequently further progress was
made, and it was provided by the 6th and fith
Vie., cap. 85 (commonly called Lord Denman's
Act), that " no witness should he excluded from
giving evidence, either in person or by deposi-
tion, according to the practice of the Court, by
reason of any incapacity from crime or interest, with
the exception of the principals themselves ;" and
that "in Courts of Equity any defendant might
be examined on behalf of the plaintiff, or on be-
half of any co-defendant, saving just exceptions."
The value of this enactment was speedily acknow-
ledged ; but still there were to be found cavillers
who objected to the salutary provisions, asserting
that one of the chief bulwarks of the Constitution
had been assailed, and predicting that the time
would arrive when even the parties themselves
would be heard as witnesses in the Courts of
Common Law ! An atrocity that made the very
hairs of those sages stand on end with horror.
Maze predictions were to a great extent verified.

The new code for the more speedy recovery of
small debts—which constituted tribunals having
a mixed legal and equitable jurisdiction—was
based on the principle that there should be no
exclusion, but that every person who could, by
any possibility, cast light on the subject in dis-
pute should, although a party to the suit, be not
only admissible, but compelled to give evidence.
This privilege was, however, restricted to cases
where less than 201. was claimed—the parties
being still rigorously excluded in the Superior
Courts.

The good effects of relaxation speedily became
Apparent. 'Unjust claims were discouraged when
the plaintiff might be compelled to substantiate
their validity on oath, and the defendant might
solemnly deny the justice of the demand. It
was equally effectual against unconscientious de-
fences where the debtor refused to satihfy righteous
demands on the supposition that they could not
be established in law—the deficiency of proof
being, perhaps, occasioned by the mistaken confi-
dence reposed in his own honour and integrity.
The beneficial results of the new system being
thus partially established, it could not be sup-
posed that any restriction could much longer
prevail in the Superior Courts, or that what was
good to the extent of 201. could be bad when a
larger sum was at stake. The jurisdiction of the
County Courts was enlarged from 201. to 501.,
and a new Law of Evidence Act (14 and 15 Vic.
c. 99) was enacted, by which the parties to the
suit were rendered eligible witnesses on their own
account, and might be compelled to appear, if
called on by their opponents. This further con-
cession was received with great distrust, and it
was asserted, even from high quarters, that it
would have a very demoralising tendency, hold-
ing out a strong temptation to false testimony,
and perplexing juries by an almost incessant
clashing of evidence ; and this murmur increased
to an outcry, when some four or five prosecutions
for perjury had been directed. A greater expe-
rience as to its practical working has, however,
removed these erroneous impressions, and now,
after it has been eighteen months in operation,
we are truly told by the Commissioners, that " ac-
cording to the concurrent testimony of the bench,
the profession, and the public, it is found to work
admirably, and to contribute in an eminent degree
to the administration of justice."
In one respect, and one only, was there a defi-
ciency in the new Act. There was some degree
of obscurity on the point as to whether the wife
could be examined for or against her husband.
Her testimony could clearly be received if she was
a joint plaintiff or defendant, but doubts existed
as to whether she could be heard under other cir-
cumstances. It was the duty of the Learned
Judges to interpret not to make the law ; and, after
mature consideration, it was decided by a majority
that the wife of either party was not a com-
petent witness. This produced considerable
inconvenience. There were many cases in
which the wife had managed the entire
transaction from whence the litigation had arisen
—where she alone could throw light on the sub-
ject, but where her mouth was closed from the
defective working of the enactment. In some in-
stances her evidence was admitted by consent ;
but this was a dangerous practice, inasmuch as, if
tendered and objected to, it would naturally create
a strong prejudice in the minds of the jury.
This was so clearly perceptible that several Judges
refused to sanction the examination of the wife
even by consent ; and it was stated upon high
authority that " there was something even of
greater importance than eliciting the truth,
namely, the preservation of domestic peace and
tranquillity." Much discussion has since taken
place on the subject, and the general opinion seems
to be in concurrence with that at which the Com-
missioners, after a careful and critical examination
of the ♦arious arguments adduced on either side
of the question, have arrived, viz., " That hus-
band and wife should be competent and
compellable to give evidence for and against
one another, on matters of fact, as to which either
could now be examined as a party in the cause,
but that all communications between them should
be held to be privileged." This appears to place
the matter, so far as the examination of witnesses
is concerned, in a clear light. No person can now
be excluded. A wife has no further or other
privilege than that belonging to a legal adviser.
No person can object to the extent of this privi-
lege, which is essential to the sanctity of domestic
confidence, and which could not be invaded with-
out a serious injury being inflicted on the most
sacred tie that can exist in this world ; while
there is nothing to prevent a wife from relating
that which has come to her knowledge in the or-
dinary course of events, and which was not re-
vealed by her partner in'consequence of their close
and intimate relationship.

We intimated last year that Dissenters and
Liberal Churchmen had more to hope from the
late Premier in the matter of Church Rates than
from the one whom he succeeded. And if the
views of the heir of the House of DERBY may be
considered as representing those of his father, we
did not mislead our readers. Lord STANLEY did
not speak in the debate of Thursday night. He did
better ; he committed his views to the press a
few days before, in a pamphlet which Hon. Mem-
bers who spoke acknowledged they had read, and
which evidently affected considerably the tone of
the discussion. We may take another oppor-
tunity of noticing the pamphlet itself. It is
sufficient to remark, in justification of our last
year's observation, that Mr. MIA LL, probably the
most uncompromising Dissenter in the House,
spoke of it as dealing with the subject " in the
kindliest and most candid spirit, and manifesting
a bona fide desire to relieve Dissenters from their
most unfair burden." Lord JOHN RUSSELL, on
the other hand, condemned severely a statement
he extracted from it, " that it was wrong to call
upon men to pay for the propagation of opinions
in which they did not share." This principle, his
Lordship averred, was fatal to Establishments. It
may be so ; but, if it be, we are pretty confident
that Lord JOHN and Establishments are destined
to succumb long before such an obvious dictate of
justice can be erased from the hearts and minds
of honest Englishmen. Lord JOHN may re-
fine logically as he pleases, but he may be assured
that tens and hundreds of thousands of Church-
men, as well as Nonconformists, are ready to en-
dorse the statement of Lord STANLEY, and the
similar statement of his Noble Father also, when
he said—" I am ready to acknowledge that Church
Rates, as they stand, form to the Dissenters a
serious and substantial grievance." On a serious
and practical question, therefore, of Religious
Liberty, it is to the House of DERBY, not to the
House of BEDFORD, that Dissenters have to look !
We need not say that we go heart and soul with
the former on this question. We have always
regarded Church Rates as equally a grievance to
Dissenters and an injury to our National Church.
It is pretty evident, that if Dissenters choose to
agitate on the question, they might soon obtain a
sufficient majority to carry entire abolition. The
number of Churchmen in the House of Commons,
as well as out of it, is rapidly increasing, who
deem it a stigma on the Church of the wealthy
and of the aristocracy that they should be repre-
sented as unwilling even to keep their own churches
in repair. If Catholics in Ireland, Free Church-
men in Scotland, and Dissenters in England, both
build and repair their places of worship, they think
that Churchmen, not being burdened like them
with the support of their ministers, could just keep
their sanctuaries wind and water tight. We
really think so too. We confess that if we have
ever said our best for such imposts, it has
been with the feeling that Dissenters put us
to shame. We have wished inwardly that Church
zeal could be trusted as safely as Dissenting zeal.
But times have altered, and we are confident that
now it might be safely trusted, and that doing so
would relieve all the better part of Churchmen of
an unpleasantly humbling sense of pecuniary in-
debtedness to the far less wealthy Nonconformist
body. It is, indeed, mortifying enough to reflect
that we cannot raise an average of 201. or 301.
per Church, without being beholden to those who
reject our worship, and who entirely support their
own. We know that there do remain a few
bigots, such a strange compound of pride and

meanness, that they consider these ls. 10id. exac-
tions from the THOROGOODS, BIDWELLS, BAINESES,
and other Church-rate martyrs, as a pepper-corn
tribute to the Apostolic superiority of their Church.
Of course it were as reasonable to argue with these
ecclesiastics and country squires as with the in-
mates of St. Luke's ; but other persons who go to
Church have heard, on Apostolic authority, that
"the Lord loveth a cheerful giver."
If, however, Lord JOHN and Sir HARRY INGLIS,
the par nobile fratrum of Thursday night's debate,
cannot bring themselves to trust to so small an
extent the liberality of their brother Churchmen,
there is the grand resource of wasted Church pro-
perty to fall back upon. In Ireland the effect of
abolishing all direct payment to the State Church
from the mass of the people has been most salu-
tary. It is, indeed, almost horrible to contemplate
what must have been the result had Tithes and
Church Cess remained unaltered there. Why,
then, cannot all the episcopal and capitular pro-
perty here be placed in the hands of Commission-
ers, the Bishops and needful Cathedral dignities
paid what the State decrees, and the remaining
surplus be appropriated to the repair of churches ?
Or if, as Mr. TRELAWNEY has suggested, the ad-
vowsons in the presentation of the Lord Chan-
cellor be sold for that purpose, a most ample fund
might be raised. We, however, would employ
that money for better purposes. We would use it
only as a last resort. We would appeal, first of
all, to the actual worshippers in our churches.
The necessity of the case would be before their
eyes ; they would feel it to be their own case ; it
would be, in fact, one of the easiest, because one
of the most rational, grounds of application for a
voluntary contribution, and the same honourable
rivalry in contributing to a clearly good object
would be awakened amongst Churchmen, as now
exists so conspicuously among the unendowed
sects.

Sir HARRY INGLIS declared that more than
3,000 petitions in favour of Church Rates had been
presented to the -House ? Signed, we suppose, by
the parson and the clerk. He described them,
however, as praying " that the petitioners might
be allowed to maintain their own religion !"
Why, that is all that Nonconformists ask. They
only object to being forced to maintain the Church-
man's religion too. They certainly do not wish
to oppose the prayer of Sir HARRY'S petitioners.
The same alter ego of Lord JOHN, in this debate,
declared his "great respect for honest convictions,
but could not profess much respect for the con-
science which resided in a breeches' pocket." No
doubt the worthy Baronet would deem Noncon-
formists very uncharitable who thought his own
conscience, on this question, had nestled in the
same part of his dress. Why they should not
think so with equal right it is hard to see. Lord
JOHN was much less delicate—" I want," says he,
"to keep 300,0001. a-year, if I can ;" I want the
" breeches' pockets" of Churchmen saved to that
amount, at the cost of Dissenting " breeches'
pockets." It is impossible not to feel humiliated
at such a tone of speaking from the mouth of the
staunch advocate of Test and Corporation Act
repeal, in contrast with the present courage of
Lord DERBY and his son.

We have hardly left ourselves room to advert
to the rival propositions—Mr. PHILLIMORE'S, for
Dissenters being released from Church Rates by
merely signing a declaration of their being Dis-
senters ; Mr. CLAY'S, for the abolition of Church
Rates, and substitution of pew rents, and
improved management of Church property.
The first proposal is perfectly fair to Dis-
senters. All the arguments against it are founded
on what reads like a bitter satire on Churchmen,
namely, that for the small amount of a rate
persons would declare themselves Dissenters. As
to its engendering ill-will between the exempt and
the non-exempt, we must think the very reverse
would be the effect. We have stated, however,
that we prefer entire abolition, and so far we
should rather go with Sir W. CLAY ; but, at least,
we should concur with Mr. Hui&n in advising that
pew rents should not be enforced by law.
Church property is a far better and sufficient
source to look to. Mr. BRIGHT, indeed, who on
this subject, if on any, is entitled to a hearing,
seemed to carry the House with him in asserting
that " the funds for repairing the fabric of the
Church must come either from a better manage-
ment of Church property, or from the voluntary
contributions of Churchmen." Indignation at the
late disclosures of Epispocal rapacity dispose many
to pounce upon the former resource; self-respect
inclines to the latter.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—A morning per-
formance will be given at this popular theatre on Wed-
nesday, for the gratification of the juvenile world. The
entertainment will consist of a variety of " Scenes in
the Circle," and the boys of the Greenwich Hospital
School, with their band, will attend.

THE CHANNEL FLEET. —The Sarah Sands, on her way
to Plymouth, saw the Channel fleet, at daybreak, on
Saturday, near the Bay of Biscay. All the ships were
in full sail, near together, and presented a very imposing
sight.

PLYMOUTH, May 29.—A telegraphic dispatch was
received here this afternoon from the Admiralty, sum-
moning Admiral Sir John Ommanney to proceed to
London with the utmost haste, in consequence of which
the Sprightly steamer was ordered to be got ready imme-
diately to take him to. Portsmouth. Sir John struck his
flag on board the Impregnable, and left at six o'clock.
STATE VISIT OF THE JUDGES AND CORPORATION TO
ST. PAUL'S.—Yesterday being the first Sunday in.
Trinity term, her Majesty's Judges and the Civic Cor-
poration attended divine service at St. Paul's Cathedral.
Shortly after three o'clock a procession was formed in
the body of the church, and moved into the choir. It
consisted of Lord Campbell, Mr. Justice Coleridge, Mr.
Justice Wightman, Mr. 'Justice Erie, Mr. Justice Tal-
fourd, Mr. Baron Platt, and Mr. Baron Martin, Mr.
Sergeant Manning, and three other Sergeants-at-law,
Mr. Alderman Hunter, Mr. Alderman Musgrove, Mr.
Alderman Finnis, Mr. Alderman Sidney, Mr. Alder-
man and Sheriff Carter, Mr. Sheriff Croll, the High
Bailiff of Southwark, and a large number of gentlemen
connected with the Common Council. Full choral ser-
vice was per ormed, and a sermon was preached by the
Hon. and Rev. H. Montagu Villiers, M.A., Canon Res-
dentiary of St. Paul's, and Rector of St. George's Blooms-
bury. At the close of the service the procession was re-
formed, and moved out of the cathedral according to
the order in which it entered. Mr. John Goss con-
ducted the musical arrangements.
INDIAN REFORM SOCIETY.—A meeting of the Indian
Reform Committee was held on Saturday last at the
Society's Rooms, 12, Haymarket, with Mr. H. D. Sey-
mour, M.D., in the chair. Amongst the gentlemen
present were the following membeis of the House of
Commons : —Mr. S. Fitzgerald, Mr. Blackett, Mr.
Biggs, Lord Goderich, Mr. Bright, Mr. J. B. Smith,
Mr. Lucas, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Oliveira, Mr. Hadfield,
Mr. French, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Bell, Mr. Thompson,
and Mr. J. G. Phillimore ; Messrs. W. Harcourt, J.
Crawford, H. Ashworth, and J. Dickinson, jun., were
also present. The chief topic of discussion was the
course to be pursued in connection with the forthcoming
proposition of the Government, and it was the unani-
mous feeling of the meeting that nothing short of a total
abolition of the system of double Government, and of
the creation of a really responsible home administration
for India, could be entertained or supported by the so-
ciety. It was suggested and agreed to that further steps
should be taken to enlist the co-operation and subscrip-
tions of the manufacturing classes, and especially of the
cotton trade, in the objects and labours of the society.
Some additional subscriptions were received, and much
spirit was shown in the determination to prosecute the
great objects for which the society was formed.

DISASTROUS FIRE AT OHATHAH.—Yesterday morn-
ing, shortly after one o'clock, a terrible fire broke out in
the Ordnance Tavern, Middle-street, Brompton, near
Chatham, and has resulted in the destruction of a large
quantity of valuable property. So fierce was the fire,
that it was seen from all parts of Chatham and Roches-
ter, and some thousands of persons flocked to the scene
of conflagration. Captain Peter Richards, superintend-
ent of the dockyard, was most active in directing the
men under his control to prevent the spread of the fire,
and the military who were called out rendered great
assistance in keeping back the vast mass of persons who
were attracted to the spot. The engines from the bar-
racks and dockyard arrived within a few minutes after
the outbreak of the fire, but in consequence of the scar-
city of water, they were of little use, and the fire raged
comparatively speaking uncontrolled. The Ordnance
Tavern was burnt to the ground, the houses on either
side were partially destroyed, and several houses in the
rear were more or less injured. Great losses have been
sustained by persons ill able to bear them, and none of
them appear to have been insured.
THE LATE MURDER AT HOLLOWAY.—Yesterday nu-
merous persons visited Pleasant-passage, Holloway, the
scene where James Walsh, the shoemaker, was stabbed.
The woman, Mary Fitzgerald, who was with the de-
ceased on his son's arrival at home, at one o'clock in the
morning, has beets taken ill, and removed to the work-
house, where 'she now remains. Although the most
active and intelligent officers of the police have endea-
voured to trace blood from the street-door to the bed-
room, which would have escaped from the wound,
neigh-
bours, nd,yet
not one drop was to be- found. The opposite tg.
th.
buorba
urs
n,
ein the
or anybody
passage else,•
onthe
never
nighthe a r d
of thethe s slightest s n dal
s-
and up to the present time the matter remains a
mystery.