The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-14 00:00:00

CHURCH RATES.

ancient magic•
The second article (in this number of the Lancet) ad-
verted to above, is an able and ample report of Dr. Elliot-
son's lecture, of which we gave an adequate report on
Monday, the 4th inst., and there are some particulars in
the Lancet which might be interesting, or at least amusing,
even to those who have read our account.

Sin—The conduct of the peasantry of Kent is most lament-
able. lam not surprised at it, for lam sure it can be nothing
but the grossest ignorance which can induce our agricultural
labourers to work for less wages than arc paid to labourers
in towns and in the manufacturing and mining districts.
If the Liberal Press would quote the rates of the different
kinds of labour throughout the kingdom with the same care as
it does the price of corn, the people would soon become more
enlightened, and acquire a taste for newspaper reading which
does not exist at present in the agricultural counties, because
they would be certain of finding one subject interesting to
them. If the people were instructed where their power lays, we
should hear of no riots. or strikes against their employers, but
would enable
them
my
to
ocansunbodt
subdue
eo
twhietliirouent.emiScuscihn
a regular strike. against excessive taxation, by a quiet determi-
nation to avoid the consumption of every extravagantly taxed
a:irxtPierml:e:%eneetxisne,ift.or the Government could not get on without
taxing the Aristocracy if m
the people would refrain from using
spirits, tobacco, Sic., until the taxes on them were made tmo-
derate.
I am, Sir,
A `ELL-WISHER TO THE WORKING CLASSES.

On Tuesday afternoon an inquest took place at Guy's
Hospital before Mr. Payne and a respectable jury to inquire into the
circumstances attending the death of John Malone, aged 24, a labourer,
lately employed on the London and Southampton Railway. It appeared
in evidence that the deceased was on Friday evening last in company with
a friend named Reading on the line of railway watching the progress of
the trains between the Walton and Woking stations. They were
cautioned as to the danger which might result should they continue in'
that position; heedless, however, of the consequences, they remained,,'
when shortly after a double train of carriages and waggons came up, and
before they could get clear out of the way the engine wheel caught them,
by which means they were prostrated, and the vehiclelpassed over them.
The deceased was consequently dreadfully manglesi, and his left leg
nearly severed from his body. He survived only 24 hours. Ihe other;
sufferer still remains in the hospital, and it is understood will probably,
recover from the effects of the accident. The surgeon of the hospital de.,
posed that the injuries received were the cause of the deceased's death.
Verdict—Accidental death."
OFFENCES IN LONDON IN 1837.—0 f the total
number of offences 19,732 were cases of drunkenness, 3,103 or
disorde.lerly prostitutes, and 3,963 of vagrancy. The parish of St.
James furnishes the largest proportionate number of cases in each of
these classes. The number of common larcenies was 5,338, and of dis.
orderly characters 6,881. These offences are most numerous in Clerk
en well, which district furnishes also the largest numbers of horse-steak
ing, assaults with attempts to rescue, and wilful damage. Highwa
robberies, burglaries, house and shop-breaking, occur most frequentl
in the suburbs, as in Whitechapel, Southwark, Lambeth, Mile.end, an
Poplar. Larcenies in a dwelling house were most numerous in White
chapel in 1837, and in the Borough in 1836. Larcenies from :the per
son occurred most frequently in Covent.garden, during the former year,.
and in Shadwell during the latter, which may be accounted for by th 4
number of prostitutes haunting these two districts.—Journal of the Stagy
tithcal Society of Louden.
Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgewotth, Hertfordshire, one
of the most extensive growers of roses in England, says, that it is
necessary to remove roses every three years from the spots they have
Occupied, in order to prevent their degenerating. He finds, indeed,
from experience, without adverting to the principle of the deterioration
of the soil, that rose tree roots loose the smaller fibre by which they
feed ; and this, we have no doubt, is because these small roots are
starved by the exhaustion of nutriment in the soil, poisoned by excre.
mentitious contamina, or both.—Esser Herald.
Last Monday night there was a public meeting of
inhabitants of the parish of St. Mary, Lambeth, at which it was re-
solved to offer a reward of 501. for the apprehension of the murderer of
Eliza Grimwood. It was further resolved that the said resolution be
communicated to the Home Secretary, and that he be entreated to ad.
vise her Majesty to add such sum to the aforesaid reward, as her Ma.
jesty's Ministers may deem expedient for the ends of justice. A fo-
reigner, suspected of having committed this murder, was brought up to
Marlborough-street Police office yesterday, but immediately discharged.
BERLIN, MAY 28.—The rapidity with which the
Emperor of Russia travelled to Berlin has excited general astonish-
ment. It was at first supposed that his Majesty came by sea; but that
is not the case. On every part of the road relays of horses were so
placed that the Emperor was able to travel 23 wersts (13 miles) per
hour. By these means he made the journey in four slays, and waited
for the Empress at Landsbergh, on th.t \Varthe. No one having any
knowledge of the arrival of the Emperor, and as he would not abandon
his incognito a sentinel at Landsbergh refused to let him pass through
the triumphal arch erected by the citizens to his honour. After
many vain attempts to overcome the sentinel's obstinacy the Emperor
was compelled to make a circuit of five miles, and it was not until the
last relay before Berlin that the august voyager was recognised.
During the past week there have arrived in the
Docks a rhinoceros, tiger, porcupine, sloth bear, Indian elk, axis deer,
and several birds. The tirst four have been purchased for the Surrey
Zoological Gardens, where they were safely deposited on Saturday last.

The following letter has been received by many Members
of the House of Commons, with the accompanying Petition:
Sir,—l hand you on the other side a copy of a petition on
the subject of Church Rates, which will be presented by Mr.
Hume. Three years ago the same Churchwarden, Mr.
Scott, caused proceedings to be taken against me in the
Ecclesiastical Court, without summons by the Magistrates,
and I was in consequence confined eleven days in the County
Jail of Ipswich.
The Churchmen of this parish instructed Lord Henniker
and Mr. Fitzroy Kelly to state in Parliament, that the proceed-
ing
was adopted, on account of " a tumult" in the town, " in
consequence of the seizure of goods ou a former occasion"—
intimating that the law of distraint could not be carried
into effect.
This was proved to be false ; the seizure referred to was
effected in the quietest possible manner, the goods were pri-
vately sold and delivered, and the balance returned to the
gentleman from whom the seizure bad been made. See
" Mirror of Parliament," 25th May, 1835.
Since that time abundant proof has been afforded that the
people here, so far from resisting the law, have determined to
remain passive under its operation. Last July the goods of a
number of persons were distrained for the rate of 1836, and
the 'property so taken, still remains in the keeping of the
Churchwarden, or of the distraining officer, unsold and un-
accounted for. On the 6th of the present month, the goods
of the same persons and of several others were destrained for
the rate of 1837. You will be enabled by the following ad-
ditional facts to understand the condition in which the people
here are placed.
At the passing the Churchwardens' accounts at Easter,
1837, objection was taken by a Parishioner to many items of
expenditure for which no vouchers had been produced, when a
poll on the question was demanded and granted, and the items
disallowed. Mr. Butcher, however, a considerable rate-payer,
moved that the accounts should pass irrespective of such poll.
At a subsequent Vestry a Church-rate was moved by Mr.
Butcher, estimated oa the previous accounts, and disregardinr,
the result of the poll. This same Mr. Butcher, as Justice of
the Peace,* issued summonses to such of the parishioners as
refused to pay the rate so obtained. He also signed the or-
ders for payment, and finally the warrants of distress ; both
the latter documents setting forth that he is not " any way
interested in any of the rights, dues, or other payments, be-
longing to the parish Church of Bungay St. Mary."
Here is a Magistrate, himself a large
.rate-payer in the pa-
rish, summoning his fellow-parishioners to appear before hini
to make their objections; and if they state any ground of legal
complaint, that person has authority, under the 53 Geo. 111.
cap. 127, to remit them to the Ecclesiastical Court. The
people cannot, therefore, respect laws so unjust and unequal,
and they prefer passive obedience under the most oppressive
wrong and injustice, to the cruel exactions and harassing in-
flictions of that Court.
The injustice of Church-rates being universally admitted,
and the iniquitous state of the law, evidenced by the facts 1
have related, being equally indisputable, I beg your suppor'
to the prayer of my petition.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
Bungay, June 7, 1838. JOHN CHILDS.

To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland, in
Parliament assembled.
" The Petition of John Childs of Bungay Saint Mary, in the County
of Suffolk, Printer,
" Sheweth—That your petitioner dissents from the doctrines and ritual
of the Church of England as by law established, and holds it incom.
patible with Christian liberty, that the Expenses of a Religious Service,
to which he is unable to conform, should be levied upon him.
_

-"chat, during the last year, a sum of 7s. 31d. is charged to have
been assessed on your petitioner or his property, in respect of Church
Rate, which sum your petitioner refused to pay voluntary; believing
that the Sacred Scriptures do not confer on any religious sect, the right
of charging on any other sect the costs of its own public worship.
.` That, on the Sixth day of this present June, certain Goods were
distrained by a constable of the said Parish, under a warrant purporting
to issue on the complaint of Samuel Scott, Churchwarden of the said
Parish of Bungay Saint Mary, and to recover the amount of the said
Church Rate.
That your petitioner complains of the oppressive state of the law,
which leaves it open to the caprice of Churchwardens, whether they will
thus proceed for the recovery of Church-rates by distraint of goods, or
by suit in the Ecclesiastical Court, and the employment of the barba-
rous and anomalous powers exercised therein, by force of whirls your
petitioner was confined eleven days in the common gaol of Ipswich, in
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. I the said county, in the year 1835.

Your petitioner, therefore, prays your Honourable House to take
measures for the immediate abolition of those laws, which empower the
members of the Church of England to levy the expense of conducting
the worship of that one sect from persons who are unable to join in it,
and which inflict on loyal and conscientious subjects the marks of civil
and religious degradation.
Your petitioner further prays your Honourable House to take away
in all cases, except those between the members of the Episcopal sect, the
jurisdiction and powers of the Ecclesiastical Courts—powers inconsis-
tent with all the principles of British Law, and capable of being ern
ploycd, as in the case of your petitioner in the year 1835, to effect the
purpose and grattfy the rancour of religious intolerance.
(Signed) JOHN CHILDS.
Bungay, 7th of June, 183 S.
4" Till lately a wine and spirit merchant, who, on retiring from busi-
ness, has been raised to the Bench, and is one of the most finished Tories
to be found in the Tory district where he lives.

SOCIETY OF ARTS.—On Tuesday the Annual
Meeting of the Committee of this Society was held at the Hanover_
square Booms, for the purpose of distributing the prizes awarded by the
Society to the most deserving competitors in the fine arts and science,
and mechanics, during the past year. The meeting was numerously
attended.
THE CORONATION.—it is in contemplation of
the City authorities, on the day of the ensuing Coronation, to illuminate
the Mansion House, Guildhall, the Bank of England, and all the prin_
cipal civic buildings in the City, in the most magnificent manner pos-
sible. The General Post-Office in St. Martin's-le-Grand will be bril-
liantly illuminated. Workmen have already commenced making
preparation for the same.

HAYMARKET THEATRE.—One of those truly
laughable farces which Mr. Buckstene occasionally produces, and which
Mr. Power so admirably plays, was given for the first time last night at
the Haymarket It is called "The Irish Lion," and is of course in-
tended to display a few national peculiarities, which are at all times
amusing, and in Mr. Power's hands more than usually entertaining. It
turns upon the mistake made by an ambitious coterie in the country,
who, hearing that Mr. Thomas Moore, the poet, is in their neighbour_
hood, determine to invite him to an evening party, but who, unfortu.
'lately send their note to Mr. Thomas Moore, an Irish tailor. The
tailor determines to profit by the mistake, and, borrowing the coat of one
of his customers, which he had just operated upon, makes his appear-
ance at Mr. Squabb's conversazione. He is received with marked
honours by the learned ladies, each of whom, under the tuition of Mrs.
Fitzwilliam, have arranged the several compliments that are to be paid,
and he goes through somel of the most humorous scenes that can be
imagined. At length, after a variety of comical situations, the customer
who has been deceived by the Irish Lion, after waiting beyond the hour,
snakes his appearance, and recognises his coat on the back of Mr. Thomas
Moore. A disclosure of the tailor's real condition takes place, the lite-
rary ladies are horror-struck, and the Poet finishes the evening by
breaking the heads of a few attendant dandies. From these strange
materials a most humorous farce is compounded, every scene of which is
received with roars of laughter. The acting of Mr. Power is first rate,
and he is admirably played up to by Mrs, Fitzwilliam.

[NoTicE.]—Messrs. Firmin and Sons, Button
Manufacturers (by Appointment) to her Majesty, beg respt.ctfully to in-
form the Nobility and Gentry that no part of their establishment has
been removed, and that their business is carried on solely at No. 153,
Strand, where it has been established for nearly a century.
MEXlCo.—Extract of a letter from Mazatlan, on
the Western coast of Mexico, dated 18th March, 1838 :—" Since my
last the state of this part of the Republic has been rather disturbed,
owing to the Government having delayed taking decided measures for
quelling the disaffection of the people of this and the neighbouring
States, which has at last began to show itself by declaring for a federal
Government, and opposing forcibly all the Government measures. This
port has been re-opened by the commandant of the troops, in order to
conciliate the people; but, notwithstanding which, he was attacked at
Rosario, the majority of his troops having abandoned him, and taken
him prisoner, after being besieged a few days in the Church, where he had
taken refuge. Soldiers are being raised in this neighbourhood, and the port
is being fortified, to prevent the entrance of the Government troops,
which it is understood are on the road from Tepie and Durango. The
force of the federal party is, however, so very insignificant, and com-
posed of such bad materials, that I think the mere sight of a few regular
troops will put things in order; moreover, the federal party is not strong,
having been disappointed in their expectations of meeting with the co-
operation of the influential and neighbouring states of Guadalaxara, 1)u
rango, &c. This port will now no doubt remain open, so that we shall
at all events derive some advantage from this temporary ebullition
of party feeling. lam glad to add that the Government in Mexico
appears to be well supported, and likely to inspire confidence in the
country.

Liverpool is not to be left behind Bristol in steam
navigation so long as we had reason to apprehend. Th,,t splendid
vessel, the Royal William, which has performed r,o, many successful
voyages, invariably beating her Majesty's :•.tr.sl.m.packets, is under ap.
pointment to cross the Atlantic, c,nd will sail from Liverpool for New
York on the sth July, Uer accommodations will be of the first otdmi,
her berths pommodions, and she will carry a surgeon. 'can the well.
known sailing powers of the RoyallPilliam, it would not surprise us if
she should make the speediest voyage yet performed; and she is built
with peculiar arrangements for safety.—Liverpool Paper.

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