The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-10 00:00:00

THE PROTEST ANT ALLIANCE.

A deputation from the Protestant Alliance had an in-
terview with the Earl of Clarendon at the Foreign -office
yesterday evening, to present a memorial adopted at the
public meeting lately held upon the subject of the liberty
of British Protestants in foreign countries in res pect to
the exercise of their religion.
The deputation consisted of the following gentlemen :
—The Earl of Shaftesbury, the Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P.,
Sir J. Dean Paul, Bart., Mr. T. Chambers, M.P., the
Hon. Captain F. Maude, Admiral Vernon Harcourt,
Captain John Trotter, General M'lnnes, Mr. T. L.
Donaldson, Colonel Alexander, Mr. P.Q.C.,
the Rev. Dr. Cumming, Mr. J. Cook Evans, the Rev.
W. Chalmers, the Rev. Dr. Thomson Mr. John
Bridges, the Rev. Dr. Binney, Mr. R. B Seeley, the
Rev. W. H. Rule, Mr. J. Clulow Rigg, the Rev. T.
Nolan, Mr. J. Ballance, Mr. James Spicer, Mr. R. J.
Snape, Mr. J. Macgregor, and Captain Giberne.
The Earl of SHAFTESBURY having introduced the de-
putation, proceeded to read the memorial, which enun-
ciated the opinions of the association, and called for the
interference of the Government in regard to the perse-
cution of Protestants in Roman Catholic countries.
The Earl of CLARENDON said, the very important me-
morial would receive his best attention, and that he
would communicate with his colleagues respecting it.
The deputation could not expect him at the present
moment to discuss the several particulars therein al-
luded to ; but he would say one word with respect
to Portugal, as he bad thought it a matter of justice to
the Government of that country to make inquiries
after what had been stated. When the meeting of the
Protestant Alliance was held lately in Freemasons'-
hall, he (Lord Clarendon) was of course not inat-
tentive to what took place. The answer to his inquiries
was one we all, he thought, should be pleased with—
namely, that although there were severe enactments in
Portugal on the subject of religion, they were not now
put in practice. He referred to a despatch lately received
from Sir Richard Pakenham, in which it was stated
that British Protestants were not in the least inter-
fered with in the freest exercise of their religion,
although it must be confessed that the Roman Ca-
tholic religion being the religion of the State, any dis-
sent from it was regarded with disapproval ; nor could
the people view with friendly eyes any active system
of proselytism. As to Tuscany, what was said in the
memorial was perfectly true and just. He (Lord Claren-
don) did not think we should have any cause to com-
plain again • there had been that manifold and earnest
expression of Protestant opinion which could not but
produce the best effects ; on the part of the Govern-
ment, nothing should
.be left undone in those matters
with respect to which the prevailing and proper opinioa
had been expressed.
The Earl of SaLFTESBUBT remarked, that the deputa-
tion could not possibly expect his Lordship to say more.
The Earl of CLARENDON observed, that even in our
own statute books there were laws upon the subject of
religion without doubt severe, but happily quite obso-
lete ; he believed .that there were equally severe laws in
the Portuguese code, and, if such were put in practice,
there would at once be good grounds to justify our
remonstrance.

The deputation, having thanked his lordship grate-
fully for his kind reception and attention, then withdrew.

THE DREADFUL CATASTROPHE ON THE
EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.

THETFORD, MONDAY NIGHT.—The excitement occa•
sioned here by the iweadful catastrophe of Thursday
afternoon continues unabated, and it is impossible to
exaggerate the regret occasioned by the death of the
Rev. Mr. Bell, about 38 years of age, formerly curate at
Barningham, a village about seven or eight miles from
this place, but lately residing at Bunwell, near Attle-
borough, fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge, and it is said
about to marry a young lady, niece to Mr. Fyson, an
influential inhabitant of this borough.
Amongst the parties seriously injured, we ought yes.
terday to have mentioned Mr. Phillips, of the firra of
Phillips, Moore, and Co., silversmiths and electro-platers,
Birmingham, who now lies at the Bell Inn, with his
right leg broken in two places between the ankle and
the knee, and the thigh of his leg also broken. Every
possible medical and humane attention has been paid to
him, and it is hoped that he will recover without the
necessity of amputation. His wife, who received infor-
mation of the accident by electric telegraph, arrived
here yesterday morning.
Mr. Ellison, of Norwich, ivory turner and barometer-
maker, lying at the Railway Tavern, was this morning
reported to be progressing favourably, as were also the
labourers lying at the various inns to which they were
removed after the accident. Altogether, five sufferers
from the catastrophe are lying at five different inns at
Thetford, in addition to others, the exact number of
which it is difficult to ascertain, who were removed to
Harling and Norwich, the places of their usual resi-
dence. _ _ _ _

A. Press, Esq., coroner for the Guiltcross hundred of
the county of Norfolk, opened an inquest, pro forme',
on Friday, at Harling, upon the bodies of three of the
labourers killed, but adjourned after inspecting the
scene of the occurrence and viewing the bodies, to give
an opportunity to the company to collect its evidence.
Robert Eagle Clarke, Esq., borough coroner, also
opened an inquest pro for?nd at the Railway Tavern,
upon the body of George Baldwin, platelayer, on
Friday, which was adjourned i❑ a similar manner until
this day.

The death of Mr. Bell, yesterday, raised a point of
difficulty with regard to the course of proceeding to be
adopted. Several gentlemen resident here expressed a
wish that a separate jury should be impannelled, and a
distinct inquisition in the case of Mr. Bell. but it was
ultimately decided that the inquisition should be a joint
one ; and accordingly the jury summoned for Friday
last, having been summoned and re-sworn, proceeded
this morning to view the body of Mr. Bell, and then
proceeded to the Town Hall, where the joint inquest
opened at two o'clock.
The jury, it should be remarked, appeared to be as
respectable and intelligent a body of men as could be
collected in so small a town. The court was exceed-
ingly crowded

The proceedings on behalf of the company were
watched by Mr. Charles Evans, barrister, of Norwich ;
Mr. Richardson, superintendent of the coaching depart-
ment ; Mr. Leith, district superintendent ; Mr. Naylor,
locomotive district superintendent; Mr. J. 0. Naylor,
the company's solicitor ; and other officers of the com-
pany being present.
Evidence was taken at great length, and the inquiry
was proceeding when the report left.

PROGRESS OE NEW BRUNSWICK. —The following ab-
stract of the revenue for the three last years exhibits the
satisfactory progress now making by that portion of the
British empire

1851.
Duties on imports .....• £82,284
Import duty on lumber.. 17,286
One per cent. loan duty 7,214
Lighthouses 3,886
Sick and disabled seamen 1,939

1852.
£98,584
18,242
7,758
4,222
1,867

1853.

£128,000
19,750
11,700
4,950
2,100

Emigrants
Casual revenue

987
3,750

,583
6,671

-450
13,900

Total .2117,360 £138,220 £180,850
- -

CITY OF QUEBEC FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE.—On the
south and opposite bank of the river, the hitherto undu-
lating and cultivated country rises into the bold rocky
headland of Point Levi, with its village, churches, and
white farm houses clustering around it. The voyager
now finds himself under the/lofty towering citadel of
Quebec, immediately opposite Point Levi. The height
of the dark and almost perpendicular rock is 330 feet
above the river. The boldness of the promontory towers
over all the bold and majestic scenery around it, and the
magnificence of the prospect from its top, is said to be
unequalled, for its mingled grandeur and picturesque
beauty, on the American continent. Viewed from the
river, Cape Diamond, with its ramparts, towers, and
other works of its fortifications, is strikingly impressive. It
rears itself almost directly from the water's edge, leaving
room only for a mere roadway around the base of the rock,
along which are the numerous quays and jetties for the
mass of shipping. On the more sloping side of the rock,
' facing down the river, the exceedingly striking old
French city of Quebec clusters upwards, and around, and
inside the fortifications, as if yet timorously solicitous
of protection from the commandinedgsrceintelatidel. Crooked
rnarrowek s
public
bThui tledr eine
gtss, massiver he o
scattered
as
te
bs
edo rf
alasil,nl
convents,asil sizes,
directions
snarl .noabunends
con-
spicuous
and roofs,brig
towers, relieved in the
over all are the bright tin
h t spires,e
s tand
clearest atmo-
spheres. Quebec is well worthy, on many accounts, the
attentive study of the traveller. Not only will the
grand scale of its fortifications reward minute survey,
but its convents, churches, remains of its Jesuits'
monastery, the seminary of its Roman Catholic clergy,
its schools, hospitals, and various public buildings, all
possess more or less interest of a character not to be
found on any other spot in the new world. Every object
is replete with historical associations. One of these ob-
jects of most recent interest, is the obelisk erected not
many years ago to the memories of Wolfe and Montcalm, in
a very prominent position on the face of the rock, within
the ramparts, and situatad on the site of the garden of
the old chateau, or Castle of St. Louis. The noble ex-
panse of river which spreads all around the foot of the
city towards the mouth of the St. Charles, and farther
downwards to the beautiful Isle of Orleans, forms one of
the finest harbours of any river in thQ world. During
summer, when this fine expanse is dotted over with the
largest-class ships riding at anchor, by smaller craft, by
boats, and by timber crafts, from the far western and
northern forest, and with the rest of the mass of ship-
ping crowding under the lofty cape; and the whole sur-
rounded by a country so magnificent in its features, and
at the same time so smiling in many of its aspects—it
would be difficult indeed, perhaps, to find any scene
equal to it in any quarter of the globe.—Brown's Views
of Canada and the Col
BUSINESS Or THE PORT OF LONDON.—In the general
business of the port of London there has been increased
activity during the past week. The number of vessels
reported inward was 162, being an increase of 64 over
that of the previous week. Still there are many vessels
overdue, from the unfavourable state of the wind and
weather. The quantity of grain received was not large,
but the week has been remarkable for the very heavy
quantity of American flour which has come to hand.
The total of grain reported is 34,996 quarters, including
21,885 quarters of wheat. Of flour there were reported
49,057 barrels and 1,486 sacks ; of rice, 81 tierces' and
2,862 bags ; of sugar, 1,502 hogsheads, 452 casks, and
50,424 bags ; of tea, 2,900 packages ; and of tallow,
1,708 casks. The number of vessels cleared outward
was 74, being four less than in the previous week. Of
those 15 were in ballast, and six, for the Australian
colonies.