The Sun.
London, England, 1831-05-26 00:00:00

Et

LONDON,
THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 26, 1831.

Parliament, we understand, will meet deci-
dedly on Tuesday, the 14th of June, but as the
ceremony of electing a Speaker of the House
of Commons, and swearing in the Members, will
occupy a week, it is not probable that his MA-
JESTY will go in State to open the Session till
Monday the 20th. With regard to the Reform
Bill, it will be brought forward the very earliest
opportunity. Little time will be wasted in dis-
cussion, for all that can be said on the subject
has already been said, and he must be a mira-
culous genius indeed who can find any thing
fresh to urge, either for or against the
measure. Of course the moderate Reformers
will cavil, and sneer, and object as usual,
but this petty and teazing opposition will
be fruitless ; for the country has unani-
mously recorded a verdict against them ;
and their best advocate is not only waver-
ing, but is probably at this very moment,
busy arranging the heads of a speech in jus-
tification of his own altered policy, and in
praise of the Ministerial Bill. We are aware it
has been reported that the Reform question is to
be postponed till the new population returns
can be made applicable. This is not the fact.
It will, we repeat, be brought forward
instanter, and after having passed the House
of Commons by an overwhelming majority—
such as no Ministry ever yet enjoyed, and will
probably never again enjoy, unless, indeed, it
be upon a motion for taking into consideration
the present state of Church property—will be
transferred to the House of Lords, who,
it needs no wonderful sagacity to foresee,
will receive it with a pious resignation becoming
their high philosophical characters. But, in-
deed, for all effective purposes, the Bill is
passed already. The monopoly of Corporations
and Boroughmongers is broken up ; the people
have asserted their rights; and now only wait the
forms and ceremonies necessary to continue
them in the undisputed enjoyment of such rights.
As, in addition to the Reform question, much
other business remains to be transacted, it is
not supposed that the Session will terminate till
the latter end of September.

At a late public dinner given at Gateshead,
to the Reform Members for the county of Dur-
ham, Messrs. RUSSELL and CUTIIBERT
RIPPON spoke some valuable home-truths on
the subject of clerical abuses. The latter gen-
tleman observed, " The exertions of the Re-
formers would be the death-knell to abuses, both
civil and religious. He declared that he should
consider nothing as done till ecclesiastical abuses
were swept away—till the useless functionaries
of the Church of England were removed. Would
a reformed Parliament suffer an ecclesiastical
county palatine to exist ? lie thought not.
—(Applause.) Bishops, too, would cease to
have any thing to do with politics, and become
what they ought to be—residential overseers.
Would a Dean and Chapter, those real sine-
curists, be allowed like vampires to live on the
life-blood of the Constitution ? Perish the idea!
All would be useful and humble teachers of
GOD'S word—living in independence, not wal-
lowing in wealth. Let persons look at Dublin,
Cambridge, and Oxford, and they would see that
the Clergy were the most determined opponents
of the march of civil liberty.—(Applause.)"
Mr. RUSSELL said, that he cordially coincided
in the opinions expressed by Mr. RIPPoN, and
added that the reason he had not given utter-
a.i.lee to them publicly before, was " because he
did not wish to give offence to any one ; but
when he saw the feeling so unanimous amongst
them, he could not help avowing
pp his opinios.
lause.
(A) The
were now
knocked on the head.—(Laughter.ay
) Then

came the Church. When the Reform Bill
passed, he recommended them to send him peti-
tions from all sides f,r the equalization of
Church property.—( Applause.) There was, on
the one hand, an unfortunate Curate working
hard for 501., 1001., or at most 1501. a year ;
and then, on the other hand, they saw a Dean
and Chapter, and a number of Bishops, with
ten, twenty-five, and thirty thousand pounds a
year, who really do nothing.—(Laughter and
applause.) They talked about a strike among
the pitmen. Why should there not be a strike
among the Curates?—(Great applause.)" Why,
indeed ! These are the real honest working
Clergy, who keep up the character of the Church
by the zeal with which they perform their duties,
and the exemplary piety which their noiseless
unambitious lives display ; why then should
the harvest of their toils be reaped by
Bishops, Deans, fat' Prebends, and apoplectic
Pluralists, whose only aim is to " put money
in their purse," whose only boast is to eat, drink,
and be merry ? But a Reformed Parliament will
soon put an end—to these crying nuisances.
It will see justice done to all parties, to
the Bishop, as well as to the Curate. Why
should the one fatten on ten thousand a
year for doing nothing ; and the other grow
lean on eighty pounds per annum for doing
every thing ? Why should not the one work as
well as the other ? In many parts of England
it is no uncommon :thing to find a poor Curate,
whose moral worth and intellectual acquirements
are an honour to his country, performing divine
service at two and even three churches on Sun-
days, and attending baptisms, marriages, and
funerals, without number, to the exclusion of
every other pursuit, while his Rector is revelling
in all the luxuries of the metropolis, and
cultivating a double chin at the dinner-
tables of the great, without a thought for the
man who is thus all but starving in his
service. These are no uncommon things.
They are as notorious as the sun at noon-day,
so notorious, in fact, that people have long since
ceased to wonder at, or be disgusted with them.
But an end cometh to all things, and ecclesias-
tical abuses have had their day. The reign of
pluralities, too, is over. The tithe system is
tottering to its foundation. A Reformed Par-
liament will produce a Reformed Church.

Austrian influence, it seems, has had its effect
on the mind of the mew King of SARDINIA,
as appears by the amnesty which he has just
published, and by which he condemns his
own political conduct when Prince CARIG-
NAN. France, however, seems inclined to
look at the intrigues of the Austrian Ca-
binet with something more than an eye of jea-
lousy ; and her mere disposition to do so, will
have a marvellous effect on the wily, temporising
METTERNICH.

The following are extracts from Brussels Pa-
pers received this morning :
NATIONAL CONGRESS-SITTING OF MAY 23.

BRUSSELS, MAY 24.
After some preliminary business, 'M. Lebeau said,
Gentlemen, I have the honour to communicate to you a
note which has been sent me this morning by General
Belliartl

" General Belliard is happy to be able to announce to
the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium, that be has
received notice from his Government that the proposals
delivered by Lord Ponsonby have been well received by the
Congress at London, and that negociations are going to
be opened to obtain for Belgium the Grand Duchy of Lux-
emburg, in consideration of an indemnity. Belgium will
doubtless see in this resolution of the Congress, a new
proof of the friendly sentiments of the Great Powers to-
wards it, and will certainly hasten to answer to it by
speedily declaring in a precise and conciliatory manner its
intentions with respect to the indemnity, by means of
which i t must desire to secure to itself the possession of
Luxemburg._
_ _ _

" General Belliard, with pleasure, takes this opportunity
to assure the Minister for Foreign Affairs of his profound
respect.

Brussels, May 23, 1831."
As Lord Ponsonby has not yet returned, it is to be
presumed that the conditions proposed to us for the other
portion of the territory will not be made known till his
arrival,

I have also to acquaint you with another communication
:hat I have received :

" The undersigned has to inform the Minister for
Foreign Affairs that orders having been given to admit
into the British ports ships hearing the Belgian flag, it is
necessary that the Government of his Brit innic Majesty
should be put in possession of au accurate description of
that flag.
" The undersigned has therefore the honour to request
the Minister for Foreign Affairs to have the goodness to
furnish him with the description of the same, that he may
transmit it without loss of time to his Government.
(Signed) " RALPH ABERCROMBY.
" Brussels, May 22, 1831."

M. de Robaulx—As we are told of proposals delivered
to the Congress by Lord Ponsonby, I wish to know
whether they were made on the part of Belgium, or
whether we are called on to purchase what we have declared
to belong to u', or whether these proposals are made to
us on the part of the Congress.
M. Lebeau—l did not, and could not authorise Lord
Ponsonby to make any proposals ; if he has done so it
has been a merely friendly intervention.
The printing of the two ❑otes just read was called for.
M. de Hoban have learned from diplomatic gen-
.

tlemen that when a diplomatic paper is read it is con-
sidered as an appr,ival of its contents. If that is the case

I object to the printing ; or if the note is to be printed, I
desire that it may be declared that the Congress does not
intend by that to approve of the principles laid down.
M. Van de Weyer—We do not receive the document,
but a communication of its contents from the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, and the printing of it does not hind us
any more than the printing of all the other protocols.
The printing was ordered.

M. fegrelle---We have at length the assurance that our
political horizon is becoming clear, and that, after waiting
a few days, we shall see our institutions consolidated, but
we must not dissemble that elements of discord exist. The
orders given by the Regent, not to commence hostilities,
have been di•regarded at some points. I propose that the
Congress shall solemnly declare its intention to preserve
peace till the Government shall have given orders to re-
commence hostilities.

M. Pirson agreed in these remarks, but added we must
not relax our preparations for war because we have some
good news : we have been sufficiently deceived by diplo-
matic acts.

M. de Robaulx—Every body is agreed that war is not to
be commenced without the orders of the Government, and
by riotous proceedings, or only at one point. The order
of the Government must be respected. Ido not desire
war at any sacrifice, but if it becomes necessary we must
submit : we will then explain to Europe that diplomacy
has driven us into it.

M. Van Meenen—Till the Ministers come and explain
to u• that the orders of the Government are not executed
it seems to me we have no business to interfere, because
such facts are to be considered as not known to us.
M. Van de Weyer—The calm and firm attitude
of the Congress at the moment when important negocia-
tions are on foot, and when we are promised they will be
soon terminated, is a mere pledge to the nation that war
will not be made till it is certain that the negociations
have wholly failed.
BRUSSELS, MAY 24.—. M. Ch. Le Hon arrived this
morning from Paris.
On the 21st there were some disturbances at Liege,
excited by some subaltern officers of the sth Regiment of

HAY MARKETS.—(At per Load of 36 Trusses.)
CUMBERLAND (LATE ST. JAMES'S.)
Coarse heavy Lowland Meadow Hay £2 10 to £2 15
New Meadow Hay 0 0 0 0
Useful Old Ditto 2 10 3 15
Fine Upland Meadow and Rye-grass Hay 4 5 4 10
Clover Hay 3 10 5 10
Oat Straw X.l 12 to £1 141 Wheat .''traw... 1 16 2 0
Supply moderately good, trade dull ; and prices as last quoted.

SMITHFIELD.
Coarse heavy Lowland Meadow Hay £2 10 to £2 15
New Meadow Hay 0 0 0 0
Useful Old Ditto 3 0 3 15
Fine Upland Meadow and Rye-grass Hay 3 15 4 4
Clover Hay (extra tine)...£s lU...Generally
Oat Straw ..Z 1 Bto £1 12 1 Wheat Straw 1 12 1 16
Best Clo:•er Hay, in a few instances, ss. per load higher than
last quoted ; prices otherwise stationary. _A moderate supply,
and a sluggish trade.

THE FUNDS.-(THIS DAY.)

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK

Accounts from Warsaw of the same date as received
yesterday state that no further news has been received from
the grand army, with the exception of some trifling
skirmishing. The corps of the enemy on the Narew are
fortifying themselves at Ostrolenka, and they are erecting
ramparts round Lornza. The Russians have sent back to
Warsaw two doctors made prisoners at Minsk. The
Russians at Lublin have become a great prey to the fever ;
in the hospital at Opoli they have 6,000 sick.
They write from Plaisance, May 13, that the Austrian
troops are determined to enter Piedmont, and their military
operations were to commence on the 15th.
The accounts from Mantua also state the entrance of
the Austrians into Novarais.

Information from Bordeaux states that 30,000 troops
were expected to pass there to form a camp between
Bayonne and Bordeaux. This camp is to be joined to
another, to be establidied in La Vendee, near Chollet, and
they are provisioning the fortresses, the fortifications of
Bayonne, and Saint Jean de Luz.