The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-16 00:00:00

apathy or indifference on such a point. But
there are many reasons, independent of
the innate love of justice, that would induce
the Irish Catholic to desire a more equitable
distribution of the revenues of the Protestant Church.
The resident rector, the laborious curate, are his im-
mediate neighbours; they have many interests in
common. The hateful pestilence, the withering fa-
mine that so lately prevailed (and R hick we fear st
exists in many localities), scattering death and de•
struction on every side, brought those parties into
closer and more immediate contact. During that
trying season the Irish peasant beheld the Protestan'

clergyman entering into a generous rivalry with his
own beloved and revered pastors, in works of huma-
nity and Christian charity, and he learned to regard
with respect and admiration the pious labours of
those who, despite the difference of creed, he could
not help considering to be true and faithful ministers
of the Gospel. Such labourers are indeed " worthy
of their hire ;" and it is from amongst such men
that we hope to see the new bishop selected.
There is no lack of such persons in Ireland. Many
have been " weighed in the balance" and not" foußd
wanting." Many more there are worthy of such a
dignity—men, remarkable for their sincere but un-
ostentatious piety, their profound learning, their un-
bounded and unrestricted benevolence, and for all the
fitting qualities of head and heart. We have seen
recorded in the pages of a recent number of our re-
spected and talented contemporary, the Dublin Uni-
versity Magazine, the works of persons such as we
have been describing—of one, more especially, who,
out of his private fortune advanced large sums of
money to arrest the desolating progress of the famine
in his neighbourhood, whose active benevolence was
up and doing. While others, sunk in listless apathy,
indulged in melancholy forebodings, his fore-
seeing prudence anticipated the dread visita-
tion. On his own responsibility he pur-
chased large quantities of food before famine
prices had set in, and was thus enabled at a small
pecuniary sacrifice to avert an enormous amount of
human suffering, to preserve many a grateful heart
from a miserable death, or from the scarcely less
dreaded alternative of "the workhouse." Nobly
were his benevolent exertions seconded by his
amiable partner, who instructed several hundred
females in works of industry, which enabled them to
earn as much as was sufficient to support themselves
throughout that fearful period by their own labours,
and even to render valuable assistance to their
families, thus superinducing habits of industry
and independence, and saving the community from a
heavy burden. While the Christian minister
was supplying wholesome food cn cheap and
easy terms, not merely to his own imme-
diate parishioners, but to the inhabitants
of the surrounding districts of Cavan, Longford and
Leitrim, who possessed no claims on him save those
which misery and wretchedness confer upon every
member of the human family, this exemplary lady
was teaching helpless women and innocent children
to earn their livelihoods by their own honest industry,
and providing a market for their manufactures, which
she in the first instance purchased at her own risk,
thus giving remunerative employment to every one
of her suffering sisters, who were able and willing to
work.

Acts such as these should not be suffered to pass
unnoticed and unrewarded. The case to which we
have just referred forms no solitary instance. Similar
deeds of active charity might be recorded of the
working clergy of Ireland. We have merely selected
one from among many of almost equal desert, as an
illustration of what a good pastor should be to the
flock whose spiritual interests are confided to his
care—of those who, having proved themselves
good and faithful servants in a limited sphere,
should be selected for higher, and (if possible) more
important stations.

A wise Government should hail such men as their
best supporters, and most powerful and most useful
adjuncts, should increase the power and extend the
usefulness of such active spirits. The time—the
country above all, the present position of the
Church—call for such men. Public feeling will no
longer tolerate that the high places in the Irish
Church, the legitimate rewards of exalted merit,
should be filled by drones or absentees. It is the
duty, as well as the interest of a Government,
administering the affairs of a nation afflicted with a
starving peasantry, an embarrassed gentry, and
an absentee proprietary, to appoint to places of trust,
of honour, and of emolument those disposed to con-
tribute largely, in proportion to their means, to the
alleviation of such an unfortunate combination of
circumstances. Men should be selected well ac-
quainted with the moral and the physical wants of the
people, alike able and willing to administer to those
necessities—men who will reside among the flocks
Committed to their charge, who will in spirit and in
truth obey the precepts and do the will of HIM
who enjoined them to feed his sheep and to feed his
lambs.

When the French army in 1822 was sent to put
down constitutional liberty in Spain, there washardly
a private soldier in this country who did not feel
regret, that brave men by the chances of war should
be subjected to the necessity of mortification so
extreme. Bets ran high that they would not submit;
and some there were who did not. But in the main,
the ancient clap-traps,—honour of the flag, though it
was the conqueror's,—instinct of discipline, meaning
readiness to do any work because commanded,—acted
so strongly in aid of the necessity for obedience to the
masters who were upon the Rhine, that the pill was
swallowed, and the French army obeyed.
The present day seems destined to prove, that
there wants no necessity to make the French military
the executioners of any extremity of unreasoning
violence which may be put into the shape of an
order from the adjutant. They would descend on
Paris from Montmartre, and cannonade the Rue St.
Honore, as readily as attack the capital of any other
republic, if only the orderly book directed. A nau-
seous job has turned the simulated French Republic
into a legitimist conspiracy for evading an outburst
of public feeling; and the French army that attacks
Rome, may equally be counted on for bringing back
the Fifth HENRY that is to be, so soon as the heads of
departments can agree.
There will be no difficulty in such an operation ;
the movement upon Rome will furnish the model.
The Cossacks will bivouac at Fontainebleau, and send
in a transcript of OUDINOT'S assurances that he comes
to put down anarchy and encourage the honest party
within the walls. Europe and the world are already
laughing at the idea of the consummation. If things
go badly for the present on the continent, this is the
course the remedy must take. A few months' occu-
pation by the Austrians, with a taste of that stick
they carry for securin the happiness of nations, will
be the proper puns_ ent of a policy exemplifying
in
all that is great in t .e wickedness of the design,
and all that is little in the discreditableness of the
execution.

BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Commissioner FONBLANQUE.)
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.—IN RE THOMPSON.
This bankrupt was described as of Osnaburgh-place,
New Road, and Commercial-road, Lewisham, and came
up for his certificate.
The bankrupt had been engaged in extensive contracts
in building churches and Government prisons at Spike
Island and Portland. Since the bankruptcy the bank-
rupt had been allowed Si. per week, to carry on the
works at Spike Island, &e., for the benefit of the cre-
ditors, and as they are nearly complete, the creditors
will shortly be paid in full and there will be a surplus.
The bankruptcy arose in consequence of the large out-
lay on the Government works, only about 43,0001. hav-
ing been advanced.
The certificate was granted without the slightest op-
position.