The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-22 00:00:00

has shaken the eery foundations of civil order. The
Bath Meeting, though attended by no Conservative
worthy to vie with Mr. HA LFORD, M.P., was yet by
no means deficient, as regards the dullness and prolixity
of its speakers. Two parsons exhibited on this occasion,
and displayed such a quick apprehension of the absurd,
that, had they lived in POPE'S day, they 'Wtr:Mld have
gained high preferment in " Dunciad." The
names of this wmthy pair were, WILLIS and Jo-
LIFFE. bne ranted, the other drivelled. Par-
son WILLIS essayed the minaceous, and Parson Jo-
LIFFE the pathetic. WILLIS abused O'CONNELL,
JOLIFFE bewailed the Bishops. Our inference from
this is—for assuredly liquor has a great effect on ora-
tory—that the Rev. Mr. WILLIS had been inspirit-
ing his energies by champagne, and the Rev. Mr. Jo-
LIFFE depressing them by flat port. And now that
we are on the subject of Conservative feeds, we may
perhaps be permitted to make one remark—namely,
that we can always tell the depth of a Tory's pota-
tions, by the virulence of his abuse of O'CONNELL.
If he be merely—as the Baron of Bradwardine would
say—clriolus, he contents himself with stating that
DANIEL is a demagogue ; but if he be ebrius —that
is to say, undeniably drunk—he makes the astounding
discovery, that the aforesaid DAN is the Devil. Such
were the discoveries made the other day at those noisy
guzzles in Bucks, and Yorkshire ; and more especially
at Devonport, where—alas that we should be com-
pelled to say so I—scarce one of the assembly was
able to maintainthe perpendicular, without laying fast
hold of his neighbour's shoulder.

At a late meeting held on the subject of Church-
rates at Brighton, Mr. HUME observed, " I can have
no hesitation i❑ saying that it is incumbent on every
man who values religious liberty, who values the cha-
racter of a freeman, that he should raise his voice and
give his vote to abolish that which is a badge of ser-
vitude to all who deviate from the established religion
of the church. It is and has been used, and attempts
arc now making to continue it as such, to make the
Dissenters a marked class, merely because they differ
from the form of worship and manner of approaching
their Creator which the law establishes in this country.
Men who take that view of the subject cannot
hesitate as to the course to be taken. I never
faultered on that subject, and I beg to state
that one or two of the gentlemen here have
spoken, I hope in error, as if his MAJESTY'S Go-
vernment were now about, in the ensuing Session of
Parliament, to adopt the same course which was re-
jected and repudiated in a former Session. I believe
they will not. Of this lam quite sure, that if they at-
' tempt it, it will be rejected with the same disdain it was
before.—(Cheers.) Is it possible that my Lord Mel-
bourne—in whose judgment I place confidence, know-
ing that he is determined to stand by the people, as he
has stated his determination not to resign office as long
as the people will support him—(Cheers)----can I, who
have watched his progress, who have viewed every
step he has taken—can I believe him to be so insensi-
ble as that he intends, after that declaration, to do
otherwise than what will be agreeable to the public ?
If he does, away he must go. Of what use is reform
in Parliament if we cannot obtain those reforms and
changes of which the people stand in need ? We have
been kept too long without those changes which are
necessary. It is on that account I would—if I might
tender my advice to this great and important meeting
—admonish you not to allow any trifling differences
to divide us. In Parliament we conquered by union,
differing as we did from the milk and water
Whig to the Radical Reformer.—(Cheers.) It was
by that union, begun by a very small majority, and
under very doubtful circumstances, that we rejected
the Tories, and placed a Liberal Ministry in power.—
(Cheers.) I do, therefore, warn those who entertain

liberal opinions in this town not to allow any diffe
rences to interfere on the present occasion ; merge al
minor differences, and look for unanimity in the cal

for the total abolition of this odious tax.—(Cheers.)"
These are sound and stirring remarks, and, we are
quite sure, will be promptly responded to by the people,
who never had a more active, persevering, or determined
advocate than honest JOSEPH HUME.

The Gazette de France of Tuesday, which we have
received along with the other Paris Journals of the
same date, gravely charges England with causing the
defeat of the French army before Constantina. "It is
now well known in Paris," asserts this organ of an
exploded system of Government, " that British offi
cers of Engineers directed the first fire of the Arabs
of Constantina against our soldiers." This is a grave
charge, and therefore we have the more pleasure in
pronouncing it as false as it is malicious. We are
authorized positively to state, that no officer of British
Engineers, either with the consent or as yet the knowledge
of our Government, took part in repelling the attack made
by the French against Constantina. Perhaps it is as much
from vanity as any other motive, that the French
always associate the name of England with their
reverses of fortune. They do us the honour to allow
that we are the only nation capable of thwarting
their ambitious projects, by always assuming that
they only suffer defeat when we take part with
their enemies. But truth requires that we should
correct impressions complimentary to our power at the
expense of our justice. We have in no way interfered
with the 'policy and the designs of the French in
Africa ; we have made no overtures to the Arabs or
their Chiefs ; we have looked on as spectator's, and
when our sympathies have been excited, they were
always favourable to France : and yet French statesmen
must admit, that did we not repose confidence in the
good faith of their Government, the subjugation of any
part of Africa by France is a question of immense im-
portance to England. Instead, therefore, of seeking
by underhand means to cover France with confusion
relative to her late African campaign, we have not even
made those representations which we would have a right
to make, had we the least suspicion of our interests
being endangered by the triumphs of France. Our ex-
treme and delicate forbearance ought to have procured
for us the thanks, instead of the calumnies, of the
French Press.

Having thus disposed of a charge utterly false, we
shall next notice a gross misrepresentation which the
same Print carefully mixes up with it—most probably
to heighten the effect of the picture :—" We see to-
day in the English Papers," continues the Gazette de
France, " that Lord PALMERSTON intends to send
10,000 men to take possession of St. Sebastian in the
name of England. It now remains to be known whether
the Revolution of France will allow England to seize
on that position in the Gulf of Biscay. The English
alliance and the revolution of France arc bearing their
fruits. During the restoration IVlinisters would have
been impeached for such facts.
Never was our national feeling so cruelly hurt as it is
by the ajair Constantino and St. Sebastian. The
English have shown themselves openly in both these
places. We shall now see if the revolutionary feeling
accords with the national feeling, and if it will tamely
submit to two such checks." All this is very piteous
truly, and we can believe that the Editor was bathed
in tears when he wrote it. But he does us great wrong
in taxing us with the cruel blow inflicted on the na-
tional feeling of France. With the affair of Con-
stantina we have had, as we stated before, nothing at
all to do ; and as to the occupation of St. Sebastian,
England will evacuate the place to-morrow, if France
will guarantee its safe possession by the Queen of
SPAIN'S troops. We want no fortress in Spain ; and
if France desire to make sure that we shall not possess