The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1840.

Hitherto it has been maintained by the Church-
men, ar.d they have frequently acted on their own
view, that the Churchwardens are bound to com-
ply with the mandate of the Archdeacon to repair
the church; and if the parishioners refuse to
make a rate for the purpose, the Church-
wardens are bound to levy it by their own autho-
rity. This opinion is now totally overthrown, and
the power of granting or refusing the rate is de-
cided to belong exclusively to the Vestry. They
may tax themselves, but the Churchwardens cannot
tax them.

We do not, we cannot for one moment, suppose
that this decision will make the priesthood and
their admirers abate their arrogant pretensions, or
make them ready w release Dissenters from sup-
. porting a Church which they do not use ; but we
tell the Dissenters, who can, if they please, almost
always muster in sufficient numbers to oppose a
Church-rate Successfully in Vestry, that it will be
entirely their own fault if they much longer
pay a single Church-rate. The decision of
the Court is entirely in conformity with
the opinion we have always entertained (with very
imperfect legal knowledge) as to what is the law,
and which opinion has induced us to call on our
readers to attend the parish Vestry, and resist the
imposition of a rate.
This decision will in one respect, we presume,
excite the astonishment of the public. For nearly
ten years has this question of Church-rates been a
topie of agitation. Rates have in some cases been
refused by the parishioners, and the Churchwardens
have not dared to levy them. In other cases the
Churchwardens have made the rate by their
own authority, and the parishioners have
paid it under the fear of an Ecclesiasti-
cal Court. Now what can be thought of the
state of the English Law as a rule of conduct, for
it is so defined, when it has left this impor-
tant question so long doubtful or uncertain,
or has not provided any means for getting easy
access to its oracular decisions. The agitation,
the want of a ready mode of deciding the dispute,
the neglect of settling it till indignation resounds
through the land against the Church, and several
goals are filled with the victims of Church-rates,
are all, in our humble opinion, disgraceful to the
Legislature, disgraceful to the law, and disgraceful
to the Church. We would add, equally disgrace-
ful to the people, but we remember that they con-
fide in these other bodies, who are responsible for
the government of society, and that the people are
only to blame if confidence in the Legislature, the
law, and the Church, be ill-founded and unwar-
rantable.

No circumstance has for a long period created
such a frightful sensation in the metropolis as the
death of Lord WILLIAM RUSSELL, who, ac-
cording to the verdict of a Coroner's jury, was
murdered in his own house, and in his own bed,
the night before last. That an aged, and at least an
inoffensive—not to say a venerable—gentleman,
closely related to the highest families of the land,
living in one of the most fashionable parts of the
metropolis, surrounded by servants and all
the guards that are thought necessary to give
protection and security, should meet such a fate, is
very alarming, very horrible, and calls forth the
most intense feelings. " In the midst of life we
are in death." Only a day or two ago Lord
WILLIAM RUSSELL was exulting in his health.
He called, we are told, at the door of a gentle-
man of our acquaintance only the morning
before his death, and was cheerful and
happy. He went to bed unsuspectingly,
having no reason to suspect, and was murdered in
his sleep. The dreadful suspicions, the deep mis-
trust which it will spread through many families,
the great alarm it will engender, make us look on
it as an important event in the history of the age.
We give a complete report of the Coroner's In-
quest, and by that it will be seen that as yet no
suspicion rests on any one, and no clue appears to
be found to the murderer. We hope and pray
that he may be speedily discovered, for the most
horrible thing of all would be that the assassin
should remain undetected.

The extraordinary express from Paris received
yesterday, deprives the French Journals of Tuesday
of all interest. In the Chamber of Deputies on
Tuesday the Beet-root Sugar question was under
discussion—a question which is of the utmost im-
portance in France, but which has no interest for
an English reader. The Beet-root growers were
clamorous for high protecting duties, and the colo-
nists for a free trade. The Government appeared
not to know well what to do, and were trying to
steer a middle course.
Reports were in circulation that the President of
the Council is devoting a considerable share of the
secret service funds to the corruption of the Press.
The Opposition Nouvelliste is now merged in the
Ministerial Moniteur Parisien ; and the Messager
is said to have been regularly purchased by the
Government. This, if true, is very disgraceful.
The following is the official account of the cele-
bration of the KING'S birth-dav at Versailles :
The King's fete was celebrated on Sunday at Versailles,
with unusual magnificence. In the morning an "
diet" was celebrated in the cathedral, the bishop officiating,
and all the authorities being present. Afterwards, the
prefect and general officers reviewed the national guard
and the troops of the line. At half-past four, the Queen,
the King of the Belgians, the Duke and Duchess de
Nemours, the Prince de Joinville, the Duke de Montpen-
sicr, Madame Adelaide, the Princess Clementine, the
Duke Alexander of Wirtemberg, and Duke Ferdinand,
and the Prince of Saxe Coburg, arrived in the Cour
de Marbre of the Palace, accompanied by the
Count Montesquieu, Generals the Baron de hlontmo-
rency, Hernoux, and De la Tour ; the Aides-de.
Camp of the Princes of Saxe Coburg and Wirtem-
berg, and several ladies of honour. The whole of the
Royal Family made the tour of the gardens and park in an
open char-a bane, to view the playing of the waters. The
crowd was immense. It was estimated that not less than
30,000 people were asssembled at the different points, and
more particularly round the great basin of Neptune, all
hailing the Royal Party as they passed with acclamations
of loyalty and respect. The Queen entered the Palace at
six o'clock, and at the same time the King arrived from
Paris, attended by General Berthois, Colonel Dumas, the
Marquis de Strada, M. Vatout, M. de Cailleux, and
two orderly officers. The Royal Banquet took
place in the gallery of Louis XIII., the band
playing during dinner on the terrace. The King ordered
all the windows to be thrown open, and the spectators
were allowed to come up to the steps. After dinner, their
Majesties and the whole of the august party went to view
the several historical galleries by the light of flambeaux,
as on the occasion of the marriage of the Duke of Orleans.
The promenade concluded with the theatre and the Gal-
lery of the Cruntqcs. Their Majesties and the whole of
the Royal Family took their departure at half-past ten,
passing through a dense crowd, which extended as far as
the Avenue de St. Cloud, and arrived at the Tuileries at
a quarter past twelve. The number of persons conveyed
to Versailles by the railroad from Paris in the course of the
day was 20,000. The last train came back with 3,000
persons, and three locomotives. 'We have not beard of a
single accident having occurred.
The sulphur question is regarded as settled, as
there is no doubt but that the mediation of France
will be successful. It is again rumoured that
French mediation has displeased Austria.
From Spain the news was very satisfactory.
The Carlists were losing ground in every direction.
The latest accounts from Madrid are of the 28th
ult., but they report nothing of interest. The
Five per Cents. were at 29i for cash.

The expedition against Abd-el- Kadar is now on its march.
According to our last am:tints the army was to keep the
King's fete at Miliana. The column will still be 15,000
strong after leaving :sufficient garrisons at hledeah and
Miliana. The column organized at Oran was to set out
at the same time ; it is about 7,000 strong, and will, it is
said, proceed towards Mascara, ,n order to take the
Arabs between two fires. It will then return to Mosta-
ganem, while the main body will continue its march to
Ileinecen ; then it will proceed to the Tafna. Thus,
there will remain only a few tribes that will not be visited
by our troops.
The column organized at Constantine by General Gal-
bois, was to march to Setit about the 25th of April ; it
will remain in the Mejanah till the return of the Marshal
to Algiers, making excursions in all directions, and se-
conding Ben-Gannah, who will undertake expeditions in
the Little Desert. It is thought that General Galbois
will open communications between Setif and Boujia, and
will form one or two camps between those places ; ha will
likewise approach the iron gates, for the two-fold purpose
of chastising the tribes which have sent contingents to the
Emir, and of retaining towards the East all who might be
disposed to join Abd-el-Kader's army.
These three French columns, and two columns of theina-
tives (that of Ben Gannah and that of Tedjini, who have
approached the Djerid) will act simultaneously, and if these
movements are well combined they must accomplish the
submission of all the tribes, and the pacification of Algeria.
Such is the news brought by our letters from Toulon.—Le
Commerce.

BRUSSELS, MAY. 3.—The King is expected to return
from Paris on Tuesday. The Count d'Oultremont, our
Ambassador to the Holy See, who is coming to pass the
summer in Belgium with his family, left Rome on the
15th of April; he travels by short stages, and is not ex-
pected at Liebe till the end of the month.
BRUSSELS, MAY 4.—Several reports on different pro-
jects of law were presented to-day to the Chamber of
Representatives. After they were presented the order of
the day was the general debate on the project of law for
Itu amnesty. MM. Vandeaboiche, Delehaye, De Smer,

and Vanden Steen, were the only Members who spoke on
the question. The general debate being closed, the
Chamber proceeded to vote on the project, which consists
of one article only—
" All prosecutions for political offences committed before
the 19th April, 1839, are, so far as necessary, forbidden
and abolished."

The article errs agreed to by a rnjority of 60 to 3.
BOURSE.—PARIS, TUESDAY, MAY 3.

I first Highest Lowest last
Price Price. Price. Price
French 5 per Cent ll3 75 ... 114 ... 113 75 ... lia 95
.4}, per Cents lO3 75 .., 103 75 ... 103 75 ... 103 7.)
3 per Cents B4 :10 . 81 45 ... 80 25 ... BO 40
Bank of trance 3355
_3370
...335.5
...3370
Lattitte Bank I,ooof. Sh lOl5 _llOO „X 95 ,„11 0
Belgian Bank 9 5 ... 903 ... 905 ... 905
5 Fer Cents lo3}i ... ION ... 103,A, ... 1031,4
3 per Cents 74 30 ... 74 30 ... 74 ... 74
New York .... 9l ... 91 ... 9! ... 91
Ohio lO2 15 . 102 75 11'2 75 102 75
__ .

State of New York
99 SO ... 99 80 ... 99 $0 ... 99 tU
Spanish A cti e 129 29 ... 29
Passive 7% 7% 7V4
New Deferred
Old Deferred
... ... 7%
Neapolitan lO4 10 101 15 ... 104 10 1114 15
Roman

MURDER OF LORD W. RUSSELL

The perpetrators of the horrid murder remain yet un-
discovered. Inspector Tadman, of the D division, and
some policemen of the C divison, are in the houso is Nor-
folk-street. The investigation pursued by the police is
conducted with great secrecy. Inspectors Beresford,p3aker,
and whirs of the C division are especially employed by
order of the Commissioners Mayne and Rowan, and
great hopes entertained that it will not be long before they
be able to obtain sorae clue into this, at present, mysterious
affair Now that the verdict of wilful murder is re-
turned, it is expected that the Churchwardens of St. George's,
Hanover-square, who are Lord Grimston and the Hon.
Mr. Dawson, the Foreman of the Jury, will offer somo
reward for the apprehension and discovery of the murderer
or murderers. A reward sill be offered by the Secretary
of State for the Home Department.
We have just learned that the young man, Carr, has
been found, and is ready to meet any investigation. It
appears, however, that there are no grounds of suspicion
against him.