The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-13 00:00:00

HIS EXCELLENCY'S ANSWER.

MOST REV. AND RIGHT REV. SIRS,—I have con-
sidered your Memorial with the attention which I am
always disposed to pay to any representation from your
respected body, and, with a sincere desire to secure, if
I could, consistently with what is due to other parties,
the unanimous co-operation of the Roman Catholic
Prelates of Ireland in diffusing the advantages of
National Education.

You must, however, bear in mind that the diffusion
of these advantages, on equal terms, among all sects
and denominations of Christians, is the fundamental
principle of the system administered under the sanctio❑
of the Legislature by the National Board ; and that any
departure from that principle would be a violation of
their dtity and a perversion of their trust.
In conformity to that principle, the National Schools
are equally open to Christian children of all denomi-
nations. and opportunities are equally afforded to their
respective pastors to provide them with religious in.
struction, subject only to the condition of their not
attempting to interfere with any except those of their
own Church.

The Board has nothing to do with the selections of
patrons, who arc locally chosen by those persons whose
funds have been subscribed, or whose land has been
given for the establishment of schools.

- With them rest the appointment and dismissal of
the masters, over which the Board ex: cise no control
except what is absolutely necessary to secure their being
morally, as well as intellectually qualified for the duties
which they have to perform.

No books are allowed to be used in any of the
schools at the time of joint instruction, except such as
are published by the Board, or such as have been sanc-
tioned by their authority in cases where they are pro-
vided by the local Patrons. The Model Schools at
Dublin are under the immediate superintendence of the
Commissioners, subject to their frequent inspection, a
duty which, I well know, is nut more assidously per-
formed by any portion of them than by those Members
of your own Church whose se► vices have been devoted
to the cause of National Education, with such honour
t• themselves and such benefit to their country.
This ought surely to be a sufficient security to you
that the Lecturer appointed in these schools to instruct
the Roman Catholic teachers in the principles of reli-
gion, morals, or history would never explain them in an
irreligious or offensive manner.

In thus briefly setting before you the manner in which,
on the chief points referred to in your Memorial, the
Board have carried out the great principles of the Na.
tional System, I cannot but express my regret at the
opposition which has been given to them by some of
your body, and greatly, indeed, should I rejoice if that
opposition cart be removed by a closer examination, or
more intimate knowledge of their proceedings.
But, after the best consideration that I can give to
the subject, I am bound distinctly to state to you, that
no changes such as you desire can, in my opinion, be
made, with advantage to the public, either in the consti-
tution of that Board, who have hitherto worked so harmo-
niously together, or in the general regulations under
which they have acted, and which have enabled them
successfully to make head against all obstacles, and to
diffuse, more and more widely, in each successive year,
the blessings of moral and intellectual improvement,
fOnqed on the precepts of PiOne among all re-
ligious denominations of the people of Ireland.

RAILWAY COMMUNICATION WITH SCOT•
LAND AND IDELAND.—CoIoneI Sir Frederic Smith and Pro-
f' or 13arjorq Kaye returned front their teur of inspection of
the competing lines between Lancaster and Carlisle, and it is
understood will be ready to make their report as soon as they
shall have received certain statistical returns, estimate 4, .nd
other documents which they have required tie promoters of
Ihp jinPs to supply. Wp ilaye 474san to believe that the corn-
111Iss►Qntrs are q cminion tfiat much skill has been displayed by
the engineers employed in laying down the competing lines
through the difficult country with which they have to contend.
Col. Cunningham has been obliged to retire from the commis-
ion in consequence of ill health.—Railway Times.

EVENING EDITION.

PERSEuUTION OF LUTHERANS

IN PRUSSIA.

[The following extracts have been transmitted to la
by a Correspondent, who, if he refers to The Sun of the
sth instant, v: ill see that we had, to a great extent, antici-
pated there.]
Extract 01 a letter, dated Newcastle-on-Tyne, 8 mo., 6,
1139

" Large bodies of Prussian emigrants are passilig
through our town on their road to America, in consequence
of the persecutions they are suffering at home. Tbey are
Lutherans ; and the Prussian Government is using most
coercive measures to induce them to conform to the Re-
formed, or National Church. This they cannot conscien-
tiously do, and severe fines and imprisonment are the con-
sequence. Four companies have already arrived, contain-
ing on the average one hundred and fifty or one hundred and
seventy persons in each, and many more are gone to
Liverpool. These have chiefly been under the care of
one pastor, Augustus Grabau; he was in the last companY
with his wile and family, au apparently sweet-spirited
man. He had been in prison in Heliogstadt for seven-
teen weeks, in the early part of the spring, and was only
released on account of severe illness. Another thousand,
with another pastor, are expected daily. They have no
introduction to any one here, but soon obtaining notice, a
few persons have been down from time to time to inquire
into Oleic wants. A public meeting was held on their
behalf a few evenings since. There are many poor
people and a large number of peasantry among then'n
They do not in any way ask for pecuniary aid, but receive
it with streaming eyes when a little is presented, and ac-
Ithowl,dge that in many instances their all h.ts been paid
for passage-money. Baron von Kohl has gone first, ad-
vanced money, and made contracts for them. Some
come from Saxony, some front Pomerania, and their first
destination is New York. But from the difficulty of tui-
derstan,ing them, as they speak only German, their ex-
act destination was not known. It seems generally ac-
knowledged that the King of Prussia is coercive and arbi-
trary, though generous and benevolent if people fall in
with his views. We have several times attended their
services. and been much struck by the solemn awe and
heart-felt inter eat that appeared to prevail. They are well
supplied with Bibles and other good books. Their stay is
generally short—often but a few hours, and they never
come into town, but proceed at once from their steam-boat
to the railroad. Their appearance and circumstances
most strongly remind one of the pilgrim fathers, and other
good men of old ; such reverend locks in many cases, such
simplicity of attire, such kind affectionate manners, such
beaming countenances, plainly showing that many of then
must have passed through much, and been tried in the fur-
nace of affliction."

From the same. 2 11110. ,3, 1840.
You have beard of the deep interest we felt last sum-
mer in the circumstances of some hundred Lutheran emi-
grants, who passed through our town on their way to
North America. We wrote to Hambilrg for further par-
ticulxs. and eventually a large mass of documents was
forwarded. These fell into my own hands as compiler, and
the result is the little volzr.e referred to. [Persecution of
the Lutheran Much in Prussia, from 1831 to the present
time, compiled frorn German publications. In the
press. price is 6d. Sold for the benefit of
the Lutheran emigrants.] We shall be much obliged
by any names of subscribers you may kindly forward,
:is we are wishing to dispose of a few copies pri-
vaioly, in order to receive a little pecuniary aid for the
emigrants. The sufferers never take up arms in their
own defence. A most remarkable absence of information
on the subject seems to prevail in this country. Prussia
has taken extreme care that we shall not hear of it. A
vast deal has been said respecting the King of Prussia's
kind reception of the Austrian converts from Popery.
but truly his own conduct has been incomparably mOl.
intolerant than that of the Emperor of Austria. Thr.,
tale will probably surprise people, but names, dates, and
references, will be clear ; and whoever pleases m 7.), do
what they can to refute them, or write to the Corainent,
where they must only be confirmed by further investi-
gation."

1 mo,, 27, 1840. Advertisement of the work.
Some thousands more are expected to emigrate in the
course of the present year.
Subscriptions will be thankfully received by Barnett,
Hoare, and Co., London ; and by the Union Joint-stock
Bank, Newcastle, if paid in to the credit of the Committee
for assisting the Lutheran Emigrants.
From the last accounts they are suffering great priva-
tions in America.
Six hundred have gone to South Australia, 1,100 to
North America.