The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-22 00:00:00

SUBSCRIPTION to THOROGOOD.

Yesterday the Promoters of the Subscription for
the relief of Mr John Thorogood, the martyr to
conscience, in his manly resistance to the pay-
ment of that odious impost, the Church-rate, met
at the London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill. Among
the gentlemen present was MT. Duncombe, the
patriotic and independent Meinber for Finsbury,
through whose generous instrumentality the case of
Thorogood was pressed on Parliament. Mr. John
Childs, of Bungay, took the chair, and after a neat
and highly appropriate speech presented Mr.
Thorogood with the money subscribed by the
friends of civil and religious liberty, amounting to
nine hundred pounds ! What will the oppressors
of conscience say to this noble manifestation of
public feeling ?
Mr. Thorogood returned thanks in a speech as
modest as sincere. Indeed, he said truly, that his
feelings on that occasion were best known to him-
self, they were too deep for utterance. He did
not thank them for the money, but from
his very soul he thanked them for their sympathy
in his behalf—not so much for himself, as for as-
serting the rights of conscience, which were clearer
to man in proportion to his poverty. But for the
generous, the unsought, the persevering assiduity
and friendship of Mr. Childs, he felt assured
that he would at that hour, and perhaps to
the end of his life, have been a prisoner in Chelms-
ford gaol. After he had been some time
in prison, firm in his faith, but hopeless as to
his liberty, Mr. Childs visited him as a
stranger, and left him—a friend I The result of
his labours was before them that day—a happy
illustration of the glorious triumph of conscience
for conscience' sake.

The manner and tone of Mr. -Thorogood, during
his speech, of which the above is only an epitome,
were modest, firm, and impressive, and elicited
general admiration.
An Irish , gentleman present, in allusion to the
imprisonment of Mr. Baines, of Leicester, observed
that the Irish managed the Church-rates, or cess,
better than the people of this country, and in-
stanced rather an amusing case. A countryman
went one day to the Protestant clergyman, who hap-
pended to be his landlord, with his first year's rent.
The clergyman said it was all quite right, but that
Pat had made a little mistake, in forgetting the
Church-rate. " Not at all," said Pat, " for, please
your Reverence, I never went to your church
at all, at all ; the parish Priest christened my baby,
and gave us religious advice." " That may be all
very well," replied the Parson, " but my church door
was open all the year, and no one would be more
welcome than yourself, Pat; and it was no fault
of mine that you did not come—so you must pay
the cess." Pat (lid not understand this logic, ob-
serving that one Church was quite enough
for him. The Parson reiterated his arguments, say-
inr, that it was all nonsense to be listening to the
opinions and advice of other people, so he
must pay. Pat, still unconvinced, said he
would consider of it, and call again next
day. In the mean time he put his wits to work,
and drew up a bill against the Parson in the fol-
lowing manner :

Your Reverence,
" Dr. to Pat Malloney.
" To shoeing your Honour's horses for one
year
He presented this bill, apologizing at the same,
time that he had quite forgot it yesterday. Forgot
It 1" exclaimed the Parson, with amazement, " why
man, you never shod my horses—l send them three
miles to an Orange farrier, and I am not going
to pay you for nothing." " That may
be," retorted Pat, " but my stable door was
open for your horses every day, and it was no fault
of mine that you did not send them to be shod I
Su this pays the cess, and we are quits."

LLO YD'S SHIPPIN G-(THIS DAY )

LONDON, DEC. 22.—1 t blew a heavy gale last night
ant this morning, with violent squalls from the Eastward.
Wind this day at noon, fresh breezes from E. to S.E., and
fine weather.

GRAVESEND, DEC. 21.—The Rucker!, Mason, from
Demerara, on shore in Sea Reach, is discharging her cargo.
Limerooe, Dec. 21.—Wind E. N. E.—Sailed the
Fame, Dunningham, for Port-au-Prince; Mary Ann,
Eady, New South Wales; Brooke, Adam, Jamaica; and
Irlem, Morfel, Barbadoes.
BRISTOL, Dec. 21.—The Thomas, which was on shore
below Portshead, has been got off and brought into the
basin.

CORK, Dec. 19.—A great many vessels are detained to
the Westward off Cape Clear by the prevailing Easterly
winds, and some are reported to be with loss of spars, &c.
ELubtless many of the fall timber ships will be short of
provisions. lam not aware el any cruizer having been
sent to their relief.

POOLE, DEC. 21.—The Anglicania, Haynes, from Sun-
derland to this port parted last night, and went on shore in
Studland Bay, but it is expected will be got off.
YARMOUTH, DEC. 21.—A board, with " London," in
gilt letters, and several other things, cabin and side lad-
ders, &c., came on shore yesterday at Galstone ; the bottom
of a Humber Keel is on Corton beach.
WIVENHOE, DEC. 21.—The Isabella of Newcastle was
wrecked on the Gun-fleet Sand, 17th inst.