The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-17 00:00:00

PICTURE OF A PRIESTHOOD,

(From Carlyle's " Chartism.")
For a priesthood, whatsoever its titles, possessions,
professions, there is but one question—Does it teach
and spiritually guide this people, yea or no? If yea,
then all is well. But if no, then let it strive earnestly
to alter ; for as yet there is nothing well ! Nothing, we
say and indeed is not this that we call spiritual guid-
ance properly the soul of the whole, the life and eye-
sight of the whole ? The world asks of its Church in
these times, more passionately- than of any other insti-
tution any question, " Canst thou teach us or not ?" A
priesthood in France, when the world asked, " What
canst thou do for us ?" answered only, aloud and ever
louder, " Are we not of God ? Invested with all
poci,er ?"—till at length France cut short the contro-
versy too, in what fright!ul way we know. To all
men who believed in the Church, to all men who be-
lieved in God and the soul of man, there was ❑o issue
of the French revolution half so sorrowful as that.
France cast out its benighted blind priesthood into
destruction ; yet with what a loss to France also! . .
Does the British reader, safe in the assurance that
" England is not France," call all this unpleasant doc-
trine of our ideology, perfectibility, and a vacant
dream ? Does the British reader, resting on the faith
that what has been these two generations was from the
beginning, and will be to the end, assert to himself
that things are already as they can be, as they must
be ! that, on the whole, no Upper Classes did ever
govern" the Lower, in this sense of governing ?
Bdieve it not, 0 British reader ! Man is man every-
where ; dislikes to have "sensible species" and "ghosts
of defunct bodies" foisted on him, in England even as
in France. How much the Upper Classes did actually,
in any the most perfect Feudal time, return to the
Under, by way of recompense, in government, guid-
ance, protection, we will not undertake to specify here.
In Charity-Balls, Soup-Kitchens, in Quarter-Sessions,
Prison-Discipline and Treadmills, We can well believe
the old Feudal Aristocracy not to have surpassed the
new. Yet we do say, that the old Aristocracy were
the governors of the Lower Classes, the guides of the
Lower Classes; and even, at bottom, that they existed
as an Aristocracy, because they were found adequate
for that. Not by Charity-balls and Soup-kitchens ;
not so ; far otherwise ! But it was their happiness
that, in struggling for their own objects, they had to go-
vern the Lower Classes, even in this sense of govern.
ing. For, in one word, Cash Payment, had not then
grown to be the universal sile nexus of man to man.

LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM A ILWA
For some time past a report has been prevalent, to the
effect that the London and Birmingham Railroad was abont
to he closed in a fortnight, in consequence of the injuries and
damages (lone during the late unprecedented wet weather.
We are authorised most decidedly to contradict any such re-
port.—Birminyham Advertiser,

On Wednesday, at Sheffield, a meeting was held
at the Town-hall, for the purpose of memorialising her Ma-
jesty to order Frost, Williams, and Jones, to be set at liberty.
Mr. William Gill moved the first resolution, purporting that
the detention of the prisoners was contrary to the letter of the
law, and consequently illegal. Mr. 12. Utley moved the adop-
tion of the memorial, which was carried unanimously. The
meeting was numerous, and the conduct of the parties attending
it peaceable and orderly.
YMENEAL RECREATION.—The example of
royalty appears to have been contagious, at least this seems to
be the most plausible explanation of the fact of so many " twos"
having been made " one" on the same (lay the Royal nuptials
were celebrated. This circumstance was laid hold of by a so-
ciety of persons, Who; time out of mind, have claimed the pri-
vilege in Westminster of celebrating such auspicious events
by a serenade of " marrow bones and cleavers" at that particu-
lar time considered by every new made married couple as the
very " witching time of night." On Monday evening, th
Westminster band of " rough music," having procured a list of
the " happy couples," went round to theis various places of
abode, and commenced their species of dissonance most
unpleasing to the married ear. The customary gratuity
procured their absence in most instances; but when in
Brook-street, exercising their noisy vocation, the bridegroom,
in great anger, insisted on being freed from their annoyance,
a row ensued, an attempt was made to move the discordant
musicians, and the consequence was that the marrowbones and
cleavers were converted from " musical instruments" into
" clubs and bills," and used wish dangerous effect on the heads
and limbs of their opponents. The police were called upon,
and Smith, Joseph, and Leary, three of the musicians, were
taken to the station-house. In defence, the musicians said
they had taken too much drink. 'ln prove they were regu-
larly authorised to levy contributions as " waits," they pro-
duced a large metal ticket, which they considered was in
the nature of a patent of privilege. Mr. Long, before whom
they were brought on, said they were not justified in cre-
ating a disturbance in the streets. Fur the assaults he should
fine efsch of them 10s.

MALIBItAN.-She had to sing with Velluti, a
duo in Zingarelli's Romeo eHata. In the morning they
rehearsed it together, and at that rehearsal, as at all preceding
ones, Velluti, like an experienced stager, sang the plain notes
of his part, reserving his fiorituri for the evening, in the fear
that the young debutante would imitate them. Accordingly,
at the evening performance Velluti sang his solo part, inter-
spersing it with the most florid ornaments, and closing it with
a new and brilliant cadence, which quite enchanted
the audience. The musico cast n glance of mingled
triumph and pity on poor Maria as she advanced
to the stage lamps. What wns the astonishment of the
audience lo hear her execute the ornaments of Velluti, im-
parting to them even additional grace, and crowning her
triumrili with a bold and a superb improvisation. Amidst the
torrent of applause which followed this effort, and whilst trem-
bling from the excitement it occasioned, Maria felt her arm
rudely graspei as it were by a hand of iron. Immediately the
word " Briconna!" pronounced in a suppressed and angry
tone 1 y Velluti, afforded her a convincing proof that every
triumph carries with it its mortification. "—Musical ~Tourital.