The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-12 00:00:00

THI4_: SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY. MARCH 12, 1440.

The Chairman, attended by Mr. Byng and the prin-
cipal guests, retired at half-past ten. Mr. Byng and
Lord Holland were greeted with most enthusiastic ap-
plause. The Ladies retired immediately afterwards, and
within half an hour the theatre was cleared.

Long will the great Reform Banquet of 1840 be re-
membered by all who were so fortunate as to be pre-
sent. It was one of those magnificent gatherings
which do but seldom occur, to chequer the ordinary
routine of a nation's domestic history, with some
glorious and splendid manifestations of public feel-
ing, the bright out-bursting of a people's gratulations.
There arc spectacles so splendid—there are displays so
imposingly grand—that the mind positively trembles be-
neath the startling and the overpowering impression,
and finds it utterly vain to attempt to depict them. We
feel at a loss how to make the endeavour. We are
wanting in analegies—in parallels—whereby to convey
an idea of it—and we know how feeble are merely de-
scriptive efforts to supply the lack of such analogical
aids to the imagination. The endeavour, however, we
will make.

A public banquet at Drury-lane ! Even to those
who know what Drury-lane is—even to those wl.o have
seen it on some glorious occasion, when the vast edifice
has trembled at the thundering enthusiasm with which
assembled thousands have awarded their charmed
applause to genius—or done cheerful homage to
Royalty—even to those it would be difficult to
convey an adequate idea of this immense and
imposing display. Let them conceive the whole
of that vast pit covered over, and the large ex-
panse carried over the orchestra to the furthest ex-
tremity of the yet vaster stage, and presenting one im-
mense mass of tables and guests, some hundreds of feet
in length, and at least upwards of a hundred in breadth ;
the whole theatre brilliantly illuminated, the back of the
stage one blaze of light—two prodigious stars dazzling
in lustre ; the noble circle of boxes, crowded with die-
gantly apparelled ladies.
But to those who have not seen Drury•lane. Ay,

—" there's the rub." They must imagine a building'
more spacious—more lofty—more vast, than any other
they ever beheld. They must fancy an expanse of
crowded festivity so large, that the eye is confounded
and lost in the multitude—they must imagine all this
imposing banquet encircled by as brilliant an amphi-
theatre of boxes—gorgeous in crimson, exquisite in
embellishments, and sparkling and waving with all the
charms of plumed and jewelled beauty, hung round
with chandeliers, their glass lustres glittering in dazzling
brilliancy.
We went into the upper gallery, and the effect from
that point was altogether magical. Those who never
were there, will scarcely be able to realize the
gorgeous picture. From an elevation so exalted,
that the vast multitude of human figures seem
diminished almost to the size of pigmies, we
looked down upon a spectacle so novel, so start-
lingly imposing, that it appeared like a vision
of fancy—or to have been summoned by the wand of
enchantment,—our view terminated by a dazzling con-
centration of lustre. We know not which spectacle was
most imposing, the noble circle of beauty rising all round
—viewed from below, or the vast mass of congregated
guests, viewed from above.

And when the immense multitude arose, and sent
forth their deafening shouts at the entrance of the
distinguished guests ; while the strains of thrilling
music sounded their cordial welcome, and the beautiful
tenants of the boxes added their graceful greetings.
The ear participated in the power of those impressions,
which had been acknowledged by the eve, and the
united effect was overpowering. Vain would it be to
attempt to describe the tremendous effect of our sub-
lime National Anthem, when its simple yet solemn
strains swelled with the accumulated power of that im-
mense audience—when the ardent bursting forth of
loyal enthusiasm seemed to shake the very walls—and
when each appeal to the feelings of the assembled
thousands excited the hearty, the deafening response,
which rung to the very echo.

AS

PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON AND

COUNT LEON.

The Capitole publishes a letter from London, written
by Colonel Parquin to one of his friends in Paris, in
which the following details aro given of the circumstances
which preceded the duel between Prince Louis Napoleon
Bonaparte and Count Leon. Colonel Parquin says:—
"On the Ist instant Count Leon wrote a letter to
Prince Napoleon, complaining of his refusal to receive
him, but it was of so offensive a character taat he refused
to sep'y to it. The Prince, however, sent me on the fol-
lowing dad to explain to Count Leon the motives of the
Emperor's family for not having any intercourse with him.
On arriving at Fenton's Hotel, I found the Count at break-
fast with another person, and having given my name,
and requested a private interview with him, he re-
plied that he did not know me, and would have
nothing to do with me. Although hurt at this
unexpected reception, and not being able in a public room
to make the intended communication, I told him that in
consequence of his refusal to give me a private interview
I would say in my awn name that his insolent letter to Prince
Napoleon fully justified the conduct of the Imperial Family
towards him. Some hours after this scene the Prince re-
ceived another letter from Count Leon in terms as offensive
as those of the first, and in which he said, that if I should
again present myself at his hotel, he would place himself
under the protection of M. Guizot, the French Ambas-
sador. On the same day Colonel Radcliffe brought a
challenge to the Prince from the Count. I was imme-
diately placed in communication with the Colonel,
who avowed to me in the first interview that he
had known Count Leon only a few days, having
met with him at the hotel ; but knowing that he had
been received at the French Ambassador's, and had dined
there, he had not hesitated, when asked, to become his
second in an affair of honour. As I was not acquainted
with the Colonel, and was ignorant of the English laws, I
requested that another person might be associated with me
in the delicate mission with which I was charged, and post_
ported any decision till another interview. The Prince
then sent for Count d'Orsay, who arrived immediately, and
conferred with me on the subject, when he informed me
that. Colonel Radcliffe was a distingusbed officer of the
English army, and highly respected. Informed of
this the Prince communicated to us his determination,
and in the evening, in an interview with Col. Radcliffe,
we informed him that the Prince, from personal consi-
derations, would have paid no attention to the insolent
letters of Count Leon, but that the intervention of an
English officer in the affair entirely changed its cha-
racter, and the Prince accepted the challenge.

- •
SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS,

FROM THE DAILY PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
(From the Globe.)
We are inclined to agree with Sir Robert Peel that it
would have been preferable to pr‘opose some definite object
f inquiry to the Committee on Banking to be appointed on
the Chancellor of the Exchequer's motion last night,—
" such as this, for instance—when the Bank charter ex-
pired, what regulations should Parliament adopt with regard
to the circulation." We have too much experience how
little purpose is served by Committees on general subjects;
though we hope that the determination of public opinion
towards some practical settlement of our Banking system
will rescue this from the fate of so many extended inquiries.
It was doubtless a motive of delicacy towards the Direction
of !he Bank of England (or rather the Peachum and Lockit
feeling of particeps criminis which administrations have
always had towards that establishment) that rendered the
terms of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's motion less
specific. For our own part, we do not in the least partake
these delicacies. We arc convinced that the main scope
of inquiry, if it is to serve any purpose, must be the ma-
nagement of that great monopoly which Mr. Grote will
not hear called a " monopoly."
(From the Standard.)
Mr. Baines, Member for Leeds, and a Dissenter, has
brought in a Bill for the reform of tips Established
Church. It is no doubt a very good:natured proceed-
ing for a sectarian, such as Mr. Baines, to take the
Established Church under his care; but as he scarcely
seems to be a man of sufficient mark to carry through
successfully the mighty task that he has undertaken,
we should scarcely take notice of this Bill did we
not find it paraphrased and commended with so much zeal
in a Ministerial Journal, as to create a suspicion that the
measure prepared may be at bottom a Ministerial measure.
The ends proposed by Mr. Baines's Bill are ends worthy
of all praise—they are the augmentation of poor livings
and the extension of church accommodation. Nor is less
praise due to Mr. Baines for his practical acknowledgment
that these are proper subjects for the consideration of Par-
liament, and for demanding the contributions of the public.
( From the Courier.)
The Whig Journal is pleased to be facetious this morn-
ing, and represents us as being " scandalised," because
New Poor.law Guardians are found converting their
official creation, as attendant upon poverty, into the means
of a Joint-stock Association for spouting upon politics.
Now, we neither affected nor expressed auy scandal or
horror of the kind, because we felt none. The mere fact
of a conclave of Bolton blockheads signing petitions
despatched to them by circular, and the purport of
whice was as much beyond their comprehension as the
elaboration beyond their powers of intellect or skill in
handicraft, was not calculated to excite our surprise.
The trick of this sort of petitioning is far too stale to be
viewed with other than indifference or contempt. We
only begged these gentry, thus arrogating and exercising
rights out of the sphere of their functions, to allow, not
equal, but natural rights and privileges to the paupers un-
der their controul. Give free license in the pour. house
with supplies of writing materials, and we will be bound
for it that petitions by the cart-load will be speedily seen at
the doors of the House of Commons from every Union Poor
Prison in the country, against the pinch-pauper-law and
its iron-hearted administrators everywhere.

lONABLE INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVALS.
Mrs. Temple West, from Braywick,
Berks, in Monta-
gue-place, Montague-square ; Lord Forester, in Charles-
street, Berkeley-square ; the Rev, Sir Nigel GresleY,
Bart., at the Burlington Hotel, from Netherscourt Hall,
Ashby-de-la-Zouche ; the Rev. Lord A. Fitzclarence, at
ditto ; the Hon. Captain Foley, at ditto ; the Hon. C. R.
West, 43d Regiment, at Lord Delawar's, Grosvenor-street,
from Sandhurst ; Lady Dalberg Acton and Sir Richard
Acton, at the Clarendon Hotel, from Italy ; the Hon.
William Bagot, at ditto ; Colonel Ormond, at the Bur-
lington Hotel ; Sir William and Lady Chatterton, in Sea-
inure-place ; Lord Haddo, at Argyll Houle, from a tour;
Mr. and Lady Louisa Fortescue and family, at Lord Har-
rowby's, in Grosvenor--square, from Castle Hill, Devon ;
Lord Cantelupe, in Upper Grosvenor-street, from Lewes ;
Henry Home Drummond, Esq., fig. P.. of Blair Drum-
mond, from Perth ; the Hon. and Rev. Augustus Phipps,
at the Earl of Euston's, in Grosvenor-place ; the Duke of
Roxburgh, at Thomas's Hotel, from Flours Castle ; the
Dowager Lady O'Brien, from Ashbcurne, near Limerick :
Lord Henniker, from Thornham Hall, Suffolk ; Captain
Hamilton, at the Budintzton Hotel.

DEPARTURES.
Lord and Lady Avonmore, and the Hon. Misses Yel-
verton, for Dublin ; Colonel and Misses Davies, for
Brighton ; the Hon. General St. John, for ditto ; Lieute-
nant-Colonel and Mrs. Farquharson, for Dublin ; Lieute-
nant-Colonel and the Hon. Mrs. White, for ditto ; Sir
George Hodgson, Bart., for Wicklow ; Count Demidoff
and suite, from Thomas's Hotel, for the Continent ; Vice-
Admiral &r Thomas Baker, for Widmer, Kent ; Colonel
Price, for Brighton ; Lieutenant Jenkinson, Rifle Bri-
gf.tde, for Windsor ; Mr. Blake, M.P., from the Cavendish
Hotel; Sir Denham Norreys, Bart., M.P.

A man named Robert Fergusson, was placed at
the police bar on Saturday, and remanded for examination, on
a charge of having, within the last six months, written various
letters to England, with the intent of imposing upon the mer-
chants there, and diddling them out of their property. This
individual addresses his communications from No. 43, Tron-
gate, and will order anything, from a needle to an anchor; and
as his letters are got up in a very business looking style, and
always contain a reference to a respectable house in Glasgow
—perfectly unauthorized of course---they are exceedingly apt
to impose upon those who take the honesty of the man for
granted. The prisoner is only one of a number who practise
the same vocation in G:asgow, and as the subject has more than
once been brought before the public by the police, we cannot
too strongly caution merchants and traders at a distance from
paying heed to the orders of those who are worse than men of
straw.—Glasgow Herald. _ _

NON-INTRUSION HUMBUG.

The Non-Intrusionists, according to their own
account, are in the very circumstances of Shad-
rach, Meshcch, and Abednego I Can they really
be in earnest ? Are they fools enough to believe
that the people of Scotland are so stupid as not to
perceive the wide difference between the two cases ?
Had the Court of Session—as the Non-Intrusion
ists sometimes have falsely asserted—issued a ge-
neral prohibition against preaching the Gospel.
there would have been some similarity ; hut, as it
is, the situation of the Non-Intrusionists bears no
more resemblance to that of the three Hebrews,
than the preaching of Simon Magus did to
the preaching of the Apostles. The fact cannot
be too often repeated, that there is not a sin-
gle man in Scotland, at this moment;
prohibited from preaching the Gospel. Mr
Cunningham may preach the Gospel -- Mr.
Guthrie may preach the Gospel—Mr. Lewis may
preach the Gospel—all of them may preach the
Gospel—and preach it in Strathbogie too, with the
utmost impunity, provided they either abandon the
State's pay, or do the State's work in the manner
which the State directs. If Shadrach, Meshed),
and Abednego, instead of being poor Dissenters, as
they were, had been priests of the golden image,
receiving pay from Nebuchadnezzar as established
clergymen, and if they had declared to their master
not only that they would not worship the image,
bet that they would insist on keeping their stipends,
while publicly devoting themselves to another form
of worship, they would have been justly subjected
to punishment. And they might have been martyrs
indeed, but not such martyrs as they proved them-
selves to be—martyrs to a righteous cause. When
Mr. Guthrie goes to prison, he will find, though
he may be the first clergyman, that there are many
martyts there before him--,-,martyrs to the same
glorious cause—disobedience to the laws of their
country. This reasoning applies equally to the
case of Daniel ; and the argument drawn by Mr.
Guthrie, from the conduct of the Apostles may be
met in the same way. If Paul and Silas had
been in the receipt of stipends from the State
for preaching Judaism, would they have called
it persecution that they must either do their
duty or abandon their stipends ? If the
offer of full liberty to preach the Gos-
pel had been made to the apostles, on the simple
condition that they should yield up their State pay,
and depend upon their disciples for support, would
they not have joyfully accepted it ? And yet our
paltry, peddling amateur martyrs—who wish to
serve God and Mammon at the same time—have
the impudence to compare themselves to Paul and
Silas! For shame I Let them either honestly do
the State's work for the States's pay—in the man-
ner that the State, through its appointed officers,
prescribes--or, if they cannot do so conscientiously,
let them abandon at once their stipends, and throw
themselves on the voluntary support of the people !
—Aberdeen Herald.
THE COMMISSION OF ASSEMBLY.—The
" Independence" party are carrying matters with a
high hand. The Commission of the General As-
sembly met on 'Wednesday, and, after a lengthened
discussion, resolved by a majority of 108 to 11, to
cite the seven suspended ministers of the Presby-
tery of Strathbogie before the Assembly, at its
meeting in May, to answer for their conduct in dis-
regarding the sentence of the Commission, and in
applying to the Civil Court to suspend that sentence
and to interdict its being carried into effect. The
remainder of the Commission's proceedings, which
will be found reported in another part of this sheet,
were characterized by a similar display of resolute
determination in asserting and enforcing the arro-
gant pretensions of the dominant party in the Kirk.
It has been said, that " a wilful man must have
his way," and these men are certainly wilful enough.
Whether they will " have their way" or not, how-
ever, remains to be seen ; and we shall be greatly
surprised if they do not yet come to find that it is
much easier to make bold swaggering speeches, an(
pass violent resolutions, than to enforce them it
opposition to the law of the land and the au,

thority of the Civil Power.—Edinburgh IVeekly
Chronicle.

At the last meeting of the Commission of the
General Assembly, which took place on Wednes-
day, several important motions were carried, viz.,
that the suspended ministers of Strathbogie should
be cited to the bar of the next General Assembly,

. ;
to answer for their conduct in disobeying the
orders of the Commission ; 2d. That the case
of Mr. Edwards, the presentee to Marnoch, should
be referred simpliciter to the General Assembly ;
3d. A majority of the parishioners of Kemback
having petitioned and complained of the Presby-
tery of St. Andrew's for taking the presentee, Mr.
George Cook, on his trials, although objected to
by a majority of the male heads of families, it was
moved and carried by a majority of 121 to 8, that
the Presbstery be cited to appear at the bar of the
Assembly, and in the meantime that they be pro-
hibited and discharged from taking Mr. Cook on
trial, and that he also be interdicted from appearing
before them. On the important question regaiding.
Strathbogie,Mr. Candlish submitted resolutions

,hat the Civil Court had invaded the jurisdiction 01
,he Church in matters spiritual, which was in vio-

lation of the Constitution in Church and State;

and moved an address to her Majesty, and petitions
to both Houses of Parliament, to adopt measures
to protect the Church from the interference of the

the Court of Session with its discipl ne and rights
The resolutions and address were carried by a ina.
j9rity of 107 to 9.—Edinburgh Evening Courant

IRELAND.

Great numbers of the peasantry are preparing to
emigrate to America. It is a remarkable fact that the
county of Meath, which has been represented as the
very focus of " Ribbonism," is contributing a large pro-
portion of its present increase to the current of emi-
gration, and principally horn that class which is sup-
posed to have constituted " the bone and sinew" (as my
Lord Roden would say) of the confederacy. Hundreds
of young unemployed labourers are " leaving their
country for their country's" good.

It is stated that Mr. O'Connell will arrive in this city
on Tuesday next, and that he will leave on the same
evening for Galway, where he has been retained as lead-

log Counsel for the Rev. Mr. Kirwan, parish priest of
Outerard, the defendant in an action brought by Mr.
O'Flabertie, for possession of a portion of hind upon
which a Roman Catholic chapel and other buildings
have been erected. In this case the contest for title
lies between Mr. O'Flahertie and Mr. Thomas Martin,
one of the Members for the county of Galway. Mr.
O'Connell is to return to Dublin, ou his way to London,
immediately after the trial.

Mr. Ho-wley, Chairman of the county of Tippe-
rary, is now engaged in an inquiry, instituted by the
Government. into charges preferred against a number
of Magistrates in the counties of Cavan and Monaghan.
The Magistrates in the former county implicated on this
occasion, are, it is stated, charged with illegal and op-
pressive proceedings against the people during the re-
joicings in honour of the nuptials of the Queen.
Father Matthew is proceeding in the administration
of the Temperance pledge. The Society is stated by
its founder to consist of upwards of 700,000 persons of
all kinds and creeds.