The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-25 00:00:00

SUNDAY TRAVELLING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sia—Knowing your liberal sentiments, and your
concern for the public good, I hope you will deem the
following worthy of a place in your valuable Paper ;
should you think any of the sentiments too strong, you
can use your own discretion in modifying them :
To Mr. L. Newton, Esq. of Derby, one of the Direc-
tors of the North Midland Railway, in answer to a
circular requesting my vote in favour of a motion, to
be submitted to a general meeting of the Directors,
for the suppression of Sunday travelling.
Sir,.—l have just received your circular on the ques-
tion of Sunday travelling. It is a question which
demands the most serious consideration as to its effects
on the morals and happiness of the people. I agree
with you that the pecuniary loss or gain ought to be
placed entirely in the background. Having had an
opportunity of witnessing the effects of Sunday amuse-
ments on the Continent, and having paid a good deal of
attention to the subject, I take the liberty of giving you
the result of my reading and reflection. I should be ex-
tremely sorry to see the seventh day snatched from the
labouring classes for the purposes of gain, for ultimately
such a privation would not enrich them in the slightest
degree, but would deprive them of a portion of time,
which, if rightly employed, might be made highly con-
ducive to their best interests. But under the present
arrangement of society, is it so employed ? Is it not
notoriously the reverse ? A considerable part of it is
usually spent at the tavern or the gin shop, where habits
of the most demoralizing nature are fostered ; for it is
found that drunkenness is the cause of almost all the
vice and misery which is found in the world ; others
who remain on the domestic hearth, often spend the
Sunday in ennui, or indolence, or bickering ; nor are
those who attend what is called religious worship, (and
to promote which, I suppose, your motion is chiefly in-
tended,) always much better employed ; for when we
look at the numerous opposing sects into which the
Christian world is divided, it is impossible that a ma-
jority of them should not be in error, and what
is there to prevent the unthinking part at least
from falling into that error, which is always
pernicious ? You will probably answer, that if permit-
ted to travel on Sundays, they will still use strong
drink ; undoubtedly they will, and many will attend the
conventicle ; but if we can make men happier we shall
be sure to diminish, if we cannot cure, their vicious pro-
pensities; besides railway travelling is too expensive for
the great bulk of mankind. England is proverbially a
nation of drunkards, and the sombre appearance of its
inhabitants on a Sunday, is most striking to those who
have come fresh from the happier, more lively, and more
sober inhabitants of the Continent. Upon the whole,
therefore, after weighing your arguments, I do not think
that a discontinuance of Sunday travelling would in the
least degree tend to prevent crime, but would greatly
increase it ; neither would it promote any interest but
that of the Clergy. I hope, however, the time will
arrive when education will have done that which our
ecclesiastical institutions have not done, nor ever will do ;
it will have convinced the people of the value of time.
which is too precious to allow much of the seventh day
to be appropriated to travelling or to mere amusement.
With regard to your argument respecting Sunday tra-
velling being an infraction of the Fourth Command-
ment ; Archbishop Whateley, in a recent pamphlet, has
clearly proved that it is not ; but that the Jewish dis-
pensation has been abolished by Christ. But if the de-
mand is binding, why not keep it strictly, as did the
Jews, on the seventh day (Saturday), and not on the
first ? Dare we, poor mortals, impiously presume to
change a day set apart by Jehovah ? But I forbear to
go further ; in this inquiring age, however, you
must find better arguments than this if you intend to
produce any effect on the approaching meeting.
A SHAREHOLDER.
Feb. 20, 1840.

THE Ittistt GOLD MINES.—It appears from
the Irish papers, that Government have given their sanction
to the working of these mines, which have at various times
excited the attention of mining adventurers : and we are led
to believe, from information which we have received, that
gold may be calculated upon being found in quantity. The
gold district extends over a space of ten square miles, in a half
circle, round the Croghan mountain; and gold has been found
in the streams flowing from the different springs which this
district gives rise to. Every flood carries down some portions
to what is called the common stream, whither the peasantry
used to assemble to gather what they could. Large pieces of
magnetic iron ore, and other substances have been found, de-
noting the extraordinary metalliferous properties of the coun-
try ; and the analogy which they bear to the gold country of
South America is remarkable. This work is now in progress,
but whether it be the intention of the parties to work it singly,
or as a joint-stock concern, we know not. Gold is now, we are
given to understand, being raised, and the work of discovery in
progress.—Mincing Journal.
SIR ROBERT AND THE BIGOTS.—Tito
Morning Herald, speaking of Sir R. Peel's speech on the pri-
vilege 9uestion, says: His conduct in this matter has given
great gr ief to the-friends of constitutional government, and no
less conse4ation to the 'Whigs and their adherents. To play
the enemy's name after this fashion, and at a time when the
great interests of • the country are rapidly falling into ruin, is,
indeed, miseratsle work."
TIIE LA...RGE CONSTITUENCIES. —ln the
nineteen largest cities of the empire which have consti-
tuencies of four thousand and upwards, forty Members are re-
turned, of whom thirty-three are Liberals, and only seven
Tories. In the nineteen towns which rank next, and have
constituencies between two thousand and four thousand, thirty-
four Members are returned, of whom twenty-four are Liberals
and ten are Tories. In forty-two towns, with a constituency
from one thousand to two thousand, returning seventy-four
3lenibers, forty-three are Liberals and thirty-one are Tories,
making a total of one hundred Liberals and only forty-eight
Tories, returned by the principal towns and cities of the em-
pire. So much for the nation being with the Tories.
A COLLOQUY.—Father Barnes : " I was read-
ing the other day, Doctor, in an odd volume of Blackstone,
that at the first establishment of the parochial clergy, the tithes
of the parish were distributed in a fourfold division; one-fourth
for the use of the Bishop, another for maintaining the fabric of
the church, a third for the poor, and a fourth to provide for the
incumbent. How is it, Doctor, that now you take it all, and
we have to maintain the church and the poor ?" Dr. Starch :
" My ieriend, seek not to know why the former times were
better thin these, for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning
this."
OUTRAGE.—Not loyal loving obedience to
those placed over them, but a far other temper must animate
these men ! It is frightful enough. Such temper must be
wide-spread, virulent among the many, when, even in its
worst acme, it can Lake such a form in a few. But indeed de-
cay of loyalty in ail senses, disobedience, decay of religious
faith, has long been noticeable and lamentable in this
largest class, as in other smaller ones. Revolt, sullen
revengeful humour of revolt, against the tipper classes,
decreasing respect for what their temporal superiors
command, decreasing faith for what their spiritual superiors
teach, is more and mere the universal spirit of the lower
classes. Such spirit may be blamed, may be vindicated : but
all men must recognize it as extant there; all may know that
it is mournful, that unless altered it will be fatal. Of lower
classes so related to upper, happy nations are mot made ! T.
whatever other griefs the lower classes labour under, this bit-
terest and sorest grief now superadds itself; the unendur-
able conviction that they are unfairly dealt with, that their lot
in this world is not founded on right, not :even on neces-
sity and might, is neither what it should be, nor" what it
shall be. Or why do we ask of Chartism, Glasgow trades-
unions, and such like ? Has not broad Europe heard
the question put, and answered, on the great scale ; has not a
French Revolution been? Since the year 1789, there is now
half a century complete; and a French Revolution not yet
complete ! Whoever will look at that enormous phenomenon
may fin,4 many meanings in it, but this meaning as the ground
of all : Mat it was a revolt of the oppressed lower classes
against th,e oppressing or neglecting upper classes; not a
French revolt only : no, a European one; full of stern moni-
tion of all countries of Europe. These Chartisms, Radicalisms,
Reform Bill, Tithe Bill, and infinite other discrepancy, and
acrid argun cant and jargon that there is yet to be, are our
French Revolution : God grant that we, with our better
methods, may be able to transact it by argument alone ! Car-
lyle's Chartist*
THE INV.ERNESS BURGHS.—We announced
last week that Ms. Morrison (formerly Member for Ipswich)
had arrived in Inverness, as a candidate on the Liberal interest,
for the representation of this district of burghs. The appear-
ance of this gentleman and his friend, Mr. Ellice, jun. 111. P.,
caused a strt mg sensation in the town, and we seemed at once
to be plu,age( I into all) the excitement of a contested election.
During the -following day Mr. Morrison and Mr. Ellice visited
several of tin' electors in the town ; and in the evening a nu-
merous mcating was held in the Royal Hotel.—lnverness
Courier.
Flash 'tot es have been somewhat common in this
city of late ; one was given, a few days since, by some young
men, to Mr. Terry, at the Crown, St. James's, for a five-
pound note. The poor man was unlettered, and did not know
but it was a good one till next morning, and the parties got
about two pounds into his debt, and then went off. Five of
them, however.', were apprehended, and on being brought be-
fore the ma gist rates were remanded, and kept in prison several
days. The mo ney was, however, ultimately made up, and the
parties discharg ed. —Norfolk Chronicle.
THE ITALIAN OPERA IN PARIS.—We re-
gret to hear it stated, on good authority, that the Italian Opera
likely to -remain, closed next winter, should the Government
not promptly interfere with measures for its removal to a more
favourable situation than the Odeon. Its banishment to
that inconvenient quarter, together with the withdrawal of
the subvention, rendering the enterprize so hazardous that
M. Viarde t has declined retaining the privilege under
the prelim Lt conditions. The fashionable world, and more
particularl7 the English and other distinguished foreign
residents, lin Paris, find it difficult to explain the conduct of
the Gov ernment in thus depriving the capital of a source of
enjoyme at which has been for many years one of the first and
most ele rant of its attractions. They complain of the undue
preference given to the directors of the Opera Comique, to
whose sps .culation the Italian Opera appears entirely to have
been sacrificed, and that the Salle Favart, instead of being
restored t o the Italian vocalists, whose brilliant talents had
raised it to a celebrity unequalled by any other theatre in
Europe, s hould have been ceded to the comparatively absurd
pretensions of the Opera Comique, already in the enjoyment
of the to unificent subvention of somewhere about 10,000
pounds sterling per annum ! Something is said of an intention
to build g. ..theatre for the Italians in the Rua de la Paix, and
the plan I tun' been submitted to a Committee, but in the mean-
time the eroii is approaching, and promptitude and decision are
necessary I rai arrest it.—Galignam of Wednesday.

STAG—HINTING.—The lovers of this sport
had a glor ioue day with Baron Rothschild's hounds on Thurs-
day last. The meet was in a meadow on the windmill side of
Tring-hill. The deer, finding at Aylesbury a passage door
open, at ens e rushed in there, and was easily captured. The
distance gon e over could not have been much less than twenty
miles, and, Ai ith the exception of the first few minutes, the
pace was go, id throughout.
On Sattirday, notwithstanding the vapouring of
the Tory canclidate for Morpeth, Major Cadogan, his courage
oozed out after he had been put in nomination. The 0:!Ilant
Tory declined a poll. when the Liberal candidate, the Hon.
Captain Howard, R.N., brother of Lord Morpeth, was duly
elected. On this occasion the Tory banners bore the, to them,
novel inscriptions; of " Liberty and Independence,"
Freedom of Election."