The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-11 00:00:00

THE BU.N9 LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1840.

ambition on either Turkey or Egypt, she has a
deep stake in the pacdic and permanent, arrangement
of the contentions between them, and must regard
with disquiet the possibility of anv union and direct
interference of Russia and France. Nor will that
uneasiness be diminished by the still unsettled state of
the Sulphur question with Naples. On Austria, there-
! fore, Lord Palmerston may count as an active and
I honest ally, if earnestly disposed himself to set his
shoulders to the wheel and br.ng the interminable nego-
tiations to a satisfactory close. Longer delay can only
.add to the exasperation of Mehemet Ali, from the
enormous expenditure to which he is forced by this
state of quasi war, and forced inaction.

SIR DAVID BREWSTER AND THE
ET. ANDREW'S STUDENTS.

As the case of the St. Andrew's Students was very
briefly reported, we have been induced to give the fol-
lowing narrative of the principal facts, in order that the
debate on the case may be better understood. From
the speeches of those who took a part in the discussion
of it, and from the printed evidence, it appears to have
been tame of the most frivolous that was ever brought
before a Church Court,—and one that ought to have
been settled by the University Authorities without being
made matter of public animadversion. There can be
no doubt that it had its origin in a Non-intrusion
meeting held in St. Salvator's Chapel, St. Andrews.
Some students of Divinity, with the confidence of
young men, had persuaded themselves that they were
a match for the Deputation—by whom deputed no one
can tell, with the Rev. Dr. Simpson at its head—and
eager to break a lance with these redoubted champions
of spiritual jurisdiction, asked permission of the Chair-
man to enter the lists. The request was granted ; and
the students consequently conceived themselves entitled
to take a part in the business of the meeting—to put
questions to the speakers—to express their approbation
or disapprobation of what was uttered—and to move a
counter petition at the concluson—which was gene-
rally understood to be carried. In consequence of these
proceedings an attack was made on the• students by
some of the town's people, who appear by the evidence
to have made themselves conspicuous by a like conduct,
on similar occasions, and the meeting broke up in sonic
degree of disorder.
Sir David Brewster, Rector of the University, who,
of late, had taken a deep interest in the question of
Non-intrusion, and who had been instrumental in
bringing the deputation to St. Andrew's, was indignant
at the result, and believing the students to be the
authors of the disturbance, instituted an investigation
into their conduct ; what evidence he obtained, does
not appear, but he passed some very extraordinary
sentences on those whom he considered guilty, and
sent them to Dr. Haldane, Principal of the Divinity
College, that he might carry them into effect. With this
injunction Dr. Haldane, on what appear to be good
grounds, refused to comply, and in consequence of this
refusal the Rector wrote to the Commission, in March
last, one of the most singular letters that was ever pub-
lished, affirming among other things that " scenes of
drunkenness and riot in the streets were extremely
common among the students of Divinity," and request- .
ing the Commission to give effect to the sentences
which he had pronounced, in so far as they apply to
students of Divinity, and to scud a deputation to St.
Andrew's to inquire into the present state of the Divi-
nity College. Instead of this, however, the Commission
remitted to the Presbytery of St. Andrew's, the whole
of the papers communicated, and enjoined the Pres-
bytery to take up the matter at their meeting on the
11th of March, and to proceed in the consideration
of it with all diligence, so as to report to the next Ge-
neral Assembly. The Presbytery lost no time in
obeying this order ; and after a very long and diligent
inquiry, " found that the assault was made by some of
the town's people on the students—that the riot which
occurred arose from that assault—that the riot did not
originate with the students—and that there was no
evidence whatever that any of them in the
Church that evening were intoxicated, or did
insult the Professors and Meeting." . Again, as to the
charge of scenes of drunkenness- and riot in the,
streets being extremely common among the sfudenfs
of Divinity, it appeared, that so far was this from being
the case, that no one well authenticated instance of in-
toxication could be
.brought home to any one, even of
those individuals whom the Rector had convicted.
These sentences, however, proving very unsatisfactory
to Sir David Brewster, be brought the ease by dissent
and complaint before the Arsenably, where it was heard
partly on points :of form, and partly on its merits—
the result bein4 that the Assembly, without a vote,
dismissed the dissent and complaint, fotind that from
the report of the Presbytery there is no ground for in-
terference with the internal government and discipline
of the University of St. Andrew's ; and therefore dis-
missed the whole case, recommending to the Presbytery
of St. Andrew's tcecontinue in the faithful exercise of
their constitutional superintendence of the moral and
religious conversation of the students of the University.,
It is not for us to condemn the conduct of any of the
parties. We are bound to believe that all of them were
actuated by the best motives ; but we cannot help
thinking it unfortunate that the case had ever been
made public. The rashness, to say the least, of Sir
David Brewster in preferring charges of a mist serious
nature against a body of students in his own Univer-
sity, without sufficient proof; and his application of
the term " miscreants" to any class of Its fellow-citi-
zens, be they students or not, savours more of party
zeal than of the calm dignity of a Judge ; and is apt to
have an injurious effect on the character and prosperity
of the University of St. Andrew's. Such charges ought
never to be made on slender grounds ; and in the pre-
sent instance they deserve double condemnation, as it
turns out in evidence that there were no grounds for
them at all. As for the efficiency of the vigilance and
discipline of the Rev. Principal of St. Mary's College, ,
is quite enough to say that members on both sides of
the House bore the highest testimony in Dr. Haldane's
favour ; and so satisfied of this did the great majority
of the Assembly appear, that, as we have just stated,
the case was dismissed without a vote.—Edinburgh
Advertiser.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMEN T.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, JUNE 10.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at the usual hour.
Mr. TOMLINE, the new Member for Sudbury, was in-
troduced by Lords Grimstone and Norreys, and took
the oaths and his scot.

On the m.-aion of Mr. GEORGE EVANS, the
Report of the Committee on the Dahlia and Drogheda
Railway- Bill was further considered.

Sir BENJAMIN HALL brought up the Report
of the Committee on the Birmingham, Bristol, and
Thames Junction Railway Bill.

On the motion of Mr. CURRIE, the Report on
the Kircudbright Road Bill was further considered.
The Tadcastcr and Halton Dial (York) Road Bill
was read a third time and passed.

Mr. A. WHITE presented a petition from the
Mayor and Magistrates of the Borough of Sunderland,
praying that magistrates might be enabled to compel
the attendance of witnesses.

Mr. GODSON presented a petition from the vicar
chord of the Cathedral Church of Lichfield against
the Ecclesiastical Duties and Revenues Bill, and pray-
ing that if the Bill should be allowed to pass the peti-
foner might be allowed compensation.
Mr. LIDDELL presented six petitions from the din-
eese of Durham against the Ecclesiastical Duties and
Revenues MI.

Mr. THOMAS DU NCOMBE presented five pe-
titions from Leeds, Dundee, Merthyr Tydvil, and a
parish in York, complaining of the cruel treatment of
Mr. Feargus O'Connor, and praying for an inquiry into
the subject.
SUDBURY ELECTION.

The HONOLTRABLE MEMBER also presented a pe-
tition from certain electors of Sudbury, complaining of
the conduct of the Mayor at the last election, and
stating that Mr. Tomline had not been duly elected,
and praying inquiry.
' Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD presented three pe-
titions from places in Scotland, praying for a mitigation
of the sentence of Mr. Feargus O'Connor.
Mr. RAIKES CURRY presented a petition from
Northampton against Church-rates.
Sir G. STRICKL A.ND presented a petition, signed
by the Chairman of a public meeting, held at Keate, is
the West Riding of Yorkshire, prayine for a mitigation
of the sentence upon Mr. Feargus O'Connor, that he
might be removed to the debtor's side of the prison
and that he might be treated as Sir Francis Burdett,
Mr. Cobbett, and Mr. Leigh Hunt had been. Also a
petition from Long Preston, praying for a total abolition
of Church-rates, and six petitions from places in the
West Riding of Yorkshire, praying for a total repeal of
the Corn-laws.

Lord INGESTRIE presented a petition from the
inhabitants of Greenwood, comp!aining of the existence
of certain abuses in the Grammar School of that place,
and praying that the Grammar Schools Bill might pass
into a law. The petition having been read by the clerk
at the table, the Noble Lord moved that it be referred
to the Committee on the Grammar Schools Bill.
Mr. FRESHFIELD said that such a course would
be irregular, the Grammar Schools Bill being a public
Bill, which had already been read a second time ; it
would be impossible for the Committee to go into the
case.

The SPEAKER said the Committee had no power
to hear evidence on the• subject.
Lord INGESTRIE did not think this an improper
petition to refer to that Committee.
Mr. FRESHFIELD said it was not a subject for
that Committee, as the Committee hal no power of
sending for persons, papers, or records.
Lord INGESTRIE then presented petitions from
Wolverhampton, and various other places through
which canals passed, complaining ot.,the desecration of
the Sabbath by the canal boatmen, and.praytng for
some remedy ; also a petition from Wolverhampton.
against any further grant to the Ccdlege of Maynootht
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL presented a peti-
tion froirt the Provost, Magistrates, and other inhabi-
tants of Edinburgh, unanimously agreed to at a public
meeting, praying that the city of Edinburgh might ,be
excluded. from the,Scotch Borough MI.
Mr. HAVES presented petitions from Fitter-lane,
and from various places in Suffolk, against any public
grant for the purpose of. Church .Extension.
Mr. LOCH presented petitions front the fishermen
of Dundee, from various
.places in Caithness, and from
places in Ross-shire, praying that foreign vessels{.might
not be allowed to fish within three miles of the coast of
Scotland. •

Sir C. J. NORREYS presented a petition from the
grocers of Mallow, praying that, free-labour sugar might
be admitted, on the payment of a reasonable duty.
Mr. WARBURTON presented a petition ,trom a
place in Peyoushire, praying for a mitigation of the
punishment of Mr. F. O'Connor.