The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-11 00:00:00

ELIZA COOK.

THE CLERICAL DELINQUENT.
We (Sheffield Independent) understand that the
Rev. Mr. Mahon has received a letter from Edin-
burgh, informing him that his late curate, " the Hon.
and Rev." Mr.. Douglas, alias Fairfax, is in that city,
where he has preached, and is begging in the name of
some religious society. It has been suggested to
some of the creditors that they should take steps to
have the man apprehended, but to that course there
are two objections. The first is a suspicion that this
letter may he merely a trick of the accomplished im-
postor, to put them upon the wrong scent. But the
second and more important objection arises from a natu-
ral disinclination to spend money, not to recover what
they have lost, but merely to punish the delinquent.
Two or three other cases of " Mr. Fairfax alias
Douglas's dexterity have been published. Among
the adherents of the church whom he was in the
habit of entertaining at the rectory was the village
tailor. To him Mr. Douglas stated that he had not
brought to Rawmarsh his stud of horses, but bad
left tnem in the care of his faithful and much at-
tached groom, Tom. He wished to make Tom a
present, and consulted the tailor as to the suitable-
ness of taking Tom a stable suit. Of course the
tailor thought it a good notion. But then came a pro-
fessional difficulty. How was he to measure the absent
Tom ? " Oh, said the dexterous pastor, my old clothes
exactly fit him. You have only to measure me, and
the clothes will be sure to suit Tom." This was
done, and now the poor victimised tailor has the sa-
tisfaction to think that when it shall suit the pastor to
play the groom, he will hare quite ready the groom's
habiliments. A young lady who had travelled on the
continent, advertised, during February, that she was
open to an engagement to accompany a lady or
young family as travelling companion. She duly re-
ceived a very respectable-looking letter, dated from
" Rawmarsh Rectory," where the Hon. and Rev.writer
was doing duty for a short time for his friend Mr. Ma-
hon. lie was a widower with two daughters whom he
wished to take upon the continent during the spring,
and wanted for their companion just such a lady as
the advertiser had described herself to be. The result
was an engagement, but the exposure which has since
taken place has frustrated the only design with
which it can be supposed to have been made. In
the height of his benevolence, Mr. Fairfax Douglas
undertook to write to a neighbouring gehntlemhane onbehalf of an old servant andtenant,uwt
b
re-
presented as being in distress,mucahke
application on his own
through delicacy, o
l. oiralOwLhowniouthlde
rev. be a
writergreat
that he was ready to be the
felt so much interested behalf.
assistance
eof the gentleman's bounty.
the
t ipooron
tte ofind make
ged with sincere ,
The letter was ac
Atodot.hn
steward would be in the neigh-
but as the gentleman's
of a few days, he should have
neigh-
bourhood in the course eold servant, and give such aid
channel for the conkvheeyznecd .
sincere thanks
instructions to see the.d.
This
as the case require simple circumstance
schemes'
baulked another of the rev. delinquent's clever

hle:lvinwgitbbeaenlarrgeeadanbyd
meeting o
TErz pitoTE,TA,NTf
tAhsesoic3rroaterisotarrn.t—Arsseoestieartdaioyn,wthase
anniversary
Holloway, the
which
held at Exetegrsemblag
the chair was taken by G. Rook-
ftfoashre:illei°cnivars'bpkieer:a Esq. Mr.
. Law, the secretary, then read
rawyaesrefil
the annual report, which stated that during the past
year the association had caused meetings to be held and
lectures delivered against the Bill for establishing rela-
tions with the Papal States, and against the admission of
Jews into Parliament. The association bad also issued
cards, papers, &c., during the late general election, and
had :been instrumental in awakening the Protestant
energy of the country, many Members having been re-
turned pledged to oppose any measure calculated to
strengthen the Church of Rome. Since the last anni-
versary the receipts of the association had been 1,554 L,
and the expenditure 1,508/., there being liabilities to the
amount of 4001. Resolutions in accordance with the
objects of the association were passed, and the meeting
separated.

ADELPIII THEATRE .—Madame Celeste took her
benefit last night. The performances comprised the
melodrama of the Harvest Horne; the petite comedy of
Flying Colours, atAl the second act of Buckstone's
shelved, though still favourite drama, of the Green
Bushes, Madame Celeste taking the principal female
character in each piece. Mr. Webster, of the Hay-
market, who, as usual on these oocasions, gives the
Adelphi the benefit of his talents, was the Captain Bans
Sonci in Flying Colours. The house was. crammed.
It is rumoured that Mr. Macaulay is about to re-
tire from the Cabinet.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial.
office, from the Governor of the. Cape. of qOO4 gopp
and from the Governor of Van Downs Laid,