The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-25 00:00:00

LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.
TE-+TIMONIAL TO MR. MIALL.
' A public soirée was held on Tuesday evening- at the London
Tavern, where the triends of Mr. Miall, the editor of the Non-
conformist, assembled in large numbers to present to that
ge alernan a testimonial, the result or an appeal which had
been male to the public to protect him from any pecuniary
damage which might ensue from the action brought against
him by Mr. Gathercole, the Vicar of Chatteris,-and also as a
mark of respect for his public character and conduct. The
chair was taken bv Mr. Apsley Pellatt. supported by Mr. T.
Tnompson, the Rev. Dr. Campbell, Col. Perronett Thomp-
s.m, Dr. Price, R. Besley, Esq , Dr. Cox, Mr. George Tbomp-
son, Dr. Epps, Dr. Lankester, Dr. Ox:ey, &c. &c. The com-
pany present, consisting of gentlemen and ladies, filled the
large room.
The tea ended, the CHAIRMAN, after briefly referring to
the purpose for which the assembly had been called together,
announced that the responses to the appeal which had been
made on behalf of Mr. Miall had far exceeded the most san-
guine expectations of the committee—fa. which success they
had to express their gratitude to the subscribers, including
many persons belonging to the Church ot England. The
amount subscribed exceeded 802/.; of this the expenditure,
including Sir Thomas Wilde's fee, did not exceed 6241. 10s. ;
therefore, presuming that he had the authority of the
persons present for so doing, be had the pleasure of present-
ing the balance of 1771. to the able and persevering editor of
the Nonconformist, in the name of the persons who had so gene-
rously responded to the call of the committee. He, therefore,
begged Mr. Miall's acceptance of the same, together with a
purse which had formed part of the contribution; as a slight
token of the admiration which was entertained for his prin-
ciples, although it was far from being adequate to his real
merits, bothliffor the anxieties and injuries he had Sustained
in the cause of "Gathercole v. Miall," and the general zeal
which he had displayed in the cause of civil and religious
liberty.—(Enthusiastic cheering.) Mr. Pellatt read letters
from Mr. Bright, Mr. Duncombe, Dr. Morrison, and
Dr. Pye S.nith, who, while they regretted their inability to
attend the present meeting, expresse the warmest sympathy
with its purpose.
Mr. Mau, rose, amidst prolonged and renewed cheering, .
expressing his inability to reply suitably to their very flatter-
ing expression of feeling, and alluding uriefly to the circum-
stances which had given rise to it. For the testimonial
which had been made to him he thanked them ; in the name
of human nature, wnich such examples as the present must
tend to elevate and exalt, he thanked them; and in the
name of those prinCiples which he advocated, he thanked them
roost sincerely. He had no right to expect such a manifes-
tation of feeling as the result of what he most frankly ad-
mitted to hare been an editorial indiscretien.—(Cheers and
laughter.) He spoke in severe terms of the abuses in the
libel laws, both generally and as applied to his particular
case. He had been convicted of a libel, he had been punished
the offence, and now that. all was over he professed before
all the world his unqualified opinion that he had done Mr.
Gathercole no injury.—(Cheers.) Mr. Miall expressed
strongly liasia)si iithe-x.eseee4eg the extraerclinury dictum laid
--thvrn-by—Alr. Justice Parke at the trial, " that the preaching
of ministers of the Established Church was a privileged thing,
and not open to the animadversions of the press." Such a
sentiment, coming from the mouth of a judge, exceeded any-
thing which his experience could supply, and involved prin-
ciples which, to his mind, were the most dangerous to liberty
of a,iy that could be conceived. He alluded to the great anti
undue privileges which were exercised by clergymen,
wbo, while they were paid servants of the state,
were enti ely above state control—exercising exorbi-
tant influence, and above all authority. Yet, though
meddling constantly with the liberty of the press—and
meddling with effect—it was only the press that could keep
such men in any moderate bounds.—(Cheers.) The doctrine
that the opinions of clerbrymen were not to be subject to cri-
ticism was one not worthy of men in an enlightehed age; yet
the opinion ot Mr. Baron Parke was both right and wrong_
right if they were to have an establisntd church—wrong it
tiny were to have a tree constitution. But he looked 'or.
ward to a better state of things, and avowed that he would
rather suffer with the few now than shout with the many
hereafter. Mr. Miall concluded a long and eloquent spetcL
amidst loud and enthusiastic applause. . .

Colonel P. THomrsox proposed the first sentiment, " May
the law of libel be written so plain in our statute books' that
it shall not be possible to warp its meaning to suit the pur-
poses of prejudice or party ; and that falsehood, dictated by
malice, shall alone be subject to its penalties."

Dr. CAMPBELL and Mr. G. T11031.1'. SON spoke in support of
he sentiment. _

The next sentiment was, "A free press; truth without
bitterness; principles, not persons." This was proposed by
T. THOMPSON, Esq., and supported by Dr. Cox. The speakers
were received very enthusiastically by the assembly, who
separated shortly after.

CONSECRATION OF A ROMAN
CATHOLIC BISHOP.
The imposing, ceremony of the consecration of an ad-
ditional Catholic Bishop, selected in the person of the
R, v. Dr. Uilathorne, of Coventry, took place at " the
Church of the Holy Sacrament," in that city, in the
course of Sunday ; and, notwithstanding the recent
decease of his Holiness Pope Gregory XVI., was doubt-
less considered a " high festival" by the great number
of dignitaries and learned patrons of Catholicism present,
and by the splerdour and ceremon al which this church
so usually throws around all her important rites.
Amongst those present we may enumerate the Right
Rev. Dr. Briggs, the- consecrating bishop ; the Right
Rev. Dr. Griffiths, the Right Rev. De Waring (the assist-
ing bishops Othe Right Rev. Dr. Wiseman, coadj u or bishop
of the Midland District, the preacher; the Very Rev. Dr.
Barber, Abbot General of the English Benedictines; the
R. v. R. Lythgoe, Provincial of the Jesuits; the Very Rev.
Dr. Brindle, Vicar-General of the Western District of
England for the past 16 years, and Vicar. General to the
bishop elect ; the Rev. Messrs. Newman, Bowles, and
St. John (Oxford) ; the Rev. Messrs. Talbot, Amhurst,
and Searle (Oscott) ; Vaughan, Clarkson, Heptonstall,
Dullard, and English ; the Rev. John Bouomi and the
Rev. John Wheble, masters of
,the ceremonies. The
ceremonial commenced about half-past 10 o'clock by a
pri,cessiou of the prelates and their attendant=, and the
bish_o_n eleect, on
—Ch—firc . Di'. Briggs. Dr. Griffiths, Dr. Waring, and
the intended bishop, stood together, surrounded on all
sides by priests, curates, and religious orders, dressed in
soutans, surplices, and clerical caps. After a short
prayer was offered up the bishops and the doctor
retired to the side chapel, and there put on their
pontitical robes. In accordance with the rubrics,
the bishop elect had fasted the previous day,
and notwithstan .ing the other " colours of the
day," his vestments were entirely white. On returning
to the altar, he was then presented in due form to Dr.
Briggs, the officiating consecrator, as a pastor fitting for
the heavy office of a bishop. The Pope's Bull, or as it was
termed, the Apostolic Mandate, was read by the Rev.
Dr. Barber, the Benedictine Abge -General; and an ad-
dress
was deliver, d by the Rev. Dr. Wiseman, from the
ee to the sanctuary. The remaining cere-
: the consecration were conducted with much
it
solemnity—the entoning of the Litanies—the
anointing
the Doctor's hands and the crown of his head
Steps leading
( impressive
of
If g
with " the sacred oil and chrism of sanctifi *viola "—the
presentation of the episcopal ring and the pastoral staff
or crozier, after the same had been sprinkled with holy
water and bles-ed by the consecrating bishop—the plac-
lig on the mitre, as symbolical of the authority to preach.
&c. When mass was etmcluded, the newly-consecrated
bi. hop proceeded in procession down the middle aisle,
dispensing his pastoral benediction to the kneeling hun-
dreds around him. His Lordship returned to the high
trAi.r, where he was embraced by the .other bishops, and
"the kiss of peace" was excham eel between them. At
the close of an anthem his le.rdshils again advanced to
the steps of the altar, and blessed those assembled, after
which he was led away by the other bishops, and the
ceremony, which did not conclude until nearly three
o'clock, thus ended. The newly-created prelate is- well
known in the district for his many talents and abilities
as a minister of religion, and a creditable prevalence of
those philanthropic principles which are alone attached
to good and pious men. We understand that the Right
Rev. Dr. Ullathorne will shortly remove to another
sphere of action.

AFFRAY IN THE LIVERPOOL
UNDERWRITERS' ROOM.

Between three and four o'clock on Saturday afternoon
an affray of a very unpleasant nature, and one altogether
unparalleled amongst the members of our mercantilecom-
munity, disturbed the usually quiet atmosphere of the
Underwriters room in this town. As we were not pre-
scnt ourselveS, and as the origin and circumstances of
the fracas are variously detailed by parties out of doors,
we cannot pledge ourselves to perfect accuracy, but, ac-
cording to one set of parties, it occurred somewhat after
the following manner.—Mr. R. and Mr. 8., two exten-
sive shipowners, were in conversatim together, and, in
course of his remarks, Mr. R. observed that Mr. 8., by
reason of his being a member of the Classification Com-
mittee, had been fortunate enough to obtain a good classi-
fication for his vessels. Mr. 8., as the story goes, gave
the assertion a flat denial, in language very plain and ex-
ceedingly pointed and offensive, whereupon 'Mr. R. in-
flicted summary punishment upon his friend with his right
foot. Mr. B. struck Mr. R. in return with his fist ; and
then a mutual friend, Mr. L., interfered, separated the
belligerents, and put an end to any further hostilities.
Another set of parti. s deny that any kick was given or
any blow struck, but state that Mr. R.'s observation was
considered so very offensive by Mr. 8., that the latter'
raised his baud in a threatening manner, and would, in
all probability, have struck, but for the prompt inter-
ference of other gentlemen in the room. In whichever
way the affray was conducted, one
.thing appears pretty
certain, that it excited the attention and alarm of every
one present, and that it was deemed most advisable
to call an immediate meeting of the committee, with
the view of investigating the eircumstai ces, and
adopting measures to prevent hostilities from being
carried further. Ihe committee met in ten minutes
afterwards, bur, of course, their proceedings were
conducted in strict privacy. The affair was quickly
noised abroad. It first became the prineipal topic of
Exchange news-room, underneath
and amongst the merchants on
room
'Change, and then it
cthonevuenrsdaetriwouriiiii,irs!,he
teas
carried on a hundred tongues
err. In till,' as in all
to all quarters of the
similar
übatants bore incontestable evi
cases, exaggeyes and noses of the cot
eration was at work. Some alleged that the
n es was inevitable ;',
and that a hostile meeting at 12 paces dense that those organs had very materially suffered,
but we are hare y to say that there was no foundation
for the former part of this rumour, and that, with regard
to the latter part of it, the matter may be considered as
at an end. We may also observe, with reference to the
cla-sificution committee, that their public and private
acts are al tog,
r unexceptionable, and that, when the •
ships of any member have to be
in classified
an
that member
leavei the room, and takes no
part
which, either die, ell} or
indirectly, he m investigation in
ay happen to be
interested.—Liverpool (Lion.

DETERMINED SUICIDE AT EMNBURCR. AVont
seven o'clock OR saturday evening a respectable looking man, whose
name is at present unknown, precipitated himself from the top of
Salisbury Crags, and was killed on the spot. Ills body, which is
dreadfully disfigured, fell on the Radical-road, and afterwards rolled
down the steep declivity to the Queen's Park, where it was found,
and removed to the Infirmary, but has not yet been' claimed The
unfortunate man appears to be about thirty-five years of age, is
about five feet nine or ten inches in height, with a round full face and
fair hair, and his head bald in front. He was dressed in a brown
top coat with a velvet neck, a green and blue satin vest, black and
white checked trousers, and a black stalled hat, having inside the
lining the letters "A. G." with the figures " 31.5-5 " There were
found ill his pocket a penny and a map of the cAinty of Edinbingli.
He had thrown off his coat and one of his shoes before throwing him-
self over the precipice, as these parts of his dress were found at the
top of the crags.-04(evaian Moron!