The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-27 00:00:00

clauses of the Sale of Beer Bill in Committee.

Those who delight in exploring the yollow parch-
ments and dust-begrimed folios which THOMAS
CARLYLE has execrated, and CHARLES LAMB has
kissed, will remember having every now and then
come suddenly upon the evidences of an ignorant
fanaticism and superstitious bigotry which are now
happily little better than matters of tradition. Even
supposing these adventurers among the dead letters to
be actuated by a sedate enthusiasm like that of good
AUGUSTIN CAXTON himself, they must on such occa-
sions have experienced a sensation of horror some-
thing akin to that which the inimitable Elia has
called "a cold squelch of astonishment." They must
hare felt that they were walking among the buried
weaknesses of their departed ancestors—profaning
the sanctity of those literary sepulchres in
which were enshrined in congenial mould the
records of many forgotten sins and cruelties.
Strange, however, as such emotions are, they
,ink into absolute nullity when contrasted with the
feelings excited by the revival of that blundering
Ayste m of legislation which for three-quarters of a
zentury, at the very least, have been rotting into a
deserved oblivion. The effect is indescribably un-
pleasant. It bras though we were witnessing the
incantation of the dead, and that the dead rose up at
the unholy summons, not in the glory of a celestial
vision, but clad in all the putrifying abominations of
the grave and its corruption. Parliament may de-
lude itself into the notion that in this renewal of the
enactments which have fallen into contempt and

desuetude, they are adding to the dignity of senators
the awe which enveloped the ancient haruspices.
They are mistaken. The populace are not to be
deluded by any such shallow pretence.
What constituted the principal bones of contention
yesterday in the House of Commons were the
clauses in reference to the closing of public-houses
and coffee-shops during the times of Divine service on
Sunday mornings. To explain the point at issue as
clearly and as briefly as possible, we may observe that,
according to the wording of the Beer Bill, all pub-
licans will be required to keep their establishments
open until half- past twelve o'clock in the afternoon
of Sundays. This provision appeared to. be inimical
to the objects of the measure, in the estimation of
Mr. SPOONED—the objects of the measure being to
enable the tavern keepers to attend church once a
week, and to prevent the sale and consumption of in-
texicating liquors during the- hours of morning ser-
vice. Seeing that, and knowing perfectly well that
the duration of Divine service fluctuated con-
tinually from a thousand circumstances—from
the length of the sermon, from accidental
delays, or from the slow articulation of the officiating
clergyinan—the Honourable Membor for North
Warwickshire moved, as an amendment, that the
Bill, without specifying any particular hours, should
ordain that— .” public-houses shall be kept closed
from Satarday night till after public worship on Sun-
day mornings." Now it cannot require a single in-
stant to demonstrate the absurdity of such a proposi-
tion, a proposition which would be productive
of perpetual inconvenience and intolerable con-
fusion. Supposing such an amendment to have
carried,of the
we shmoeutlrdopohlaisve
hoveringbad the thirstyab about
ut
beensn ers
the church porch for the sound of the
last response, and the potboy tarrying in the same
spot to telegraph the signal to the barmaid. Mr.
WILLIAMS saw the folly of all .tbis botch-work of
morality, and, looking more to'the creature comforts
than to the spiritual drilling of,the labouring classes,
o community a
proposed that the hour of opening ,should be changed
from half-past t
mt cemnbooe members onf Sundays—thereby
til
chanceaffording
thepoorer
eating, their dinners in comfort •at their
habitual time. Ultimately, however, the House re-
solved that the clause regulating the hour at
half-past twelve should stand good, notwithstand-
ing the conscientious objections of the Honourable
Gentleman the Representative of North Warwick..
shire, And so, drop by drop, the measure dribbled
through the Parliamentary filter called " Com-
mittee," engrossing that time which has become so
peculiarly precious both to the Legislature and to the
country, now that the session is drawing rapidly to
its termination. All we can now say in addition to
what has been already remarked by ourselves in re-
ference to this spurious effort to propagate morality,
is to express our most cordial coincidence with the
derision expressed by Mr. Hum and the Hon.
CaAitri BERKELEY.

COLONIZATION AND EMIGRATION.—The committee
of the Colonization Society fearing that the Council
Chamber of the Guildhall would not be sufficiently ca-
pacious for the meeting to be held to-morrow (Friday),
requested the Hon. Francis Scott, M.P., Mr. Mark Boyd,
and their secretary, to see the Lord Mayor upon the
subject, and his Lordship, in the kindest manner, at
once expressed his willingness to give the Guildhall,
stating that he was most desirous to afford his entire
support to this great national question now demanding
such prompt development.

SPAIN.
Madrid papers of the 21st have been received.
The Gaceta publishes the following bulletins re-
sting to the health of the QUEEN :-

" PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS.
" Her Majesty the Queen experienced last night a
slight indisposition, which, according to the physieians
of 016 royal household, presented itself with all the
symptoms of abortion, the which confirmed the pre-
sumption that existed or some days of her Majesty being
enceinte. Relieved by bleeding, and having kept her bed
during the whole day, her Majesty continues without
the slightest danger, although with the same symptoms
of an approaching miscarriage. On this account the
presentation of the credentials of the Nuncio of the Holy
See, which was to take place at three o'clock this after-
noon, and which will doubtless take place very shortly,
has been suspended.
"The other members of the Royal Family continue
without change in their important health.
" Royal Seat of San Ildefonso, July 19, 1848."
" MINISTRY OF THE HOME DEPARTMENT.
"The following telegraphic dispatch has been re-
ceived at this office:—
"'Royal Seat of San Ildefonso, July 20, 1843,
eight minutes past seven P.M.
" ' Her Majesty the Queen continues perfectly well,
after having suffered incommodities proper to her com-
plaint.' "
Don FRANCISCO DE PAULA has chosen Portugal as
his place of banishment. His daughter, the Infanta
JosEra, who has become reconciled to her husband,
has determined to reside in France. The Duke DE
Goa has accepted the office of guardian of the three
younger children of Don FRANCISCO DE PAULA, but
has refused the salary.
Carlist guerillas have again shown themselves in
Alava, Biscay, and Navarre.
MADRID BOMA, JULY 21.—The Three per Cents.
were done to-day at 191 cash, and there were buyers
at that price after the close, and sellers at 191. Fire
per Cents. 104 sellers. Passive Debt 4 sellers, and
the Foreign 31 sellers. Bank Shares 70 sellers, and
discount on Bank-notes 4 per cent.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.

The Moniteur contains the decree authorising the
new loan to which the Bank of France has decided
to subscribe 25,000,000 of francs. General OUDINOT
left Paris on Tuesday to resume the command of the
army of the Alps. There is a division of opinion on
the subject of intervention in the affairs of Italy, not
only in the Committee of the Assembly but also in
the Cabinet. The majority of the Committee, headed
by M. DE LAMARTINE, are for non-intervention, while
General CAVAIGNAC and M. BASTIDE, the Minister
for Foreign Affairs, advocate immediate intervention.
On this subject we find the following in the Mes-
sager of Tuesday evening :—" It was reported to•
day at the Assembly, that England is not disinclined
to interfere, together with France, for the purpose of
obtaining the evacuation of Italy by the Austrians-
It remains to be known upon what terms this co-
operation will take place."
On Monday 134 insurgents were arrested in the
Banlieu. The bodies of several of the in-
surgents who have died of their wounds
have been found in the corn-fields in the environs of
Paris, by the reapers.
General BEDEAU was better yesterday, and hopes
are now entertained of his recovery.
The law relating to clubs and public meetings is
still under discussion in the Assembly.
Li The following article has given rise to some ani-
mated debates :

" Art. 13. Independently of the public meetings above
regulated, citizens may, with the authorisation of the
municipal authorities' and on conditions which may be
laid down by them, found clubs or public meetings for
political or other objects. The public authorities may
always revoke the authorisations granted, and cause the
clubs or meetings to be closed who are not duly provided
with them. Every citizen who shall take part in a club
or meeting not duly authorised shall be liable to a find
of from 25f. to 500 f. The president, members of the
bureaux, or other founders of clubs or meetings not duly
authorised shall be, in addition, liable to an imprison-
ment of from five days to six months. These penalties
shall he inflicted without prejudice to the prosecutions
to be instituted in consequence of the crimes or misde-
meanors committed in the said clubs or meetings."

It was vehemently opposed by MM. DuraurtE and
DE FALLOUX, and at length it was determined to
send it back to the Committee for re-consideration.
The reactionaries who meet at the club of the Rue
de Poictiers are becoming more bltd and open in
their endeavours to embarrass the Republican Govern-

ment, in order to bring about a restoration. At a
meeting of the club on Monday, M. LEON FAucuaa
declaimed against General CAVAIGNAC as too Repub-
lican, and against any attempt at showing any, mercy
to the imprisoned insurgents, and from the tenor of
his speech it would appear that this gentleman objects
to giving them even the semblance of a trial; he
would have a repetition of the massacres of September
for the benefit of the restoration. He also declaimed

loudly against the imposition of the legacy duty,
and against the principle of progressive imposts, and
called for the suppression of the Reforme and the
Democratie Pacifique, as a set-off against the sus-
pension of the Presse. This speech was received
with loud applause by the club; but the further dis-
cussion of the subject was adjourned until M. THIERS
should be able to attend.
COURS AUTHENTIQUE.-PARIS, JULY 26.-Five per
Cents., 74f. 50c. 74f. 731. 75c. 50c. 75c. 50c. 731. 250.7 V.
73f. 25c. 73f. 721. 50c. 72f. 75c. 50c. 73f.; Three per
Cents., 46f. 25c. 46f. 451. 75c. 461. 45f. 75c. 45f. 50c.
75c. 50c. 45f. 451. 25c.; Bank Actions, 1,6601. 1,6551.
1,650 f. 1.645 f. 1,6401. 1,630 f. 1,625 f. 1,6201. 1,6151.
1,6201.; Rente do Naples (Rothschild's), 76f. 751. 50c.
75e.; Romans, 64; Belt an Fire per Cents., 1840, 77;
ditto, New Loan, 1842, 76i 77. Exchange on London,
one month, paper,
25f: 4?ic ; money, 25f. 40c.; three
months, money, 25f. 35c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, JULY 26.

Boulogne and Amiens, 6%—ltalian and Austrian,
Northern of France, s—Orleans and Bordeaux, 171'i
Rouen and Havre, 81h.

SWITZERLAND.

Letters from Switzerland, of the 22d inst., state
that the draft of the Federal Constitution was
adopted by the Grand Council of Berne, by a majo-
rity of 122 to 35. M. OCRSENBEIN, the former chief
of the free corps, warmly defended, on this occa-
sion, the Conservative cause, and mainly con-
tributed to the defeat of the ultra-Radical party. In
the Grand Council of Zurich the new constitution
had been voted by the 169 Members present. If, as
there is every probability, this constitution be gene-
rally approved, the Switzerland of 1814 will Boon
have disappeared and make way for a republic similar
to that of the United States.