The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-01 00:00:00

"The rapid Irogress of intelligence among the middling
and working chases has become a source of fear, as what-
ever strengthers independence weakens authority. The
bulk of the imam are beginning to think and reason; it is
one of the signs of the times, and to the hierarchy, it is
the most alarmitg sign. It is natural to ask, why should it
be so? This is a searching question; and, vyere an answer
honestly given t) it it would be this:—lf we can succeed in
restoring the Catholic faith, the object we have deepest at
heart will be attained ; the sovereignty of the Priest will dis-
place the soverejnty of the people; and we shall then have,
as we had before the Reformation, a Church Government
that all looked up to with awe, when the word of the
preacher was received as the word of God, and his will as
the will of Heaven. It is thus in Rome; we are striving
to have it thus is England; it is to this and to those days
we would returr.

"But, my Lord, it cannot be; the stern spirit of our
Saxon ancestors is hereditary; never will Englishmen be
again brought under the Papal yoke ; no persuasive addresses
from Dr. Pusey—no exhortation from Cardinal Wiseman—
no proclamation from the Pope will avail anything ; it is
ploughing the racks. No scheme for bringing the children
of the poorer classes under clerical direction will succeed.
Your Lordship's declaration, that no scheme of national
education shall receive r our sanction which does not leave the
appointment of schoolmaster in the hands of the clergy," is
derided for its meddling, and despised for its arrogance."'

The learned author then adverts to the system of
religious instruction provided for the children of the
poor by the National School Society, and the West-
minster Training Institution, which he asserts to have
a Puseyite tendency ; and this opinion he sustains
by extracts from ,the Cathechism put into the hands
of children, with regard to the worship of images, of
saints, of the Virgin MARY, and also on the duty of
confession, or, to use the milder term, " of seeking
counsel from the clergy."

There is another topic to which he alludes with
considerable power—the intrigues of the Jesuits, to
which he asserts that the recent aggression may in a
great degree be traced. On this point he refers to the
clauses relating to that body in the Emancipation
Act, which manifest a sincere resolution to rid this
kingdom of those wily schemers, but which have
been, as well as those relating to territorial
titles, permitted to remain dead letters on the na-
tional statute- book. To show the real danger arising
from the machinations of this body, he refers to the
secret instructions of the Jesuits, from which he
gives copious extracts, particularly respecting their
mode of ingratiating themselves with persons of rank
and wealth—the manner in which " rich widows are
to be gained over"—how the hold is to be maintained,
and the way their wealth is to be disposed of—how
their children are to be treated, in order to make
them embrace a religious life—how the revenues of
the College are to be increased, and a variety of
other subjects of intense interest.
In every respect, this little publication will be
found well worthy of perusal ; and we have no
doubt that it will be eagerly sought after by every
sincere Protestant, when told that it emanated
from the talented writer of the well-known " Tracts
of an Anti-Tractarian." A second letter was also
promised—but that hope, alas ! can never be realized.
PROVIDENCE has interposed an insuperable barrier
—the mind that conceived is no longer the tenant of
an earthly habitation, the hand that penned is for
ever stilled—within forty-eight hours after the last
page was written the gifted and accomplished
JAMES SEDGWICK breathed his last while a guest
with his old friend and former junior, the LORD
CHIEF BARON of the Exchequer. It is unnecessary
to add a single word in favour of the latest publica-
tion of the late Chairman of the Board of Taxes to
any of those who had the honour of his acquaint-
ance. By every one who knew him he was respected
and esteemed. The courtesy and amenity displayed
on every occasion, the strict fidelity with which he
discharged the duties of his station, endeared him to
all with whom he had any intercourse, and eminently
entitled him to the public gratitude.
A too conscientious discharge of that duty was
perhaps injurious to his own pecuniary interests, and
probably led to his retirement on a pension but
one-third of that which he bad reasonable grounds to
preventedexpec t.Thhiemfaflrioinmg-kLffeepoifng up insurances whichincome thus occasioned
he had formerly effected, and will, we believe,
materially affect the future fortunes of his amiable
daughter. We trust that many will desire to possess
themselves of the last production of JAMES SEDGWICK.
We can assure the public that none will regret having
acted on our advice.