The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-25 00:00:00

reason to fear that they would be permitted to suffer
much longer under the " hope deferred that maketh
sick the heart." During the two preceding years
they had been made the victims of procrastination,
and the realization of their reasonable expectations
was retarded by the Fabian policy of their opponents.
In every stage of the proceedings they succeeded by
clear and decisive majorities in the Commons House
of Parliament. But the matter was so vexatiously
delayed, that only a few days remained at the close of
1849 before the Bill had reached the last stage of
its progress in the popular branch of the Legislature.
Under such circumstances it was necessarily, but
most reluctantly, withdrawn by the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman who had it in charge, and the interested par-
ties were compelled to remain for a further period in

a state of suspense and anxiety. They were sus-
ained, however, by the cheering prospects of a more

successful campaign in the ensuing year.
The measure was again brought forward in 1850,
and under equally favourable auspices. The same
vrzatiuus irnpeduneuts and obstructions were oppo,ed
at every btsge of its progress, but with less rtf-c•, fur
it passed the Commons early in July, and was then
for the first time introduced to the Peers of the United

Kingdom. Here, however, unexpected obstacles
Arose. The Nob'e Earl by whom it was brought
forward, actu ted no doubt by a proper discretion,
withdrew the Bill, in order that abundant time might
be afforded to their Lordships to consider the vaiious
details, and to remove any feeling of annoyance that
might be entertained at the late priod of the session
At which it was brought up from the Lower House.
There was, however, no division that could indicate on
which side the majority would be arrayed.
This year the subject was first brought into the
[louse of Lords. The views and opinions of the

C mnor's h.d been PO clearly, distiric;l3, and tine

quivi cally expressed on former occasions, that no
additional prestige could be conferred by its again
plAng through hat House. It was also certain that
tedious and protracted discus•ions would take place on
the vexata questio of the session, "the Ecclesiastical
Titles As,umption Bill." It was therefore judicious

to take the decision of their Lordships on the
principle of the measure. The second reading was
proposed by the Eirl of ST. GERMANS in a speech
of singular ability and moderation ; and the Noble
Earl was admirably sustained by Viscount GAGE, but
it met with a most violent opposition, in which, we
regret to say, several of the Bishops took a leading
part. Conspicuous among the party was HARRY of
Exeter, who made a long speech on the occasion,
which has since appeared in the form of a pamphlet.
The result was that the Bill was rejected in a thin
House, and that it must, ccnsequently, be again
brought forward in another year.
The matter has thus assumed a new aspect. There
has as yet been no actual collision between the
Houses, but it is certain that the just and salu-
tary measure, the propriety and expediency of
which :was affirmed by the representatives of the
people, has been rejected by a small party of
the hereditary legislators, aided and assisted by a
goodly array of lawn sleeves. It is now be-
coming—nay, more—it is essential that every per-
son desirous of removing this disgrace from our
statute-book, of repealing the most grievous specimen
of bigotry and intolerance still existing, should exert
himself strenuously and energetically, in order
that the matter may be placed in a true point of view,
and that the errors and misconceptions with which it
is surrounded may be removed. It was especially de-
sirable that the partial and erroneous assertions and
statements of Bishop PHlLLrorrsshould be completely
answered and disproved. Fur this purpose a fitting
chatupiou has entered the arena, one who has already
distinguished himself in the inquiries on which the
report of the Royal Commissioners was funded, and
the Right hey. Prela.e will have but little cause to
congratulate himself on the manner in which he has
been dealt with by Mr. CAMPBELL SLEIGH. To all
persons anxious to arrive at a correct COACIUNiOn on
this important subject, we would earnestly commend
the admirable pamphlet* above «Hurled to, in
which the inconeisteocies, and what is far worse,
the misquotations of the Bishop are freely and un-
sparingly exposed. Never was an unfortunate
de!it quent more fiercely tossed on the horns of a
literary dilemma than the Bishop has been by Mr.
SLEIGH. The Learned Gentleman has seized on the
alleged quotation from the works of Bishop JEREMY
TAYLOR, by which the Bishop of EXETER enders,
voured erroneously to convince their Lordships that
that venerable and respected Prelate was adverse to
such marriages,
whereas the contrary was clearly

In another c)lumn we publi-h the letters addressed
by the illustrious VICTOR HUGO and his noble-
minded son to the journalists of Great Britain, who
presented to M. CHARLES HUGO an address express-
ing their sympathy with him under the unjust im-
prisonment which he is now undergoing in conse-
quence of the sentence passed on him by a
court of (we cannot call it justice, and
will not give it its only proper designation)
—a courk, having the power to pass sentences,
and which was but too glad to have the opportunity
of exhibiting their hatred and fear of the
father by committieg a flagrant outrage and a cruel
iteprisoement on the son. M. CHARLES HUGO is one
of the most rising political writers of the day, and
as editor of the .Evenement he wrote an article against
the punishment or death, and illustrated his argu-
ments by alluding to the horrible circumstances which
had attended, four dais previously, the execution of
MONTCHARMONT at Chaumont. The family of HUGO
hilt always been honourably distinguished for
its opposition to death punishments, and until
the present mement no Cana it, France has ever thought
.fif inflicting such a disgrace upon the Great Nation as
to class the guillotine among her permanent institu-
tions, which it was treason to attack. Neither the
Restoration nor the Kingdom of July ever perpetrated
such an absurdity. The Provisional Government
inaugurated their entrance into power by proclaiming
the ab3lition of capital punishments for political
offences, and it was left to the Ministers of M. Lours
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, the ex-prisoner of Ham, to
declare that the guillotine was, like the "clerical
party," one of the institutions of the country, and to
punish the father for his eloquent attempts to rescue
freedom of education from the tyranny of the latter.
by sentencing the son to six months' imprisonment
fur having dared to argue against the continuance of
the former. CHARLES X. permitted the publication
of Le dernier jour d'un condamni, but President
BONAPARTE orders the prosecution of the author of
the article on the execution of MONTCHARMONT.
Under these circumstances, we are rejoiced to find that
the journalists of England determined to present to
M. CHARLES Bra° an address, expressing their in-
dignation at the flagrant outrage which had been
committed on the rights of journalism
all over the world by his cruel imprison-
ment, their conviction that a ruthless and insane
despotism is striving to substitute " a reign of brute
force for that of reason ;" and their hope that the spon-
taneous expression of this sympathy will in some de-
gree lessen the harshness of his vexatious position, and
render less painful the sense of injury which must
accompany a breach of justice, and a miserable, if
not altogether wilful, misunderstanding of the purest
motives.

We rejoice at the presentation of this address, and
we feel grateful to M. VICTOR HUGO and his son for
the manlier in which they have met this attempt,
the first, we believe, ever made to establish a
solidurite among liberal journalists all over the world.
The presentation of this address to M. CHARLES
HUGO constitutes a most important epoch in the
history of journalism. As is well observed by
M. VICTOR 11UGO—" This manirestation is
inure than a lever ad tressed by writers who
Are free to a writer who is oppressed, it is a sign of
the alliance of all the forces of civilization for the at-
tainment of one common object—it is the communion
of two great people in one idea of humanity." We
rejoice to find thst M. CHARLES Huao so accuratel3
appreciates the motives of those who signed the ad-
dress, when he el‘,quenly exclaims, "Ohl gentle-
men, all who have read your address cannot but per-
ceive in it this double fact—a great people
dues homage to a great idea—she English
press holds out the hand of friendship to
the press of France." It is even so, and most
cordially has the band been accepted even in the
spirit in which it was tendered. M. CHARLIts HUGo
thus continues :—'' It belongs to you, the most liberal
writers ut the freest system of journalism, to take the
inietive in these cordial adhesions of the Press to thr
Press. The sovereign liberty of the English press
owes aid and suppqrt to the expiring liberty
of the French press"—an obligation, the force
of which we acknowledge, and which we
trust that every liberal writer in England
will fearlessly and loyally discharge ; fur, as M.
CHARLES HUGO truly observes, "England and France
form the advance guard of the nations. It would ap-
pear that these two noble people have but one ambi-
tion, that of outstripping each other in the path of
progress. You English," continues M. CHARLES
HUGO, " have given to the world illustrious examples.
Was it not your BYROM who first fought for Greece?
Was it not your WILBERFORCE who first protested
against slavery ? Like the publicists in France,
you unmask barbarism whenever you surprise it
flogrante delicto in the open day of the 19th century,
Is it not from an English voice that has proceeded
that noble cry of indignation against the numberless
iniquities committed in the name, and under the
shadow, of the Church by the infamous King of
NAPLES? Is it not one of your statesmen who has
denounced in the name of the Gospel this executioner-
King, who calls himself the servant of the GOD
Martyr ?" Cordially, most cordially do we re-
ciprocate these sentiments of the " illus-
trious son of an illustrious sire," who
has now the honour—the distinguished honour
—of being thought worth to suffer in the sacred cause
of freedom and humanity, and earnestly do we urge
all the members of the Liberal press in England to
bold out the right hand of fellowship and of sympathy
to those of our continental brethren who are now
nobly fighting the battle of freedom, which our
fathers' fathers fought and won. Let us aid and
comfort and support them by every means
in our power, and the holy alliance of free journalists
will be but the prelude to that holy alliance of the
free nations of the world, which for thirty years has
been the ardent aspiration of one who has dune more,
both by his writings and his sufferings, to vindicate
the cause of the liberty of the press thin any living
man—the poet-patriot BCRANGER

I), PARTURE (,P IHE ROYAL MAIL STEAMER
AMEMCA.— 0:i Saturday afternoon, at four o'clock, the
Au erica, Captain Neil Sannon, left the Mersey for Halifax
Boston, with the mails fo- the United States Canada,
Newfitiodland &c . a lair freight, ant in passengers.
ELTURN TICKETS FoE THE WEST INDlES.—Ex-
cursiun and return tickets are ni,w issued by the R ,yal West
India Mail Packet Company.. Persoos can vi-it Madeira or
any of the places included in the West India Mail Packet
scheme, in the company's packets,
six within tb
m eyeomtbhastkfroomn
board any of the homeward packets
the date of issue of their passage tickets a considerable savi, g
is effected.
ACCIDENT TO CHARLES ST. JOHN, E•Ct, —We learn
with much regret that the author f the " Wild Sports and
Natural History of the Highlands" has met with a severe
Utter to the
MiddleW.Campbelltorecarel,aaness Temple, Barrister-a -Law. Lun- arm. Fortunately the bone was not hurt ; and as be is doing
(*isogon QuitsCioitiP.iternoater tow; Etautgh: Ogle; well aiuce receiving the injury, we ttuat it will only occtigicil
511 pp. 89. I him fix &ors' c9ofunmaitimmistxruss Ow**