The Sun.
London, England, 1833-01-16 00:00:00

tuaries, holding from the co•nmune. The coin-'
munes build the churches, keep them in repair,
and vote the money for these purposes. The in-
habitants of the commune of Clichy, in the
month of February, 1832, elected a Cure of their
own particular views, which gave rise to com-
plaints on the part of the Archbishop of Paris,
and it would seem that for nearly a year the
Archbishop was unsuccessful in his application ;
but at length the Government has pronounced
in his favour. The Temps observes, that the
decision of the Ministry amounts to an inter-
ference with the rights of the commune :
" If (says that Journal) the Ministry maintain that•the
sect which is pos-easion of a Church ought to possess it
for ever, this would be transferring tit the clergy the pro-
perty of the e lifices, and burdening the c,trnmones with
all the burdens of that property, without affording to
them the benefi:s of it. The consequences of the Minis-
terial act of the llth January are of the highest imret-
ance. The Catholic religion would then become much
more than the religion of the Stec—much more than the
dominant religion; it would be the religion to which all
France would be astricted (religion obligele). If the edi-
fices, of which the Catholic religion has the usufruct,
cannot rec Ave another destination, the country is placed
in a state of vassalage to Catholicism. Catholicism might
decrease, and lose its influence, while the Church of the
Commune, the Vestry of the commune, and consequently
the salary attached to the functions of the parish-clerk,
would still belong- to it; it might be dead in the convic-
tions of the people, while it would preserve its altars, its
wealth, its privilege. Yet if the Church is the property
of the commune, it is in order that it may dispose of it as
it may suit the majority of the inhabitants. The coin
inane of Clichy had interpreted the law in that sense ; it
believed itself protected by the Charta. The Ministry
thought otherwise. The proceedings of the diocesan au-
thority have had more influence than the tights conse-
crated by the Constitution of 1830. Let not the inhabi-
tants of Clichy fear to denounce this invasion of their
rights to the Charta; it has sworn to defend the Charta,
ind not to violate it."

It is curious that the consequence which is
put by way of supposition as the height of
absurdity, is the state of :things which actually
exists in Ireland, and which it is intended to
perpetuate. The French revolt against the first
attempt to continue a Church to a particular
religion, after the people have gone over to
another. But in Ireland, the Catholic people
build and repair churches for a pastor without a
flock ! In France, we have no doubt some law
will be enacted for determining when a Church
shall pass from one religion to another—whether
this shall take place on a mere majority of
the inhabitants changing their belief, or some
greater proportion. In Ireland, however, we
shall no doubt continue to have Catholic flocks
and Protestant Clergy. It does not, however,
require the gift of prophecy to foretell that this
state of things must have an end. Reason
points out the simple expedient of giving the
Church to the ministers of the religion of the
majority of the people, leaving the minority to
provide instruction for themselves. Where the
Protestants form the majority, let them have the
church, and the State allowance for a clergy-
man ; and where the Catholics, or Presbyterians,
or Methodists form the majority, let them in
like manner have the church, and the Sta,e
allowance for a minister. Every other plan of
settling this matter will be productive of heart-
burnings and discontent. Ascendancy and reli-
gious freedom are irreconcilable with each other.
An Episcopalian may be a very good man, but
it is not good that his belief should entitle him
to any advantage over others, equally conscien-
tious adherents of their religion.—Morn. Chron.
The King of Holland is, it seems, encouraged
by Russia to hold out against France and Eng-
land, thereby sacrificing the interests of the
Dutch to a vain hope of family aggrandise-
ment. In like manner, the Turkish Sultan is
encouraged by Russia to refuse all terms with
the Pacha of Egypt, who, according to advices
which we have received from Alexandria, has
again defeated him at Kronia, and has made the
way to Constantinople open to him. Russia
wishes to take Turkey under her protection, as
she took Poland ; and, in the meantime, she
wishes to keep open the Dutch and Belgian
question, that site may have scope in the East
for her intrigues. But it is to be hoped that
France and England, and even Austria, are Suf-
ficiently alive to the designs of Russia to render
it improbable for her to succeed in them. If
the King of Prussia were even inclined to yield
somewhat to his relation the Emperor of Rus-
sia, the policy of Prussia enjoins a strict adherence
to the rules of prudence. We fear nothing from
Prussia. France and England ought at once to
bring that obstinate old fool, the King of Hol-
land, to his senses, and to act without reference

to Russia, holding that power at its true value
We trust that the appointment of Marshal
Maison to the Coma of St. Petersburg!), may
be taken as an indication of the low estimate in
which France holds the empire of the Czar ;
and that the continuance of a good understand-
ing between France and Eugland,will effectually
baffle the schemes of a barbarous power, formi-
dable only from the feebleness or misconduct of the
enemies with which it has had hitherto to contend.
Among our extracts from French papers will he
found some sensible observations of the Journal
des Debats on the wretched policy of the King
of Holland. There is as much danger from
treating such a Prince with too much respect,
as from precipitancy in more serious matters.
He has already experienced too much conside-
ration ; and it would be rashness to allow the
affairs of Europe to remain embroiled longer,
because it is the will of his Dutch Majesty that
they should be so. Why should this Ruler be
allowed to close the Scheldt against the ships of
all nations ? We trust the Governments of
France and England will resent this encroach-
ment. If he has taken this step at the instiga-
tion of Russia, in the hope of a general war
being the result, Russia will be disappointed.
There will be no general war. Russia can be
of no service to Holland ; and the Dutch will
one day waken to a sense of the folly of having
placed their hopes in a Power which has been so
uraccountably over-rated, and which is utterly
without the means of producing any impression
on the west of Europe.—Morning Chronicle.
Notwithstanding the professions of retrench-
ment, we never hear, even in the present era of
Reform, of a sinecure becoming vacant, that we
do not, eo instanti, hear of some persons being
named as qualified to fill it. Scarcely has the
sinecure dignity of constable of the Round
Tower of Windsor, which costs the nation about
1,2001. a year, been disposed of to a new in-
cumbent, who will have his vested rights to plead
in defence of the expensive incumbrance, than a
new opportunity for carrying into effect the re-
trenching principle occurs, and is, as far as we
can learn, about to be evaded. The canon-re-
sidentiaryship of the Cathedral of St. Paul, just
become vacant by the death of Dr. Hughes, has
been truly described to be as near as possible a
sinecure office, having a salary of between
74',000/. and 3,0001. per annum—an income
that, if properly distributed, would decently sup-
port a group of working clergymen in number
equal to the Apostles, and afford them more of
the comforts of this life than the Apostles ever