The Sun.
London, England, 1834-07-21 00:00:00

LONDON,
MONDAY EVENING, JULY 21, 1834,

The Poor Laws' Amendment Bill is to be read a
second time this evening in the Lords, and the Coer-
cion Bill in the Commons. It is confidently expected
that both will pass rapidly through their remaining
stages, notwithstanding the factious, but bootless,
opposition of certain disappointed parties. Ministers
have only to act firmly to obtain the support of all
good men ; and we feel assured that they will carry
through such measures as they deem beneficial to the
great interests of the country, regardless of faction on
the one hand, and " mortified vanity" on the other.

Mr. O'CONNELL has given notice of an amend-
ment, which stands for this evening, on the House
going into Committee on the Irish Tithe Bill, to the
effect that any funds raised in lieu of tithes, after pro-
viding for the Protestant clergy, shall be appropriated

in such manner as Parliament shall direct. He would act
a much more candid part if he were to state distinctly
what his object is, and without any manoeuvring or quib-
bling, move at once that these funds, or part of them, shall
be applied to the payment of the Irish Catholic clergy.
This would be a tangible practical measure, whereas
the other would only affirm an abstract proposition, on
which the majority of the House have made up their
minds, and about which there could be no doubt
whenever they are called on to carry it into effect. As
a matter of justice and policy, there can hardly be a
difference of opinion on this question.--Even one of
the stanchest friends of the Protestant Church, and

he determined opponent of Catholic Emancipation,

the Duke of RICHMOND, has expressed his opinion
of the expediency and justice of such a measure,
and but for the outcry that would be raised by certain
of the Tories, and re-echoed by the bigotted portion
of the community, against such a proposition on the
part of the Government, we verily believe they would
at once carry it into effect. It, however, has only to
be fairly stated and canvassed, in order to meet the
approbation of every impartial and thinking mind.
Let it be brought forward in season and out of season
—let the public attention be kept alive on the sub-
ject, and in a short time the necessity and justice
of the measure, will overcome all scruples of con-
science, and all the rancour of political hostility. In
Great Britain, in France, in Switzerland, and we be-

lieve in every country where the clergy are paid by the
State, or out of church property, the principle is re-
cognized and acted upon. Ireland is the only excep-
tion to the general rule, and Ireland, as might have
been expected, is ever discontented. The sys-
tem of upholding a Protestant church in a country
where only one in fourteen belongs to that church,
has had the most baneful effects on the minds
of the people—it has encouraged the most vio-
lent hostility between the two sects, and hos-

tility, too, to British Government, and while it remains,
will rob of half its value every measure, however
beneficial and just, which the legislature may pass for
the pacification of that country. How can it be
otherwise, when we consider the poverty of the people,
and the enormous sum, as compared with their means,
which they have to raise as a provision for the Catholic
clergy ? The country contains 2,436 parishes, and if
we reckon the number of Catholic priests at 2,000
(which we believe is under the mark), with an average
income of 1001. a year each, we have no less than
200,0001. a year levied on the Catholics for the main-
tenance of their clergy. A great part of this falls on
the poorer classes, and at every baptism, marriage, or
funeral, the payments which they are compelled to make
for the performance of religious rites, naturally excites
and keeps alive hostility to the dominant church and to
the Government that protects it. We advocate such
a measure, not from any regard for the Catholic religion,
but because we are firmly convinced that in place of
increasing, it would diminish its influence, and above all,
because it would contribute more than all other measures
together to restore peace to Ireland, and cement the
Union of the two countries. There is no parallel
between the Dissenters of England and the Catholics
of Ireland on this point. The Dissenters are divided
into a hundred different sects—they are constantly

varying and never had any claim on Church property.
The Catholics form one undivided body, and at one
time possessed the tithes for the very reason that pro-
vision should be made for the Catholic clergy of Ireland
now, because they formed the great majority of the
people. If there were as many Catholics in Great
Britain as Dissenters, does any one suppose for a
moment that they would not in one Session make good
their claims ?

Mr. E. STANLEY, the liberal Member for Cheshire,
is appointed Under Secretary of State for the Home
Department in place of Lord Ho WICK, who has re-
signed. This is an excellent appointment.

The following is the Irish Coercion Bill brought
into the Commons by Lord ALTHORP on Friday
night. It will be seen that it is greatly modified. "We
sincerely trust, however, that in consequence of the
liberal policy to be pursued by Government there will
be no future occasion for any more Coercion Bills for
Ireland :

A RILL TO CONTINUE, UNDER CERTAIN MODIFCATIONS, FOR A
LIMITED TIME, AN ACT OF THE THIRD YEAR OF HIS PRESENT
MAJESTY, FOR THE MORE EFFECTUAL SUPPRESSION OF LOCAL

DISTURBANCES AND DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS IN IRELAND.
[Note.—The Words printed in italics are proposed to be inserted

in the Committee.]

Whereas an Act was passed in the third year of his present
Majesty, intituled, " An Act for the more effectual Suppression of
Local Disturbances and dangerous Associations in Ireland," which
said recited Act was to continue in force until the first clay of
August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four :
And whereas it is expedient that the said recited Act should,
under certain modifications, be further continued for one year ;
Be it therefore enacted, by the King's most excellent Majesty,
by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and tem-
poral, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by
the authority of the same, that the said recited Act, except such
parts thereof as are hereby repealed, shall be and the same is
hereby further continued, and shall be in force until the first day of
August one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.

And whereas the said recited Act contains certain enactments
and provisions to authorize the Lord Lieutenant or other Chief
Governor or Governors of Ireland to prohibit or suppress the meet-
ing of any association, assembly or body of persons in Ireland,
which he or they shall deem to be dangerous to the public peace or
safety, or inconsistent with the due administration of the law, and to
prohibit any adjourned, renewed, or otherwise continued meeting
of the same or any part thereof, and touching the suppression and
dispersion of any such meeting, and the punishment of persons pre-
sent thereat, and certain other enactments and provisions to autho-
rize the holding of Courtsmartial, and for constituting and appoint-
ing such Courtsmartial, and for the trial of certain persons before
such Courtsmartial, and for regulating the proceedings of such
Courtsmartial, and for carrying into execution the sentences of such
Courtsmartial: and whereas it is expedient that all such enactments
and provisions in the said recited Act should be repealed ; be it
further enacted, that all such enactments and provisions in the said
recited Act be and the same are hereby repealed.

The Asia, 84 ; Donegal, 78, and Alfred, 52, are
all to be re-commissioned. Sir WILLIAM MONTAGUE
will have the first, Sir Lucius CUItTIs the second,
and Captain PEYTON the third.

We:have received Paris papers of Saturday, together
with private communications on the present aspect of
affairs in Spain. The changes which have taken place
in the French cabinet, by the resignation of Marshal
SOULT, who has been succeeded as Minister of War
by Marshal GERARD, have caused a good deal of
.onjecture as to the real cause of such a proceeding ;
for the French public seem to think that ill health (the
ostensible motive) had little to do with the affair.
We believe that the upshot of the break-up was, that
the Ex-Minister SOULT—a brave, but obstinate, proud
man—saw that there was no hope of coming to any
terms with his colleagues on the subject of a standing
army. Rumour states that SOULT hail declared a
standing army of 400,000 effective men, necessary for
the protection of France ; and that rather than yield to
the remonstrances of his colleagues, who endeavoured
to persuade him that the Chambers would never agree
to such a proposition, he resigned. Marshal GERARD
is a brave officer ; but whether he possesses the same
talents for public business as his predecessor, is yet

uncertain.
M. JAUGE the banker has been committed for
trial, and, from what has transpired since last Thurs-
day, we are led to think that he stands in a very dan-
gerous position. His examination took place before
the Juge Instruction, by whom his offence was stated
as coming under several articles of the Penal Code.
If it can be shown that his intention in raising the
loan in favour of the-Usurper CARLOS, was to embroil
France in a war with any foreign power, he will un-
doubtedly suffer death.
In Spain all is- consternation, conjecture, and un-
certainty. Don CARLOS, whose arrival there is still
a mystery, is adopting every means in his power to
involve the kingdom in a state of civil war. Should
he reach Madrid before the Cortes shall have assembled
—which we are glad to hear is all but impossible—
there is every reason to fear that much blood may be
shed, and that the peace. of Spain may be seriously
disturbed. rut the assembling of the Cortes, who
are pledged to support the QUEEN'S Government, and
who are themselves men of liberal principles, will
quickly dispel the delusive dreams of the Royal auto-
maton of the Holy Alliance.
We have heard on good authority, that the cause
of Don CARLOS'S speedy departure from London,
was the return of a courier from*Vienna, who, in answer
to a message from the royal exile to the heads of the
Holy Alliance, brought back the assurance of these
despots, that they would recognize him as King of
Spain, on his appearance in that country. We do not
know of ourselves whether this is quite correct, but we
believe it to be mainly so. We have long suspected
the design of
.these despots was to keep alive the
dissensions in Portugal and Spain, in order
to amuse France and England, whilst they, unper-
ceived, were working the downfall of our Eastern
allies, and reducing to an Austrian province the federal
states of Switzerland. Should they succeed in kindling
the flames of civil war in Spain, they expect to effect
their fell purposes without encountering the gleam of
a hostile sword-blade ; as the outcry so near home
would ring too loudly in the ears of the Courts of Ver-
sailles and St. James's, to allow them to mark groans
wafted from the banks of the Bosphorus. But though it
would have been contrary to the laws of England to have
seized Don CARLOS, when in this country, or even to
have put any restraint on his movements ; the assem-
bled Sovereigns at Vienna will find that England and
France see through their machinations, and will defeat
them. The members of the Quadripartite Alliance will
not suffer the liberties of Spain to be trampled upon ;
and we—as one of them—are bound promptly to inter-
fere, and put an end to the unnatural and sanguinary
struggle. We know the difficulties that the British Go-
vernment has hitherto had to contend with, owing to the
under-plottings of the Duke of WELLINGTON and the
Tories ; but a great part of that is removed, now that
the country no longer dreads a war, if necessary to
the support of liberal principles abroad. We may
love peace ; but we are not to cherish it at the ex-
pense of honour.
We are happy to see that the appearance of. the
British flag in the Mediterranean: has not been without
its proper effect on the Northern Powers ; and" the