The Sun.
London, England, 1834-06-04 00:00:00

not so urgent as the other, is still necessary,
in order to place that church on secure ground.
If there is sufficient church property (of which
we have no doubt) to maintain the clergy in
suitable dignity for their office, then the people
ought to be exempted from church fees of every
description. It is for the interest of the people,
therefore, and their representatives ought to
urge it on the Government, that such an in-
quiry should be instituted without delay. The
Bishop of London some time ago promised a
return of the value of all the livings in England
and Wales ; but such a return as he will give
will be of little or no use. Interested par-
ties are never to be trusted. Let us have a
return by disinterested laymen, and not merely
the amount of each living, but the state of edu-
cation, the number of schools, the sources from
which they are supported, and the proportionate
numbers of the respective sects. The com-
mittee on education, appointed last night, will
not be of much service without a more searching
inquiry than they can institute. Two such in-
quiries as we recommend are absolutely neces-
sary for placing the moral and religious educa-
tion of the people on a proper footing.
When we look at -the importance of these
subjects, and reflect that Mr. STANLEY and
the seceders are decidedly opposed to such
inquiries, we. may safely assert that their seces-
sion in the end will prove ,the greatest blessing
to the country. Let Earl GREY persevere,
steadfastly but cautiously, in the great principle
on which he took office, and carry reform into
every establishment, and he will not require
assistance either from Conservatives or Sece-
ders. The people will be his best supporters.

The decision come to by Ministers last night
on the question of the Polish refugees—a de-
cision come to in a prompt, unhesitating man-
ner, without being wrung from them as a mat-
ter of inexorable necessity—does credit to their
foresight, their liberality, and their straight-for-
wardness. It is satisfactory also, as being the
aest marked convincing proof we have yet had
of a united Cabinet. The incubus of Toryism
being removed from its chest, Government, it
is plain, now breathes freely, and is prepared
to put forth all its most useful energies. The
decision of last night, we repeat, is a favour-
able sign of its good intentions. It does not in-
volve merely a question of charity ; it is of a far
more comprehensive tendency ; it is a sanction
of the great principle of freedom—a blow struck
directly at the conduct of the northern despot ;
for if those who have suffered by his atrocious

tyranny are deemed worthy of the sympathy,
which is much, and of the assistance, which is
more, of the British Government, it is clear
that, in the estimation of that Government,
they have right on their side, consequently
their imperial oppressor can have nothing but
might to back his pretensions. It is thus we
would always wish to see a British Cabinet
act ; thus would we see them ever fore-
most to side with the victims of tyranny, and
mark their sense of the conduct of the tyrant.
Lord ALTHORP'S remark that, independently
of all charitable considerations, " the causes
which led to the sufferings of the Poles are
such as to excite very general and deep com-
miseration," was heard with the most marked
satisfaction by the house. And no wonder
It breathed a just and manly spirit---just
the sort of spirit that is best calculated to
strike dismay into the heart of the St. Peters-
burgh Cabinet. The Russian bear has been
growling long enough it is now high time that
the British lion should have his roar.

We are happy to learn that the committee
on the law of libel are pursuing their inquiries
with the best intentions to reduce that anoma-
lous code of inconsistency to a proper, fair,
and common-sense sort of standard. Hitherto

it was a mass of incomprehensible absurdity
and oppression. We see that in order
to make the improvement in the new bill
as complete as possible, the LORD CHAN-
CELLOR has been requested to attend the
Committee. This is wise, as it will save

time hereafter in the progress of the bill.
Mr. HUME too has been added to the Com-
mittee last night ; and the subject of his mo-
tion, with respect to the modification of
certain publications now subject to the
stamp duties, referred. While the Committee
are sitting, we think they ought to de-
vise some effective measures for suppressing
those twopenny publications, which are weekly
put forth to defraud the Stamp-office, and in-
jure those who pay stamps. It is manifestly
to tolerate a continued breach of the stamp
laws, merely because the present law is
not so framed as to reach those parties who
boast and prosper by their evasion of them.
If the law be not strong enough, let it be made
stronger ; or abolish the stamp duties on news-
papers altogether, and let honest people have
at least fair play. This is all they want, and
this they have a right to expect I

A committee, we see, is to be appointed to
investigate the causes of drunkenness, and de-
vise a remedy. The idea, though an amiable
one, is absurd, and can never be turned to any
useful, practical account. It savours much,
though in a different line, of Andrew-
Agnewism. As for investigating the causes
of drunkenness, what need is there of a com-
mittee to investigate anything of the sort ? The
cause is self-evident enough already—it is that
a man drinks more than his head will bear.
With regard to the remedy, the best we know of
is a glass of soda-water ; but if the committee
think they can suggest a better, they are wel-
come, though, as Lord ELDON would say,
"we doubt." Mr. HUGHES, in supporting
the motion, expatiated (on the authority of
Captain Ross) on the virtues of " congealed
ice" I This may be pleasant tipple at the
North Pole, where there is none else to be had,
but we fear it will not sit well on an Eng-
lish constitution. We should imagine that
even Mr. HUGHES himself would make a wry
face at it, as an after dinner beverage, when the