The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-05 00:00:00

CLEURCH-RATES ABOLITION BILL.

Sir W. CLAY proposed tile second reading of this
bill, which was, except iu one particular, the same as
that he introduced 1E44 session, and which was read a
second time. This was a question bearing more on civil
and religious liberty than on the amount of pecuniary
relief involved. After referring to hie former arguments
in support of the bill of last session, he said he thought the
arguments in favour end against it had been exhausted,
and that it was beyend the reach of human intellect to
diecever anything new to be said upon it. The recent
decision in the House of Lords in the Braintree case
had altered the aspect of this question by deciding that
a good rate could only be made by the consent of a ma-
jority of the rate-payers. The law was, therefore, vir-
tually abolished, and iu many towns since that decision
a church-rate had been refused. In many places the rate
was submitted to, but sooner or later the levying of a
rate in those places would be contested, and those ill-
' feelings end heart-burnings that had existed in other places
would be the inevitable consequence. From a return cf
238 rural parishes, he found that in 109 the rate was
opposed, and in 129 it carried. Out of that num-
ber, in 99 cases the payment of the rate was refused.
In 66 instances where a rate was levied, only 23
places submitted to it, and 14 places where it was en-
forced. Therefore, out of 99 places where rates had
been agreed to, there were only 47 places where the
rate had been really paid. the hoe, member then
alluded to what had been attempted for a change of
the law, and said that be was right in assuming that
there was a large portion of the people who considered
the levying of church rates an injustice, and a con-
viction in the minds of all that the law could nct
remain in its present state. He considered the
change proposed by the hill of the Marquis of
Blandford, and also those by convocation, neither of
which he thought would have the desired effect, and
said that nothing would satisfy the public but the abo-
lition of church rates. Having referred to the heads of
the bill, he said that the cry raised of the Church of
Eog'and being the national Church he looked upon as
idle words, because that Church was not empowered,
in a national sense, in any way to levy a tax on those
who differed from her. It was not a national Church
iu the sense of the word that there was no other Church
in the country. If the Government admitted of ne other
form of religion it would justify the Church in deriving her
revenue by force from all those who were not her mem-
bers, bet not otherwise. The Church of England was
a great and venerable institution of the country— dear
to the. people for many reasons, and she bad been re-
spected through ninny ages. The hou. member next
proceeded to remark on the statements of the opponents
of the bill, that if the church-rate were abolished, there
would be no means of keeping up the fabrics,
which be combated, and read a statement show-
ing the large sums that had been spent in
building churches from the voluntary contributions of
her members. The Church of England was one of the
richest ecclesiastical corporations in existence, and pro-
bably her members were the richest class of any. If the
members of that church mild not maintain the fabrics
th it had been handed down to them by their forefathers,
by contribu, ins a small sum to maintain them, but must
firm, a paltry contribution from those wtna never entered
within the walls of that Church, then, Churchman as he
was, he felt that the Christi of England was unworthy
to exist, if she had but so slight a hold on the feelings
and affections of the people. (Hear.) Tne hon. gentle-
man referred to the opinion Lord John Russell en
church rates, which he enunciated 'n a speech he t
session, and in which he expressed his fears that an
injury would be done to the Church by the abolition
of church rates, and cautioried the house against any
great changes. He (Mr. Clay) thought these words
of caution were unnecessary, because they had been
used en all occasions whi n any great change was
about to he made, such as during the discussion of
the repeal of the Test and Corporation Act,
Catholic emancipation, free trade, &c , yet 'the
conatituVon never rested on a firmer basis than now,
nor was the country ever in, re prosperous. (Hear,
hear.)
The motion having been seconded,

Lord J. MANNERS moved the second reading that
day six months. Ile considered the bill before the
house did not merit the approbation and support of the
hou=e for the remedy of the grievance complained of,
and he based his opposition to it upon the fullest and
broadest acknowledgment of the grievance that bad been
stated to exist by the hon. mover of the second reading
of the bill. There was nothing in the bill or the
preamble making reference to the grievance complained
of, whilst its enacting powers would impose a real
grievance on all churchmen. (Hear.) The bill pro.
posed to make provision in lieu of church rates, and he
took provision to mean something that should exist ;
but it was impossible to call voluntary contributions a
thing on which to depend. The grievance complained
of in the continuance et this law was no greater, if so
great, than that which existed in reference to the
support of the other institutions of the country.
The noble lord then examined the clauses of the bill,
and in the course of his remarks said, that of the
700,0001. levied for church rates, 600,0001. were paid
by Churchmen. He looked upon this bill as one more
applicable to populous towns than to rural parishes.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

CRIMINAL COURT.--(This Day.)

(Before Lord Chief Justice Jervis.)

William Griffiths, 34, was indicted for feloniously as-
saulting and wounding Alfred Mills with intent to
murder him. In other counts his intent was said to be
to dO bodily injury to the prosecutor dangerous to Me,
The Lord Chief Justice having summed up, the jury
found the prisoner guilty of wounding the prosecutor
with intent to do him grievous bodily harm, and he was
senteneed to be transported fur life.

THIRD COURT.
(Before the Common Sergeant.)

Alfred Steinbourne, 20, engineer, was indicted for
burglary, in the dwelling house of Sir Henry Mugger-
idge, and stealing a watch, gold chain, and two coats,
valued at 201.

It appeared that the house of the prosecut )r at
Streatham was broken into upon the night of the 24th
of Jan., and the goods in question stolen, and prisoner
was traced pawning the property a part of the next day.
The jury folind hi n guilty, and he was sentenced to
12 months' and hard labour.

REPEAL OF OBSOLETE OATHS.—A bill endorsed with
the names of Mr. Fitzroy, Mr. T. Milner Gibson, Mr.
Raikes, and Mr. T. S. Duncorobe, enacts that hencefor-
ward the oath of abjuration and the assurance set forth
in the act 6th George 11., cap. 53, or in any previous
act, and the affirmation in lieu thereof prescrileed for
Quakers and Moraviane, shall not require to be taken or
subscribed on any occasion or for any purpose whai so-
ever. This act will embrace the whole of her Majesty's
dominions. The preamble, as the ground for passing
the present bill, recites the undeniable fact that " there
has not been for many year any descendant of the per-
son wbo pretended to be Prince of Wales during the
life of the late King James 11., and since his decease
pretended to be and took upon himself the style and
title of King of England by the name of James III."
THAMES TUNNEL COMPANY.—The annual meeting of
the shareholders of this company was held yesterday at
Radley's Hotel, New Bridge-street ; B. Hawes, Esq.,
in the chair. From the report for the year ending Dee.
31, it appeared that the receipts for the year, from va-
rious sources, amounted to 6,0691. Os. 9(1., and the ex-
penditure to 3,6301. 14s. id. ; there had been paid to
the Government, 1,8641. 12a. 2d., and there remained
in hand 5731. 14s. 6d. The chairman said there was no
money for shareholders at present, and that hopes were
entertained that some useful scheme would be projected
to render the property a means of making them some
return. There bad been proposals for the tunnel being
made the medium by which the railways, north and
south of the metropolis, might be tied together. The
report was then adopted. A shareholder mentioned
that a scheme for using the Regent's Canal and the
Tunnel had been favourably reported by the committee
of the House of Commons. The proceedings then ter-
, valuated in the usual manner.