The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-16 00:00:00

more dangerous to the best interests of the em-
pire than in connection with the present assault
on Maynooth.

The /monthly report of the National Sunday
League is of an encouraging nature, since meetings,
it appears, have been held in various parts of the
metropolis, at which resolutions in favour of the
objects of the League have been unanimously, or
all but unanimously, passed. The publication of
a series of tracts, too, has been decided on—three,
indeed—including Lord STANLEY'S admirable
speech on the Sunday question-4--have already ap-
peared ; a number of pamphlets on the same sub-
ject have been gratuitously printed and distributed
by private individuals, and the Committee stand
pledged to greater and more persistent effort in
giving publicity to the objects and to the argu-
ments which may be adduced in favour of the
movement.

This is precisely what was wanted.. Sabba-
tism may fairly be regarded as a hideous incubus
that must disappear with day-light. The middle
classes and a portion of the lower have been
brought up in the observance of Sunday with a
superstitious and wholly unwarranted reverence—
as a day to be kept holy after the fashion in
which Saturday yeas observed by the Jews, under
peril of eternal destruction. Their minds need
disabusing of the myth which priestly and puri-
tanic domination have imposed on them, and to
do this effectually a true notion of what is really
obligatory with regard to the observance
of Sunday must be given them by means
of discussions at public meetings, and also of
tracts, those little messengers which often
find their way to understandings that might
otherwise have been closed to the evidence of
truth. The League must not deceive itself. The
work will be uphill work, and many months'
labour, hard and strenuous, may be required be-
fore .uccess is attained. The greater need the
League should be supported. We sincerely trust,
therefore, the contributions which have already
been received will be 'far exceeded during the
ensuing month, and that all who are desirous
of a rational observance of Sunday, tending to a
more general and acceptable worship of the
CREATOR, and the greatpr happiness of the
labouring population will do their best to coun-
tenance and further the movement.
While referring to the progress of the League,
it may not be amiss to notice the expressed
opinions of a few great authorities ou the ques-
tion, the greatest of all authorities, though, to
our thinking, His pronunciation against Sabbatism
was of the most decided nature, not being in-
cluded. LUTHER, we suppose, is somewhatjof an
authority among Protestant Dissenters. What
does be say on the Sabbath Question ? "As for
the Sabbath," says LUTHER, "there is no necessity
for its observance, and if we do observe it the rea-
son ought to be—not because MOSES commanded
it, but because nature likewise teaches us to give
ourselves from tins° to time a day's rest in order
that man and beast may recruit their strength."
Is LUTHER objected to? What says CALVIN? Having
pointed out that the Christian, though free, will
find it convenient to pray and rest at stated times,
CALVIN goes on to say, "In this way we get rid of
the trifling of the false prophets who in later
times instilled Jewish ideas into the people, alleging
that nothing was abrogated but what was cere-
monial in the Commandment (this they term in
their language the taxation of the seventh day),
while the moral part remains—viz., the observ-
ance of one day in seven. But this is nothing
else than to insult the Jews, by changing the day,
and yet mentally attributing to it the same sanc
tity, thus retaining the same typical distinction
of days as had place among the Jews ; and of
a truth we eee what profit they. have made
by such a doctrine. Those who cling to
their constitutions go thrice as far as the Jews in
the gross and carnal superstition of Sabbatisin."
Let us turn to CRANMER, and what is his teach-
ing ? Why, that "we Christian men are not
bound to the commandments of MOSES' law con-
cerning differences of times, days, and meats ;"
and in his visitation articles he requires the clergy
to teach the people that they would grievously
offend GOD if they abstained from working on
Sundays in harvest-time. LUTHER, CALVIN,
CRANMER, three great authorities with Protes-
tants, dead against Sabbatism ; while pious tracts
are in circulation among Protestant Nonconfor-
mists, distributing, prospectively, Sabbath-breakers
—i.e., people who take recreation on Sunday s—
into the hotter departments of what SHAIESPERE
calls " the everlasting bonfire !" Where shall
they go, it may fairly be retorted, who neglect
a Jewish observance equally as obligatory, and
hardly as Sabbatarians spend their Sunday more
painful ?

SUDDEN DEATH OF EARL COW u.—We deeply regret
t announce the sudden and premature death of the
above respected nobleman, eldest son of Viscount
F. rdwich. Tan melancholy event occurred at Mail,
stone, while the noble lord was on his way to his seat at
Wingham.
Tileie Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary honoured the establishment of
Mr. Hancock, of Bruton street, yesterday, with a visit.
The Earl and Countess of Stamford and Warrington
arrived in Hill street, on Monday evening, from Enville
Hall, Staffordshire.

Louisa Countess of St.afield and Captain Godfrey
Massy have arrived at Chapman's Rotel, CAvendish-
sqoare, for the season.

Field Marshal Viscount Harding° entertained his
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and a distin-
guished military party at dinner, on Monday evening, at
his residence in Great Stashepe-street. The guests
included his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-
Weimar, General Baron Smola, Count Karolyi, C dnnel
Wurnub (Austrian service), Captain Wissaik (Lust ian
service), General Knollys, Sir Henry Bentinck, General
Freeth, General Dupuis, Sir James SCarlett, Sir Charles
Yorke, Colonel North, Colonel Wetherell, Colonel
13-ownrigg, Colonel Mackenzie, Colonel Palliser, the
Equerry in Waiting on the Duke of Cambridge, and
Major Addison.
Vim OF HER MAJESTY AND PRINCE ALBERT TO THE
CHATHAM HOSPITALS —Yesterday morning intelligence
was received at Chatham garrison, by C Eden. that
her Majesty, accompanied by his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, would pay a visit to the sick and wounded at the
Chatham hospitals to-day. Her Majesty and suite will
leave Buckingham Palace this afternoon at two o'clock,
and proceeded to the Bricklayers' Arms station, from
which she will travel by special train, arriving at the
Stroud terminus of the North Kent Railway at half-pa-t
three o'clock. Orders have been issued by the command-
ant of the garrison for a guard of honour, composed of 1
captain, 2 subalterns, and 80 rank and file of the Royal
Marine Light Infantry, with their band and colours, to
receive her Majesty at the station. On the arrival of
the Royal party at Strood they will enter the Qaeen's
private carriages which have been sent from London for
that purpose, and proceed to the supplemental hospital
at Brompton Barracks, and on their arrival at the draw
bridge a Royal salute will be fired frOm the Spur-bat-
tery, and the Royal standard hoisted at Fort Amherst
*as a signal of her Majesty's approach. At Brampton a
guard of honour, composed of 100 men of the Royal
have derTedhetdbie-
.;ieacptipvesrsorthdeNsloinuetrhs.,Ewasiltlerraecßeiavielwhaeyr Majesty.
usual preparations to be made for the reception of her,
Majesty and the Prince.
RUMOURED ABDICATION or KING LEOPOLD.—The
Belgiati journals are openly alluding to the abdication
of his Belgian Majesty. Is it a canard? Very likely.
Yet there are circumstances that lend to the rumour a
certain air of probability. His Majesty is Protestant,
and u!tratnonta.ne reaction is dominant and rabid in
Belgium. The Duke of Brabant, the heir apparent, is
.a bigoted Roman. Catholic, and bas lately been courting
public attention to an unusual degree. If Leopold re-
si,oe the Crown of Belgium to young and less tolerant
hands, the friends of freedom in Europe may have rea-
son to regret his Majesty's abdication. The proscribed
will see the rights of refuge circumscribed still more
stringently, , and the Belgian people will feel more sen-
sibly the pestilent rule of Jesuitism.—Morning Adm.-
,tiser.

The large amount of dollars brought by the Mexican
packet, and which had been on the market for several
days, were disposed of yesterday at 60d. per ounce,
ciei,,fiy_for shipment to China. This price is a decline of
ifomthat realised for the last arrival.