The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-03 00:00:00

LORD WRSTBURY.

Great things were expected of Lord Westbury in
the way of Cave-leader in the Upper House. But he
has disappointed expectation by " seeing the error of
his ways," and retiring from the proposed alliance.
The London correspondent of the Manchester
Guardian says of him :
`4 The perfectly impartial disdain with which he treats
the remonstrances and menaces of clubs and coteries is
infinitely amusing. He quite realises and accepts his
position, and talks and laughs about it with ineffable
complacency. When he sat down the other night after
uttering some sarcastic comments on the policy of his
Whig friends, one of them is said to have turned round to
him and audibly whispered, ' I say, don't you think as
their new man opposite does not seem to do very well,
there might be an opening in that quarter just now ? " I do
not see how a man could offer himself who would not con-
descend to ask for a character from his last place,' was the
scornful reply."

ARCHDEACON DENISON ON THE SITUATION.

The Archdeacon of Taunton is very irate. The
Standard, as we have already mentioned, has coun-
selled moderation. But the venerable Archdeacon
does not like this. He thinks it very sad that the
leading Conservative newspaper is giving way. It
is only (he pathetically declares) another instance of
the old truth that the heaviest blows inflicted upon
the Church are those from within. And then
waxing indignant, he exclaims, " Compromise in
politics is not very respectable ' • in religion
it is to dishonour God and to rob God."
In the course of his letter he gives his reasons
for asking the Lords to reject the bill. He declares
that the great functions of the House are to main-
tain principles and to prevent hasty legislation. If
they do not throw out the bill they will do neither,
they will allow to be taken from the Church "what
is her own inalienably by gift of God." Does Arch-
deacon Denison then think it right for the House to
set its appreciation of principles—for he must admit
there are other opinions than his own honestly formed
on the subject—against the principles unmistakeably
laid down by the country ? And does he consider
legislation hasty which has occupied the public mind
during two sessions; and on which two Parliaments
have pronounced their opinions ?
ANOTHER PEER ON THE IRISH CHURCH.

The unwillingness of most of the noble opponents
of the Irish Church Bill, who are not official, to
throw out the measure in the Lords, is very marked.
Every day gives evidence against that course being
taken. I'eer after peer has announced his intention
of allowing the passage of the bill. To the number
must now be added the Earl of Dartrey. He was
invited by the Defence Association of Monaghan to
join a deputation to London, for the purpose of
asking the Lords to reject the bill. His reply gives
the same reasons as those urged by the Marquis of
Lothian why the Upper House should not refuse to
endorse the policy of the House-of Commons
"1 think it would not be wise of the House of Lords:to
reject D. measure the principle of which has not only been
affirmed by large -majorities of the House of Commons in
two successive Parliaments, but alio has been submitted to
the deliberate judgment of the constituencies of the empire.
The answer to the appeal made to the country at the last
election is, in my opinion,•So decisive that the Houseuf
Lords cannot repeat the course which it took with respect
to the Suspensory Bill last year ; and if a division should
take place on the second reading, I must candidly state
that, hc wever much I may dislike the measure, I should
feel it my duty to give a vote in favour of it. I may also
add my decided opinion that no action of the House of
Lords can save the Irish Church ; if the measure was now
rejected it would be returned again next year, but with
terms more unfavourable to our interests than those
embodied in the present bill, and experiende chews that
ultimately the House of Lords must yield."
- -

It is stated that this letter, added to the coolness of
Lord Cairns in the same direction, and the general
feeling among the whilom " pillars of the . State
Church" that the bill ought to be allowed to become
law, has made the Monaghan Churchmen furious.