The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-12 00:00:00

ME2ROPOLITAN GOSSlP—Satarilai,

At the time I write great uncertainty exists 0.4 ti) • 1 e
intentions of the Government with regard to the exact course
which they will take. That they will resist the most important
of the Lords' amendments there is no doubt. The real
question is, whether they will accept the others ? I have
reason to know that it was the current opinion of some
eminent Conservative peers this morning that Ministers
had decided to reject the amendments en bloc, without
discussing them, on the ground that the bill had been so
radically and fundamentally altered by their lordships,
that it was lost time and labour to consider it. In fact, so
general was this belief among the Opposition members of
the Upper House after Lord Granville's distinct intima-
tion that the Government must now reserve to itself the
right to deal with the whole amendments, that Lord Col-
ville, the Conservative whip, issued a circular begging
the attendance of the Conservative peers, not only on
Monday, but on Monday week, when the bill would
be sent back to their lordships from the Lower House. Of
course this would be impossible if the amendments are
discussed in detail. That would occupy at least three,
probably four, nights ; and as the bill will not reach the
Commons until Thursday, it would not return to the Lords
until the following Thursday, instead of Monday, as Lord
Colville's circular supposes.
But while it was the general impression in the Upper
House that the Government would decline to discuss the
amendments, the contrary impression prevailed in the
Lower House last night. It was there stated as probable
that a very long discussion would take place, and the
officials who had charge of various measures of public, but
non-political, importance were warned to make their
arrangements accordingly. At that time it is probable
that Lord Granville's significant remark was not
known in the Lower House. That remark would cer-
tainly imply the first course, and even independent
journals like the Saturday Review affirm that it is the only
one open to Ministers. But it was not to be expected
that Ministers would make any explicit statement until
after the Cabinet Corincilheld to-day, and which is sitting
as I write. Seldom has a Cabinet met at a more anxious
crisis.

The point to be decided by the Council, impor-
tant though it is, is only a minor one. It will not affect
the ultimate event, the rejection of the bill by the Lords.
The Marquis of Salisbury has determined that he will not
give way upon the all-important point of the
glebes ; and, as the Government are doubly and
trebly pledged not to give way, there can be
but one result, the loss of the bill and the loss of the
session so far as this measure is concerned, with the far
more serious consequences of political agitation through.
out the kingdom prior to an autumn session. Already
arrangements have been made for demonstrations of akind
that no one can misinterpret. In the first place, the
National Reform Union (a very different body from the
Reform League), whose resuscitation did more than
anything to frighten the Conservative party into
household suffrage, will hold a meeting in London
on Wednesday to protest against the policy of
the House of Lords. Meetings have been arranged for
in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Brad-
ford, and other large towns ; and Ministers have only to
give the word, and the machinery of the trades unions
would be put in operation in order to " demonstrate."
Hitherto the country has remained quiet because it felt
that it had a House of Commons which fairly represented
it ; but now that this assembly has been set at naught by
the House of Lords, it becomes necessary for the nation
to support its own chamber. In fact, the Lords have
appealed to the nation, and Ministers reply, " Unto the
nation shalt thou go."
Very little importance is attached to the meeting of
Irish Conservative peers to-day at the Duke of Aber-
corn's. From sixty to seventy peers were present, and
all information was rigidly refused. The anticipated
meeting of bishops at Lambeth is not to take place.
It is rumoured that Murphy will be present at the
Protestant demonstration this afternoon on Blackheath.
If so, there will probably be a row.
Actions for libel are flying about on all hands. Mr.
Grenville Murray has attacked the John Bull, which was
enterprising and valorous enough to give the first narra-
tive of the great horsewhipping case. The same person
has threatened the Times. The Standard to-day has to
ask pardon of Mr. Inman, the well-known shipping agent,
of Liverpool ; and the haturdayßeview has to insert some-
thing very like an apology to Mr. Digby Seymour for a
very unflattering article in that paper inserted with regard
to the learned gentleman's candidature at Nottingham.
We are having a brilliant day, and the Cobden Club,
which numbers more than 100 M.P's., and a large
number of literary men, will enjoy themselves
right well at Greenwich this afternoon. The
Club have republished, in the form of a pamphlet,
Sir Louis Malet's very able article on Cobden,
which appeared some time ago in the North British Review.
That review, by the way, has just reached its centenary,
i.e., its hundredth number ; and the editor annon,,,:es a
great improvement in future numbers—short n.cices of
new books such as appear in the British Q.arterly and the
London Quarterly. As I write, Mr. vralter Thornbury's
new novel, " The Vicar's Cour"iPy" reaches me, and I
have little doubt but that ;s will be worthy of the writer's
high reputation.
The rumour thsi i'rances Countess of Waldegrave has
become the prairietor of the Morning Post, which in a
former letterl mentioned without confirming, is, I am
able to ~ate, positively untrue. Equally untrue is the
re,....,rt that Mr. Childers has purchased that paper.
, The Four-in-Hand Club is becoming quite an institu-
tion. No fewer than fourteen drags, with their
quadruple teams, were gathered together at Charing-cross
this morning, and then proceeded down Parliament-
street. I suppose that their noble occupants were going
to witness the weekly slaughter of pigeons at Hurling-
ham.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

TIFF: IRISH CHURCH BILL.

The Irish Church Bill continues to give active
employment to speculative politicians. Mr. John
Ball writes to the Times declaring that it is impos-
ec.ble to overrate the importance of carrying the
Ministerial measure this session. He holds
it, however, impossible to carry it without
compromise, and the Duke of Cleveland's amendment
rffords the most favourable opportunity for a conci-
lial-ory arrangement. The vital point at issue for
the Irish Boman Catholics is the removal of the
badge of conquest ; but no settlement will find favour
with them which does not place them on perfect
equality with the rest of their countrymen. The
Bev. William Arthur, late President of the Wesleyan
Con ferenee, writes to the Doily News, on the other hand,
and is lost in wonder at the lan e-uage used by the Lords
about concurrent endowment, and thinks that every
week that the con troversy about th e Irish Church is pro-
longod shortens the le ise of the Church of England.
The sooner the question is settled the better for all
tnt the lox-era of agitation and hasty changes.
Co:►currcnt en,lownent instead of being a
set lement , would lead _to the upsetting of
all Churches now endowed. ".A Liberal Peer of
Ireland" is displeased at the manner in which the
selection of the representative peerage of Ireland is
neingi:d. It has long, he says, been a sine qud non
that the twenty-eight representatives must be
selected from the Irish Protestant Conservative
section—not one-third of the whole body ; and this
increases the gulf bet.veen 'the Irish aristocracy and
people, by inducing young Irish patricians either to
secure an English seat or to adopt Conservative

)Olit:cs.

MEETINGS ON TEE IRISH CHURCH BILL.

Several great publi3 meetings in favour of the
Irish Church Bill have been arranged. The first of
series against the amendments of the Lords and
;lie policy of -concurrent endowment is to be
wl.l in St. James's Hall, London, on Wednes-
ne..t, by the National Ileforin
nider t:;e presidenq of Mr. S. Morley, M.P.
;'he Mayor of Leeds has summoned a public meeting
Tuesday evening, a deputation having waited
'llion him to request him to do so. The Mayor of
has convened a town's meeting for the same
lay, and a rep.C.sition to the same effect is in course
,f signature to the Mayor of Dewsbury. The work-
IV men of the metropolis are also making arrange-
,l,2nts for monster or ea-air demonstrations.

rAsTonAL A7D AND POLITICS.

" Cer:cal ra!tenng " is rither an ugly expression,
it is olie whichbest chlncterises the proceedings
of Me Church Pastoral Aid Society with reference
to the Rev. Philip Hains, the vicar of St. George's,
Wigan. Mr. thins is a Liberal, which certainly is
no reason why he should not be a clergyman. Mr.
Hams also advocates the disestablishment of the Irish
Church, in which we can see no very overpowering
reason why he should not have a curate. The vicar of
St. George's, moreover, does not altogether despair of
a Church under the voluntary system, in which want
of leaning on State endowments we confess we see
no cause for the withdrawal of the aid of a voluntary
association. The managers of the Church Pastoral
Aid Society, however, think differently. and they
have withdrawn from Mr. Thins the aid they for-
merly gave him towards the support of a curate.
They have done this, too, became Mr. Ihins
spoko in favour of Mr. Gladstone during his
contest in South Lancashire. Last Sep-
tember 'the rev. gentleman was informed that
if he continued to advocate the Liberal policy
the grant to his parish would be withheld.
Mr. Haim published the correspondence, and most
people thought that that would end the matter, and
that a society formed for the purpose of carrying on
the holy work of spreading the truths of religion
would not sink to misuse • its income for political
purposes. The society has, however, withdrawn its