The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-17 00:00:00

M.P.'S AND THE LATE CHURCH-RATE
DIVISION.

Amongst the members who were the means of
sending up the Church-rate Abolition Bill to the
Lords by a reduced majority was Col. Smyth, ono
of the members for the city of York, who appears
to have so far yielded to the strong pressure put
upon him by influential supporters of the High
Church school as to change his vote from "aye" to
to "no." The event has caused much indignation
amongst the Liberal supporters of Col. Smyth at the
last election, some of whom have caused the annexed
hand-bill to be widely posted throughout the city :

" COL. SMYTIi AND CHIJRCII:RATES.

" Electors and Citizens of York,—You have this
year declared by an immense majority your desire
that church-rates should be abolished. Your peti-
tion against church-rates, presented to the House of
Commons, was signed by 2,B3o—that to the House
of Lords by 3,046—by Churchmen as well as Dis-
senters.
" For some years past Col. Smyth has either
abstained from voting at all, or else has voted in
favour of the. Abolition Bill; but now, in the face of
electionh e
hour and
of
Compromise o f areformed
is
this unmistakable expression of public opinion—in
thepar
Parliament—now,
a m
c,prospectlt_ onfoa general w
past, he turns round and records his vote against
the Abolition Bill.
Col. Smyth wishes 'to promote the spread of
the spirit of Christian association between all men.'
Does ho think that the way to effect this is by
continuing this unjust and miserable tax, which
compels men to pay for the support of a system of
religion in which they have no part, and from which
they may conscientiously dissent ? Does he think
that the Church to which 1 b elougs gains either
honour or poWer by its •
persistence in a system. of
legal.pluncler; or that in laying hands forcibly upon
property and upon money for the support of its own
cstahlishment it, is acting in accordance with the
spirit and with the genius of Christianity.
" Let Col. Smyth be assured that the citizens of
York are not so faithless to the great principles of
religious liberty as to view this retrograde step
with indifference ; whatever pressure may have
been brought to bear by a small knot of his own
supporters, let him remember that there is a pres-
sure even stronger than this, and moue which must
eventually be successful—the pressure of a deter-
mined and an intelligent public opinion.
" York, May 12." " AN ELECTOR.

CALEDONIAN FANCY DRESS BALL—This annual
festival, in aid of the joint funds of the Caledonian Asylum
and the Scottish Hospital, is fixed to take place on Monday,
the 25th of June, at Willis's Rooms. Already several
ladies of the highest rank connected with Scotland have
sent in their names as patronesses, and the untiring trea-
surer, Sir Charles Forbes, will, as usual, personally under.
take the an-agements fo the ball.

BENSON'S WATCHES)
" Perfection of mechanism."--Morning Post.
Gold
Silver 2to 50 guineas.
Send 2 stamps for Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet, descrip-
tive of every construction of watch now made, with their
prices.
Watches sent to all parts of the kingdom tree by post. or to
India and the Colonies for ss. extra.
33 and 34, Ludgate-hill, London, E.C. Established 1749.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lass ~e, Mr. J. B. Buekstone.
THIS EVENING, will be performed THE FAMILY
SECRET. Messrs. Chippendale, Howe, W. Farren, Villiers,
Buckstone, Mrs. B. White, Mrs. Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Wilkins,
and Miss Aniy Sedvrick.
Followed by SOMEBODY ELSE. Mr. C. Cogblan, Miss
Ida Sumner, Miss Brennan.
Alter which, a new lain, romance, THE PILGRIM OF
LOVE•

ROT AL PRINCES S'S THEATRE.-
Lassee, Mr. A. Harris.
THIS EVENING, OTHELLO. Mr. Phelps.
To conclude with the extravaganza of THE SYLPHIDE.
Bliss C. Leclercq, Miss Louise Keeley, Miss Helen Howard,
Miss Rose Leclercq, Mr. Shore, Mr. Baker, and Mr. Frank
DI tthews,