The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-10 00:00:00

NEVO.i. PAPE h
—THE RECORDER OF HULL 0 7-,511.01-
kevx
PROGRESS.
• ??7
Upon the opening of the sessions pt 44-mt.&
s
Friday, Mr. S. Warren, Q.C. the ltecor\i&laiiV
course of his charge to the jury, said :—Agate then. S
dawn of a new year is upon us, a mournful group
assembled in this sad hall for the administration of
criminal justice; to detect and punish such vice, as
the law permits us to deal with, under the name of
crime. Not only do we see. the opening of a new
but also of a new decennial period. How little
could the most penetrating sagacity have foreseen
in the opening of 1850 our condition at the opening
of 1860; and who at this moment can even guess
what will be our position at the opening of 1870?
The wisest and most experienced among us may
look never so closely and comprehensively at the
present aspect of things, and scan the causes, or
apparent causes of social change now in operation
—and yet will own himself totally in the dark con-
cerning the future, which is nevertheless at this
moment open before the eye of the Almighty. Ile
requires us in the meantime to obey Him, by work-
ing while it is day, since the night—our night—
coineth, in which no man can work. And do we
think, gentlemen, iliat we acquit ourselves in His
sight by simply exerting ourselves to deal justly—
whether severely or leniently—with the detected
offences of our erring fellow-creatures ? We have
a national, as well as an individual future; and
let us be thoroughly convinced that our future,
in both capacities, depends upon our conduct, in
both capacities—the neglect or observance of our
duties in both capacities--exactly as effect depends
upon cause. Gentlemen, we are, as a nation, ra-
pidly causing to disappear those sources of anxiety
which have long and reasonably disquieted all re-
flecting persons; I allude to that astounding cons
tentment with our insular insecurity which our
posterity will hardly believe when they read of,
and which has now disappeared before a sternly
awakened. sense of national spirit and duty, towards
the glorious and hallowed land we live in, and all
the tender and noble interests connected with it.
Every hour sees us steadily approaching a state of
impregnable strength and inaccessible security. So
to speak, half the battle is already won ; and when
once our old English spirit has been roused, and
enlightened by English good sense and intellect,
the whole battle will have been won ; and fear of
invasion will have melted into dreamy recollections
of a doubtful and apprehensive past. But when we
are thus beginning to breathe freely—to realise the
belief in the soothing and assuring-language of-our
church, "That by thee we, being defended from the
fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and
quietness"—let us earnestly bethink ourselves of
our duties, and begin to set our house in order.
Let us look our social condition in the face, let us
see what causes for good, and for evil, are in opera-
tion, not overlooking the one, or under-estimating,
or exaggerating the other ; nor, above all, neglect-
ing the least opportunity of doing good in our day
and generation. Looking around us steadily and
soberly, I think we may do so hopefully, despite
several causes for anxiety, grief, and humiliation.
While shocked by the disclosures of our criminal
courts—in our Bankruptcy and Insolvency Courts,
and the revolting revelations of the Divorce Court
—and by cases, every now and then occurring, of
guilt and profligacy not amenable to our criminal
tribunals (of which we have very recently, accord-
ing to common report, had instances), but attract-
ing to them the abhorrence and loathing disgust of
society at large—let us with reverent thankfulness
to 'God acknowledge that the heart of society in our •
country is sound, even—to go no further--as tes-
tified by the extent and intensity of that loathing
and abhorrence to which I have alluded. Never,
again, were works of piety and charity done on so
vast a scale ; never did Christian munificence shine
more resplendently, its profuseness being almost
equalled by its enlightened and systematic dis-
crimination. Its influence is seen on every side,
and pervades all ranks and classes of society, not
only directly relieving want and succouring misery,
often with a lovely—a heavenly—secresy and un-
obtrusiveness, but soothing inevitable distinctions,
relaxing the stringency of rightful demands, pro-
moting the health, comforts, and amusements of the
humblr sections of society, and setting limits to
inordinate and selfish exactions upon the labouring
classes. See how column after column of our news-
papers teems with importunate appeals to liberality,
and acknowledgments of the success of those ap-
peals, on behalf of religious and charitable societic s,
of associations to reclaim the adult, and the youth-
ful offender—of these great moral features of our
time, reformatories and ragged schools. 'When
were greater voluntary efforts made ? Nay, when
were efforts known comparable to these now made
to diffuse education—and, above all, religious edu-
cation ? Gentlemen, I do not speak unadvisedly
when I say all this, thus cheeringly and openly ;
we do not speak, as it were, in the dark ; for by
means of unceasing parliamentary inquiry, police
returns, and the never-sleeping vigilance and
scrutiny of the press, compas atively but little is
concealed from the eye of one only moderately
desirous of becoming acquainted with our true social,.
moral, religious, and political condition. To such an
one, however, are disclosed cot alone the agencies
for good, but also for evil ; not only the healthy,
but the deceased portions of society. And is the
disclosure to be made in vain ? No. It should
temper thankfulness for the good with anxiety on
account of the evil kindling in the observer a sense
of individual and heavy responsibility in respect
of opportunities divinely presented, and means as
graciously affarded for good. Not only should ho
endeavour to fulfil his mission—the mission which
every man has whether he choose to neglect it or
not—by the active support by purse, and personal
exertion, of all such inestimable institutions as
I have been adverting to, but by the rectitude
and spotlessness of his own conduct and charac-
ter, in all the relations of life—whether as master
or servant—as trader, merchant, or professional per-
son—as gentle or simple, of exalted or humble
station, of only moderate means, or affluence.
Gentlemen, let me impress upon you that every one
bears about with him, always and everywhere, a
great engine for good or evil—his own example.
How can an un conscientious unscrupulous employer,
for example, exact strict probity from those whom
he employs; or, at least, how can he be surprised if
they attack himself, as they see him ever attacking
others, bitterly telling him, when detected, that
they were but following his example, and treading
in his own defiling footsteps? Though this may
not justify them, will it not smite and silence him?
Amid does not this hold good in all the relations of
life? So what a lesson it teaches of being circum-
spect on our parts and forbearing towards others !
Bat, gentlemen, I must bring these few observations
to a close. I make them in a grave and earnest
spirit, sincerely desiring to do good, though by
never so faint a suggestiln, conveyed however im •
perfectly. These recurring periods of time—annual
and decennial—not only justif)-, but provoke reflec-
tions on the past, and grave solicitude for the future
—an individual and national past, an individual
and national future ; on the part we ourselves have
played, or arc about to play—the duties we have
neglected, and those we are resolved for the future
to discharge, while we have the power.

-./

A SMRTING " CROSS" AT THE ANTIPODES.—A
great sporting scandal has arisen in Melbourne. Flying
Buck, the horse which lately won the great Champion
Sweepstakes, hat been beaten, and the jockey who rode him
has publicly avowed that he received instructions to hold
him hack. Here is a pretty nut for the colonial Turf Club
to crack. The matter does not appear to have received a
due amount of "Ventilation."—Australian Mail.
We read in the Wiltshire Independent :--(i The
venerable Marquis of Lansdowne' who a short time back
was suffering from a severe attack of the gout, is now, we
are happy to say, quite recovered, and has been keeping
Christmas at Bowood with true old English hospitality. In
addition to the Earl and Countess of Shelburne and their
youthful family, who reside with his lordship, the family
circle meeting the noble marquis on the occasion have con-
sisted of the lion. J. and Lady Louisa Howard and family;
the Countess of Kerry and her daughter, the Lady Mary
Fitzmaurico ; the lion. C. Gore, the Count and Countess
do Flahault, and the Hon. Miss Elphinstone de Flahault.
The following have also been visiting Bowood during "the
Christmas holidays :—The Earl and Countess Somers, Mr.
and Mrs. Monckton Milnes,. Sir James Lakiata, Count
Palin, Mr. Westmacott, Col. and Mrs. Higginson, Mr: H.
Greville, Sir D. Dundee, and Mr. and Mrs. Canon Guthrie.
It is expected there will he a succession of visitors for some
time."
afAthcAeunoLwAYed.
Mien Mr. Adam
Black,
THEmL.pAT,EcoLlgt:lcel
pzedia Britannica," Lord Macaulay felt so strong an inte-
rest in the undertaking, and so Warra_a regard for his old
friend and publisher, that he said he would endeavour to
send hint an article for each letter of the alphabet. This
generous offer the noble historian's failing health and vari-
ous evocations prevented him from fully realising, but he
sent five article, to the " Encyclopedia," Memoirs of Atter-
bury, Bunyan, Goldsmith, Johnson, and William Pitt - the
last being the latest finished production from his pen. As
any publisher would have been glad to have given £l,OOO
for these contributions, their httr presented as a free •will
offering. to Mr. Black, is a full* aiourabl..4 to both parties,
especially to the noble donor, 11-41., it deserves to be publicly
known and recorded. A correspondent writes :—" Lord
• Macaulay had family connections with the North. A sister
of Zachary Macaulay, his father, and, of course, aunt to
the historian, was metaled to the late Mr. Hamilton, minis-
ter of Hoy, in Orkne it son is now minister of lires-
say, in Zealand—a v. ••• d excellent man. The elec-„,_
tors of Nairn applie, ulag,to become a candidate—
for the representation o c nvernese district of burghs;
he declined, but referred to t connexion of his family with
the north country. The historian's grand-uncle died
minister of Cawdor, in Nairnshire." A Nairn correspon-
dent sends us the epitaph on this member, of the family
Under this stone lies interred the remains of Kenneth
Macaulay, minister of Cawdor, who died in the year 1779,
in the 56th year of his age, and 32d of his ministry. .Nbtus
i;l.frates animi p,zterni." . [Noted among his brethren for
fatherly disposition.]—lnerness Courier.