The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-16 00:00:00

its crusadeViinst Italian liberty ? Although the
name of that oppressed land may be carefully ex-
cluded from the mysterious document, opera-
tions may still be greatly affected by its
terms. That something must be done for
Italy, and that speedily, is certain. We can-
not, even if sl disposed, remain neutral in any
complications that may arise, and care should be
taken that our freedom is not iu any degree cir-
cumscribed by provisions of which nothing is
known, and which may only be brought to light
when too late to supply an adequate remedy
for the diplomatic mistakes. The question is one
of vast importance, and we earnestly hope that
some independent member will endeavour to as-
certain whether there has been any secret treaty,
and, if so, to insist that the unconstitutional
privacy may be discarded, and the terms by which
the People of England are to be bound, fully re-
vealed to their chosen representatives.

Exeter Hall has overshot its mark this time.
The spirit of the London population, we have
abundant reason to believe, is fairly roused, and
once committed to the struggle they will not
withdraw from it until the domination of Exeter
Hall is broken. A grand demonstration, we
learn, is to be made in the Parks next Sunday—
a demonstration of so conclusive a nature that
Lord PALMERSTON himself will be unable to master
a doubt as to how public opinion runs on the
matter. It is felt that the period can no longer
be delayed when unnecessary interference on any
pretext with the enjoyment of the masses must be
resented—as the offence it really is—and hypo-
critical lords, ladies, Cantwells, and Maw-worms
must be sternly taught to "keep their eyes out of
the people's cabbage garden." The displays made
on the Sabbatarian side of the question have added
materially to the feeling of contempt already so
prevalent for the party. The notion that millions of
human beings should be deprived of a vital
pleasure, merely to gratify the caprice of such
addle-brained fanatics, is everywhere exciting
more and more disgust. So far as our own ob-
servation has gone, we must say the feeling has
been fairly provoked. The Sabbatarians, so far
as we can judge, represent the intelligence as little
as they do the religious views of the people.
Take up which of the Sabbatic effusions they have
had circulated you please, and you cannot but be
painfully struck with the poverty of argument,
the fertility of nonsensical assertion, and, at the
same time, the absolute faith of the writer in his
or her own infallibility. The manner, too, in
which their hypocritical pretence of anxiety for the
freewill of the Bands has been urged, contrasted
with the absolute indifference they have mani-
fested to the recreation of the poor, has contri-
buted largely to the growing feeling of indigna-
tion against them. Ssme go so far as to ask
whether the existence of Sunday schools is nut
the greatest possible argument for the increase of
Day schools ; so worse than useless must these
schools be if conducted by individuals of such
tow mental calibre and such depraved feeling.
Let Exeter Hall prate as it pleases about
Sunday finery, in the faith and hope of
which none rejoices more fervently, the finery
of its hypocrisy is exceedingly likely to be so
blown upon as to be unpresentable—in the metro-
polis at least—for many years to come.
The unwarranted interference of the Scotch
members has also contributed largely to the gene-
ral indignation. The 'reckless meddling of the
Archbishop of CANTERBURY, the Leeds Mercury,
and Lords GROSVENOR, BLANDFORD, SRL? TES-
BURY, and Co. was sufficiently aggravating with-
out any interference from the other side of the
Tweed. The Scotch members, it is generally
thought—and we coincide in the opinion—might
confine their legislatorial influence to their own
country, and thrust down the people's throats as
much Sabbath hypocrisy as they aro disposed to
carry atop of their noggins of whisky, and leave
Englishmen, brought up in another school, alone.
Slave you been at Kirk ? it is known, is a ques-
tion followed among the godliest men, who would 1
exercise for a Highland moon on Sabbath desecra- '
tion by "How's business ?" and not unfrequently
"a wee drap" on the sly ; while the more rigorous
grows the outer observance of the Sabbath in the

great Scotch cities, the greater is the drunkenness
and debauchery within. For our own part we do
not now deprecate the struggle. It has
long been impending ; and our chief feel-

ing is a desire that it should be fairly
fought. It is not merely music on Sundays in
the Parks that is at stake : all the means
of Sunday recreation are at stake also. If Lord
PALMERSTON be so mad as to yield to Exeter Hall,
by deciding finally that the bands shall not play—

railway trips and steam-boat trips will next be put
down, and HEA.VEN only knows whether attempts
may not be made to coerce the public into attend-
ance at church and chapel. Never was the sway of
hypocrisy more exigent, nor, we are happy to be-
lieve, in greater peril. It has overstepped the
mark, and looking as we do for a grand demon-
stration of the fact, we earnestly entreat that no
grounds may be furnished for reasonable inter-
ference on the part of the polic3, but that all will

be so orderly as to confound " the siiuts." The
Parks, we suppose, are tho people's, and it is
greatly to be desired that as many of the upper
and middle classes should be present to counte-
nance the toiling masses, and each other, in the
vindication of their common rights. Sabbat-
ism really merits a sound (metaphoric) drub-
bing, and this cannot well be administered too
openly or effectually. It has dared to lay its
hand on the ark of the people's health and enjoy-
ment. Down with it !

We invite attention to the Seventeenth Annual
Report of the Chairman and Directors of the In-
ternational Life Assurance Society, which will be
found in another column. Notwithstanding the
depressing character of the late War, the number
of New Policies effected during the year amounts
to 935, assuring the sum of 379,7621., and
yielding in premiums 12,5921., iu addi-
tion to the sum received on renewals on
Old Policies, and other sources, making the
present income of the Society upwards of 90,0001.
per annum. This is a most encouraging state-
ment ; and we doubt not that every succeeding
year will produce one more promising than its
predecessor.

TEED? RETURN OF LORD STRATFORD
DE REDCLIPPE TO ENGLAND.

We believe we are correct in stating that Lord
Stratford de Redcliffe, our " extraordinary " Ambas-
Fador at Constantinople, has applied for and obtained
leave of absence. His lordship may consequently be
almost immediately expected in England. There can be
no mistake in this case as to what the words, " leave of
absence," mean. It is a gentle way of expressing the
fact that the irritable nobleman has been., in reality, re-
-111 orning Advertiser.
IJast two years too late.—ED. Sun.]

Her Royal Hishness the Duchess of Kent visited the
Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Glouc ester House.
The Countess Craven will give a grand ball to•night
%t her residence in Charles-street.
Mr. and Mr 4. James Hall and Miss Hall have al,
ved at, the Clarendon from Scarborough. Mr. and
trs. J. A. Hudson have left the same establishment
for Parie.