The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-31 00:00:00

THE IRISH CHURCH BILL.

On themoTionEr the third reading of this bill,
Mr. HOLT said the alterations that had taken place
in the bill had not improved the measure iu the
slightest, and the more the gentlemen on his side of
the house saw of the bill the more they disliked it.
(Hear, hear.) In order, therefore, t hat:they might again re-
d their dislike to the measure, he bad felt it his duty
to move the negative of the bill, and those who agreed
with him would then have done all that it %yea possible to
do, and they would also have the satisfaction of knowing
that they had discharged their duty with a clear con-
science and clean bands. The hon. gentleman then pro-
ceeded to say that the Voluntary system of Scotland that had
been so f re penny referred to during the discussion of the bill
was not the success that it had been said to have been,
and read certain extracts to show the smallness of
the sums received for the support of the clergymen from
some of the Wallhurst and largest places in that country.
lie next referred to the legal r.rgument put forward by the
tight ton. member for Richmond (Sir R. Palmer), and
said it was tvident that the First Lord of the Trea-
sury and the Solicitor-General felt the force of
the points raised. The statements that had been
put forward with respect to the position of the Church in
New York were equally transparent, and in support of his
argument ho read an extract from a decision of Judge Story
with respect to a church in Virginia when he said they
might disestablish it, but they had no right to confiscate its
property. (Hear, hear.) He could only say that the Lill
was promoted by a majority in that house, but not
of the .country—that majority said, "We can and NVO
will," and thus the bill had passed through neatly
all its stages, and to-night they were asked to give it e
finishing touch, in order that it might be removed for con;
sideration iu another place, but he did hope iibe was no
successful with his motion a result different to that expected
ear
by her Majesty's Government would be arrived
at. '
hear) lie ridiculed the idea that the bill was based on
religious equality. Jt was equality
such as never would be tolerated by
tl.lbeornal omueemsbaidres,
had
most odious
the hens?. (Hear,
Erich a measure proceede)d fromrj,be trheLOltpopfo_ sittbioenmseiadseuroof
iral
form of religious rancour i ' idiscordtgmi
he believed would endb in
nthdeirbete‘-
onlv exercised their liberality by giviug awa that which
and, with respect to
.liberality,the Liberal Ministers bad
belonged
to others. lie, therefore, moved thaty the bill be
d nde the motion. read a third time that day six months.
Lord ELCHO se co
[LIFT SPEAKING.

Governor Curtin, Minister to Russia, has taken
places for himself and family in the North German Llo‘ d
steamer of June I.7th. He will remain a few weeks 'its
Germany before taking charge of the Legation. Mr.
Coffey, his Secretary, will accompany Governor Curtin
and family. _ _ _ _

- -
The losses by fire in the United States daring
April, 1869, where the property destroyed was 7alued at
$20,000 and upwards, are reported to amount to $3,880,000,
against $2,890,000 in April, 1868. The losses during the
first three months of 1869 respectively, are estimated as
follows : January, $3,294,000 ; February, $2,037,000 ;
March, $2,892,000. The total for the first four mouths is
$12,703,000, or $158,553 a day.