The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-03 00:00:00

Commence at 7.

ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE,
King-street, St. James's. Lessee, Mr. T. B. Chatter-
ton. Directress, Miss Wyndham. The nearest Theatre to
Chelsea, Pimlico, and Westminster, the Park being open to
carriages and toot passengers all hours of the night.
THIS EVENING the performances will sommenso with
a new and original comedy, entitled A FRIEND IN NEED.
P Robinson, C. Young, Ate.
After which, A LADY AND GENTLEMAN IN A PE-
CULIAR PERPLEXING PREDIC AMENT. Mr. Charles
Young and Miss Wyndham.
Followed by a new burlesque, LUCREZIA BORGIA AT
HOME AND ALL ABROAD. Mesdames Wyndham, E.
Scott, Cecilia Ranoe, Miss Clara Morgan, and the Corps de
Ballet.
Reduced Prices—Gallery, 8d ; Pit, is. The Box-office open
from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half-past six; perform
ance commences at 7.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—
Proprietor, Mr. WM. BATTY.
Manager, Mr. EDWIN HuGams.
First Appearanse of Little MONONI and the celebrated
Delavanti Troupe, who are engaged at a great expense.
Great and unprecedented success of the NEW GRAND
MILITARY SPECTACLE, universally pronounced to be the
most perfect and magnificent production ever witnessed in
this Theatre.
The enthusiastic approbation bestowed upon the novel
and varied Scenes in the Cirque is the best assurance of the
unequalled talent of the eminent Equestrian Artistes who
nightly appear.
THIS EVENING, and during the Week,
To commence with the Great Military Spectacle. in Four
Acts, called "Tux HISTORY OF A FLAG," succeeded by an
incomparable programme of Scenes in the Arena, sup borted
by the most renowned and talented Equestrian and Gymnas-
tic Artistes in Europe.
The magnificent Chandeliers are manufactured expressly
by Messrs. Defiles and Son, of Houndsditch.
Doors open at half-past 6 o'clock, performance commence
at 7.
Box-office open daily from 11 till 4.
Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST.

CONCERTS.-

CANTERBURY HALL
THIS EVENING.
C. H. GOIJNOD'S OPERA,
FAUST.
First Time in this Country.
Faust Mr. Henry Herbert.
Mephistopheles Mr. C. Bernard.
Siobel Mrs. Anderson.
Marguerite
Conductor Mr. Jonghmans.
And selections from
Dinorab, Trovatore, Macbeth, and numerous other
Entertainments.
Balcony, ls , Hall, 6d.
Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come-
dian and Mimic), and W. T. Critchfleld.
Several interesting Pictures are added to the Fine Arts
Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and
beautified. and constitute one of the meet unique and brilliant
sights of the metropolis.
The gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening.

THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICZ, MAT 3, 1860. g

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
63—highest mince noon yesterday.
41—lowest this morning and during the night.
60—this day at noon.

;BAROMETER-30.23; rising. ''
Wmn, North-Easterly; fresh, with very fine weather,
but cooler than yesterday.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
This DAY.—Morning, Oh. Om.—Afternoon, 12h. 14m.
To-moititow.-Morning, 12h. 21m.—Afternoon, 12h. 46m.

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THE SUN.
LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1860.

The country wilt lot so quietly sit down by
obstruction or mutilation of the Government Re-
form Bill, as its Fabian opponents may imagine.
At a very large meeting—" A Common Hall"—con-
vened by the Mayor of Norwich, who took the chair,
on Tuesday night, and which was addressed by speak-
ers of all classes—what we are confident is the gene-
ral feeling of the country was unmistakably ex-
pressed. It is, indeed, very like what we have all along
declared would be the general opinion. The bill is
acknowledged to be small enough, but for that very
reason there is great indignation that such a bill
should not be cordially accepted. Middle class
reformers, and working men alike, resent the
unfairness that will accept Reform in no
shape. It has come to them in its mildest
form—it is a kind of vaccination—(our work-
in g•class readers will forgive the illustra-
tion) a vaccination of the electoral constituency
with a milder proportion of the vast numbers who
work for wages, to protect the present constituency
from an " ugly rush" of those numbers which
would certainly quite change, and as Whigs and
Tories would say, disEgure its aspect. We do not,
indeed, regard working-class electors as a disease
to be warded off—but our Rulers do—let them un-
derstand, then, that if they choose to persist in
obstruction for the sake of it, they may have cause
soon to repent of their futile yet provoking obsti-
nacy.

We commend to the notice of the wearisome
speakers, who may have purposed to delay yet
longer the second reading of the bill, the admirable
remarks of the Mayor of Norwich. Having ad-
verted to the shabby and contradietorfpretexts
that when the people are not demanding Reform
in a temper bordering on riot, things are so quiet
that Reform cannot be needed; and that when they
are burning down old towns and castles to get it,
it is undignified to grant it ; he observes :
" But what do we see ? A measure is brought
by Lord J. RUSSELL before the House of Commons.
It is not an extreme measure, but, on the contrary,
a very moderate measure—a measure so moderate,
that the great majority of the working classes
would be excluded even by it, and it becomes a
question how ma.iy of them would be able to gain
admission by its cr.suses. I cannot conceive that a
measure of reform more moderate could be brought
forward with any Lope of satisfying any large por-
tion of the people; but this measure, so moderate
and so reasonable, Is treated with contempt in the
House of Commons, although the men who wish it
not to pass have n ot the courage to move, as a direct
negative, that it be thrown out. They have not
the courage to cc nue forward and say, "There
shall be no reform 4" but all sorts of indirect mea-

Whatever may be the fate reserved for the
question of the second reading of the Reform Bill
this evening in the House of Commons—the Ag-
gravated Assault Act Amendment Bill of Lord
RAYNHAM was carried through as second reading
yesterday by a majority of 24 in a house of 199
(including Speaker and Tellers)-85 being against
and 109 for the reconsideration of the measure in
due course in Committee. The difference of opinion
expressed by the twelve members who yesterday
afternoon took part in the discussion was some-
thing remarkable in its way, if regarded merely
superficially. Everyone, as a matter of course, in
his heart's core, felt profoundly the need there is
to guard, as tenderly and effectually as it is at all
possible that the law can guard them, those unfor-
tunate victims, the wives or mistresses of the more
brutalised class of the bully-ruffians of the popula-
tion. As Mr. HENLEY very judiciously intimated,
however, it is requisite, first of all—before we pro-
ceed to more stringent legislative interference in the
matter of these domestic brutalities—it is quite
clearly and obviously requisite that it should be
shown, by returns, that there has been an INCREASE
in the number of aggravated cases, since the law
had been rendered more rigorous in regard to this
particular offence in the distribution of punish-
ment. Besides which, it would be well to consider
likewise, as the right hon. gentleman added, that
if anything additional is to be done the case ought,
in such instance, to be sent on at once to a jury.
Instead of which the noble lord, the promoter of
this measure of most mistaken humanity,
endeavours thereby to empower magistrates
to authorise the summary infliction upon
adult males of the galling lash and of all the igno-
minies of corporal punishment. Against any such
precipitate extension of authority to the magis-
trates Mr. CLIVE objected yesterday afternoon
strongly. and energetically, moving in fact the
amendment upon which the house eventually di-
vided—the customaryandproforma amendment that
the second reading of the bill should be postponed
six months, or, in other words, that it should be
forthwith thrown overboard. Although the objec-
tions of Mr. CLIVE were sympathised in and sup
ported by Mr. HENLEY and Mr. SOTHERON EST
COURT, by Mr. WALTER, and even by Sir GEORGE
LEWIS, her MAJESTY'S Home Secretary: although
as many as 85 went into the lobby in support of Mr.
CLIVE'S amendment, it will have been seen how
by a clear majority of twenty-four that amend-
ent was negatived, the bill being thereupon read
a second time, and thus secured for the next
stage of legislative gestation, that of detailed
scrutiny in Committee. Gladly, of course, eagerly,
and with peculiar solicitude, would we support any
amendment act that promised to strengthen the
arm of justice in dealing out punishment judiciously

sures, by all sorts of insinuations, by all sorts of upon the unmanly ruffians who are guilty of these
trifling with the time and patience of Parliament aggravated assaults upon their weaker helpmates,
and the people, they seek to tire out the promoters of upon those who should, on the contrary, have looked
this moderate measure, and so to get rid of it alto- up with confidence to them for protection. It is
gether. I say that, after successive Governments because we conceive that Lord RAYNHAM'S
have pledged themselves to Reform, after the bill attempts to do this, to our thinking,
people have been allowed year after year to look injudiciously, that we regret the measure was
for a measure of Reform, it is something like a not thrown out yesterday, upon the motion for the
fraud on the people to attempt thus to set aside en- second reading, as we hardly conceive that, in its
gagements so often and so solemnly made, and to present form, it admits of adequate emendation
escape the fulfilment of promises by all sorts of in Committee. The difficulty of obtaining a con-
delays and equivocations. If they believe that this viction in these dreadful cases was urged yesterday
little measure would subvert the institutions of the by Mr. WALTER, as of itself a reason sufficient to
country, then they are bound in manliness and make the house pause before adopting the proposed
honesty to come 'forward, put their sentiments in emendation (?). " There was an instinctive ten-
the form of a decided negative, and move the entire derness and delicacy in the female mind," the hon.
rejection of the bill ; but if, on the other hand, gentleman well insisted, " which would lead a
they do not believe that the bill would have this woman of even the humblest rank to
effect, they are bound to consider it, and in com- shrink from coming forward to inflict a degrad-
mittee to adopt such amendment as may make the ing punishment upon her husband, and
measure more in harmony with their views. But the object," he added, " would thereby be defeated."
their idea is to put off the bill, and to wear out its Mr. WALTER argued, moreover, that although this
founders, in the hope that the question will be special objection had often been urged, it never yet,
altogether lost sight of. This has been the fatal to this moment, had been answered. It is, in fact,
error of politieians who have obstructed Reform in one of the most touching peculiarities noticeable in
every age. You know perfectly well that this has the majority of these aggravated assaults upon
been their mistake in regard to the measures which women by their husbands or paramours. And it is
have come before us in our time. You know also one which renders the treatment of these cases
that in the time of our fathers the same mistake fraught with difficulty. Well will it be for the un-
was made in regard to the American war. By re- happy victims of these assaults if Lord RAYNHAM'S
sistance to proper appeals, by forcing upon the no doubt generously intentioned bill do not mate-
Americans measures which were hateful to them, rially tend to aggravate the brutalities that hardly
they precipitated the collision which cost us a seemed before to admit of aggravation.
fearful war, and led to the loss of important terri-
tory. I was reading only the other day that
within two years of the war of independence,
WASHINGTON declared that not one thinking
man in all North America desired a
separation from the mother country ; yet so
blind and infatuated were our rulers that
they excited a feeling of discontent, and within
twelve months of the time when Washington made
this peaceful and moderate declaration, he was ap-
pointed commander-in-chief of the insurgent forces,
and the triumphant people of North America de-
clared that their States were henceforth " a free
sovereign, and independent republic."
In such sentiments every reasonable man must
concur ; and for obstrustives they ought to have
the more'weight from the consequences of resistance
to Catholic Emancipation, the first Reform Bill,
and the Repeal of the Corn-laws ; in all of which
cases much less concession, if made earlier, would
have satisfied the claimants.
At this meeting the Lords' Committee to inquire
into the condition, habits, and so forth, of the work-
ing-man was denounced as an impertinence :it was
thought that a committee to inquire into the taxa-
tion of the working-man, and into the habits and
practices of their lordships, would have been much
more appropriate. A working-man, Mr. C. J.
BUNTING, denied that there was any danger of
political combination among working men. There
was, he said, just as much difference of opinion
among them as among other classes, and they were
not to be moved in their opinions by Trades' Unions-
Adverting to their being objected to as liable to in-
timidation and to corruption, he asked " would any
one propose to keep back a man's wages because
some pickpocket might rob him. Give working-
men," he added, "the franchise, and the ballot
would be their remedy to prevent intimidation.,
He did not, as a working man, feel particularly
anxious about the passing of the bill, for he was
certain that " if the feelings of the country were
longer trifled with a much larger measure would
be demanded. Still he was for accepting the bill,
and if the result did not show that the working
classes were worthy of the franchise, he for one
would never open his mouth more on the subject."
Another working man thought that the proposed
extension of suffrage was worth contending for;
and another denounced in the strongest terms the
language of Lord ROBERT MONTAGU and Lord
ROBERT CECIL, in regard to working men, as
" grossly insulting. The working class, if they
got power, would use it properly."
It may be well worth while for the obstructives,
who seem bent on delaying and on getting
rid of the bill by underhand tactics, to note these
things. The country sees through their policy,
which, indeed, is transparent enough—and it is both
despised and resented. Let this bill be evaded or
refused, and they may be assured that they will soon
have another to deal with of far more formidable
dimensions.

On the occasion of the last division on the
Church-rate Abolition Bill—its third reading by
the small majority of nine, after a majority in its
favour of seventy last year—we ventured to predict
that the the retrogression of the House would be
the advance of Parliamentary Reform. But a few
days before the petitions for abolition had so im-
mensely surpassed the petitions for retention or
compensation, that a more striking illustration
could hardly have been given of the House and the
country being at cross purposes. The demand for
Representative Reform, we felt confident, must be
strengthened by the retrograde division.

We had not at the time thought of another
effect which we see by the meeting of the Libera-
tion Society yesterday has been produced upon an
energetic class of persons. The reduced majo-
rities, it should be observed, were caused,
so far as arguments had any influence,
by the assertion that the abolition of
Church-rates was but one step on the part of
Nonconformists to the abolition of a national esta-
blishment of religion. The Lords, in their Com-
mittee, examined two leading Dissenters—Dr.
FOSTER, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee
of the Liberation Society, and Mr. SAMUEL MOR-
LEY, a well-known and highly-respected City
merchant. Their lordships deviated from the ob-
ject they were appointed to inquire into, and cate-
chised these gentlemen on the ultimate views of
Dissenters. They, of course, answered straight-
forwardly, though, had they been so inclined, the
Chairman could not have ruled that they
were bound to answer merely general questions.
Nothing, however, was further from their object,
than concealment. They wished it to be fully
understood, indeed probably thought their lordships
very ill-informed for not understanding, that con-
sistent Dissenters of necessity object to State sup-
port and patronage of religion. They would not
accept it for their own worship, and they know by
experience that Churchmen could, as richer than
themselves, do very well without it—do better, as
they doubtless honestly think.
The answers of these two gentlemen were made
use of all over the country to alarm all the clergy
great and small, and to rouse them to induce the
members whom they could influence to be in their
places and to vote against the bill. Thus, though
the Parliamentary supporters of Abolition have
not diminished, the opponents of it have
mustered in greater numbers and so dimi-
nished the majority of the Abolitionists that
the Duke of MARLBOROUGH, the Chairman of the
Lords' Committee, has already given notice of mov-
ing its rejection on the second reading. The House
of Lords, doubtless, feels very glad that the Com-
mons have enabled them to throw the odium of its
rejection in great part upon the latter.

But we observe from the tone of the speakers
yesterday, that not only do they appear in no way
to be dismayed—they seem rather to be emboldened.
They say that notwithstanding the only plea which
had any effect against the bill was that it is an
attack on the principle of an establishment of re-
ligion—notwithstanding that the battle was thus
avowedly fought on the Establishment principle—
they yet had a majority, and had only to complain
of absences, and not of any of their supporters
turning against them.

But they go further—they regard the conduct of
their opponents as a challenge to resume the fight
on the broad principle of an establishment or no
establishment. Our readers will, however, best
understand Dissenters if we give them the very
words of perhaps their chief layman. Mr. S. MORLEY
thus' quoted and commented on the words of
Mr. BINNEY, the celebrated preacher, at the Weigh-
house Chapel, and which were uttered twenty-
seven years ago. "It is with me," said Mr.
BINNEY, " I confess, a matter of deep, serious, reli-
gious conviction, that the Established Church is a
great national evil ; that it is an obstacle to the
progress of truth and godliness in the land; that
it destroys more souls than it saves; and that,
therefore, its end is most devoutly to be wished by
every lover of GOD and man." Mr. MORLEY adds
—" Right or wrong, this is my belief ; and I
should feel not the slightest offence if a Church-
man were to express himself to me in pre-
cisely the same words with respect to Dissent.
We know very well that we do thus
actually differ in opinion, and it would be very
foolish for either to be offended because the other
expresses it. We are bound each of us to adopt
those principles which we conscientiously consider
to be true, and we are equally bound, in proportion
to our ability, to defend and diffuse them. It is at
present universally felt, that the time is at
hand when the Establishment must undergo
a thorough sifting ; the abstract principle on
which it rests be discussed in Parliament; and
the absolute dissolution of Church and
State sought, and perhaps obtained. Dissent
and the Establishment will then die together—
die on the same day. The terms and things are
relative ; the end of one will be the termina-
tion of both. The day that witnesses this will be
a bright and blessed one. Episcopalians, Presby-
terians, Independents, Methodists, may remain ;
but Churchmen and Dissenters will exist no more.
All denominations, placed on a perfect equality,
with a thousand sources of jealousy and animosity
removed, each possessed of the power of advancing
towards and admitting the approaches of the rest
—such movements would ultimately be seen ; the
spirit of peace, and love, and unity would return ;
the real communion of saints' would be practised ;
and GOD himself, on the throne of His glory, would
rejoice over His once divided and broken,
but then happy and harmonising ' household."
All the speakers concurred in the view that