The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-13 00:00:00

papers " minister," as he says, "to the harmless
gratification of multitudes," and adds that " the
secrecy, the jealousy, the solitude, and precipitation
of despotic governments exclude all this." He did
not live to see that middle state between entire ex-
clusion and full possession of which the last 70
years have furnished in certain countries a signal
example. It would be wrong if we did not advert
to the great improvement in one material particu-
lar of the newspaper press in our time. The papers
which made a traffic of slander have ceased from
among us. For a while they acted like a drain to
carry off the impurities which had before been dif-
fused over other journals; the good sense, both of
the public and of literary men, has now filled up a
sewer no longer wanted, and, to all appearance, that
portion of the press no longer exists. But it is truly
grievous to think that for some portions Ef the press,
though not in those now under consideration—cer-
tain religious newspapers—we should rather say,
perhaps, calling themselves religious—there is still
a want of the drain ; because impurities there
abound, extremely offensive. We there find, through
the virulence of a factious spirit, outrages upon de-
corum and truth—to say nothing of Christian
charity—which have made pious men refuse to read
them, declaring that they had much rather see
such things served up in the naked simplicity of
common slander than smothered in religious"
thoughts. It has been contended that our news-
paper press, by the paper duty and other circum-
stances, is hampered, so as to make the supply fall
short of the effectual demand. This may well be
doubted. But it is further said that the demand
ought to be greater ; and the example of the United
States is cited, where the number of journals is
very much larger in proportion to the number of
the people ; where, indeed, a newspaper is reckoned
so much an article of necessity than no sooner is a
spot in the forest cleared for a village than a print-
ing-press is sent for. The political situation of
America is probably the cause of this. The nature
of the Government throws the whole country into
a never-ceasing state of party agitation, there being
no office, from the highest to the lowest, from Pre-
sident to penny postman, which may not be changed
at each renewal of that high functionary's term ;
and thus the whole period of his incumbency is
passed in canvass and cabal. There seems every
reason to think that with us there is already an
abundant supply of the article in question ; that
even Paley would have been of this opinion ; that
he would have been suspicious of any scheme which
tended to deteriorate its quality ; that, above all,
whatever objection he might have made and most
justly to the tax, he would have received with
entire reprobation the proposal of reducing its
price by a piracy upon literary property. It thus
appears that for the treatment of every subject, and
to suit the condition, the capacity, and the taste of
every class, there is ample provision made in the
popular literature of the age ; that the means are
afforded of encouraging those to read who would
else devote their hours of rest to mere listless
vacancy of thought, or to dissipated courses ; that
the opportunity of fuller instruction is given to
those who are desirous and capable of receiving it ;
that while all are thus greatly improved, some are
made fit to improve others; that the instinct of
curiosity effectually prevents all risks, converting, .
when desirable, superficial into solid information,
but leaving even partial acquirements to do sub-
stantial good; and there is thus the clearest proof
afforded of the people's instructors working out the
ends of Providence by the employment of the means
bountifully placed within' their reach, improving
the mass of their fellow-creatures through the in-
telligence bestowed, and the instincts implanted by
the Heavenly Father, who desireth not that His
children should perish in the darkness of ignorance,'
but rather that they should learn and live.
The address was delivered with all his Lordship's
accustomed vigour and action of expression, and
was warmly applauded throughout.
An address was then delivered by Mr. W. Cow-
per, M.P., President of the Educational Department.
At 1 o'clock the Members and Associates paid a
visit to the Akbar Reformatory frigate, which is
moored in the Mersey, off Rock Ferry. The boys,
to the number of about 150, consisting of juvenile
criminals who are being trained for a seafaring life,
went through their various exercises with a smart-
ness that does credit to the discipline of the esta-
blishment. The clean and trim appearance of the
vessel created general admiration, and the healthy -
looks of the lads and the cheerful activity which
characterised them gave promise of the realisation.
of the beneficial results which the founders of the
institution had in view. On returning to St. •
George's-hall, inaugural addresses were delivered
by the Earl of Carlisle, President of the Punish-.
ment and Reformation Department, the Earl of-
Shaftesbury, President of the Health Department,
and by Sir S. Stephen, President of the Depart-
ment of Social Economy. These we reserve for our
report to-morrow.

-It had been arranged that the Lord Chancellor of
Ireland, who is President of the Jurisprudence and
Amendment of the Law Department, should also
have delivered his address to-day ; but this morn-
ing a telegram was received from him stating that
just as he was stepping into the steamer at King-
stown to cross to Liverpool it was brought to his
notice that, as keeper of her Majesty's conscience
in Ireland, he could not quit that country without
her Majesty's permission under the sign manual.
He had telegraphed for this to Balmoral, and
intended to leave as soon as the constitutional
embargo should be remove&
A conversazione took place in the evening at St.
George's-hall. The exhibition of pictures of the
Liverpool Academy was thrown open to members.
The Philharmonic Society issued invitations to 150
of the non-resident members, and conversational ,
meetings of the managers of reformatory schools
and ragged schools were also held.