The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-08 00:00:00

INDIA.

Mr. CRAWFORD presented a petition, signed by
merchant., baukers, and traders of the City of London',
deprecating any further proceeding with legislation for
India at the present moment.
CHURCH RATES.

- -
Several petitions were presented against the abolition
of Church-rates.

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S
SISTER.

Various petitions were presented for and against the
bill for permitting marriage with a deceased wife's eider.
RECALL OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF

INDIA.

General THOMPSON presented a petition from the
Sheffield Foreign Affairs Committee, complaining of the
Oude proclamation, and praying for the recall of the
Governor• General and the withdrawal of his proolates-
Coa.

PAPER DUTY.
General THOMPSON presented four petitions from
printers in the inetroptlis prayirg for the repeal of the
paper duty. •

- CHURCH-RATES ABOLITION BILL.
The adjourned debate on the third reading of this
bill was resurn ed.

Sir J. TRELAWNEY asked the house to read this
bill a third time. He insisted that if the Church had any'
dghts in the matter that ought to be reserved by the bill,
it should be left to the judicial mind of the House of
Lords to determine in what manner it should be made.
tie therefore declined to accept any proposal for a com-
promise and should press the third reading.
Sir BROOK BRIDGES said he believed everything
had been said that could be said on this question.
(Hear, hear.) He contended the origion of church-rates
were neither unreasonable or unjust, and he opposed
the landed property of the country being increased in
value at the expense of the Church. If the rich man
was not bound to support the Church by a church-rate,
tue poor man would be deprived of the benefits of
church accommodation. The only charges which
should be defrayed by Church-rates were those which
the honour and glory of God regardee—viz., the susten-
tation of the fabric of the Church, and for providing
the decent requisites for the worship of God. He was
anxious every abuse should be rectified. He moved the
third reading of the bill this day six months.
Mr. PACKE expressed his regret that the reason•
able compromises offered by the opponents of the
bill had not been accepted. It appeared the pre'
moters of the bill would have nothing but the bill, and
it was the duty of the opponents of the bill to take care
that a substitute should be provided. There could be
n,) doubt there were many instances where the rate had
been improperly applied, but that was no argument for
the entire abolition of the rate.
Mr. ACKROYD was opposed to the abolition of
Church rates, and he should Vote against the third read-
ing of the measure. He thought Dissenters shoald be
exempted from the payment of the rates and
he believed they could be relieved from per
ing them without any offensive distinction.
whilst he wi,hed to do justice to Dissenters, he could
nut do it by perpetrating an injustice on the Church,
which this bill wool' inffot. He objected to the bill on
!'fiat ground, and also oa the ground that Dissenters, by the
abolition of the *toll would still retain the right to inter-
fere in the election of churchwardens. Where 'there
was a majority in favour of a church-rate, they ought
to have the power of taxing themselves, omitting dissen-
ters. Pew rents be thought objectionable, and also
voluntary contributions for raising a fund, for the
sustenance of the fabric of the Church. No compre'
mise had es yet been provided which was calculated to
settle this question in a spirit of justice to all parties.
The compromise he should be prepared to agree to wasp
this—first, that all Dissenters should be exempt from the
payment of ohurch rates; secondly, that Churchmen
should be left to determine by a majority of their own
oody whether a church rate should be lev;ed either
voluntarily, compulsory, or not at all.
Sir J. GRAHAM rose, and was
[LEFT SPEAKING.]