The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-30 00:00:00

their country. It is a s if a large, comprehensive,

existing circumstances.
We have, in anc )ther part of our impression, given
an analysis of the various parties of which the new
Chamber is comp oscd. Of course the calculation
at present must be regarded as hasty and rough,
but we have no doubt that when fairly tested in
the Chamber, it will be found to be substan-
tially correct. It will be found that the
" old Conservative party," once numerically
formidable, has been reduced to little more
them a fifth of its former strength. In the last
chamber it possessed 120 adherents, in the present
25 is the outside estimated number. But although
this party gave a certain degree of support to the
Manteuffel Government, it cannot be assumed that

they will follow him in opposition and comparative
disgrace, more especially as two members of the
present Cabinet, viz., FLOTTWELL, Minister of the
Interior, and VANDER HEZDT, Minister of Trade,

are generally supposed to be included in its ranks.
The moderate Liberals command by far the
greatest weight both in numbers and talent. They
are nolless than 135, and it is on their side that the
popular enthusiasm has been most strikingly dis-
played. VON AUERSWOLD and VON PATON, MCM-

bers of the Cabinet, are amongst the prominen

members of the party, and they will yield

a generous support to the Government of the

PRINCE REGENT. In this they will be ably assisted

by the independent Liberals; although, should any
reactionary measures be attempted, they will main-
tain the independence on which they so justly pride

themselves.

The Manteuffelites are insignificant in number,
and their courage is depressed by the decisive de-
feat they have sustained in so many different direc-
tions. There are also the Catholic party and
Poles. It is quite certain, however, that the Minis-

try will stand so long as it acts in a bona fide and
straightforward manner. Perhaps we may not•be

able to antfcipate as many important changes under

existing circumstances, as if the PRINCE REGENT

were King and not merely Regent. It is, however,

more than probable that the policy pursued will be

such as to cause the Prussians to respect themselves,

and to elevate their country to its proper position

n the scale of nations, from whence it sunk in con.
.equence of the vacillation and indecision of FRE-

DERICK WILLIAM.

Mr. THOMAS DUNCOMBE may become the leader

in a new movement, connected, indeed, with the
Church-rate question, but one of far deeper conse-
quence. It may be remembered that the honour-
able member gave notice at the close of last
session of a bill to place the frzsehold of
parish churches in the hands of the paiishioners
instead of those of the parson. The matter
it seems, is not to be allowed to sleep.
We see by the Dissenting journals that a meeting
of the council of the " Society for the Liberation of
Religion from State Patronage and Control" was
held a few days ago, at which the subject was seri-
ously taken up. We gather from the discussion
and the resolutions that Sir JOHN TRELAWNY'S
bill for the complete abolition of Church-rates is to
be introduced again as early as possible next ses-
sion, and pushed on with the utmost vigour which
the forms of the House permit ; and, that on that
measure the society, and Dissenters generally,
intend to coxcentrate their strength. But it appears

ley mean also to provide against a second defeat in
he Lords. They have but too good reason to expect

it. Our hereditary legislators have shown them-
selves so utterly indifferent to the wishes of the
people and their constitutional representatives, on
all questions of ecclesiastical liberty, such as the
Jews Bill and the Marriage Law, yielding only
to coercion, that the opponents of Church-rates can
but anticipate their peristency in the same head-
strong course on the question which interests them.
What, in that case, is to be done ? The anti-
Church-rate men have two strings to their
bow—incessant agitation in their previous
modes, and the proposal of new and more
complete schemes like that of Mr. DuNcomnE's.

.appily the Church-rate battle is not like

that for the Jews. It has a locus standi in
every parish in the kingdom. It is a subject of in-
terest almost everywhere. The opponents of rates
have already triumphantly banished them from the
most populous and intelligent parishes in the king•
dom, and the battle is extending itself year by year
to the ignorant and priest-ridden country parishes.
Every now and then we are hearing of a Church-
rate being refused, or, if not refused, contested, in
hitherto quiet parishes; and whether the pro-rate
party are vanquished, or triumph by open voting

indelibly upon the # irst page of the History of
Sir EDWARD LYTTCI. N'S new colony of British
Columbia.

The Liberal eau si has, triumphed in Prussia.
The policy inaugurated b..
j the PRINCE REGENT
will be fully and fail supported, The people are
at last properly re, tkreserited, The indifference
that so long pm': died has passed away. The
electors feel and um /et 'stand the vast importance of
the privilege confidt Ti 1 o their hands, and are re-
solved to discharg e t heir duties honestly and
independently, in the manner that will best pro-
mote the welfare, p-:( ,sperity, and happiness of

and most successful measure of Parliamentary
reform had been ea reied, and that every man
entrusted with the franchise had voted with his
conscientious opinio, is. The opposition is reduced
to the most attenuated dimensions. Herr MIN-
TEUFFEL, who was a semi-dictator, has now but an
humble following. His leading supporters have
been repudiated by their constituents, and that
even in what were ." heretofore considered the strong-
holds of the pa r ty. Nor is this result in any
degree ascribable 1 o Ministerial influence. Strange
to say, many Go' Jrnment employes exerted all their
energiesaiJainsttl Le Government, in the hope possibly
of bringing back that which was so unhesitatingly
and so properl3 - dismissed by the Prince. The
facts may be bi :iefly comprised in the statement
that Prussia has now a real Parliament, fairly re-
presenting the ivants and wishes of the people ;
formerly it was a. mock representation, which was
infinitely worse than none at all, inasmuch as it
saved the Minister for the time being from a
portion of the responsibility that would otherwise
have devolved on him. 'Had another of a similar
character been elected it would have brought re-
presentative Governs ne, at into contempt and dis-
repute, and probably h ave, ere long, led to its total
suppression, and the re turn to a despotic rule.
The late election, hol- ;- ever, gives hope for the future
of Prussia. The pet rple have shown themselves
to be worthy of the . franchise, and have asserted
their independence boldly and constitutionally.
The leading Liberals have been returned for many
different places; some have obtained the confidence
of five constituencies; others of three or four, and
almost all by decisiv le majorities ; while those of
the other party who succeeded barely gained their
seats. Of the who'ke 350 members, not more than
GO to 70 can be nirmbered with the Opposition, and
even these cannot be regarded as thick and thin
opponents of the Government. Perhaps if they
had greater stren.gth, they might pursue a more
decided course t han they can venture on under