The Sun.
London, England, 1832-07-06 00:00:00

Noble Duke and a Noble Prelate, the one
nearly as well acquainted as the other with the
mode of proceeding in Church Courts in
Scotland, persist in the assertion, that the
General Assembly was deceived by a pretended
official communication from Government. Inde-
pendent, however, of the statements of the LORD
CHANCELLOR and Lord BELHAVEN, there are
two circumstances which would set the question
at rest with any impartial and reasonable mind.
Was it likely that the SOLICITOR-GENERAL
would by such a trick biast his well-earned fame
merely for carrying a point of little importance,
and would the Assembly, so utterly hostile, ac-
cording to the Bishop of EXETER, to the
Ministerial system, have failed to announce in
their petition that it was founded on an official
communication from Government ? The oppo-
sition to the measure at first sprung from political
motives, it has been supported in many instances
by appeals to the religious world, founded on
false statements; and we confidently believe that
those who are resorting to such means to
mar a great national benefit, will from per-
sonal experience confess the truth of the
maxim, " Whoso causeth the righteous to go
astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into
his own pit."
Mr. GORDON again reverted, last night, to
the Irish Education Plan. Notwithstanding
that every objection had been fairly met and
answered on Tuesday, still the Hots. Member
resolved to show, that though lie might be
foiled, he would not be put down by argument,
but would continue the struggle even though all
chances were against him. There are some men
who never know when they are beaten, never
know when to halt and cry " Peccavi." Mr.
GORDON is one of these. He is the very hero
of defeat. Not an argument does he bring for-
ward, thiit does not insta►►tly tell against him.
It is a great blessing that the Irish education
system is attacked by such opponents. Its
warmest advocates could wish it no better fortune.

German Papers, received this morning, state
that Ancona was never so quiet as since it has
been without any Government or Police ; but no
mention is made of its having declared its inde-
pendence of the POPE.

It will be seen from our Parliamentary report,
that the charge made by the Duke of WELLING-
TON and the Bishop of EXETER, the other
night, against the Solicitor-General for Scot-
land was totally without foundation. Mr.
STANLEY informed the House that the commu-
nication made by Mr. COCKBURN to the Gene-
ral Assembly was in perfect accordance with
the sentiments contained in his letter, which
were, that the Bible was not to be taught
in the public school during all the school hours;
but that local directors should have the power
of appointing separate classes for that purpose,
whenever they might judge necessary, and added,
that in the discussion which took place in the
Assembly, all parties clearly understood that such
were his sentiments. In this he was fully cor-
roborated by Mr. JOHNSTON, and not one
could deny the statement. Now what other
inference can be drawn from this than the
humiliating conclusion that party zeal in
some men even of great merit is too strong
for their honesty ? The vote of the Ge-
neral Assembly was gall and wormwood to the
anti-educationists, and the only way they saw of
doing away its effects was to tell the world that
body had been deceived, and did not know what
it was discussing. 'What a slur on such a body !
Yet how utterly at variance with truth ! It
appears there was not the slightest ground for
such an assertion, and the Honourable Mem-
ber for the rotten borough of Dundalk
—the champion of the anti-educationists—
who, on a former occasion, engaged to prove it,
had not a word to say. Such a course of pro-
ceeding, we trust, will put the truly religious
part of the community on their guard, and con-
vince them that something more is wanting in a
true Christian, than headlong zeal, boisterous
declamation, and violent political principles.

The Golden Calf seems to attract as great a
number of won.hiopers at the Strand, as at a c rtain
place, where, time out of min.!. the idol has been propitiated.
The fete intended to be given yesterday to
their MAJESTIES, by the Governor of Greenwich Hos-
pital. was, we understand, put off, in consequence of an
express announcing the d, ath of the Princess LOUISE.
It is a rule of Parliament that no Act can be
altered during the Seeston in which it is pissed, unless
it
cont.ins an express provision to that effect. With this
view most Acts have attached to them a proviso, owing
that they may be amended or altered during the Session
Either by accident, or intentionally, this saving clause was
omitted in the Reform !tots, which therefore, it is al-
leged, ctnnot be altered or amended until an enstrng
Session.

REFORM it EJOICI NGS.—
Nottinghain pre-
sents a4ast every day, in dbff,ent parts, a scene of gayety
and festivity hitherto unexampled, five or six streets ani
thoroughfares being blocked up with trees, flogs, and fes-
toons, hung from one side to the other, so as to make
complete bowers, and almost excluding the sun; whole
parties are enjoying themselves, some with dancing, and
others in feasting dur.ng the whole of the day, the land-
birds ~f the houses, many owning the entire stree,s, giving
each tenant a certain sum, in addition to what has been
subscribed (in the whole 1,0001.), for the general day of
rejoicing. The tenants of those landlords who refuse to
contribute have in many instances hung out a black
flag to procl 'int such refusal.

It was unfortunate for the poor prelate (the
Bishop of Exo-rEit) who had erred so grievously on ae
subject of a letter before, to drop down upon the auihority
of a lever again to strengthen his argument. To be sure,
'he Loan CHANCELLOR. dropped down upon him,and that
in a most lively strain of searching raillery ! Never was a
happier illustration of that figure of rhetoric called the
sorites, than the speech of his Lordship„ in which he ac-
cumulated all the errors, making up one great error, of the
Right Rev. Father, in relation to that first letter. It was
betrayed by some Member of Government; it was copied
into the Times: the resemblance was minute, exaer, ver-
hatim : the Prelate saw it ; the writer saw it ; both com-
pared it with the original: both were horror-struck at
the breach of confidence. Lastly, (what, for a ducat?)—
no such letter ever appeared in pint !--Times.
During the ascendancy of Torps,,,, the law
was enlisted in its c tuse, and anove fifty persons, at, sundry
times, were prosecuted and imprisoned for their zealous
advocacy of Parliamentary Reform. Of these many have
been removed from the cares of life, but the following h ,ve
survived to enjoy the triumph of their principles
F. BURDETT, two imprisonments of three and six months;
Sir R. Primurs, eight.-en months in 1792-3; Mr. Jastgs
RIDGWAY, four years, 1793 to 1797; Mr. HUNT (Exa-
miner), two years; Mr. HENRY HUNT, M.P., three and
a half years ; Messrs. EnatoNns and LEwis, of Birroing.
ham, one year; Mr. WooLLER, one year; Mr. CORBETT,
two years; Mr. DRAKAan, Stamford, twelve months;
Mr. MoNzoomEgT, Sheffield, two imprisonments of six
months; Messrs. HARDY and THELWALL, eight months,
under ebarge of constructive treason in 1793 .4 ; and Alr.
JOHN GALE:JONES,
eighteen months in two imprisontnenT