The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-18 00:00:00

quite amusing tm Tuesday to witness the hopeless
looks, and to hear the ad miserecordium appeals of
those faithful sons of the Church, who thought me-
difeval extortions one of her most blessed privileges
and dearest rights. They spoke as to hardened

sinners and unsentimental men of business; as for

Dissenters, dear good people, erring as they were,
they respected their scruples (they did not respect
them much till Dissenters first got an overpowering

majority to respect them) ; they wished them to be
exempted ; they even admired Dissenters like the
admirable member for Cambridgeshire ; but how,
then, could these pitied and bepraised Dissenters
want to abolish the venerable church-rate ? Why
not write themselves off Dissenters ? Or why not
send a notice to the churchwarden that they were
Dissenters, and intended to take no part in either
laying or paying a rate ? Vain, however, was all
the wooing of Mr. BERESFORD HOPE, Mr. SIDNEY
HERBERT, and others. Sir J. TRELAWNY, on behalf
of his clients, sat on the back benches immoveable;
before him, on the left hand of the Speaker, sat
the closely-packed rows of abolitionists ; on
this question he was their acknowledged leader;
he adhered to abolition pure et simple ; and two
hundred and forty-four votes, and forty-one pairs,
supported him in his adherence ! When four
hundred and ninety-six members have thus voted
on a question—and the same number within two'
voted last year—and when the votes and pairs in
its favour are nearly half the entire members of the
House, it is surely time that the matter shbuld be
settled.

The reason of the defeat of Mr. WALPOLE'S bill
is now evident. It was defeated because, as almost
every speaker confessed, the time for compromise
is past. Great numbers of Churchmen are as eager
as Dissenters to put an. end to the useless struggle.
The latter will never, as Mr. DEEDES, in seconding
the motion to throw out•the Bill, acknowledged,
consent to any compromise. They have it
in their power to inflict an annual debate
most damaging to the Church itself, on the
house; they have the power of harassing half the
clergy in the kingdom in parish parliaments ;
they have the advantage of a law, by which they
are triumphant if in a vestry majority ; and by
which, if in a minority, they can vex the rate-
collector with technical difficulties, which will cost
him more than the rate is worth to overcome.
Dissenters, therefore, are masters of the situation.

They gain, indeed, more in some respects by the
delay of abolition than they would do by carrying
it. The thorough-going Anti-State-Churchmen, as
their own organs let out, will regret the loss of so
good a point of attack on their antagonist. They
do not at all conceal it. They tell us that it is like the
question of a fixed duty on corn ; the longer it is
discussed, the more it will open the eyes of
the
,public to the merits of Voluntaryism, and
the needlessness of an Establishment. But a
few years ago, indeed, half the honourable mem-
bers, if asked who and what Voluntaries were would
have had to confess their ignorance. Now they
hear the praises of Voluptaryism from almost every
Churchman who opposes the abolition of compul-
sory rates. To be sure he does not so far commend
it as to think he can do without Endowment and
Rates ; but we strongly suspect that such Church-
men are further on the road than they think, that
they will very soon question the utility of their
crutches, and begin to wish to get rid of them and of
theological debates in Parliament, for ever.
And now, with a majority of 83 against Mr.
WALPOLE'S kindly-meant compromise, and one of
74 in favour of abolition, what will the Lords do ?
Will they this year also hold out against what the
House of Commons has decided for the fourth time ?
True they will have been asked formally but twice
to abolish Church rates; and it generally
has taken very much more asking than

;hat to teach them a liberal discretion. It seems

to be pleasant to them to have one or two of these
annual ecclesiastical squabbles with the House of
Commons, by way of showing that they are a
House of Lords. So little they have to do, that
were they not to put themselves in our way every
year we might forget that there was a House of
Lords. Better be the stumbling-block to religious

liberty than be forgotten. Well, we must leave

the Lords to settle the question for themselves ;
we know, and they know, how it will be settled at

last ; but if they prefer to have a few more years of
conflict with the country, well and good. Well
and good for the country and religious liberty, we
mean. Every good cause is a great gainer by pro-
longed discussion, and by the self-exposure of per-
verse resistance. Lords may lose the respect
of the people, but Church-rate abolition, and
some other ecclesiastical abolitions, will assuredly
lose nothing. Nothing, indeed, so successfully
exposes prejudice and. bigotry •to deserved
contempt, as their own endeavours to prevent
the increase of religious, social, and political
light. It would be a pleasure certainly, to see
that our House of Peers had become as en-

lightened as the people and their representatives,
but should the Peers prove too faithful to their
nature it will be only too pleasant a task to try
another battle with them next year and the next
also. We are happy to see that some peers' sons
are wiser than we fear their fathers will be. It will
however be matter for regret if Lord DERBY cannot
give his vote on the same side as his son. Aboli-
tionists, of course, have noticed that Lords Rapt
RUSSELL and PALMERSTON did not vote at all.
We cannot respect this shirking of public questions
by men who insist so strongly on the poor elector
being compelled to register his vote openly.
Keeping it out of the division lists, and hiding it
away in the lobby of the House of Commons, or in
a member's own private dwelling, is quite as un-
English and cowardly as the poor elector's Ballot
Box.

of Manchester, now of Birmingham, proclaim that
the ship will never do as she is. She might have
done very well some years ago, but different bows,
greater length, above all, the popular power of
steam, must and are now essential. Well, what
shall be done ? Pull the ship entirely to pieces,
which is just completed, and sell her for old timber ?
rather a costly process that. Why not survey her
afresh as she stands; why not let the opposition
surveyors, RUSSELL and BRIGHT, try their hands
upon her, and see if they cannot, without an utter
break - up, make the vessel fit for political high
seas ?

Look at the Reform Bill as it stands. A very
admirable and substantial part of it was con-
structed from the designs of LOCKE KING, Esq.,
a part for which Reformers have long con-
tended earnestly ; the present surveyors have
mutilated that part seriously, but the mutilated
portion may be restored. In the pocket borough
portion, schedule B wants to be greatly lengthened,
and a schedule A added ; well, this can be done ;
then the steam requires to be put in by a lower
franchise in the boroughs; and what hinders ?
And then, above all, the good ship must be well
coppered all aver (to keep out certain enemies de-
structive to her timbers) with the protection of
secret voting—and this may easily be done if the
surveyor for London will but agree with him of
Birmingham.

One word to our Tory friends. They now see
that their most Radical opponents have no kind of
objection to make a several years' battle of Reform.
They will certainly do so, if now resisted too much.
Take either alternative—and let Conservatives con-
sider which is best for them. A large number of
members, and a considerable part of the public will
say, we will take the £lO county franchise from
the Conservatives and leave the rest. If this be
not conceded pure et simple, we believe the Ministry
has little chance. But if no more be conceded, can
it be a settlement ? Will not agitation for Reform
commence immediateiy. Take the other alterna-
tive, that Government will consent to large amend-
ments in committee ; if they be not large enough
the course will again be left .open to Reformers
for further agitation, and that with additional
strength from the enlarged constituencies. We
have no doubt whatever that Lords PALMERSTON
and RUSSELL are quite in as great a fright as even
the present Government can be with the growing
demands of Reformers; and we beg to tender our
humble advice to both the " outs" and the " ins,"
that they had better, for their own peace, close
at once with the popular demands of the hour.

Once upon a time, according to Lord CLARENCE
PAGET, a vessel was laid down by somebody, or by
" THE SYSTEM" in our Dockyards. But while she
was building, which took a long time, years we
believe, to accomplish, improvements in a ship's
lines were discovered, and steam asserted its naval
claims, and so the good ship on the stocks was first
improved in her bows, then touched up at her stern,
and finally was cut open and lengthened, and the
steam let into her amidships. At last a right good
ship she went forth ready to cruise in the Channel,
or keep watch over Cherbourg, or to sail or steam
round any French frigate—in fact, quite up to the

mes.

Now, to us this all reads like a parable. For a
long time, for these five or six years at least, our
political dockyards have seen the good ship Reform
Bill laid down and building. Many- unforeseen
hindrances have delayed her completion. Mean-
time some slight alterations have been made in her,
'index the surveyorship of Lord JOHN RUSSELL. As
the Fates would have it, however, it became a ne-
cessity that she should be launched for the public
service, under the administration of quite
another - surveyor, one whose views of political
shipbuilding have not changed since 1832, and who
is nnt ashamed to say so. He has therefore brought
the vessel as nearly as possible to the model then
approved, and says that she is ready to be
launched.

IVlpantilnfe, the 014 surveyor and a new one, late

SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 18, 1859,

FRANCE.

41 per Cents. 94 10
Do. end month I
3 per Cents.
.67 751
Do. end month 67 85
Bank Shares 2850
Credit Mobilier
Do. Account

RAILWAYS.

SARDINIA.

LATEST NEWS.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :
ST. PETERSBURG, THURSDAY.

Advices have been received from the Caucasus.

On the 19th February General Jeffdokimoff with
his corps d'armee laid seige to Schamyl's capital.
The place is fortified, and the besieged appeared
determined to make a stubborn resistance.

An account of the particulars of the siege is ex-
pected.
The tribe of Pshok, in Abhasia, made its sub-
mission to the Russians on the 28th January.

TURIN, MARCH 17.

Private letters from the frontiers announce that
the Austrians had commenced preparations to lay
mines for the purpose of blowing up the bridge of
Buffalora, over the Ticin.

The number of volunteers arrived here already
exceeds 6,000.

ROME, MAACII 17.

No further despatch of reinforcements has been
notified to the Pope by France. It is asserted in
some quarters that a note of the Papal Government
has'been lately addressed to the Duke de Grammont
requesting the evacuation of the States of the
Church by the French troops as early as possible.

LISBON, MARCH 17.
The King has accepted the resignation of the
Ministry.
The Duke of Terceira is charged with the forma-
tion of a new Cabinet.

The following are the members of the new
Ministry :
President of the Council and
Minister of War Duke of Terceira.
Minister of Interior
Minister of Justice . . .
Minister of Finances
Minister of Public Works Serpa.
Minister of Marine
The contract Sir Morton Pete has been aban-
doned.

MILAN, MARCH 15.

On the occasion of a dinner party the Governor-
General had assured his guests that peace would
ere long be consolidated.

A different opinion, however, prevails in mili.
tart circles.

TRIESTE, MARCH 17.
The Austrian Lloyd's steamer just arrived brings
news from Constantinople to the 12th inst.

Husseini Pasha, who was lately arrested for
issuing counterfeit coin, has been condemned to 16
years' imprisonment.

CORFU, MARCH 12.
Sir Henry Storks has instructed a mixed corn
mission to submit to him proposals for administra-
tive reforms.

ATHENS, MARCH 12.

The Chamber of Deputies has unanimously
disapproved the charges against the Minister of
War.

PARIS, MARCH 17.

Lord Cowley arrived yesterday evening in Paris.
His lordship this morning had an interview with
.the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It is believed that
the English Ambassador has also had an interview
with the Emperor.
M. Musurus also arrived yesterday evening, and
was to have had an interview to-day with M. de
Walewski.

Lord Cowley's mission, whatever its result may
be, appears to occupy for the present the entire
attention of the diplomatic body. It is still believed
that the Paris Conferences will not be opened till
next week.

Among the military promotions announced by the
Moniteur on the occasion of the Prince Imperial's
birth-day, is that of Col. de Castagny, 82d Regiment
of the Line, who is made a brigadier-general. His
was the first and most enthusiastic of those cele-
brated addresses published by the Moniteur, in
which the invasion of England was suggested, in
order to root out the refugees. "If," said Colonel
Castagny, " your-Majesty requires soldiers to seek
out these wretches, even in the recesses of their
den, we, the 82d of the Line, humbly pray to be
allowed to form part of the advanced guard of this
army." Another hero of the same epoch, Colonel
Gault, of the 46th Regiment, is also made a general.
His address was one of those few, which, on
account of their containing matter too strong for
the public eye, were not published in full. That
part of it which in all probability referred specifi-
cally to England is indicated in the Moniteur of
January 28, by asterisks which are followed by the
phrase—" We will fight your enemies wherever
we may find them." -
BOURSE, March 17.—The market has been heavy,
with litlte or no business doing, and the variations
consequently trifling. Threes, after having been
done at 67f.. 550., declined to 67f. 35c., and are now
at 67f. 45e. Mobilier varied from 757 f. 50c. to
762 f. 50c. ; Austrian, 520 f. to 522 f. 50c. ; Orleans,
1,327 f. 50c. to 1,330 f. ; Lyons, 825 f. to 827 f. 50c.
Northern, 915 f. to 917 f. 50c. ; Eastern, 673 f. 75c.
to 675 f. ; Southern, 595 f. to 507 f. 50e. The fol-
lowing were the last quotations :

Credit Fonder 645
Belgian 4f 97 75
Piedmonteso (5)
Roman B5
Austrian
Spanish Threes 43 50
Home Debt 39 50

Account.
Orleans • 1332 50
50 . . 1335
Northern . 920 .. 925 .--•
New ditto. 790 .. 790
Lyons and Mediterranean B3O .. 830
New ditto — ..
Geneva — ..
Midi — ..
Southern
Western 595 ..
Eastern
Grand Central — • • -- --
Sardinian 395 ..
Austrian

527 60

Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 15c. ; money,
25f. 10c. ; three months, paper, 25f. 21c.; money, 24f. 971 c.

Some of the journals having stated: that the
English Government lately addressed remonstrances
to the Sardinian Government, complaining of its
enrolment of Austrian deserters, the Arnzonia re-
marks on the subject :—" If we are well-informed
the reply given by the Sardinian Ministry
declares that the English Government complains
of facts in which. it is in nowise concerned, and
has not the right to ask for explanations rela-
tive to the enlistment of Austrian deserters. The
answer nevertheless declares that Piedmont can-
not avoid enrolling the deserters, because it can
neither send them back, nor, without danger
to public tranquillity, leave them unoccupied.
The note concludes by asserting that this measure
is but a feeble act of reprisals for the provocations
of Austria, who is effecting concentrations of troops,
raises fortifications at Piacenza, Pavia, &c."
The Armonia of Turin states that active prepara-
tions are being made for transporting the seat of
Government to Genoa, a city which is not, like
Turin, open to the inroads of an enemy. •