The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-21 00:00:00

instance the demonstration of Saturday last down
at Castle Hedingham. There the men of North
Essex might listen to what
,was thought of " all
things in general, and of one in particular" (to wit
the Future of Conservatism)—by whom ? By
W. B. ! Or, again, they could hear the prospects
of next Session described to them in glowing lan-
guage by the sanguine lips of Mr. Du CANE. That
hon. gentleman certainly, judging from his speech
of Saturday to his constituents, views the prospects
of his party with what we may call a most roseate
imagination After touching casually upon sub-
jects connected with local interests, the hon.
gentleman observed, in an early part of his harangue
with an unconcealed air of, exhilaration, "To
pass from the state of agriculture to the position
and prospects of the Conservative party, he thought
that we should find there even greater subjects of
congratulation. He remembered that when the
society met last year he ventured to breathe a little
whisper of something spoken of as a Conservative
reaction. The Conservative party, however, were
then told that they were labouring under a com-
plete mistake, and that they had only to wait till
the next session to be convinced most effectually
of their delusion. Well, the next session had
come and gone, and what had we seen ? Why,
measure after measure, which had hitherto
been rallying cries with the great Liberal
party, defeated or abandoned ; and seat
after seat, where seats had been contested, wrested
from their hands—while even that slight modicum
of reform which the Whig-Radical Ministry grudg-
ingly offered to the House of Commons to be scram-
bled for had given in South Lancashire a crowning
triumph to the Conservative cause." At all which
remarks the most cordial assent was attested by the
loud applause of the assembled Conservatives. The
purport of the whole speech in fact was this—that
Reform was done for, that it was a monstrous delu-
sion of the past ; that it had been found out ; that it
was by this time not only scotched but killed ; that
it was dead and buried, Supposing all which should
really come to be the conviction of the great mass
of the Conservatives, we may rest perfectly well
satisfied that—notwithstanding everything that can
possibly be said so boastfully and so hopefully about
the " Conservative Reaction"—the party must still
find itself doomed for more even than one or two
sessions to sigh vainly for office from the cold shade
of the Opposition.

Whatever the merits of Lord PALMERSTON'S
Attorney-General, one will not be denied him ;
he exemplified it with great eclat last Wednesday
evening. Sir WILLIAM ATHERTON is by descent
a Wesleyan. We are not acquainted with his pre-
sent views or practice ; but if he be even a de-
serter from the Wesleyan camp, he is not an
apostate. He still venerates the memory of the
founder of Methodism, still thinks he was a bless-
ing to the country, and regards him, indeed, as the
great Reformer of the Church of the Reformation.
With such views, he is admirably adapted to
keep the Methodists faithful to his chief. He
knows what will please them; and there is not a
sect in the kingdom more susceptible to flattery
from high places than the Methodists. If
they can claim an Attorney-General as theirs,
or only as their special friend, and can
read extracts from his speech at every
Methodist meeting in the kingdom, Lord DERBY
and Mr. DISRAELI must look sharp at their next
innings to find some favourite of the Methodists
who they may place at least as honourably as Lord
PALMERSTON has Sir W. ATHERTON.

The Methodists are always a danger for the
Liberals. Of the people, many forming a large part
of the lower sections of the middle classes, and
therefore influential among the ten-pound house-
holders, their regular clergy are almost to a man
hot Tories. This arises not only from their tradi-
tion's received from the WESLEYS, but from their
sectarian constitution. By that constitution all
power is centred in their ordained ministers, techni-
cally in a legal hundred ; practically in the body of
their clergy whose votes in Conference are con-
firmed by the legal hundred. No layman
limited authority, like
that of noncommis-
sioned
officers in the army
of the keys," the power 4, to bind but " the power
Methodism," is with the clerical conicarnendee. loosTehiant
oligarchical body is absolute and irresponsible,
. Its
rule has often been thought harsh by some , but
when this has been the case, the discontented
have
had to secede, and the old body has stood its ground
notwithstanding large secessions. No sacrifice was
even considered too great to uphold the sacred
right of the clergy to govern, and the correspond-
ing duty of the people to obey.
'We mention these well-known facts, because they
throw light on the apparent anomaly of a large
self-supporting, denomination, consisting
chiefly of
the humbler orders, who as a body have given their

However, the learned gentleman assured his
easily believing hearers, that Methodism, by its
special discipline, had effected a great change
among the colliers. Formerly, they were men
" not sober in their habits, and their sports were
not always those of humanity." Remnants of
those sports remaiaed in some places, " where, as
it was said, a man lavished on drunkenness what
he had saved from cockfighting." But thanks to
Methodism, to its preaching, to its discipline of the
old, and its education of the young, this state of
things had nearly passed away. Our speaker
honoured his audience, also, by pronouncing them
the very best of Parliamentary Reformers ! He
soon explained this, however, in a sense which would
not shock the nerves of the more Conservative part
of his hearers. He told them, what no one doubts,
that the time would come when a considerably
greater number of the people would be called on to
take a part in the Government of the nation, and
that the best way to prepare men for this was by
educating them, as the followers of SonN WESLEY
were doing in the adjoining schoolroom. Indeed
with a" circumspice," directed to the chapel and
the schoolroom, he exclaimed, that "he would be the
most true Parliamentary Reformer, in his opinion,
who exerted himself most zealously to maintain
buildings of this description." Well may it be

added that " Sir WILLIAM resumed his seat amid

loud applause." We only fear that the bill for
broken cups and saucers, for it was a tea meeting,
must have been somewhat swelled by the applaud-
ing vibrations of the well-thumped tables.
Sir WILLIAM included in his oration a long pane-
gyric of Religious Education which would have
refreshed the hearts of Sir JOHN COLERIDGE and
the Bishop of LICHFIELD themselves ; he would
probably have disappointed them, however, by lay-
ing the stress of his remarks on teaching the chil-
dren their duty to God and their neighbours, which
with Bishops, and indeed with most sects, is a very
low conception of religion. The higher elements of
religion are found by them in the peculiarities of
their denominational deeds and catechisms. We
must acknowledge that we agree with Sir WILLIAM
that what children need to learn is, the religious
truth, and corresponding duties acknowledged by
all sects ; the truths and duties, the knowledge of
which any teacher fit for the care of the young,
could not fail to impart to children. Sir WILLIAM'S
speech will satisfy all who care for the really reli-
gious education of children, and as to the rest, we
hope the sects will be satisfied to look each of them
after their own transcendental and ecclesiastical
peculiarities.

THE 14EW EDUCATION MINUTE.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN.

Sin,—ln your impression of the 18th inst. ycu are pleased
to refer to a speech of mine at Colchester on Wednesday
last, and, in reference to the new education minute, to com-
ment on my "pious fear," that it will combine with the
grant of State money the minimum of religious education
and the maximum of injustice to masters and teachers.
The words used by me on the occasion were these—" It
combines a minimum grant of State money and a minimum
amount of re/164mig education, with the maximum of injus-
tice to masters and teachers"—thus suggesting a third and
material point for parliamentary criticism next session, viz.,
the reduction, at any price, of the State money grant,
which I conceive to have men the primary and main ob-
ject in view of the framers of this objectionable minute.
Yours, &c.,
PHILIP 0. PAPILLON.
Colchester, Oct. 19, 1861.

PRINCE LOUIS OF HESSE.—His Grand Ducal
Highness Prince Louis of Hesse arrived on Saturday morn-
ing about five o'clock, at the terminus of the London and
North-Western Railway, in Euston square, attended by
his Gentleman in Waiting, Baron Westerweller, from a
visit to her Majesty at Balmoral. A Royal carriage was in
waiting, which conveyed the Prince from the terminus to
the London-bridge station. His Highness, attended by
Baron Westerweller, left London by an early train on the
South-Eastern Railway, en route to Germany.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary have returned to Cambridge
Cottage, Kew, from visiting Lady Marian Alford, at Ash-
ridge Park, Herts.

Earl Granville left Bruton-street on Friday even-
ing, to pass a few weeks in Berlin, during the festivities
consequent on the coronation of the King and Queen of

Prussia.

The Earl of Dudley, after attending the quarter
sessions of Worcester in the early part of the past week, came
to town, and after a ahort rest, took his departure to join
the Earl of Clarendon's mission in Berlin.
The Earl of Lonsdale returned to Carlton House-
terrace in the early part of last week, from the Isle of
Wight, where his lordship had been sojourning for the bene-
fit of his health. We learn the noble earl has now quite
recovered, and has left town for Whitehaven Castle, Cum-
berland.

AMERICANhotAeINwhZ, as heu s
eIaNtNo lis
aEyE, y o
INNKEEPER.—OId
d get Rowe
kept
that an
u
was ever made to eat. One day in came a Yankee, and stop-
ping up to the bar asked old Rowe what he could give him
could anything a
for dinner. " Anything, sir," said old Rowe, " anythin
from a pickled elephant to go
a
" Wa'al" said the Yankee bird's tongue."
, eye canary
a piece of pickled elephant."ing Rowe, " I guess I'll take " Well, we've got 'em ; got
'em all ready, right hero in the house, but you'll have to
take a whole 'un, 'cause we never cut 'cm. The Yankee
"thought he would take tome codfish aud potatoes."

ss) ; shorthorns, 45 to 4s 6d ; Devons, 3s 6d to 4s ; and
Irish 3s to 3s 6d per 141 b, estimated weight when fat. Fat
beasts firm at 8s to 8s 6d per 141 b. There was a tolerable
supply of sheep, and the activity prevailing on the other
side of the market extended also to the pens, which were
pretty well cleared at an advance in many instances of is
per head. Keeping sheep made 37s to 41s, and prime lots
44s per head ; breeding ewes, 29s to 41s, and prime lots,
42s to 45s per head. Fat sheep were readily cleared off at
Ss 6d to Os, and prime lots 9s 6d per 141 b. The prospects of
keep being now pretty good farmers are evidently disposed
to buy stock, although they have long shown much reluct-
ance to do so. Doncaster, 19th.—There was only a poor
show of cattle at to-day's market, for which the demand
was anything but brisk, and prices similar to last week.
The show of sheep was large, especially lambs, and prices
were about the same as our last market—ewes, 37s to 49s
per head; lambs made 26s to 29s each. A brisk trade was
done in pigs, which were bought up as they arrived, and
made rather more money. A few mulch beasts were also
on offer, which realised from to £l3.
SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AND LOSS OF LIFE.—
On Saturday morning Mr. Sergeant Payne, coroner for the
City of London and Southwark, received information of
the following shocking occurrence, by which a married
woman, named Julia Wainwright, lost her life, and her
husband, a respectable mechanic, residing at Douglas-ter-
race, New-cress, was fearfully injured, so much so that ho
is not expected to survive. It appears that at a late hour on
the previous night the deceased female was sitting up to let
in a lodger who had not returned home. Mrs. Wainwright,
while reading the newspaper, fell asleep, and, dropping
the paper inside the fender, it instantly caught light and
unfortunately ignited the poor woman's dress. In a mo-
ment she was surrounded by fire. Her shrieks for help
alarmed her husband, who had just previously left the
room, and he rushed to her assistance, and endeavoured to
tear away the burning clothing. In doing so, however, his
own clothes caught, so that instead of being able to render
assistance to his wife ho was himself in the utmost peril.
Several persons who lived in the house rendered the best
aid in their power, and by their joint exertions the fire was
extinguished. Mrs. Wainwright presented a fearful spec-
tacle, being burnt all over the body, so much, in fact, that
the flesh and skin pealed off when she was touched. The
other sufferer was almost as badly burnt. Both were re-
moved to St. Thomas's Hospital, where Mrs. Wainwright
shortly afterwards expired.
FATAL FALL PROM AN OMNIBUS.--On Saturday
Mr. G. S. Brent held an inquest at the White Lion Tavern,
Edgware-road, on the body of John Hitchinson, aged 25, a
driver of one of the City and Paddington omnibuses, who
lost his life through being suddenly thrown from his box
into the road. It appeared that on Tuesday evening last
the omnibus was proceeding down Pentonville-hill when
the conductor heard a crack, and instantly left his post for
the purpose of ascertaining the cause. A gentleman who
had sat alongside the driver was then getting down, when
the conductor said, "All right, sir." The gentleman, how-
ever, replied, "Go and look after your coachman." On
lyingins on the ground, and two
he was taken in
pdoerinsognssoahsseisftoiunngdhtimhe. driverßeing
ensible,
the omnibus to the Great Northern Hospital, and from
there to his home. He said he had two troublesome horses,
which threw him on one side of the road, the splinter bar
coming in contact with a post, and by the shock from the
collision he was thrown off the box. He laid no special
blame anywhere. On the following morning he died. The
post-mortem examination proved that deceased had sus-
tained a fracture of the skull, extending across the surface
of the head, from side to side, and there was extravasation
of blood, both within and without the skull. The jury re-
turned a verdict of accidental death, but regretted the gen-
tleman, who rode by the driver, was not present to give an
ample account of the accident.
THE ENGLISH AT PAU.—A correspondent writing
from Pau, on the 15th, says :—" If we may judge by
the number of British already arrived and comfortably in-
stalled for the winter, Pau may count upon the most bril-
liant season ever known. The accommodation is ample, and
it is not probable that the day will ever arrive when all our
ccsy country houses and apartments will be occupied,
House rent, particularly in the town, is much higher
than it should be, and as for fuel it is, I believe,
quite as dear as in Paris; coal at sf. the 100 kilos. is even
cheaper than wood. The railway from Bayonne, which
will, it is to be hoped, be finished in another 18 months, will
cause a considerable fall in the former article, and wood will
then be at a reasonable figure. A new theatre worthy of
the town will be open in a year's time. In the same fine
building there will be a concert. room and handsome apart-
ment on the first storey, suitable to a club such as our Eng-
lish one has now become. Our ' drag' counts upon a bril-
liont season, having entered into contracts which ensure it
a brace of foxes per week ; although these 'latter would cut
a deplorable figure at the commencement of a run, they will
answer perfectly for the finish.

NOBLEMEN TURNED LABOURERS.--It was a flue
thing to see Mr. Coke and the Duke of Bedford in smock-
frocks, busy during a whole midsummer day, handling and
sorting sheep, with as deep an interest as either of them
ever showed in a debate on the state of Europe: and their
agents and leading stock •managers were no doubt animated
by their zeal : but the clodpoles throughout the country
were incapable of enthusiasm, and more like their own pigs
than like their landlords. What the change is now, any
meeting at any flockmaster's will show. Amidst the oldest
prejudices and the most singular notions of the way in
which improvements work, one finds evidence that the
lowest farm servant believes that breeds of animals may be
modified, and that treatment of soil affects the crops; and
that stock and crops bear a relation to each other : and
this dim conception is nothing less than the opening of a
now world and a new life. It has stimulated the will, offered
a field to the intellect ; and, in short, turned the labourer
from a tool Into a workman,—Once a Week.