The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-26 00:00:00

A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.-
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Wm. BATTY.
Immense success of " Turpin's Ride to York."
2nd appearance of Mons. Hillier, the Greatest Equestrian
of the day, who has just arrived from Lisbon.
THIS EVENING, will be reproduced TURPIN'S RIDE
TO YORK, AM) THE DEATH OF BLACK BESS, in
which the Brothers Edwin will appear with their celebrated
Steed Black Bess.
To be succeeded by Scenes in the Arena, supported by
talented Parisian and British Artistes.
Concluding with Batty's Prize Equestian Comic Panto-
mime, for Good Little Boys and Girls, by T. L. Greenwood,
entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE WONDERFUL
HORSE ; or, Percinet and Grociosa, the Ugly Duchess and
the Greedy King, produced with Gorgeous Scenery, by Mr.
Cuthbert, new Costumes and Appointments, and introducing
in the comae scenes Ilatty's Prize Equestrian Harlequinade,
and the celebrated Old Bob Ridley.
Box-ofilce open daily from 11 till 4
Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST.
Director of the Arena—Mr. Pearson.
Commence at 7.

CANTERBURY-HALL CONCERTS ! ! !
A Grand Selection from Verdi's Opera,

IL CORSARO,
consisting of the following Morceamt:—
Preludio.
Coro Scena ed Aria. "Tutto parca Sorridere"
Coro di Odalische .. "Oh qual perenne"
Cavatina "Vola talor dal Carcere"
Coro ed inno
Scena ed Aria. " Cento leggr,iadre Vergini"
Terzetto Finale " Voi tacete io non"
will be performed EVERY EVENING, in the original key
and Italian language—in addition to the usual attractions.
Mr. F. JONGHMANS, Musical Director.
Also, in preparation, Selections from Verdi's New Operas,
•,Un Ballo in Maschera," "Simon Boccanegra ;" and Flo-
tow's celebrated Opera of "Stradella."

• HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAY.—Morning, f 2h. 42m.—Afternoon, 3h. 5m
TO-MORRO w.-Morning, 3h. 22m.—Afternoon, 3h. 44m,

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, FEB. 26, 1661.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
45—highest since noon yesterday.
37—lowest this morning and during the night.
44—this day at nooa.

BiatomETzu-30.18.
WlND—Northerly ; light, with fine weather.

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THE SUN.
LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 26, 1881.

The fate of the Ministry will depend materially
on to-morrow's vote. It may seem rather singular
to say so much of a bill proposed for a second
reading by a private member, but we think we are
not far from the mark. It is not merely that if Sir
JOHN TRELAWNY be defeated, the side will be
defeated on which three of the chiefs of the Cabi-
net, as well as less conspicuous members of the
Ministry, have voted, but because of the position
the subject of Church rate Abolition now occupies
relatively to the Liberal and the Conservative

parties.
The leader of the Opposition has publicly chal-
lenged the Liberals to battle on the question of
Church rate abolition. He did so after Lord
PALMERSTON, Lord JOHN RUSSELL, and Sir G. C.
LEWIS had all given in their adhesion to it. He
saw the clergyman of every parish disposed to
become a local agent for the maintenance of the
rate ; he adroitly turned to them—asked their
political aid to make it a party question, and almost
guaranteed them a victory. After all this it will
be useless for the Ministry to allege that a defeat
of Sir JOHN TRELAWNY is not a defeat of them.
It would not be in form, but it would be in fact.
The country would so regard it. The House of
Commons would so regard it. The Liberal party
-would be made soon to feel that it was everywhere
so regarded. Mr. DISRAELI and Lord DERBY would
certainly look on a victory to-morrow as a victory
over the Liberals.

This view must be the right one. Should a 'vir-
tual or actual majority be gained by Mr. DISRAELI,
it would prove that Liberal members were apathetic
or recreant in a cause with which the profession of
Liberalism has been identified for many years on
all the hustings of the kingdom. It has, indeed,
been taken almost as a matter of course that Liberal
members would vote for the abolition of Church
Rates. The Liberal party cannot now repudiate
their acceptance of this cause. Too many thou-
sands have heard their candidates' glib answers
or ready professions, to admit of evasion ;
too many votes have been given in un-
doubting faith that the member would be " all
Tight," at least on this point, for any tergiversation
or lukewarmness at this crisis, not to be deeply and
lastingly resented. No excuse but absolute neces-
mity for absence will be tolerated by those who
elected men to vote right on what they regarded as
one of the accepted tests of a liberal member.
liberals throughout the country will, therefore,
feel that the Liberal cause is either betrayed or
overpowered, according to the Division Lists, if
they find them to be unfavourable. To-morrow,
every Liberal absentee will compromise both his
tarty and the Government.
We say the Government, not merely because of
*Leir connexion to a certain extent with the
but because any discouragement to-morrow
mill r2ac.t oa their position. It will be held either
that the Government did what it could to support
;Sir JOHN TRELAWNy, or it did not. If the former,
Mien it will be considered to have managed very
'badly, and to have suffered a somewhat direct
alefeat. If the latter, it will be even worse for the
'Cabinet, as its supporters will maintain that they
-were bound to use the Government whip to the
utmost in what had now become a party
object. The successive electoral defeats,
the income - tax defeat, and other defeats
which will be then certainly impending, will all
satisfy the country that the PALMERnON Ministry