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

THE' SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING =, OCTOBER 21, 1561..

vote, generally, against popular liberties. Pro-
fessedly, indeed, their clergy do not interfere with
politics. But the fact of their being out and out
Tories in the working of their own religious system,
and of their people being in such close contact with
them, cannot fail to have its influence. We know
also how ready religious sects are to perceive some
connection between their favourite politics and the
interest of their denomination. Hence the
Methodist clergy have often been found to be a
valuable influence on behalf of the Tory candidate.
The Liberal Wesleyans, however, and such there
are, will not fail at the next election to inform all
the electors that Lord PALMERSTON'S Attorney-
General is a warm friend to Methodism, and
made a capital speech at Sunderland in its praise.

Had Sir W. ATHERTON indeed received a brief
for WESLEYAN Methodism, he could not have done
better; and we believe that for the most part he had
historical truth on his side. MACAIJI.Y would
quite agree with him in the outlines he gave of
the condition of both clergy and people
when WESLEY and WHITFIELD, whom
he overlooks, but who, as an orator, immeasurably
surpassed his more politic brother Reformer, com-
menced their crusade against popular ignorance.
Sir WILLIAM adroitly avoids detailed incrimina-
tions of the clergy of that day, by negatively charac-
terising them as very different from the clergy of
the present day, in regard to the learning, piety,
and orderly conduct of the latter. Thus making
friends of the living at the expense of the dead. The
grand accusation, however—neglect, namely, of
their professional duties—he did make, and gave to
Wesleyanism the honour of seeking out and feeding
the hungry sheep whom the State clergy left to
starve. He went further—with a saving clause
for the faithful few among the State clergy
of that day, he described the system of that
organising mind, JOHN WESLEY, as " investing it
with a peculiar fitness for disseminating the truths
of the Gospel among the multitudes of the lower
classes." WHITFIELD died, and left hardly a trace
of a system behind him. WESLEY perfected a
plan which no Bureaucrat of the Continent could
surpass in its perfect centralisation. While he
lived he held undisputed supremacy, when he died
his legal successors found themselves in a position
to establish an oligarchical authority even more
absolute than WESLEY'S monarchy. This was but
natural a patriarchal monarch being likely to
govern more paternally than a board of a hundred
rulers by right almost Divine.

The English screw steamer Berwick proceeded
on the 3d inst. to Corfu to attempt the repair of the Medi-
terranean telegraph cable between Corfu and Malta, If the
cable be found in such a state as not to admit of repair, it
will be taken up. After performing this operation, the Ber-
wick will proceed to Cagliari to test the other cable between
that place and Malta. Mr. T. Andrews, the superintendent
of the Mediterranean Telegraph Company, left in the Ber-
wick to render such assistance as may be required.

PRACTICE AT SHOEBURYNESS.—On Monday next
it is intended to test at Shoeburyness the target recently
constructed by the Thames Iron Shipbuilding Company.
This target is supposed to represent the side of the Warrior,
and the "pounding" which it will be made to receive will be
equal to that which, under certain circumstances, might be
brought to bear against the ship. The result will, doubtless,
be very interesting; but, seeing that the Warrior is now
afloat and ready for sea, it strikes us that for all valuable
purposes, as far as she is concerned, we might as well save
the powder and shot. It is expected that, in addition to the
members of the iron-plate committee, there will be present
on the occasion Rear-Admiral R. S. Robinson, the Con-
troller of the Navy, and other officers interested in such
experiments.—Army and Navy Gazette.
EXTRAORDINARY RIFLE PRACTICE.—On Tues-
day last Captain the Hon. A. L. 11. Ruthven (Captain
Commandant of the Windsor Volunteers) made the follow-
ing excellent score at the Windsor Rifle butts, Dedworth-
green, at 500 yards range, with a long Enfield, in 10 shots :
—1 21122 2 2 2 2; total, 17 points-20 points being the
highest Nom that can possibly be made. The Scots Fusi-
lier Guards in garrison at Windsor have refused a challenge
from the Windsor Rifles, on the ground that the latter have
more rifle practice than the Household Brigade.
THE MEASURE OF THE VIRGIN'S FOOT.—The
Opiniotte Nationale, in an amusing feuillelon, showing up
the various devices to which the Church resorts to extract
money from the pockets of the simple, and which it de •
scribes as the idea of "drainage," applied to small purses,
reproduces from a late edition of the Rosier de Marie, a
work put in the hands of all children educated in convents,
an engraving of a footprint, within which is written :
" This is the exact measure of the most holy Virgin's foot,
taken from a sandal carefully preserved in one of the mo-
nasteries of Saragossa. Fope Innocent I. granted one
hundred day's indulgence to whoever would devoutly kiss
this measure three times and say 4three Ave Marias. This
indulgence was confirmed by Clement VIII."
An order in the Moniteur announces that the
price of bread was diminished on the 16th inst. It will be
for the ensuing fortnight 49c. the kilogramme of first
quality, and 42c. that of the second. This diminution is
explained by considerable arrivals of grain which have
taken place. The imports published by the Moniteur show
in the month of September an importation of 1,764,559
metric quintals ; with the quantity imported before this
makes 4,443,648 metric quintals since the beginning of the
year, subtraction being made of the quantities re-exported.
The present diminution has, however, a drawback which
will make it difficult for the people to take advantage of it.
There are very few centimes in circulation, so in many
cases the people will have to pay the former price of 50c.
and 45c.

MEXICO.—It is satisfactory to be able to state that
the arrangements respecting the proposed intervention in
Mexico have been amicably settled between the Govern-
ments of Great Britain, France, and Spain. It is intended
merely to interfere with a naval force upon the coast of
Mexico, and to insist upon the protection of British subjects
and the pay montof British claims of an undoubted and recog-
nised character, as well as the restoration of the money plun-
dered from the English consulate, in the name and under the
eyes of the persons fer the time entrusted with the adminis-
tration of the government of Mexico. For these purposes
the efficient fleet on the station and the marines on board aro
considered amply sufficient without the addition of any land
forces. Although the French and Spanish governments
may think it necessary to employ a military contingent for
the maintenance of tranquillity and the protection of Euro-
pean life and property, it is perfectly understood that this is
to be without any preference as to the forms of government
or with any view of territorial aggrandisement.
THE CATTLE TRADE.—NORWICH, Oct. 19.—Here
to-day there was a large supply of store cattle—Scots,
shorthorns, Devons, and Irish—and, the attendance of
buyers being good, and a disposition apparent to purchase
more freely than of late, a good deal of business was effected
at fully former rates, prices having, in fact, a hardening
tendency. Scots were quoted 4s to 4s Gd (freshin condition

LATIEST NE w ‘4,

PARIS, OCT. 21.

The Illoniteur of this morning publishes a letter
from its correspondent at Konigsberg, stating that
Marshal M'Mabon has received a kind welcome
from all, and that the King of Prussia has publicly
expressed the satisfaction which he derived from his
visit to Compiegne.

The letter then continues :--•

"The excellent impressions of the King are cor-
dially shared by the Government and country, and
will certainly exercise a happy influence on the
relations of France and Prussia.

"The King and Queen of Prussia held a long
conversation with Marshal M'Mahon. The King
spoke of his visit to Compiegne in terms which
inspired the Ambassador of France with respectful
gratitude."

MESSINA, OCT. 20.

Several shipwrecks, with the loss of ships and
crews, have taken place on the eastern coast of
Sicily, as far as Cape Passaro.
Two vessels belonging to the Franco-Servian
Company have been lost near Sisipolis and Burgos.

VIENNA, OCT. 19.

An Imperial Patent has been published to-day,
ordering the collection of the direct taxes in a
similar manner to last year, with the reservation,
however, that any changes in the taxation which
may be needed by circumstances shall be constitu-
tionally effected.

PESTEI, OCT. 20.

A circular has been addressed by the Chancellor
of Hungary to the Obergespane, requesting to
know whether it would be possible to reckon on the
support of the functionaries of the Comitats in
levying the recruits.

The Konigsberg Hartangscho Zeitung of to-day
has news from St. Petersburg, stating that the
Emperor has closed the Universities of Moscow and
Kasan.

BERLIN, OCT. 19.

Private letters received here from Warsaw, dated
the 16th inst., state that the General Consistory of
the Archbishopric.. of 'Warsaw has addressed a circular
letter to the vicars of the parish churches, inform-
ing them that, in consequence of the profanation of
the Cathedral and the Church of Sr. Bernard in
Warsaw, the ecclesiastical seal would be affixed to
the doors of both buildings on the 17th inst., and
that no religious service would be held in them
until an expiation had been made.

The circular letter then orders that, as other
churches are also liable to be similarly profaned, all
churches are to remain closed from the 17th inst.,
until guarantees are given that the temples will be
secured against further profanation.
The same private letters also announce that the
Council of State met at Warsaw on the 16th inst.,
and resolved, on account of existing circumstances,
to suspend its sittings.

CRACOW, OcT. 19.

News from Warsaw announces that several of the
churches in that city had been forcibly entered by
the military and the male portion of the congrega-
tions conveyed by them to the citadel.
Half the persons thus arrested had been since set
at liberty. It was asserted, however, that 2,000
prisoners yet remaining would be draughted into
different regiments for military service.
The clergy had closed the churches on account of
their profanation by the military.

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, OCT. 19.

The Royal Mail steamship Persia, from New
York on the 9th inst., arrived here at 3 p.m. to-
day, with 160 passengers.

She landed seven passengers and all mails, ex-
cept those for Liverpool and Scotland, and proceeded
for Liverpool at 3 30 p.m. ; all well. The Persia
experienced very severe weather between New
York and Cape Race.

NEW YORK, OCT. 8, EVENING.

The exact position of General Price's army in
Missouri is not known, but it is reported that he
has retreated into Arkansas.

A despatch from St. Louis states that General
Fremont had left Jefferson City in pursuit of
Price, and would, if necessary, enter Arkansas.
General M'Culloch is said to be endeavouring to
cut off General Fremont's communication with St.
Louis, and intends marching upon that city.

General Wool has returned to Fortress Monroe.
ederal reinforcements have been sent to Hat-
teras Inlet.

Colonel Rankin has been arrested at Toronto for
endeavouring to enlist men for the Federal army.
The Edinburgh, Niagara, and Norwegian have

arrived out.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Money easy. Exchange steady at 107. Great
excitement prevails in the stockmarket. Large
speculative sales have been effected, and a general
rise has taken place in all securities. New York
Centrals are quoted 77 ; Erie, 30 (9) ; Illinois, 67.
Cotton is quiet, with middling upland at 211 e. to
22c. Flour heavy, and 10c. lower Wheat de-
pressed, and 2c. lower. Corn.—Prices declining ;
lc. lower. Provisions quiet. Coffee steady. Sugar
dull. Molasses steady.

NEW ORLEANS, OCT. 4.
Cotton.—Middling is quoted 81c. to 81c. Stock,
1,000 bales. Sales of the week, 500 bales.
NEW YORK, OCT. 9.

General Rosencranz has forwarded despatches to
Washington, assuring the Federal Government that
he will be able to sustain himself against the com-
bined forces of Generals Lee and Floyd.
A Cairo despatch states that there are 40,000
Confederates at Columbus, Kentucky.
It is reported that President Jefferson Davis has
returned to Richmond from Manassas in very feeble
health.

General M'Clellan has reviewed 6,000 cavalry
and 20 batteries of artillery at Washington.
The City of Washington has arrived out.

QUEENSTOWN, OCT. 20.

The Royal Mail steamship Europa arrived here
to-day at 11 a.m., embarked the mails, passengers,
and latest telegrams, and proceeded for Halifax and
Boston at 4 p.m. ; all well.