The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-05 00:00:00

done by.

"10. That the late decision of thenouse of Lords, by which
—without prejudice to the liability of occupiers of property in
lands, houses, and other tenements—the consent of a ma-
jority of ratepayers in vestry assembled has been declared
to be a condition of the making of a Church-rate, has re-
tsoved the only ground upon which a plea of injustice could
with any show of reason have been maintained."

It is an injustice that a " majority of ratepayers"
should force a minority of their neighbours to pay
for their Church and worship. Voluntaries think
it an injustice that even one Churchman should be
able to compel another Churchman to pay if he be

unwilling.
" 11. That it appears to your petitioners that the refusal
of Church-rates in a few hundred parishes is no valid plea
for the general abolition of the law of Church-rate ; there
Ding, on the other hand, so many thousand *wishes in
which Church-rate is regularly granted and pai

In " many thousand parishes" the parson and the
squire compel the minority of objectors to pay
without objection, because they dare not object.
Those parishes which can liberate themselves
should help those which cannot. Besides, no
man ought to be compelled to pay for religion, ac-
cording to the Voluntaries, and we are all to be
voluntaries in the next generation.

" 12. That your petitioners do not suggest any compro-
mise; nor is it compromise, but abolition of Church-rate,
which is sought by the promoters of the bill now before
Four Hon. House ; such abolition being avowedly sought
not so much for itself as for what it necessarily contains ;
that is to say, the weakening of the position of the National
Church as established by law."
Nor do abolitionists seek any compromise.
Anti-State Churchmen say that Church-rate ves-
tries are their best platform for Anti-State Church

attacks. We believe theta. It is sticking to
such an injustice as Church-rates, which weakens
the Church.
" 13. That your petitioners would humbly suggest that,
until the Legislature shall in its wisdom make other and
equivalent provision for the repair of the fabrics of the
churches, and for the performance of Divine service there-
in, it would be the best course to leave it open to those pa-
rishes which have departed from the custom of Church-rate
to restore that custom, and to make no attempt, in respect
of the many thousand parishes which are more happily cir-
cumstanced, to interfore with an immemorial usage, which
so approves itself to the minds of the majority of the people
as to make it ddubtful whether any other provision so fair,
so careful for the poor, so little exposed to any reasonable
objeotion, and so competent to fulfil all its purposes could
by any means be devised.

" 14. That your petitioners would humbly suggest that
it would remove grounds of contention, as well as of objec-
dos to the present law, it the Legislature were."

Prayers which will certainly share, as they de-
serve to share, the fate of " Long prayers." Arch-
dukes and Archdeacons do not seem to be the
taste of the day, becanse they are unable to under-
stand the day they live in. Had not the Church
wiser friends than its dignitaries, it world not take
another generation to make all the people volun-
taries.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS FREDERIC WILLIAM.
,arThe Admiralty steam-yacht Vivid arrived at Dover on
Thursday night, to be in readiness to convey their Royal
Highnesses the Prince and Princess Frederick William of
Prussia from Ostend to that port, en route for Windsor, to
be present at he celebration of the Prince of Wales's birth •
day. According to present arrangements, their Royal
Highnesse, will arrive on Monday,

Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Marie
of Russia, accompanied by a numerous suite, arrived at
Dover on Friday afternoon, at half-past 4 o'clock, by the
down express train from London, and immediately pro-
ceeded to Birmingham's Royal Ship hotel, sphere the
Grand Duchess is expected to pass the night. His Zxcel.-
lency Baron Brunnow was in attendance there to r.eggve
her Imperial Highness. The Grand Duchess is on IA
way to visit the Emperor and Empress of the Mon* sit
Compi4ne.

Their Royal Highnessess the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary will leave Kew early in the
ensuing week, on a visit of several days to her Majesty and
the Prince Consort at Windsor Castle, where a distin-
guished circle will meet to partake of the of the royal hos-
pitalities consequent on the birthday of the Prince of
Wales. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge will
also be among the guests of the Queen during the greater
part of the week.

Her Highness the Prinvess Olga D3lgorouky,
Comte Nicholas Noucheff BerbJrodko, and M. Leopold Pisa
have arrived at Long's Hotel, from Paris.
His Excellency the Brussian Minister and the
Countess Bernstorif arriTecl at Prussia-house, Carlton
House -terrace, yesterday, from visiting the Marquis and
Marchioness of Salisbury at llatfield House.

His Excellency the Marquis d'Azeglio is expected
to return to the Sardinian Legation to-day, from visiting
the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury at St. Giles's, and
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston at Broadlands.

The Duke and Duchess of Buceleuch and family
arrived at their mansion in Belgrave-square last evening,
from Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire, in order to be pre-
sent at tho marriage of the :Earl of Dalkeith and Lady Louisa
Iranailton, on the 10th inst.

The Marquis and Unrchioness •f Stafford arrived
at Stafford House, St. James's, yesterday, from Tarbot
House, N.B.
The Earl and Countess of Hardwieke and Ladies
Yorke have returned to Wimpole Hall, Cambrilgeshire,
from visiting the Earl awl Countess of Derby at Knowsley,
Lancashire. Viscount Royston, who only arrived on
Thursday from India, 'where his lordship has been serving
with his regiment, has left town to join his relatives at
Wimpole.

The }lon. Campbell Scarlet and family have
returned to the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn.-street, from a
visit to Lord Abinger at Abinger Hall.
The Right Hon. Wm. Cowper arrived in London
yesterday, from Broadl.9.l.ds, Hants.
The Rev. W. Vernon Harcourt, with Mrs. and
the Misses Vernon Harnourt, have left Edwards's Hotel en
a visit to Mr. llarcourt and. the Countess Francis Waldo-
grave at Strawberry Hill.

Sir Robert Peel left town on. Wednesday for
Drayton Manor, Staffordshire.

The Duke and Duchess of Bueeletteh and family
are expected to arrive in town early in the ensuing week
from Drumlanrig Castle, N.B.

The Bishop of London purposes rtsuming his
weekly receptions at London-house, betwoeu the hours of
11 and 2, on Tuesday next, Nov. 8,