The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-19 00:00:00

TO THE LDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sill,—llaving observed recently that a bill is be-
fore Parliament for some alterations of this law, I
have presented a petition, through Mr. J. S. Mill,
M.P., wherein I prayed that an alteration should
be made in it to prevent the repetition of cases
similar to that of F. Copestick, a resident house-
holder, who was sent to prison by the late Mr.
Jardine, the Recorder of Bath, for practising for
money astrological science, as was described in
your journal for the 19th Jan., 1852. Mr. Jardine
stated he considered the law to apply, under the
Vagrancy Act, even to a peer of the realm, and,
by parity of reasoning, to a member of Parliament.
Others might hold a similar opinion, and, therefore,
it is desirable for the Legislature to decide the real
state of the law. Lieutenant (now Commander)
Morrison, R.N., editor and proprietor of " Zadkiel's
Almanac," wrote a long commentary upon this
subject, which was published in your journal early
in 1852; and I understood from Lieut. Morrison
distinctly, by numerous letters, and through a con-
versation at his house at Bromptoa on the 20th
April, 1852, that Lord R. Grosvenor (now Lord
Ebury), or some other M.P., would move in the
matter. Acting upon that idea, and having con-

vinced myself that the astral principle, when well
understood, is useful, I published a note upon the
subject in the Almanac for 1853, and subsequently
my "Plea for Urania," noticed by you on the 14th
February, 1856, wherein I gave reasons for such
belief, and for the partial or entire legalisation of the
science pro bond publico. If the subject is not to
be followed up to a satisfactory result I shall have
incurred an unnecessary waste of time and of
money. Further, impostors in this line will still
flourish without stint, which is not desirable or
right in my opinion.*---I am, sir, yours obediently,
CIIR. COOKE.
New Alresford, May 16, 1868.

* See a recent case at Leamington, wherein a Miss
Shelly was imposed upon. The evidence was insufficient
for conviction.

A meeting of laymen in support of the Irish
Church and kindred institutions was held on Mon-

day, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, in
the City Terminus Hotel, Cannon-street. Sir
William Baynes, Alderman Rose, Mr. Giffard,

Q.C., and Mr. Baggallay were among the speakers.
Most of the speeches were weak, but that made by

Alderman Rose was positively vicious. Without
having the courage to accuse the Catholic clergy of

direct complicity with Fenianism, he made remarks
concerning them which clearly left this complicity
to be inferred ; and his ground for the inference

•
appeared to be that a Catholic priest had once paid
a fine for a youth convicted of posting a Fenian
placard on the Mansion-house. Mr. Giffard came
forward with another quotation from Mr. Glad-

stone, which was received with hisses. There were
occasional interruptions, but, on the whole, the
various resolutions were carried with tolerable una-
nimity. Three groans for the four City members,
and a prayer and benediction brought the proceed-

ings to a close.
The murderer of Mr. Featherstonhaugh has not
yet been discovered. Five men have been arrested
on suspicion, and have been examined ; but there
not being sufficient evidence as to their complicity
with the murder they have been discharged.
The sun of Royalty has since Gne days of William
111. shone but rarely on Irish soil. Between 1690
and 1868 there have been but four Royal visits to
Ireland. George IV. visited that island in 1821,
and remained there exactly seventeen days ; and
Queen Victoria has visited it on three occasions—
in 1849, in 1853, and in 1861, each of her M ijesty's
visits being of about a week's duration. " Thom-
son Hankey," dating from 45, Portland-place, has
obtained these details from "Ulster King-at-Arms,"
and published them in the Times.
The objections to the plan of giving passengers
on railways the power to stop the train by ringing
an alarm bell to warn the engineer and guard are
illustrated in two cases. The Birmingham train is
fitted with the electric apparatus, and on one occa-
sion a young officer from Weedon rang the bell
and brought the train to a stand-still " for $
joke ;" on another a medical man did the same
thing " out of curiosity." The medical man,
it appears, was very nearly lynched for his
pains. On our English lines there must always be a
risk of foolish persons playing these tricks. In
American cars there are too many passengers
placed together for any one to pull the rope which
runs along the roof ; and, besides, Americans are
generally too eager to get to their journey's end to
stop the train unnecessarily. If communication be-
tween passengers and guards or drivers is to be
made part of the railway system in this country, it
will be necessary to devise some severe punishment
for mischievous dolts like the young officer from
Weedon and the medical man. Until such ar-
rangements are made the dread of public exposure
might prove of some benefit. The railway authori-
ties ought to give the widest possible publicity W
the names of the two first offenders, who certainly
are not entitled to any forbearance or sympathY
from any portion of the community.
The anniversary of the adoption by the Poles of
their famous Constitution of the 3d of May, 1791,
was celebrated this year at Lemberg, the capital of
Galicia, with more national demonstrations than
usual. Huge placards were posted up in all pares
of the town with the inscription " 3d of May," re-
minding the people of the absolutist times of Bach,
when students used to write the memorable date on

the walls secretly and at night, the police arresting
any one whom they caught, thus reminding the
Poles of one of the greatest events in their history
In the theatre a patriotic play was performed, en-
titled " Kosciusko on the Seine," after which patrio-
tic hymns were sung, followed by a grand tableau
representing the national hero at Raclavice, the
scene of one of his most celebrated battles. In the
afternoon the Polish Musical S3ciety gave a enw
cert, at which it was remarked that Prince George
Czartoryski sang in the chorus side by side with I,
number of poor men and women of the working
class.
With reference to the Irish Church Commission+
the Irish Times, a Conservative journal, argues
that the recommendations which the Commis-
sioners may now deem their duty to offer, 38
necessarily framed after the question of the Estali-
lished Church has assumed so important and de,
tided a phase in the House of Commons, " 133111,
be such as Parliament can accept and ratify
Changes of considerable magnitude must be re-
commended if any practical result is to follow t:
Commission. They are not the true friends of t
he
Church in Ireland (the writer thinks) who alJ'..
or require suggestions for alterations less comp
hensive. " Suggestions of modifications posses!..r
ing only a mere temporary and partial charaa'.,o
will meet with no attention. The Commissioneli
have been engaged on a task of great labour o:,
difficulty ; they are men of experience, and
belie
(lowed with' sagacity and judgment., and the Pu pc
do not expt-ct the result of all their inquiries trio,
recommendations certain to be rejected the he
incnt they are presented to Parliament and vthat
the
the It is generally believed in Ireland
.te
the report of the Commission will include 4
tender of " some compromise for the saving
the Church." bmill
The Shepherd's Bush United Cricket Club
Jo..
play their first day match at Woodford, Essex, °'l
1-tB, uh,
° _ 00
' day, May 23th, 1868. The coach will leave the c1ub715,0,
(Royal Hotel) at 8a m. Ott Saturday, may 30t13,9
their first home match with the Queen's Printers, _Jo
Royal -Frivato Qrvunsi, near shepherd'* Dash
station,