The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-03 00:00:00

melody called "Silver Convent Bells," which Will
be found quite within the compass of au ordinary
soprano voice ; and Mr. Robert Coote, as his quota,
contributes a dashing mazourka. Mr. Blamphin
song, " Snow-white Rose" is characterised by all
the graceful peculiarities that have marked so
many of his celebrated compositions. We con-
gratulate the conductors of this very attractive
magazine on the success of their venture for public
approbation.

f
Cllllll4

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, August 2.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise,
drove out yesterday afternoon.

Her Majesty and Princess Louise, Princess 13er
trice, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Leopold, and
Princo Louise of Ilesse, attended Divine Service at
Whippinghaer. Church this morning.

The Price and Princess of Wales drove out oil
Saturday.

SIR JOHN ACTON AT BRIDGNORTIL

In a recent address to the electors, Sir John
Acton made the following remarks on the Irish
Church question :
" I approach this question of the Irish Church
Establishment, I am sure without partiality, and
hope without prejudice. I should deem it criminal
to be influenced in my judgment by the fact that
I belong to a different communion, or to attempt
the destruction of an Established Church for no
better reason than because it is not my own•
(Laud cheers.) I judge the Irish Church Estab-

iishment on exactly the same principles that I should
apply to a Catholic Church Establishment in the
midst of au overwhelming majority of Protestants/
and I cannot be more zealous for the destruction of
the one than I should be for the abolition of
the other. This seems to me the part of an honest
man ; and this is not the spirit in which the Tories
have acted. Refusing to consider the conditions
which justify or condemn the existence of a State
Church they reject the obligation of principle, and
disguise a sordid interest in the stolen garb of reli-
gion. (Applause.) There has been another con-
troversy of late years which may serve to illustrate
the one in which we are now engaged—l menu
the controversy about the temporal power of the
Pope. SuppOse I were to say, in the case of
Rome, that I would not consider the principles
on which the Government is conducted, and the
charges which are brought against it—that I
would not judge it by the same standard a 3
other States, because I thought that its destruction
might be injurious to the Church to which I belong
—what would you then think of me ? You would
say that I was a man without principle, that I Wes
willing to do evil that good might come, that
acted as if the end justified the m.:ans ; in shorts,
you would scout me for a hypocrite. And you
would be perfectly right. But the course which I
have described is precisely that which the Tories
have pursued in the question of the Irish Church
Establishment. (" Hear, hear," and applause')
You cannot believe that the Irish people are less en'
titled than the Roman to be governed in the we/
that suits them best. If you think it wrong
to support by force an ecclesiastical denomination
in one place, you cannot defend it in an-
other. (Applause.) The right which you accord
to foreign nations you cannot deny to your own
countrymen. If such an arbitrary and unpatriotic
distinction were possible, the privilege of being a
British subject would be a curse indeed. The tac-
tics of the Tories are not only a crime, but a mis-
take. They are binding the two Establishments
together by a bond which may prove too strong t°
be sundered when the weak one sinks. They, not
we, have embarked the Church of England in this
crazy boat ; they, not we, are answerable for the
result. They cannot save the Irish Establish/neat ;
its weakness exceeds their strength. I would warn
them not to plunge the two institutions into one com-
mon ruin. And I warn them in all sincerity,
for I am very far from believing that both
are involved in the same condemnation. Wnile
the conditions which are essential to the legitimacy
of a State Church are entirely wanting in the 0113
case, it cannot be justly said that they arc so in the
other. There aro reasons which, while they are
fatal to the Church Establishment in Ireland,
plicitly sustain and fortify it in England. (AP:
pla use.) It is yet time for the English Establishmea"
to free herself from her sinful sister, and to eso3l3l°
the effects of a ruinous complicity. If she will
bring back the untaught heathen of our great towns
to the forgotten name of Christ, and work 00,1
that apostolate of charity towards the neglected
poor, which England among all the nations needs
the most, then she need not fear for her
dowments, for Catholic and Noncomformist will
alike acknowledge that the labourer is worthy of 107
hire. (Applause.) There are those who endeavour
to persuade even grown men that this moventeet
against the Irish Establishment is part of a cell;
spiracy for the erection of a Papal absolutism in th
country. I will not waste many words on such.
pitiful absurdity. But I ask you to remember this
,1
—that the Catholic clergy of Ireland have solemnly
declared that there are not suitors for the spoil of
the Establishment, and that they will not cow
sent to accept one farthing of its endowment'4•
;
They have done this, well knowing that tbeil
decision will be an embarrassment to their
brethren on the Continent, where any State
that wishes to cast off the burden of -
salaried clergy will find its hands strengtl;i:
ened by their declaration. And where do 1°
think Mr. Disraeli has found the most significant
0
support in his policy on this question ? WV, la
an official organ of the Roman Government, il3.
newspaper which is published under the autheriti
and the shadow of the Vatican. If combination
there be, it is a combination among the Tories of
different creeds to keep up ecclesiastical establisnr
ments both at home and abroad. (Hear, bear,
and applause.) I may fairly say that Bri;
north "ill be in the van of the COorlin/
fight. When a large body of sincere all;
strenuous Protestants support a candidate wile
they
conspicuous for nothing but his Catholicism, tto
give in times like these a memorable example
their countrymen. _ (" Hear, hear," and applause.)
Perhaps you will be told that, in electing me/ 71,0 u
will not be earning the praise thus due to lotto
minded and enlightened men. You may be
that I occupy an exceptional position, apart the
the common and familiar line of opinion among
English Catholics. You may be reminded 'jaw
in the late debates, a right reverend Pre.. to
pointed to me as one who had special reason
look with sympathy on the existence of vati
Establishment. And it may be . said that a 'mho
cannot be taken as a representative of large
Catholic body who is at variance with
atlemel/'
portion of it on important points. en tote-
whether I represent the body or not, I cluiel
If I
derstand and represent the spirit. (Cheers') 1
.hoto
differ from many of my friends, I differ frol:bc..
in nothing more than this, that so far from
el le to
lieving the principles of my religion to be h°,,,jous
political enlightenment, to the progress of rel.lbtt of
is thethtaet° or secular knowledge, to liberty which
rc-
truth, or to charity which is a test of faith,
ligion has taught me to cherish the high liti
the
the love of fair dealing and of open sPecl3' the
love of even justice and of freedom, which a,lc
(Loud cheers.)
glory of the English name."

NEW DIVORCE ACT.—On Saturiay was issucu
the Act which received the Royal assent on the Prco
rogation to amend "the law relating to aPPera
the ll.vorce Court. Appeals to the House of I-0
to be within one month, and no appeal to the 1.1011_:
of Lords in undefended suits for dissolution of seraar
riage unless by the leave of the Court. " „,
there is no right to appeal the parties mai rnarrje..
again at any time after the pronouncing of the d.
tree absolute. The act has a qualified retrosPectlV

operation.