The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-07 00:00:00

nclebteil to the Reformation for the civil and reli

&us liberties we enjoy ; and I must decline to
adopt any course which would, in my judgment,
render those blessings less secure. Imu the more
free to dec!are these views becaus..! 1 have always
been willing to relieve my Roman Catholic fellow-
subjects from injustice or oppression, or civil ine-
quality. I regard charity and toleration for the re-
ligious belief of others as a high Christian duty,and
in proof of my sincerity I may
.refer to many pas-
sages in my public life. But, while 1 c tnuot as ist
in the destruction of any part of the Church estab-
lished in these realms, I am not, ou the other hand,
prepared to defend the ecc!esiastical condition of
I reland as it now exists ; and if this great subject
had been approached in a calm spirit of honest re-
form, instead of being precipitately thrtist forward

for scarcely disguised party objects, I believe we
might have arrived—indeed, I trust that we may
still arrive—at a satisfactory modification of exist-

ing defects. I feel bound, as a member of that
Government which has been responsible during the
last-two years for the public expenditure, to assure
you that we have endeavoured to administer the
finances of the country with the utmost economy
consistent with the efficiency of our establishments.
I think it the more necessary to refer to this point
because the finance of the present Government is
now the subject of constant attacks which are most
disingenuous and unjust. Si far, at least, as
regards the department with which I am connected,
it is well known that, if the late Government had
continued in office, they must and would have
adopted the same or similar measures as those now
complained of, and had actually commenced one
portion of that increased expenditure which is now
made matter of inculpation against their succes-
sors." In conclusion, Sir John says his views on
the education question have undergone no change,
and, as regards other topics, he awaits opportunities
for personal explanation.
CllittsT Cfiumit.—The address of Sir Henry
Drummond Woolf, the Conservative candidate,
expresses a willingness to remedy certain defects
in the Irish Church, but declines to listen to any
scheme for its disestablishment. lie states himself
to be an unalloyed supporter of free trade, and of a
policy of peace, economical expenditure, and dimin-
ished taxation. Some stress is laid on his local con-
nection with the place, both as a resident and chair-
man of the local railway.
DEVON (NORTII).—Mr. Walrond, who retires
from Tiverton, issued his address to the electors of
North Devon on Saturday. In conjunction with
Sir Stafford Northcote, he will commence his elec-
tion tour on Friday next at Barnstaple.
HEREFORD COUNTY.—It is currently asserted
that a second Liberal candidate will bo shortly
brought forward as a colleague for Mr. Biddulph.
In such an event the Liberals reckon confidently on

a triumph.
LANCASHIRE (NORTH AND NORTII-EAST).--On
Saturday an aggregate meeting, very fully attended,
of the supporters of the Marquis of Rartington and
of Mr. Shuttleworth and Mr. Fenton, the Liberal
candidates for the above two divisions of this county,
was held at Longgridg,e, near Preston. The as-
sembly was addressed first by Lord Hartington.
He dwelt chiefly on the question of the Irish Church,
and renewed the vigorous criticisms which he had
delivered previously on the national expenditure as
administered by the present Government. Both
the other candidates spoke, Mr. Fenton declaring
for the ballot. Resolutions in favour of all three
candidates were carried by acclamation.
NORTHAMPTONSHRE (SOUTII).—The differences
which arose in this division of this county between
the Conservative candidates, and which resulted in
the retirement of Sir Rainald Knightley, leaving
Mr. Cartwright alone to uphold the interest of his
party, seem likely to result in the return of Lord
Frederick Fitzroy, the Liberal aspirant. Many of
the Tory farmer adherents of the Knightley in-
terest,which is overwhelmingly strong in the county,
openly proclaim their desire to see the return of
Knightley and Fitzroy. At the same time, the
Cartwright family, who have the support of many
of the nobility and country squires, are strong
enough to make it more than doubtful whether
Sir Rainald would be returned if a second Li-
beral candidate were started. The general im-
pression, however, amongst the Liberals appears
to be very favourable to Sir Rainald Knightly.
They know him to be a bitter and uncompromising
opponent, but respect him as a neighbour, and it is
believed that his return will not be opposed if he
can be induced, by a requisition vrhich is about to
be made to him, to withdraw his resolve not to
stand.
WORCESTERSHIRE (WEST). —lt is understood
that Sir John Sebright intends coming forward
in the Liberal interest for West Worcestershire.
The Liberals, it is stated, are of undoubted
strength in the constituency. The territorial
influence is on the side of the Liberals, and amongst
those who are to be classed as supporters of Liberal
opinions may be mentioned, among others, the fol-
lowing noblemen and gentlemen—The Earl of
Dudley, Sir Thomas Wilmington, Lord Somers,
Lord Saudys, Sir E 'ward Blount, J. IVick4tead,
Esq., J. Wallace, Esq., R. Reath, Eq., Prescot
Decie, Esq., J. J. Williams., the Berkeleys, of
Spetchley, W. 0. Foster, Esq., Sir J. Thrownort;m;
Messrs. llarward, Ilornyold, IV. Running, J. B.
Westhead. This may serve to show somewhat of
the strength of the Liberals in the western division,
and it will be a source of satisfaction to a great por-
tion of the constituency to find the long-continued
Conservative monopoly of the seats is to be at last
disturbed.