The Sun.
London, England, 1828-04-25 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

A petition was last night presented to the House
of Lords, on the occasion of.the repeal of the Test
and Corporation Acts, of a nature which we confess
we had not anticipated, claiming for the Jews an
exemption from the operation of the clause recently
inserted in the Bill, which clause requires the person
accepting office to declare, &c., "on the faith of a
Christian." We know not whether the removal of
this clause in favour of the Jews would leave them
the "champ are" for municipal and other offices;
hit if such should be the case, we ask—why not ?
We have ourselves, in some particulars, a great re-
spect for the Jews. They are certainly a living
miracle in proof of the truth of Christianity. They are
a visible fulfilment of that prophecy, uttered and re-
corded eighteen hundred years ago, and said,—'
" Their house should be left unto them desolate;"
that is, they should he withowt a home or a country
till they should be converted to Christianity. They
are also the conservators of the prophecies, and
other records of the Old Testament, of which
Christianity is the fulfilment. We therefore
-,vould not exclude the Jews from office by the
new Act, if they are not excluded by their. own
faith. We have inserted in another part of the paper
their pleadings and reasoning in support of their
claim. They must not take the municipal fasces to
the synagogue. While we are upon this subjec`,
-ve may mention an amusing conversation which
ook place recently in " an -illustrious assembly."
" I wish," said a certain venerable personage, dis-
tnguished by his opposition to the proposed change,
and addressing Lord K., " I wish those the
whole bench of --, were hanging together at the
Tod of another Brunswick Theatre ; their weight
would bring it to the ground; and if not, were I
another Sampson, I would wrench down the pillars
of it." '6 Ah, all, my Lord," was the reply, " I
hate the B—s as much as you ; but you are no
''_,:ampson now ; you" (pointing to the absence of
the grasse perruque)—" you are shorn of your
locks,—you have lost your strength." Lord Eldon
fought hard last night, to carry two amendments.
The first was rejected : the second is to be re-con.
sidered this evening. We confess we see no im-
portant point in either of them.—Time•:.
It is rumoured—and we hope the rumour is well
founded—that Mr. Spring Rice will not go out to
India. fl would be a pity that any circumstances
Aould deprive Ireland of the parliamentary services
of ono of her warmest and most intelligent friends,
and whose industry, as well as knowledge, make his
labours no less useful than they are zealous and sin-

The discussion in the House of Lords, last night,
exceedingly instructive. We have more than
once remarked, with reference to the legislation of
this country, that as those who frame new laws are
almost all cases utterly ignorant of the existing
state of the law, it is quite impossible that they
should he able to foretell the alterations which any
new law will effect. Neither the Legislature by
which the new law i; passed, nor the proposer of
nor the public, know the operation it will have.
The new law is thrown into the heap; and in the
ranrse of time it is found out that the Art or Acts
which it was intended to repeal, were connected
in some way or other with a variety of other
Acts, of which it or they modified the effects;
and which now come to have an operation that
was never anticipated. Law in England may thus,
for she most part, he termed ex post facto; for,
as they who pass the Act, can seldom know the
r-omequences it will have, any more than the
public in general, the actual state of the Law
comes gradually to be ascertained from the in-
stances of individuals, whose sufferings in person
or property serve to draw attention to the effects.
Lord Eldon proposed last night, before the passage,
" And whereas it is just and fitting," &c., that there
hoold be inserted the following words :—" And
whereas the true Protestant religion, as professed
and established by law in the United Church of
England and Ireland, and the doctrine, worship,
discipline, and government thereof, should be, effec-
tually and unalterably secured; and whereas the true
Protestant religion, as professed and established by
law in the.thiirch of Scotland, with the doctrine,-
',.yorship, discipline, and government thereof, should
h effectually and unalterably secured; all the Acts
of Parliament for the establishment and preservation
of the fait] Churches, in force at the time of the
union with Scotland, are hereby declared to be in
full force fee ever." " What he intended," he said,
was to require as a part of a Declaration, that
persons who became Members of Corporations,
should state that they were Protestants ;" for " he
pledged himself as a lawyer, that if this Bill
passed, there was no law to prevent Roman Ca-
tholics from becoming members of Corporations un-
less the Charters expressly provided against it." This
Declaration of what would be the effect of the Bill,
without the guard of Lord Eldon, immediately threw
the House into consternation. The Bishop of
Chester was for a while unwilling to believe the
f.'hurrh on the brink of such an imminent danger;
but, he yielded up his faith to Lord Eldon's -solemn
pledge. The Duke of Wellington disclaimed all
intention of favouring the Catholics by admitting
theta into Corporations under the Bill, and thought
their Lordships were bound not to suffer the Bill to
pass without at least requiring an assertion, that the
members of Corporations were Protestants. The
Lord Chancellor also received a new light front.
Lord Eldon, who doubted whether a mere member
of a CorporatiOn was hound to take the Oath of
Supremacy, and recommended to their Lordships to
take some time to consider how they should men,
this danger. It would appear that Lord Eldon had',
insinuated, that the clause to which he moved his
amendment was the fruit of a Popish plot. It was
stated by Lord Holland, that the individual who
drew the clause was as strongly opposed to the
clause as Lord Eldon himself. A division took
place on the amendment, when the numbers
were 31 for it, and 71 against it; but the Duke
of Wellington became alarmed at his victory—he
was doubtful whether or not the word -Protestant
ought to be introduced ; and on his motion the fur--
thn consideration of this question was-postponed to
This day. Lord Eldon expressed himself detertniti-
ed to offer every opposition to the success of the
Bill, which could not
pass, he said, without produc-
ing a mighty effect on the Catholic question ; and,
as froM his minute knowledge of the law, we have
not the slightest doubt he will bother, if we may
use such a word, their Lordships exceedingly he-
fore all is over. As for the Bench of Bishops, who,
to do them justice, came to the question with a dis-
position to conciliate, we really pity their condition,
exposed as they are to the experiments which Lord
Eldon is making on their fears. " But, after all,
if we should be duped into an act of friendship to
Popery ?" We should not be surprised if our
spiritual Lords put such a question to themselves in
iio little anxiety. The proceedings, however, are
chiefly valuable, as serving to illustrate the glorious
uncertainty of the Law. We should not be at.all
surprised if the diligence of I.ord Eldon be rewarded
other notable discoveries.—Morn. chronicle.

•'~ J~

.'.fr. illicit:lel Angelo Taylor brought forward last
night his motion for further reform of the Court of
Chancery. Among the reform; suggested by the
Hon. Gentleman was, the obvious oiie of the sepa-
ration of the bankruptcy causes from the business of
the Court of Chancery—and the making the Lord
Chancellor merely a Judge. of Appeals, and the or..-
copier of the Woolsack in the House of Lords. The
motion was lost by a majority of 91 to 42. Mr.
Peel stated that the Comm
Commission to inquire into the
State of the Law was appointed ; and from the
terms used by Mr. Brougham, in alluding to the
appointment, we fear little benefit is to be expected
from it. Mr. Peel intimated a readiness, on the part
of Government, to appoint the other Commission
to which expectation has been directed ; and Mr.
Eyougham intreated him, if he wished that any
good should come of the labours of the Commission,
.to keep from it all Judges, Chief or Puisne,-and all
professional men, who had risen to distinction under
;he existing' system, and who could not help view-

ing with uneasiness any attempt to sweep away the
legal cobwebs which they had been employed in
spinning. This is a subject of immense import-
ance; and if Mr. Peel thinks that the country will
be satisfied by such reforms as will serve merely to
perpetuate abuses, by divesting them of some of
their most offensive appearances, he is much mis-
taken.—lbid.

As we long since said, we think the way is pre-
paring for the Commandership-in-Chief by the Duke
of Cumberland. Sir William Knighton's journey to
Hanover, 14.:c. had reference, we believe, to this
object. The Crown would then have under its
immediate control the Army, Navy, Church, and
Law.—/horning Herald.
We are glad that Mr. COurtenay is likely to lose
his Bill for the benefit of Benefit Societies ! It is
surprising that Members of Parliament cannot let
the people take eare of themselves in matters of
business. Mr. Courtenay might as well bring in a
Bill to regulate our Newspaper concerns. Such
gentlemen as Mr. Hobhouse, Sir Francis Burdett,
and others, who have plenty of time on their hands,
could not better employ it than in watching the
Bills that are foisted upon Parliament every Session.
We never saw this Bill of Mr. Courtenay's, but
we dare to say that it has been thrust into his
hands, by some one to whom a Secretaryship and
salary of some kind would he desirable. The public
are much indebted to Mr. Hobhouse and Mr.
Brougham for their opposition to this
The assertion of the Stock Exchange Bulls, that
the Russians, at the remonstrances of our Govern-
ment, have postponed for a month their invasion of
Turkey, we do not believe. That the weather has
put off the practicability of such invasion for a
month is likely, but not the remonstrances of our
Government ; for if the Russians had cared one
farthing for the remonstrances of our Government,
the Persians would not have been so mulcted of both
territory and money as they have. Our Govern-
ment, in this Turkish affair, would not, we should
think, remonstrate, except they had 100,000 men to
oppose to the Russians. Now we have only 100,000
men for all parts of the world Altogether we could
not muster a larger disposable army than 20,000;
but what would they be, opposed to 200,000 Rus-
sians ? Besides, the debt precludes the possibility
of one Government going to war, and remonstrating,
unless we could go to war, would he useless. We
can hardly get on in a financial respect as it is :
what would it he if we were to go to war, and ex-
pend an extra fifty millions a-year ? The latter
might knit the moneyed men, that they might lend
their money at the rate of 50/., with 31. interest on
the 501., or 6 per cent., and take a bond for 1001. for
every 50/. lent. A war upon such terms would be
popular among the moneyed men.—lbid.
NEWMARKET MEETINGS.—We desire to call the
attention, not" so much of the public at large, as of
the Noblemen and Gentlemen by whom these meet-
ings are patronised in particular, to a leading vital
point connected with them; and we venture to in-•
-dulge a hope that such attention will not be unpro-
ductive of a proper result. Why, we beg to ask
courteously, but firmly, are these meetings convened
on a Sunday.? Why, during the hours of divine
worship, in the afternoon, is the High-street of
NeWmarket to he Made an High Exchange for
betting on the next day's racing ? lf, during the
week, there must be a dies non, why should
not that day be Monday and not Saturday? We
will explain ourselves—for the benefit of the
unlearned these matters. The Races be-
gin on a Monday, and usually leave off on the
following Friday. Now, why may not they
begin on. Tuesday, and terminate on Satur-
day afternoon.. Were this to be the case, both tra-
velling and gambling on the Sabbath-day would be
avoided ; but if, from the lateness of the day's sport
on Saturday, the company must leave and travel on
• Sunday, it is better they should do so, than do as
'they now do :—both travel and bet on, the same sa-
cred day. Among those Noblemen and Gentle-
"men by whorn this sport—excellent, and in many
respects invaluable of itself, is patronised, _there
are many who are exemplary for the fulfilment
of all the more important duties attached to,
them as Magistrates, fathers, a;:d husbands ;
and we are persuaded that the present order
of things is one in which they do not cordi-
ally mingle. Let such bring forward the amend-
Merit which we here recommend, Let the com-
pany assemble on Monday, and bat till midnight if
they please; but let not Senators and rezponsible
public characters unite in giving what may be termed
a profligate air, Of tone of colouring, to one of the
most sacred Institutions of their country. We are
neither Canters nor Ranters, but trust we may avow
sentiments, of which the most pliant and high
?nettled Englishman need never he ashamed,—New
Times.

THE ARMY.

LORD HILL% LEVEE.

Lord Hill, as Commander of the Forcee, held a Levee
yesterday at his Office in the Horse Guards.
The following Generals, and about thirty other Officers,
paid their respects to his Lordship :
Lieutenant-General, Dyatt, Lieutenant-General John
Fraser, Lieutenant-General Sir John Byng, K.C.B. and
•G. C. H., Lieutenant .Genetial G riffithz, Lieutenant-Ge-
neral Widdrington, Lieutenant-General Hodgson, Lieut.-
General Sir John Oswald, G.C.8., Major-General VoT,O,
Major-General Sir Edward Blakeney, K.C.8., Major-
Gen. Blackwell, and Lord Wililam Russell.

The Depot of the I et Battalion of the ; st or Royal Regi-
ment of Infantry has been removed fr,om Glasgow to
Paisley.
A Company ,of the Royal Staff Corps, stationed nt
hasiheen ordered to hold itself in readiness for em-
barkation for Foreign service.
A detachment of Recruits for the Regiments serving in
India, marched from Westminster yesterday morning for
Chatham.
The 3forning Star Fast India Company's slip, arrived
at Gravesend on the 18th inst., bringing several detach-
ments of Invalids, belonging to the Regiments serving .i 1)
Ceylon.
A Detachment of the Depot of the 71st Regiment of
Infantry, at Chester Castle, has been ordered to hold it-
self in readiness for embarkation to :pip the Service Com-
panies in Upper Canada.
Detachments of the 6tth, or 2d Staffordahire Regi-
ment of Infantry, marched on the 15th and 16th instant
from Buttevsnt for Galway.

Sill PPING INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL.

WEinasnay.,.—High water . 8 min. past Wind
W;'N.W.:-Arrived the Fanny Connell, Joy, from Lisbon,
with fruit; Duchess.of Athol!, Christian, Isle of Man, with
flour; 'James Wilson, ditto, with ditto; Greyhound,
Cochrane, Londonderry; with oats; Telford, Pierce, Bel-
fast, with ditto; Nancy, Dublin, with ditto ;
Flint Castle, Griffiths, do. with do. ; Pericis, Dewy, do.
with wheat ; Lune,'Prowse, do. with do., &r. ;
ham, 'lead (steamer), 40. with sundries ; Chieftain, Owens
(steamer), Belfast, with do. ; Swift, Aitkin, Glasgow, with
do, ; Rosina, Little, 'Carlisle; in ballast ; Comet, Phillips
(strainer), Dublin, With the
A. holiday at ' the Custom-house to-day ;no vessels
cleared fig sea.
Telegraph Office, Wednesday.
Passed finiyht,gd., inward hound, at 12. 45. supposed to
he No. 97, Westmoreland, from Pernambileo. Wind W.,
;mean] bound, No. 103, Pacific,
light breeze.
fr-ZN9ee,,..PytT (11;Samcla:e't ship) : she his a pilot on board.
At M p.m. passed Point Lynas, inward bound, No. 233,
Crisis, British brig, from Saugor.
and N.. l pilot-boat.
No. 2pilopt-booat.tooafft.
Point Lynas. I brig inward bound,
N.E. of Vointpf Air.
At 10. 43., sc innne - 1,1• r• of the Floating Light, with
ai - .
..)c)
Messrs. J. Bibby and Co.'s privaP s4/441.
4t
Nothingls., pilnt-boffoatas
toefl'atPooirimit,sLyriikesa,d.;;
pilotl , _
and
off Point of :iii'.

A Farmer's servant, not long since, went to
the Plough and Harrow public-house at Alceston, in this
"unty, where.. he got royally drunk : as he was going
home hr met his master, who naturally enough enquired
where he had been?" " Been ?" said the countryman,
" whY,-top/ough and liarrer all day to be zhure." " Ye.,"
replied his master, "and now, I Fee, you're rolling home."
—llriyhtou Gazette.