The Sun.
London, England, 1828-06-20 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

We ought to have mentioned earlier (but
politics and csam. rnerce—being more upon our
minds than lessons and lectures, the circumstance
escaped our recollection), that another University
is about to be established in London—we know
not whether we may say in aid of, dr in opposi-
tion to, that which is already in esse—whether to
supply its defects, or to destroy its existence. A
meeting is to be held on the subject on Saturday
next, at the Freemasons' Tavern, with the Duke
of Wellington in the chair. The Asence of re-
ligious instruction in the present establishment is
assigned as the cause for originating the new one.
Be it so : we will not quarrel, till we see cause, with
either institution. We will, however, remark, that
though thoroughly penetrated with a sense Of the
paramount importance of religion, we should still
have thought it difficult to make it practically a
part of the ordinary instructions at the present
college ; for what form of religion was to be
taught ? If that of the Church of England, then
not only would all Dissenters have been exclud-
ed, but some indication would seem to have
been given of the insufficiency, of the two Uni--
versities as places of every kind of instruction. If
any mode of faith or form of discipline different
from that of the establishment had been taught
or recommended, which should have 'been pre-
ferred, the Presbyterian, Independent, Jewish,
Catholic, or Anabaptist ? Undoubtedly, in any
case, Dissenters of other persuasions would have
refrained from seeking admission there, as firmly
as if the doctrines of ,the Church had been in-
culcated. It is very difficult to teach Chris-
tianity without falling into some of the modes of
faith. Even " the candid Lardner," the ablest
advocate of Christianity, (and the study of whose
works, by the way; we should recommend to the
Rev. R. Taylor, now in prison), does more than
insinuate his own peculiar opinions. We fear,,
therefore, as we have said above, that it would
have been very difficult not to leave the students
of the London University to their own means
of obtaining religious instruction, and their own
forms of serving their Maker.. The new insti-
tution is, however, to be founded on one system-
of faith,—that of the Established Church. It ,
will be perplexed with none of the difficulties of
which we have spoken above. It is, we sup-
pose, to teach religion as a science, as optics or
mechanics are taught. Still we have seen too
much of the success of the Bell schools as op-
posed to those of Lancaster (by which they were
preceded, just as the. forthcoming College has
(teen preceded by that which is already formed),
mot to think that this second establishment may
rAicceed, and rival the first, if it be really un-
dertaken with a hearty and zealous resolution.—
Times.
Our readers will pereeive from our report of
what took place last night in the House of
Commons, that some progress has at length been
made in the Ale-house Licensing Bill, intro-
duced by Mr. Esteourt, and which in various
ways has been so often before the House. Two
main clauses only were .finally • disete&--One
relating to the concurrent jurisdiction of county
with corporate Magistrates where a sufficient
number of the latter Was not present, the other
to the hours during which public-houses might
be kept open on the Sabbath. The former
clause was lost on a division, there being a ma-
jority of seven against it ; and with regard to the
tatter, public-houses are in future to be permitted
so keep open on the Sabbath, after the morning
service has been concluded, until the proper hour
of closing at night. This clause of the Bill gave
rise to no inconsiderable discussion and mrri-
ment. Mr. Hume isished to. know whetheer a
traveller, or any other person, would be obliged
by the new law to wait from elven o'clock, in
the forenoon on Sunday, until one o'clock, be-
fore he could procure beer from a public house ;
and as this question naturally involved the
meaning of the word " tippling," the 64 Col-
lective wisdom" immediately Net itself to ad-
just it. The matter, however, though plain to
every one, seemed to be beyond the depth
of the Honourable House ; and as no agree-
ment could be come to PP the point, it
was agreed to postpone ~1W furaier consi-
deration for a few days, until the Members
could finally make up their minds upon
Having already, on several occasions, expressed
our opinion of Mr. Estcourt's Bill, and having
also reason to believe that it will be considerably
amended and modified in its further progress,
we shall not indulge in comments upon it. So
far, however, as the spirit of the House has yet
been visible, we think that it is on the whole
favourable to the Licensed Victuallers.—Morn-
;Fig Advertiser.
A very valuable improvement made by the
Commons in the Offences against the Person's
Bill, was taken into consideration last night
the House of Lords. We mean the power given
to two Magistrates, in cases of assault, to settle
the matter without sending the , parties to the
Quarter Sessions or Assizes. This is, indeed,
so obvious a benefit, as far as the poor are con-
cerned, that we shall not waste words in support
of it. Lord Malinesbury objected to this amend-
ment, observing, that " he was one of those who
treated with great contempt what had been
heaped on the Magistrates of this covitry,whom
be regarded, p.aid or unpaid, as of the greatest
benefit to it; Ana therefore his objections
to this Amendment would not be attributed
to any feeling of 110,54„.., tlity, or
,any prejn-
dice against that body. That Magistrates,
whether paid or unpaid, are of benefit t 4 ale coun-
try, will hardly be questioned by any one ss•bp
does not prefer the savap state to civilized soeiety.
but whether
the English Magistracy is so conatitagd as to
leave room for improvements capable of airogling
much greater benefit, Most people Who have
attended to the subject thiols it very odd, that
in the 19th century, there ,exists no better mode
of providing for the local administration of jus-
tice in England, than the conferring Magisterial
authority on every man possessed of a certain
number of acres, without regard to capacity, or
;.itudy, or habits. It is natural enough that Lord
should think it • impossible there
Maltnesbury
could be any improvement on this an, as it bears
a wonderful analogy to that by winch Sages, like
his Lordship, are born Legislators and Judges
in time last resort. Besides, his Lordship is not
altogether an impartial Judge in this affair ; for
as it is his business, as a Legislator, to provide
for the administration of the laws, to say that the
Magistracy is not what it ought to be is to
It re-
flect on the order .to which he belongs, as
tsatural that a Justice-maker should treat with
'contempt all that is said against his Justices, as
that a shoemaker should treat with contempt
are,
all
who find fault with his shoes. Bad shoes
like
however, often better than none ; and in
manner, however sorry a substitute our Justices