The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-27 00:00:00

CHURCH-RATES.-ANOTHER
VICTIM.

Devoutly indeed should all sound-hearted Church-
men pray, that the Church might be saved from its
friends. Our readers recollect the proceedings which
took place a few years ago at Leicester and other
places, in consequence of a conscientious objection
which several Non-Conformists held to church-rates.
Another recusant has been victimised to the bigotry
of a clique of devouts, who choose to re-establish some
of the worst practices of the Inquisition, and promote
the cause of Christ by penalties and dungeons.
We have not time to enter upon the whole parti-
culars this week. A few of the facts, however, we
will briefly state. _ _ _

A milk;eller, named Wragg, who for sixteen years
has been a consistent member of a Baptist church,
and who has a wife and four small children, objected,
with others, on conscientious grounds, to a church-
rate levied in St. Werbugh's parish. A " small and
secret junto" (to quote from the letter of Mr.
Guwthorn, inserted elsewhere) directed the Church-
wardens to cite Wragg. into the Spiritual Court of
Doctor's Commons, where expenses have been run up
against him to the amount of 231.! Further steps
have yet to be taken, the result of which will be the
ruin of the poor man and his family, and, in all pro.
bability, the incarceration of his person in a dungeon,
since, we understand, he is determined not to pay.
We shall have more to say on this subject next
week—and probably for many a week to come—
meanwhile, we have to congratulate the clergyman
who is reported to have taken part in these proceed-
ings on the Christian spirit which the act displays.
How strikingly in accordance with the precepts of
Scripture is an iniquitous proceeding like this!
What an unction the godly man must lay to his soul
when appealing to the God of lore and mercy for an
approving testimony to the correctness of his princi-
ples !—Derby Reporter.

TUB SIGNS or Lomnoa.—lt is not a hundred years
since a great part of London was disfigured by signs
suspended from almost every house in which any busi-
ness was carried on. By degrees the metropolis was
cleared of these incumbrances, many of which projected
from the houses, and completely spoiled the appearance
of some of the best streets. To a very late period the
signs of inns and public-houses in country towns and
villages stretched across the public roads, but with the
progress of taste and improvement, nearly all these
remnants of vulgar display have vanished, It is, how-
ever, melancholy to observe that a kind of reaction has
for some time commenced in the metropolis. The smal-
lest trader must be distinguished by his name and occu-
pation being displayed in the largest letters. Not satis-
fled with enlarging the letters of the alphabet, all manner
of companies, dispensaries, infirmaries, and societies, are
now occupied in covering the whole front of the tene-
ments they occupy with huge boards or plaster entabla-
tures, announcing to the public the peculiarmerits of
their institution, or the wondrous cures they have
achieved, or hope to achieve, at the expense of the public.
Surely such institutions, if really meritorious, would at-
tract public•attention without so much outside show. It
savours very much of quackery, and should operate as a
caution to the public. It is like" the sellings off at 20
per cent. under prime cost," " the great sacrifice for
ready money," and the numerous attempts on public
credulity that have met with the fullest explanations in
the exposures that have recently taken place in the Bank-
ruptcy Court.
We have lately been infested by an extraordinary
number of vagrants, many of whom care not what out-
rage they commit, in order that they may be sent to the
House of Correction. The fact is too notorious to be
denied, from whatever cause it may spring. On Wed-
nesday the magistrates were occupied a considerable time
in adjudicating upon vagrancy cases, and private hear-
ings of a similar nature are occuring almost daily. In
some instances the offer of liberation, upon condition of
leaving the town, has been immediately rejected, and the
longest term of imprisonment allotted the accused con-
sidered as a boon. During the past week a man and his
wife, who had just escaped from " durance vile " (?),
were sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with
hard labour, for begging about Leamington streets. The
man took a stone from his pocket, on being appre-
hended, and deliberately threw it at the window of Mr.
Newby, chemist, High-street, breaking a pane of glass
valued at 21. The woman broke two panes in the win-
dow of Mr. Cranmer, whitesmith. These offences arose,
in both instances, from a refusal of relief. On Tuesday
night no loss than six vagrants tore up all their clothes
(excepting only their nearer garment, and in some in-
stances even this was partialiy mutilated) into pieces
about three inches square, and in this plight were ac-
tually arraigned before the magistrates the following
morning. They were all sentenced to one month's im-
prisonment, with hard labour. Money and refreshments,
we are informed, have on some occasions been offered to
induce the offenders to leave the town, but without
avail ; they seem determined to " winter " in the House
of Correction. It is probable the subject will be intro
duced at the ensuing sessions, with a view of remedying
the evil.— Warwick Advertiser. _ _

•,•-••-• • • • _
COITENT•GARDUN THIATRB—The orchestral An-
tinous Jullien had an immense audience on Monday upon
the strength of the announcement that Sivori would play
his amusing variations on the " Cameral de Venne."
Such a vast assemblage of people, we believe, was never
before congregated within the walls of the theatre. The
" promenade" was so much crowded that movement was
impossible ; and the boxes and galleries were equally
well filled. Sivori was;received with great applause, and
his grotesque variations—never before played by him
more perfectly or humorously—were encored by a hurri-
cane of voices.
There will be a Cabinet Council on Thursday, at
which all the Mini:tore are expected to be present.