The Sun.
London, England, 1826-04-20 00:00:00

posite observation was' that which was made by Mr.
Sergeant-OisLow, who wished to know what the
petitioners meant by religious liberty ; because, though
no one could be a greater friend than himself to freedom
in opinion, ho had yet to learn how the question of
religious liberty could bear upon allowing licence to
undermine with impunity the very foundations of all
religion and public morals.

. This we consider to be the truest light in which the
laws against blasphemy can be regarded ; they are no
infringement upon religious freedom, because they go
to protect the very existence of religious feeling ; tole-
ration► is designed for those who entertain conscientious
differences of opinion, not for those who have no con-
,eience at all :—fbr those who adopt peculiar religious
tenets—nbt for those who reject and vilify all religion.
In fact, if the legislature of any country think it ne-
cessary to acknowledge any religion whatever as part of
the Constitution, they must, in consistency, enact and
enforce laws for the preservation of that part of the
Constitution as well as any other. It would be clearly a
contradiction, for instance, to acknowledge a King, and
yet not make treason against him a crime :—in the same
way it would be an equal inconsistency to acknowledge
a religion, and not punish those who openly revile and
attack it. When the Legislature shall discard the
Christian religion from being an integral part of the
Coustittition, (with every part of which'. it- now exists,
mixed up in. the most inseparable manner), then, and
not before, it will be consistent to repeal the laws against
biasphembus attacks upon that religion. Blasphemy
in a political sense, consists not in any theological
offence, but simply in an abusive attack upon that
which the law defines to be the religion of the State.

We have much pleasure in inserting the following
letter from one of the Officers about to proceed into
the Interior of Africa, whose journey, from the me-
lancholy fate of almost all that have preceded them,
must be viewed by all the friends of humanity, as well
4`; of science, with the deepest interest :

" His Majesty's ship Brazen, off Badsgry,
Nov. 29, 1625.

We have just succeeded in obtaining permission, from the
King of Batlagry, to pass through his territories to Eyo, a friendly
motion, to whom he pays tribute, about nine days journey to the
earthward of him, to whose King a messenger has been die-
Patched to give notice of our approach. Eyo is a commercial
cation of considerable consequence, being the channel of com-
T4ltoication between Haoussa and Soudan with the sea coast,
mod, as it is frequently traversed by Moorish traders from those
countries in the interior, I am uncommonly sanguine as to, the
ileceoc of our o'oject in penetrating to those countries. The dis-
tance to Haoussa, not including stoppages, is about thirty-three
days, through Eyo ; from thence to Tapa, a Mendly power to
the northward, is about nine days ; thence to Nyffee, nine ;
11,ffec, to. the Great River, five, and thence to Haoussa three
lore, according to the estimate made by the King of Benin.
kr. Dickson was sent from Whydah, as we passed it on our way
to this place, to Abomy, to esk permission of the King of Da-
homey for pass throughlsje dominions ; but ,as we have sue-
,led in opening a road from hence, he has since been recalled,
and will follow us, unless any good fortune should get the better
of the jealous suspicion, with. which strangers have hitherto been
watched by the Dahoruiane, who have always evinced the
ilconge,t aversion to any thing like the present intercourse with
the interior.

."
The path by Eyo I look upon, on the other bawl, as pro-
ll'ißirtg the most bzneficial results to future enterprize and Ipecu.
labor, if we can o'nee clear the road for putting it in practice—it
is the most direct, and, the only communication at this moment
110'143 the coast, and I feel, in pursuit of such an object, all the
enthusiasm I could desire to carry us through the undertaking.
We land this evening, and as soon as we can arrange our car-
t4r*, which will take two or tkree days, we shall commence
"4 march towards Eyo. On our arrival at that place we ex-
p2et to be able to procure horses, &c. there being none on the
'lw, our first mode of conveyance from the beach being by ham-
v4ocks, carried by the natives who go along at the pace of nearly
ti!fe knots an hour.

" The rain having ceased upwards of two months, we are in
Ule best season for commencing our operations, and I hope we
DWI contrive to get housed Ivell, towards Soudan, before they
reappear on the coast. We are chiefly. indebted to Mr. Houtson's
information and influence with the King of Badagry for this open-
'dg from the beach, the gentleman who was about to forward Bel-
-7541 from Benin, where he bad the misfortune to perish in the at-
tornpt. Iloutson has been extremely kind and attentive in for-
warding the present mission. You will hear from us as we advance,
411 d as a rnan-of-war is ordered to keep up communication by call-
ing frequently at Batlagry, I hope our opportunities will not be so
rare as Lfirst supposed. At this moment I can hardly explain to
You how much I feel overjoyed, at being on the eve of putting my
foot on shore: I never was 'better in my life, and when the mind
-and body go hand in hand, climate is of, very little avail."

Yesterday, about two o'clock, the Duke of Dit-
'voßsiztnE had an interview with Mr. Secretary
FANNING, at the Foreign Office, which lasted about
'4alf an hour, to make arrangements for his Grace's
Embassy to the Emperor NICHOLAS at St. Peters-
burgh. It is expected the Duke will leave England on
thple Istdid day of May. His retinue will be remarkably
en.
The Duke of' RAGUSA (General MARmm4IT),
who is appointed by the Bing of FRANCE upon a Si-
mission, left Paris a few
eft days since, to proceed
St. Petersbugh. The Duke's splendid equipage
Aari •
s about a fortnight previous.
Yesterday; Prince POLIGNAC, the French Ambas-
and the Hanoverian Minister, transacted busi-
""&s
ce with Mr. Secretary CANNING, at the Foreign
°ni.

TheQ Princess AUGUSTA visited the Princess
oPtItA. on Tuesday.
tz The Cabinet Ministers dined yesterday with Mr.
'secretary CANNING.
„0 28th of Februa Dunt..—Extract of a L etter from St. Lncia :" On
"ry a duel took pl between Ens French,
of the
,r;th root, and Ensign Ward, oface the 35th, (theign latter regi-
t'4ent had arrived the day previous to relieve the sth), iu conse-
ence of a quarrel which had occurred between them. They
i4"ed up for the first shot, Ilosign Wood fired first, and shot
'4llch through the head; he died immediately."

THE -FUNDS. ---
7,7yrrriv

The price of Stocks continued nearly stationary to
the close of the Market yesterday. Consols, which
had been done at 792 in the course of the day, closed
at 79i, buyers ; and the new Scrip at a premium of
to.
The Foreign Market was extremely gloomy. Pe-
ruvian declined to 27+ ; Colombian to 402.41 ;
and Spanish to 7i ; and in Shares nothing was doing.

CITY, Twelce o' Clock.

Consols opened this morning at79i for the Account;
soon after the Market improved, and Consols reached
79k, but a re-action took place, and the Market be-
came worse, when Consols lowered to 79k. At that
moment an eminent Broker appeared in the Market,
and purchased £lOO,OOO at 79k, which caused a rise
again in Consols to 79ii, at which price they now may
be quoted, with a Market looking up. In New Scrip
a great deal is doing this morning, which has im-
proved, and is in demand ;it may be quoted at to 1
per cent. premium.
The French Papers, arrived this morning, in their
private letters from Madrid of the 6th April, state by,
accounts from Algesiras, that the garrison of Gibral-
tar is receiving considerable reinforcements.
A private letter from Lisbon of the 31st March
states, that on the arrival of dispatches from England, a
Proclamation was issued on the 27th, and orders were
given to establish a Cordon Sanilaire on the coast of
Portugal, between Penupe and Algarves. This cordon
is to be strengthened by the maritime force of England.
Old Spanish, 7f to 81; Russian, 76i. ; New Scrip
to 1 prem.; Mexican, 62 to 621 ; Greek, 14 to
15 ; Peruvian, 29i ; Colombian, 41i to 42.

Two o' Clock.

Although there is but little doing, either in the
British or Foreign Markets, the various Stocks are
improving in value.
Mexican 6 per Cents, 641 ; Colombian, 42 to
Consols opened 79k, and advanced to 79i The
New Scrip opened H premium, and is now 1 pre-
mium. Many Brokers have been purchasing Scrip
to day.

We must not omit to mention a very important and
sudden change in the price of " Poyais Bonds," a Bond
of 1001. was sold to-day for five shillings, which is
a rise in value of 100 per cent. ; the last price being
half-a-crown a hundred ! 'We have made the most
diligent inquiry to ascertain the causes which have led
to this alteration, but regret to state that our diligence
has not been crowned with success.

Half-past Two.
Since the above account, Consols have fallen to
79k, in consequence of a large sale.

THE CHURCH.

The Bishop of bovvii and Com Non preichea' a
moo improasirt Sermon on Snnday morning, at St.
Covent-garden, for the benefit of the National Schools a that
Parish, and of St. Martin's. The Learned Prelate took his text
from the Sd Epistle of John, 2d, 3d, and 4th verses.

01.1, --
" Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper,
" and be in health even as thy Soul prospereth : For I rejoiced
•' greatly when the Brethren came and testified of the Truth that
"is in thee, even as thou walkest in the Truth. I have no greater
" joy than to hear that my Children walk in Truth."
The principal object of the discourse was to enforce the Doctrine
of the Incarnation and Divine Nature of our Saviour, as so clearly
laid down in the writings of St. John ; and to prove the happy
influence of true belief in there essential points on individuals and
society. The application of the text to the objects. of the Charity
was easy and natural.—Bishop plant is an eloquent and persuasive
Preacher; his apostolieal appearance produces a strong impres-
lion in his favour, and the soundness of his doctrine and the power"
of his arguments carry his Hearers along with him, in a remark-
able manner, to the conclusions he wishes to arrive at.

On Wednesday last the Rev. Thomas Methold was instituted
to the Rectory of Kilverstone, on the presentation of the King,
The Dean and Chapter of Durham have presented the Rev. G.
Townsend, one of the Prebendaries of Durham, to the living of
Northallerton, rendered vacant by •the death of the Rev. G.
Bouyer.

"'""'w' OUSE OF LORDS-(Tim DAY.)
1?/% ft
-.•-. COMMITTEE OP PRIVILEGES.

-It,was resolved that Lords SILEFFIELD, CLARINA,
and HARTLAND had established their claim to vote at
the election of Representatlie Peers for Ireland.
THE • D.O.W.NES PEERAGE.
Mr. GOULBURN, the Secretar to the Lord Lieu-
tenant of Ireland, and LESLIE 10STER, Esq. M.P.,
were examined to prove:that the late Lord Downes had
died without issue, and that Sir Ulysses Burgh was
his heir. His claim to the above Peerage was accord-
ingly allowed ; as was also the claim of the Marquis of
Downshire.