The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-28 00:00:00

CIVIL WAR IN-SWITZERLAND

The New Gazette of Zurich, of the 22d May, contains
a circular letter of the Vorort, dated the 13th of the same
month, and addressed to all the cantons of the Confe-
deracy. Its object is to acquaint them with the steps it
has adopted in order to maintain tranquillity in the Va-
lais, by ordering the various corps of the federal troops
to march into that canton. To this document is an-
nexed a dispatch from M. Meyer, the Federal Commis-
sioner sent into the Valais. This report, which is dated
17th May, says in substance :
" The Grand Council assembled this morning, and will
meet again this evening. Order prevails in appearance,
but in reality the country is placed on a volcano, which
must explode either to day or to-morrow. Both parties
are preparing, and there is much talk about gunpowder
having been distributed in Lower Valais to ' Young
Switzerland,' and of orders issued to keep ready. The
same has been done in Upper Valais. The impending
arrival of volunteers of Old Switzerland is even men-
tioned. Thus a collision is to be apprehended."
M. Meyer writes at ten at night :
" A catastrophe is preparing; the debate in the Grand
Council has been a most stormy one. Violent scenes
are stated to have taken place. The Opposition and
some members of the Conservative party have left the
hall. It had been beforehand resolved to propose the
occupation of St. Maurice, and to appoint a comman-
dant of the troops. The Opposition were aware of that
project. To-night, or to-morrow, Young Switzerland
will march. Under these circumstances 1 have notified
• to the Executive Council that I should assume the title
of Federal Commissioner, if matters required it.
" Quarter to Eleven.—The Grand Council have just
ordered the occupation of the communes that have re-
belled, and the appointment of a commandant of the
Landwehr in the person of M. de Kalhermatten ; it has
issued extraordinary powers to the Executive Council.
and appointed a Committee of three members of the
Council. These resolutions have been adopted by a ma-

jority of forty-two votes."
" The communications," says the Arni de la Consti
tution, of Berne, of the 22d May, " are intercepted ; the
priests direct the movement. Great and serious dis-
orders are committed. Young Switzerland' is in want
of arms, and ammunition. Letters from the Canton de
Vaud state that the whole western part is stirring. The
arquebusiers of that part of the canton have proceeded
to the assistance of Lower Valais, without waiting the
Government orders. Provisions have been sent. The
people of Vives are coming to the assistance of the
liberals. Never have the affairs of. Upper and. Lower
Valais presented so much importance as at this moment.
What determination the Vorert will come to is not
known ; but Berne and Vaud have resisted and will not
let any troops pass."
The Paris Quotidienne, a Legitimist and High Church
paper, gives the following account of the cause of these
disturbances, and infers that the civil war will extend
to every canton :
" It is reported that the government of the Valais had
been victorious, and that the people of the Lower Valais,
beaten by the Conservatives, had been obliged to sub-
mit. However great may be the truth of this news, the
affairs of this Canton are undoubtedly in a deplorable
state, and order can be ne longer maintained. Catholics
and Radicals are in arms against each other ; and al-
though the first are the more numerous, the others are
better organised, and have little or nothing to lose. To
this we may add, that the latter are sustained by the
Radical States of the Confederation, and that these
States, with Berne at their head, have already proved,
as in the affair of the convents of Argau, how little it
costs them to adopt illegal and violent measures in ob-
taining a triumph for their principles, or rather for their
wilfulness. What is passing in the Valais is, in a de•
gree, the faithful image of the state of all Switzerland.
In every part there is division and disorder, if not fla-
grant, at least in all hearts and in all the governments.
The most anarchical doctrines are set up in opposition
to Conservative opinions, and in face of the Conference
of the Catholic States we find a haughty league of most
of the Protestant Cantons. It is in vain that Bale Town
and Neufchatel endeavour to keep up some appearance
of order ; men's minds are too much excited, and the
present President of the Directory, M. Siegwart Mul-
ler, is as ready to carry his ideas to the extreme as ever
was M. Neuhaus, the late Radical chief of -the Con-
federation."

SUPPOSED MURDER and SUICIDE.
Yesterday, considerable sensation prevailed amongst
the inhabitants of the neighbouring village of Bootle,
in consequence of a rumour that a. child had been mur-
dered by its mother, and that the latter had then com-
mitted suicide. Upon inquiry, it turned out that the
report was not without foundation, and that there was
but too much reason to believe that both these horrible
crimes had been perpetrated. The facts appeared to be,
that about nine o'clock on Saturday night, a remarkably
fine male child, with long brown hair, and apparently
between seven and ten months old, was taken out
of the canal, near Coffee- house-bridge, Bootle.
When first taken out, he showed symptoms of life, but
soon afterwards died. He was very respectably dressed,
having had on a striped printed frock, flannel petti-
coat, linen shirt, dark check gingham pinafore, black
and white netted worsted handkerchief, blue and white
worsted socks, and a brown bonnet, lined with blue silk.
The canal was afterwards dragged, and the body of a
female. supposed to be the mother of the child was
speedily found. She was rather delicately formed, and
was apparently between twenty-one and twenty-four
years of age. She was five feet one or two inches in
height; and the colour of her hair was brown. She, also,
was rather respectably attired, baying on a dark printed
cotton dress, lilac printed apron, plaid worsted handker-
chief, stuff shoes, not much worn, black worsted stock-
ings,,: and a black, stuff merino bonnet. A gold Hag was
found on the fourth thiger of her left hand ; and she was
supposed to be from Liverpool.
There appears very little doubt that the female was
the mother of the child. She was, at all events, its
nurse ; for, in the earlier part of the evening, she was
seen suckling it on some steps near the canal bridge.
There were no marks of violence on the infant, but
there were a couple of large black spots on the right
leg of the female,- and a contusion under one of her eyes.
The child was first discovered by a gardener named
Edmund Smeahurst, who happened to be passing along
the canal at the time, and who states that his atten-
tion was directed to the spot by having heard
something like a person moaning in the water. He
succeeded in getting the infant out, and then ran and
in-
formed the 'police, who, upon their arrival, found Mr.
Reid, surgeon, in the act of endeavouring to restore ani-
mation. The bodies were conveyed to the Rising Sun
public-house,.where they remain at present, and where
they were visited by some hundreds of persons yester-
day. The female was recognised by several, who stated
that they had seen her frequently in and around Bootle.
A carter, amongst others, said he observed her nursing
the child on Saturday, near one of the Bootle turnpike
gates.—Liverpoo Albion of Monday.

ANDOVBIL—Rumour states that our borough is
likely soon to become the arena of another political con-
test, by the anticipated resignation of Lord W. Paget.
Mr. H. B. Coles, of Middleton House, has for some time
past aspired to the honour of a seat in Parliameat by
the suffrages of the electors of Andover. An agent of
the Conservatives has paid a private visit to the town,
making the fullest inquiries confidentially, doubtless
hoping " to catch the weasel asleep;" but we can assure
them the Liberals are stirring and quite prepared fur
the struggle, come when it may. The present state
of the register is highly satisfactory, and leaves no
doubt of a triumphant majority.—Hampshireindependent.
DEATH BY CLIMBING.—On Saturday, an inquest
was held before C. Collins, Esq., on the body of John
Harry, of Rhossilly, Gower. It appeared that on the
Wednesday previous he called at Stouthall, the seat of
J. N. Lucas, Esq., for the purpose of gaining permission
to get down some young rooks from the trees adjoining
the park. Not being able to see that gentleman, he was
requested by the housekeeper to call on some other day,
when he would very probably gain permission. It is
supposed that the deceased must have proceeded imme-
diately to climb the trees, and • that he laid hold of a
decayed branch at a considerable distance from the
ground, which gave way, for on Friday morning he was
discovered quite dead in the road, his head, on the back
part of which was a. wound, having evidently come in
contact with a stone. Verdict, " Accidental death."—
Cambrian.

DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM PORTS-
MOUTH GAoL.—Within the last fortnight, a plan has
been organised by three desperate prisoners in the above
gaol, to liberate themselves. Tneir names are, Dennis
Kirby, a private of the 49th regiment, committed for trial
for a robbery with violence; William Allyn, for stealing
a piece of print; and John Maclin also for felony. It ap-
pears from information communicated to Mr. Hunt, the
governor, that the prisoners intended to have put their
plan into execution on a Sunday, and that last Sunday
was the day fixed upon for the purpose; but on Sunday
they were all secured. It is usual for the prisoners
all to pass into chapel before the turnkey, who counts
them as - they pass, and when the whole number
have gone in he turns the key upon them, and
awaits the conclusion of the service before he unlocks
the chapel door ; thus altthe tenants of the prison are
locked in, including the governor, and every person con-
valescent. It was the intention of the three prisoners
above named to have lingered until the last in going
into chapel, and then to have turned the key ur on the
whole community, overpowered Mr. Hill, the turnkey,
and possessed themselves of the keys, by which means
their liberation would have been easy. When the plot
was discovered,.Maclin offered to turn Queen's evidence,
but Mr. Hunt being already, through a secret agency,
possessed of the facts, dispensed with Mr. Maclin's ser-
vices. Kirby, the soldier, was promptly sent off to
Winchester gaol, there to await his trial at the next
assizes. Allyn and Marlin were both ironed ; and their
irons will not be removed until their trials, nor then, un-
less ordered out of the country.—Hampshire Advertiser
TRAGICAL Evtor.--L-Shortly before the royal mail
steamer Trent, now in harbour, sailed from St. Jago de
Cuba, a very fine-looking black slave went on board,
who on being reported by the purser to the captain, was
told that he could not be taken off the island without a
passport, and therefore must go on shore again. To this
he strongly demurred, and on being urged, he replied in
broken English, " Me go shore again ?" and drew a
knife from his pocket, with which he nearly severed his
head from his body. The unfortunate man had in his
possession 200 dollars, three boxes of cigars, and a copy
of " Gil Blas," which were taken ashore along with his
body by the Spanish authorities. It was understood,
adds our informant, that he had the misfortune to belong
to an unkind master, and that, finding his hope of escape
thus baulked, he had committed the rash and fatal act
above described.—Jamaica Times, March 22.

The Conservative members of the Mouse of Com-
mons propose to entertain the new Secretary of War,
Sir Thomas Freemantle, at dinner, after the recess, as a
mark of the high estimation in which his courtesy, frank-
ness, and obliging disposition are held by them.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
EDINBURGH, FRIDAY, MAY, 24.
UNIVERSITY TESTS. -
The overtures on the subject of the University Tests
were read, when • _ • _

Principal MAcsAnwar said—lf ever there was an oc-
casion when it was justifiable to allude to a subject so
unimportant as the personal feelings of an individual, I be-
lieve that this is one. Sure lam that I never rose to ad-

dress the General Assembly or any other body with such
a distressing consciousness of my own inability to do jus-
tice to the subject which I have now taken the liberty to
bring under your consideration. The extent and the im-
portance of the subject appals me. The apathy, to me
unaccountable, which prevails in some parts of the
Church and the country requires no common effort to
dispel; but I take encouragement from the well-known
kindness and indulgence of the Assembly, to which I
have been often and deeply indebted, from ;the intelli-
gence of the members, and from the zeal with which-I
know, when they are convinced of the importance of the
cause, they will embark in a measnre which involves
the great interests of a national and Christian education

in our beloved country. The overtures upon the subject
show that they have been called forth by a variety of
measures which have been recently adopted by dissent-
ing bodies, by the Universities, and by municipal cor-
porations, for an alteration of the law of the land
in respect to the connection between the Church and
the Universities. And in proceeding to lay before
you my views in connection with this topic, perhaps
the best method of doing so will be first to read
the resolutions which I mean to propose to the
Assembly. I may mention that it was my original
purpose to have moved that we present a petition to
the Legislature. Had the question remained in the
same state that it was two months ago, when a legisla-
tive measure was in dependence, I should have persisted
in my resolution ; but as it is well known that a motion
was made for leave to bring in a Bill upon the subject,
and that that motion was refused by the House of Com-
mons, I think that, we should be deficient in consideration
for that respectable branch of the Legislature if we were
now to 'trouble 'Ahem with unnecessarily any direct
application. But I think it proper that the Assembly
should adopt a series of resolutions expressive of their
view of the importance of this question, and should cause
these resolutions to be circulated, not only within their
jurisdiction, but thnt they should be communicated in
some shape or other to the Legislature. The resolutions
I mean to propose areas follow:-
1. That the General Assembly regard the moral
and religious education of youth in universities, public
institutions, and parochial schools, as a national object
of unspeakable importance, and productive of the highest
benefits to every country in which it has been success-
fully conducted and- maintained.
2. That for this purpose the religious and ethics-
.

tional establishments of Scotland haveat all times been
closely connected, to their mutual advantage and secur-
ity, and their connection kept up by a number of Le-
gislative enactments, particularly the Act of Security,
1707, providing, among other safeguards of our national
Church, that professors in Scottish universities " shall
before, or at their admission, acknowledge and profess,
and shall .subscribe to the Confession of Faith of the
Church of Scotland, as the confession of their faith, and
that they will practice and conform themselves to the
worship presently in use in this Church, and never en-
deavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subver-
sion of the same. '
3. That this Act is not an ordinary statute, but part
of a solemn national compact, insisted on as an indispen-
sable condition of even treating for- an union with Eng-
land, engrossed in that treaty as " a fundamental and
essential condition thereof," in all time coming; of vital

importance to the prosperity and existence of the Church
of Scotland, and not to be altered or abrogated without,
endangering the constitution of our country in Church
and State. •

4. That the Church of Scotland has hitherto reposed
unlimited confidence in the security and protection af-
forded by this law, confirmed as it has been by the sa-
cred oath taken by all British Sovereigns on. their ac-
cession to the throne, and no less by the assurances so
often given and repeated to this Assembly by our pre-
sent beloved and most gracious Sovereign, of having
their rights and privileges, as established by the laws of
this kingdom, inviolably maintained and preserved.
5. That while the General Assembly rejoices is un-
distarbed tranquillity the fullest confidence in the fulfil-
ment of those assurances, they cannot but view with
some measure of anxiety the attempts which have been
recently made in various quarters to deprive the Church
of an essential element of its security, by dissevering
from it the most important establishments of public edu-
cation,—the petitions which have been presented to both
Houses of Parliament for the repeal of that part of the
Act of Security which relates to professors in universi-
ties, and the motion actually, though unsuccessfully,
made for leave to introduce a Bill founded on those pe-
titions into the House of Commons.
6. That under these circumstances the General As-
sembly feel called on to declare, that they would consider
the,repeal of the clause referred to in the Act of Secu-
rity, as a direct attack on their most valuable rights and
privileges, as a fearful obstacle to the training and edu-
cation of young men for the holy ministry in our lan
as inflicting a deadly injury on the Universities of Scot-
land, by shaking the confidence of the public in the
principles of their professors, and as a measure fraught
with peril to the ecclesiastical establishments and educa-
tional institutions, not of• Scotland only, but of every
part of the British empire. Such a change they must
earnestly deprecate and oppose on every occasion by all
lawful and constitutional means.
7. That these resolutions be printed, and copies of
them transmitted to all the Members of both Houses of
Parliament.
After a speech from Mr. BREWSTER against the reso-
lutions, and speeches from several other Members in their
favour,, Mr. BREWSTER said he had intended to move a
counter resolution, but as he felt that the whole of his
brethren would be- against him, he would not trouble
them.
The resolutions were then agreed to.
MINISTERIAL COMMUNION.

Dr. COOK, after a few observations, in which he urged
the necessity of ministers taking care not to open their
pulpits to any one who did not entertain the principles
of the Establishment, otherwise the minds of the people
would be bewildered and unsettled, and some risk in-
curred of rooting religion altogether out of their minds
—proceeded to read the folio wing report of the Com-
mittee appointed to consider this subject :
" The Committee are deeply impressed with the im-
portance and desirableness of promoting unity, and
maintaining friendly relations with all who love the
Lord Jesus in sincerity and truth. They feel that it is
of equal importance to maintain the purity of Christian
doctrine and discipline, and to guard the great principle
of an Established Church. To secure those important
objects, the Committee would respectfully recommend
that admission of those other communions to the bene-
fits of the Establishment shall not be left to the discre-
tion of individual ministers, nor granted to those of the
soundness of whose faith we cannot be fully aseured, but
that in every case it shall be' required that permission be
asked and received from the Presbytery of the bounds, or
a standing committee of their number, who shall in any
case report to the Presbytery ; and that it shall be borne
in mind by every Presbytery, that such admission is
to be granted only to those who, by the recognition of,
and subscription to a creed or symbol of faith, give un-
doubted evidence that they maintain with us the vital
doctrines of the Christian faith, and the principles which,
as an Establishment, we are bound to maintain."
Mr. Balfour of Clackmannan, Dr. Muir, and Mr. Clark,
of Inverness, having expressed their approbation of the
report, it was unanimously agreed to adopt it in the
meantime, and to send it down to Presbyteries for their
consideration.
The Assembly adjourned at six o'clock till half-past
seven in the evening.

EVENING SEDERUNT.
The Assembly met again at half-past seven, and pro
ceeded to take up

THB -CABE OF BANFF,

The facts of this case appear to be these :—On the
10th of August last, a presentation in favour of the Rev.
George Henderson, minister at Cullen, by the Earl of
Seafield, was given into the Presbytery of Fordyce, and
sustained by them, and the usual steps ordered to be
taken towards a moderation in the call. The Presby-
tery met for the moderation of the call on the 24th of
August—Lord Aberdeen's Act having received the
Royal assent seven days previous. The call having
been signed by twenty-six persons, heriturs and mem-
bers of the congregation, the Presbytery, in terms of,
and in the spirit of, Lord Aberdeen's Act, intimated
that, if there were any objections to be offered, they
were then ready to receive them. A list of reasons and
objections, amounting to fourteen in number, were ac-
cordingly given in, signed by forty-four parishioners ;
and included objections to " the exuberance of his ani-
mal spirits"—to his preaching being " incoherent, un-
connected, and ill-deduced"—to his " natural defect of
utterance"—to his want of " a musical ear"—and to
the sordid motives which they believed had influenced
the presentee in accepting the presentation. The Pres-
bytery, without giving any opinion of the relevancy of
the objections, allowed a probation of the same. After a
very tedious procedure, the Presbytery, on the 28th of
March, came to the opinion that many of the ob-
jections were very frivolous, and that those objections
only were relevant wnich related to the alleged fact
of Mr. Henderson's preaching being " incoherent, un-
connected, and ill-deduced," and of his not being
distinctly heard because of a defect in his utterance ;
but that in regard to the former of these, the evidence
was extremely contradictory. The Presbytery, how-
ever, resolved, because of the novel situation in which
the recent Act of Parliament had placed the law, to
refer sinzpliciter the case to the Synod of Aberdeen.
The matter having come before the Synod 'in April last,
the Synod referred the case to the General Assembly.

Pyper, advocate, appeared for the presentee ;Mr.
Penney, advocate, for the objectors; thellev.Dr.Mearns
and Mi. W. Grant for the Synod.
There was a_ preliminary point which occupied the
House for a considerable time, viz., an appeal by the
presentee against a judgment of the Synod, dismissing
a petition and complaint against the competency of the
Presbytery to treat this case under Lord Aberdeen's
Act, which was not in existence when the appellant's
presentation was granted and sustained. The Assembly
repelled the objection, and ordered the parties to pro-
ceed to state the merits of the case, which they accord-
ingly did.
Parties being removed, a discussion ensued, when Mr.
GIBBON, of Lonmay, moved—" That the Assembly sus-
tain the reference from the Synod of Aberdeen ; find
that there is full evidence that the people of Banff will
not wait upon the ministrations of Mr. Henderson—that
the people of Cullen are affectionately attached to him ;
that he is useful in his present charge ; and that there
is no prospect of greater good to the Church by his
translation to Banfl."—(Laughter.)
Dr. COOK then addressed the Assembly, and after
some remarks said ho wished—he did not make emotion
—that the matter obould be sent back to the presbytery,

with instructions to proceed in the constitutional deed
of ascertaining whether there is ground for the transla-
tion, and to report to the Commission, which meets *in
August, and let them pronounce a decision upon it.
Professor ROBERTSON, of Ellon, said he could comor
no other conclusion than that they should send the ob-
jections back to the Presbytery, remitting to the l're.s:
tha
bytery to cognosce and judicially decide upon the opt
jections, and in the event of appals or complaints,
the whole case should be brought up to the Commission
in August, when it should be ready and ripe for decisio!.
In this motion the Assembly concurred ; after whicil
•
they adjourned at two o-clock in the morning.

NOMINATION AT KILMARNOCK.
(From the Scotch Reformers' Gazette.) day
KILMARNOCK, SATURDAY.—This was an Wain
iu Kilmarnock. By Mr. Robertson retiring, the grOn
remained clear for the-Hon. Edward P. BOUYerie, Refor-
mer ; Mr. Her.ry Vincent, Chartist ; and .4Str. Roof
T. Prinsep, Tory. Shortly after 12, as these gentleroc:
approached the Council Chambers, and appeared on th
balcony, they were severally loudly. cheered—Mr.
cent, as a matter of course, coming in for a double share
of popular favour. The windows ot the opposite buildings
were tilled with the beauty and fashion of ' the' district
and the house-tops were clad by a number of anii°tl
and
M daring adventurers.
r. Sheriff Bell officially commenced the business
the day. Mr. Sheriff-substitute Jameson was also
the platform, as was also Provost Brown, 'UWE'S 13,18 Ce;
wood, Wilson, and Young, Sir J. Campbell, Sir
Fairlie, Charles M'Allister, Esq., E. H. J. Craufurd, 17.
Auchenames ; J. Pattison, Esq., Cunningham head; g.
Cowan, Esq., Ayr ; G. Mitchell, Esq., Glasgow; j).
Andrews, Esq., writer; L. Lamond, Esq., writer, &atoty
Mr. Huou CRAIG, ex-Chartist, in a highly lau
speech, proposed Mr. Henry Vincent, with the confitios,
expectation that ere long he would be the Right This
Sir Henry Vincent, Prime Minister of England • ors,
auspicious announcement was received with loud ch
Mr. GEORGE OSBORNE seconded the nomination.
_,e
Provost BROWN came before the meeting, not to 1r1,71,,
a long speeeh, but simply to propose the Soo.
Bouverie as a fit and proper repretentative. on
Bailie YOUNG seconded this ndmination, and exPre
his conviction that Mr. Vincent's appearance would on

divide the Reform interest.
Mr. Wu. WALLACE proposed Mr. Prinsep, the Co/v
servative candidate.
Mr. J. THOMSON seconded the nomination.
Mr. VINCENT then stepped forward, and in 1°4,.111136
highly popular manner addressed the multitude, er:ties
inn all party feeling—appealing to the sense. of Pit of
and conviction of his hearers—and leaving the r"-ifeik
the contest in the hands of the Reformers therasn Ile
He denied the assertion that had been made, abetted
,
came to divide the Reform constituency, and come
that he was the only candidate who could honestly
forward, and appeal to the people. estig'
The Hon. P. BOUVERIE then addressed the and
and stated that, respecting as he did the chareeen', the
honouring the abilities, and appreciating nearly 110
political principles of Mr. Vincent, he could not g°
_ to go.
whole length that that gentleman was prePer' tor
In reference to his other opponent, Mr. Bouverie Coople.
dered that he was totally unfit to represent 01:00
Mr. Bouverie then defined the true meaning of Tor;'
Conservative—that a Conservative is trol,",he ler
opposed to the alteration of the corn-laws, se°
provement of colonial interchange laws. -
- goa,
trated at length the evils of these restrictive larfroaci
dwelling on the absurdity of rejecting slave suCverid
accepting slave-grown cotton and tobacco,—Mr• obli'
concluded by a hearty appeal to the numerous sse
which was favourably received. but Ills
Mr. PRINSEP then addressed the assemblage, iittable,
Conservative
opinions were far from being Pai'belog
and he was accordingly but indifferently receive., of
frequently interrupted by loud and repeated illar
dissapprobation. I.°r
The SHERIFF then took a show of hands---1:,5.,t Pr„,
Mr. Vincent, when a whole forest was showeli; so'
Mr. Bouverie, when comparatively few aPrearc-tleolf°
as for Mr. Prinsep, we only observed a stout gen'
in the centre holding up both hands !
Elected 5
The SHERIFF then declared Mr. Vincent ;,,,oclt,-
show of hands, but intimated that a poll was cee'isce
by the other two candidates, which would talgel-scoic'
Tuesday, commencing at eight in the mernir*".
Reformers Gazette.