The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-25 00:00:00

A. HEAVY BLOW AND SCPRE

DISCOURAGEMENT. -
When Dr. Chalmers and his now so-called " Free"
adherents ruled the roast in Glasgow some ten or fifteen
years ago, nothing would satisfy them but to build no
fewer than twenty additional churches in this city and
neighbourhood, ostensibly "to excavate the heathen," so
they said, but in reality to smother the Voluntaries, then
denominated " the vermin." Their love for the Church of
Scotland in those days knew no bounds. It never en-
tered into their noddles that they would play any reel of
Bogie against her in any Canonmills-hall, far less that
they would dash any of her " wee bit endoomenties"
away from them fur ever. No such " Disruption" was
ever contemplated by them at the period we speak a
And so they testified, affirmed, and declared in the most
solemn manner, both verbally and in writing, both in
pulpit and in hall; both in civil and ecclesiastical courts
and records, that those twenty Churches were to be built
and to remain in connexion with the Established Church
of Scotland, absolutely and unconditionally, in all time
coming.

" Retract ! no—not a hair's-breadth !" Very
well. The " Disruption" came. The " reel of Bogie;'
sure enough, was played out, in a state of feverish ex-
citement to many, and to the grief and regret and dis-
may of others. led into the free vortex without rhyme or
reason, and occasioning sobs and tears yet unknown
amongst other innocent parties, ruined or victimised
thereby, all through the instrumentality of a few stub-
born, vain-glorious ecclesiastics, who wished to become
little Popes in this kingdom, above the sovereignty of
the law, which rules all other denominations of man-
kind. And when these parties, after all their cantripa,
saw that they could not sweep the establishment (in
which they themselves had so long nestled) from the
face of the earth, they then tried, by process of law—yes,
by process of law—which they formerly contemned, as
witness their own conduct in the ever memorable Auch-
terardy case, they tried—and we cannot too often repeat,
because it signally expose's their own folly and most
glaring inconsistency ; they tried, by process of law, in
other words, by a good, thumping Court of Session law
plea, to sever the connection between these twenty
churches and the Establishment, to roup them, yea, to
sell them, and to divide the free residue or proceeds
thereof amongst themselves. This was certainly a new
process fur " excavating the heathen," on their own
professed original principles. But the law of the land
keeps people to their own engagements, voluntarily and
solemnly undertaken by them ; and it is well that it is
so, otherwise this would be a miserable world for schis-
matics of various kinds. The law of the land preserves
social rule, established order, and constituted rights ;
and, acting on these principles, it has just turned the
" free," and we presume we must call them the very
pious, pursuers out of court. It has told them that they
cannot sell these churches and divide the proceed*
amongst themselves. It has told them that they oan-
not subvert their own declarations, or deface, or alter,
or destroy the title deeds to which they became willing
parties when in their sound and sober senses ; but they
must abide by these through good and evil times, at all
hands and against all mortals as law will. The Court
of Session, therefore, per Lord Robertson (ordinary),
has just dismissed the process of these " free- and-easy"
pursuers, and found them liable to their Erastian oppo-
nrightentspirnincailpl leexwirsreesjoiceAnadt
tehviesry,
anmdansoayf straste
thaneyd
havejust been served right.
Bnt what a noise we shall hear about it in the " free
organs ! They will try to bamboozle their " free" ad-
herents, or to mystify the matter with the usual cant
about the headship, and the Erastian thraldom, or other
things of that sort, so rife of late in this " free be-
nighted land. But common sense and calm reflection
should tell them that theyhayseo,fohuegrhet
waendqudlesteloymlefiatevde
with their own weapons ; and
them for the present.—Scotch Reformer's Gazette.

STATE OF TRADE.--Trade
continues in a flourish-
ing condition, nearly every manufactory being in full work.
Although this briskness is pretty general, yet a slight de-
pression has taken place in some branches, particularly in
the button and fancy glass line, where some of the people
are put on short time. The building trade has not been so
good for several years ; journeymen can scarcely be obtained.
—Birmingham Pilot.
BARBAROUS TREATMENT OF 1 LADY BY MElt
HUSBAND AND SON.-At the Petty Sessions at Carrick-
fergus on Wednesday, Mr. Richard Battersby and the Rev.
John C. Battersby were called upon to answer the charge of
Mrs. Battersby, for having committed a series of assaults
upon her during six years past. The complainant was wife
of the former, and mother of the latter of the defendants.
Mr. Davison appeared on behalf of Mrs. Battersby, and,
from his statement of the case, it appeared that his client
had been subjected to numerous indignities, and though she
had brought her husband a fortune of 4,0001, she was all
lowed little more than the necessaries, and few of the com-
forts of life. The round of her ordinary duties was, for a
long period, more those of a domestic servant than of his
wife • besides which, she had sustained, several times, severe
bodily injury from assaults made upon her by her son, with
the connivance of her husband. Witnesses were called to
substantiate these allegations. Mr. Jackson appeared for
the defendants, and after lie had called witnesses, the ease •
was left for the decision of the bench, which was given as
follows ;—Mr. Richard
ißacth, o
Battersby,
n default, ,
iauddtahu„
the Rev.
rtnnedßafot;
tersby, to be fined
two months, and to give security, themselves in 500 i. sack,
and two sureties in 250/., to be of the peace towards Mrs.
Batterby.—Banner rf Ulster.
TIIE POTATO DISEASE.--A communication from
the Poor-law Commissioners was laid before the Hertford
Board of Guardians at their last sitting, authorising them to
employ the poor in the workhouse in extracting the flour or
starch from diseased potatoes, free of expense to any poor
person who should send them to the house for that pu
—Chelmsford Chronicle.