The Sun.
London, England, 1827-04-23 00:00:00

CHAMBER OF PEERS.

In the Sitting of the 30th of March, the law re-
gulating the stamp duties was discussed at great
length, and passed with one or two amendments,
which were sent to the Chamber of Deputies. The
Count de Villa Real would have had a duty on
newspapers, not, however, on account of the false
statements, and even serious accusations affecting his
character, which some of them had published, and
which he had refrained from noticing, though he
might have prosecuted them as libellous. On the
infahev of the new institutions, he would not do any
thing which could lead to a supposition that he was
an enemy to the just liberty of the press, which he
considered as one of the principal securities of the
liberty of the citizen. The Noble Peer thought that
Bills of Exchange might also have been made sub-
ject to a stamp duty.
LISBON, APRIL 4.—This being the birth-day of
ur Majesty Queen Donna Maria da Gloria, the
colours wise displayed on the forts, and men of war
in the Tagus, aria the usual salutes fired.
LISBON, APRIL 6.—The Gozete contains the de-
crees of the 21st of March, sanctioned by the Prin-
cess Regent, empowering the Government to raise
a loan of 4,000 contos of reis.
Lieutenant General the Conde de Sairpayo has
resumed his military duties. As the Cortes are closed,
the Princess Regent has ordered thanks to be given
to the Baron d'Albufeira for his zeal, activity, and
great prudence in the command of the city, and the
province of Estremadura, and to Lieutenant-General
A. H. da Fonseca, Continho e Povoas, for his con-
duct while charged with the general inspection of
cavalry, while the Conde de Sampayo was attending
to his duty in the Cortes.
The Portuguese brig Constantia arrived on the 2d,
in the Tagus, in 58 days from Rio Janeiro. The
Captain reports that there had been an action in the
Rio de la Plata between Admiral Brown and the
Commander of the squadron of Entre Rios, in which
the latter was victorious, having destroyed six of
the enemy's vessels, who lost 300 men. y He adds,
tls.-st on the evening before his departure two en-
voys had arzi-seci from Buenos Ayres, to treat of pre-
liminaries of peace.

MAIDENHEAD, APRIL 22.—An awful oc-
currence took place here yesterday: a labouring man,
aged 43, who went to bed quite in health, and who slept
in the same room with his nephew, was found dead in his
bed in the morning.

MIGH WATIR AT LONDON BRIDOZ TO-MORROW.
Morning —4l minutes after 0. I Evening ... 5 minutes after I.

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LONDON,
MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 23, 1827.

The Duke of DEVONSHIRE arrived in town
at two o'clock this morning, and at eleven had an
interview with Mr. CANNING. It is confidently
stated that the result of the negotiation is fa-
vourable, and that Lord LANSDOWN comes
into office.

SEC OND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, Five o'Clock.

We have just been informed from very re-
spectable authority, that the Marquis of LANS-
DOWN has accepted the office of Secretary of
State for the Home Department ; that the Duke
of DEVONSHIRE is to be Lord Chamberlain ;
the Duke of LEEDS, Master of the Horse; and
Mr. ROBINSON Colonial Secretary, with the
title of Viscount GiDsoßouGH. We have also
heard, but on less certain authority, that Mr.
CALCRAFT is to be Master of the Mint.

The paths of ambition are proverbially seduc-
tive—the pursuit of honour and of worldly ad-
vancement is highly intoxicating, and in the heat
and ardour of the chace, men are apt to forget
the true end of life—the legitimate objects of
solicitude to mortal and responsible beings. But
when the prize has been won—when, for instance,
a subject has reached the highest advancement
of which he is capable under a Monarchy, the
amount of the responsibility incurred must pre-
sent itself forcibly to the mind of a generous
and exalted person, viewing dispassionately the
power which has come into his hands of mate-
rially benefiting or injuring the less fortunate of
his fellow creatures. Such, we conceive, must
he the case with Sir JoHN COPLEY, whose rapid
elevation must satisfy the utmost ambition of
man, and who may for the first time complain of
fortune in having deprived him of hope, by leaving
him nothing farther to wish for. If his Honour
or his Lordship (for we know not how to ad-
dress him, and even Sir ISAAC HEARD would
hare been puzzled) will not take offence, we
shall humbly offer a few remarks in confirmation
of views which we hope that lie has already taken.
The LORD CHANCELLOR elect is well aware
that in the high game which he has played, his
conduct has not escaped the shafts of calumny,
and that his change of political opinion has ex-
posed him to observations which he must have
regretted, even if he affected to despise them.
Of the sincerity of that change, no other man
has a right to decide—it lies between him

different views (when each time reason was
mature), on a question of vital interest to
the empire, we would implore him to have
some respect for his early judgment, and if he
cannot bring himself back to it, at all events not
to throw his official influence into the opposite
scale. A change of opinion may be justifiable,
and is often highly honourable,—but no man can
escape from the real or supposed dilemma, by
clinging obstinately to the last view which
he may have taken. At all events, the new
LORD CHANCELLOR having joined a Cabi-
net neutral on the Catholic Question, should
be satisfied with giving his individual vote,
without employing all the power and patron-
age which he possesses, in opposing the claims
of those whom he once thought entitled to the
rights and privileges of citizenship. He may,
unknown to himself, have formerly argued the
question as a Counsel, he ought ncf,v to view it
as a Judge.

But there is another subject on which we will
venture to offer a few observations, not• only to
Sir JOHN COPLEY, but to all those who have
lately come into possession of Church Patronage.
It is well known that clerical preferment has been
hitherto confined (with very few exceptions) to
that party whr designate as Evangelicals and
Methodists, men no-ways below them in ortho-
doxy and real attachment to the Church of Eng-
land, but tainted, as the term is, with too much
seriousness. Now, we cannot understand how
a Clergyman particularly, can be too serious at
heart, if he does not make an unseasonable and
extravagant display of religion, and this charge
cannot be brought against many of those stig-
matized as Evangelicals. It is like objecting
to a soldier, not for being rash, but For being
too brave. On the other hand, we are ready to
admit that there are many whining pretenders to
extraordinary piety, the 'discovery of whose real
character is apt, unfortunately, to create a preju-
dice against all who are supposed to he more
religious than their neighbours. But as it has
been often remarked, it would he just as sensible
to dislike gold, because you had been once taken
in by a counterfeit guinea.
In short, as there is nothing of more import-
ance to a nation, so there is nothing which re-
quires more anxious discrimination in those who
bestow it, than the distribution of Church Pa-
tronage. If used to answer political purposes, it
is quite another matter, but to him who wishes to
promote the cause of religion (which many men
do, though they cannot bring their own minds to
act according to its precepts), the appointment
of a new Bishop, for instance, must occasion
great anxiety. If the requisites be piety, talent,
learning, good sense, amiable manners, and
purity of life—and if there are few men who
possess all these in an eminent degree, it becomes
a nice matter to estimate the merits of rival can-
didates, and to determine who has the least im-
portant deficiencies. A judicious appointment
of this nature has the most foftunate effects, by
purifying the fountain head,—its influence extend-
ing through all the ramifications of Rectors,
Vicars, Deacons, and Curates. It ruins the
cause of Dissenters, who only flourish when
the Established Church are sluggish and
remiss, and promotes the virtue and happi-
ness of all classes. If all our Bishops were
like some whom we could mention, our
gaols would be less tenanted, and the busi-
ness of circuits would be reduced to a sine-
cure. The Church of England has nothing to
fear, except from itself. Infinitely superior to the
Church of Rome in its doctrines, liturgy, and
tenets, and far beyond the Dissenters in learning
and education, she can run no risk, except from

acting solely on the defensive, and submitting to
a siege. Let her quit those strong. holds, which
she does not require, and fight them in the open
field, with those weapons which alone make
them formidable—unremitting zeal in their vo-
cation, and a sympathy with the feelings, and
even prejudices, of their flocks. A haughty
Churchman does not suit the service of the
meek and lowly Master of his Religion.

We cannot finish these remarks without advert-
ing to the exercise of the real congi: d' dire in some
few instances, where the Monarch of these realms
is supposed to have reserved that Royal privi-
lege to himself. We can only say, that it makes
some of his MAJESTY'S loyal subjects sin-
cerely wish that this were oftener the case. At all
events, we would point out that illustrious
example to the new Ministry, who have
boldly thrown themselves on the favour of
their KING and Country. This is sufficient
to overcome all the obstacles which bigotry and
intolerance may offer. Let them continue to
show that they are actuated by no selfish views, and
they will not require to curry favour with the
High Church, or with the Aristocracy, or
with any other party, however influential they
may consider themselves. Then will their names he
handed down to the latest posterity, as the most
pure, the most liberal, and the most enlightened
Administration which ever directed the resources,
the energies, and destinies of Britain.

We have received the French Papers of Fri-
day, and the Etoile dated Saturday, but their
contents furnish little political news. The in-
habitants of Paris have been expressing their joy
at the withdrawal of the law against the Press,
by general illumination, but the Etoile calls it
only a partial affair, got up by threats and disturb-
ance, in which some windows were broken by the
organs of the " faction," which it denominates
the liberal party. We can well excuse the anger
of this paper, writhing under the disappointment
of so signal a defeat to the hopes of the Aposto-
heals and their agents in the Government.
But the Ministers have now learned how
far it is prudent to trifle with the na-
tional feeling so unequivocally expressed by
the inhabitants of the metropolis. Their late at-
tempt only confirms the stability of the Press,
while it gives force and moral influence to the
manifestation of public sentiment. The French
people felt as they ought upon a question of
such magnitude, and posterity will record their
triumph with proud veneration.
The accounts from Spain are involved in the
same mystery as ever. Nothing favourable to
FERDINAND'S Government can be relied on,
while, on the other hand, the accounts respecting
the movements of the Insurgents are probably
exaggerated, but enough is known to convince
us that the cause of the Constitutionalists is
daily gaining ground. Disaffection and deser-
tion prevail in the Royal Army, and the preda-
tory bands are daily gaining strength throughout
the Kingdom—particularly in Catalonia.
Extracts will be found in another column.

By the arrival of a packet from the Brazils we
have received the Diario Flzcmincnse to the 22d
February inclusive. These papers are chiefly
filled with European news, and make no men-
tion of Buenos Ayres, or the situation of the
respective armies. The EMPEROR, on the peti-
tion of two Englishmen, Messrs. STEWART
MACKAY and CHARLES SPENCE, has granted
them permission to form a Company for the
establishment of Reading Rooms, and a Library
of English Books and Periodicals for the use of
the Subscribers. This circumstance, which is
considered an act of grace, shows pretty plainly
the sort of liberty enjoyed under the auspices of
his Imperial NfAJESTY. The following are
extracts:—

RIO DE JANEIRO.
(From the Diario Fluminertte of the 13th Feb.)
A dispatch from the province of Ceara contains the fol-
lowing information

Thirteen Englishmen being questioned by the Interpre-
ter Domingos Jose Vreira, declared that they belonged to
the American merchantman, called Beverley, Captain Ben-
jamin Moore, which having sailed from Berlin, on the 17th
of Oct. last year, bound for Valparaiso and Lima, with
valuable cargo, caught fire in such a manner that it was im-
possible to do any thing but quickly to get out the boat, in
which having put on board some provisions and water, the
crew escaped.
FEB. 20.--On the 13th his Majesty gave an audience
in the Palace of Boa Vesta., to Baron Neumann, to receive
the original document of which he was the bearer, relative
to the betrothing of her Majesty, Queen Donna Maria 11.
of Portugal, to her august uncle Don Miguel, which took
place at Vienna, 29th October, 1826.
On the 17th, his Majesty gave an audience to Baron
Marshal, Charge d'Affaires of the Emperor of Austria,
who delivered his new credentials, as Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary.
FEB. 21.—An official notice, announces the sale of the
cargo of the captured Danish galley, the Fortune, con-
sisting of 294 pipes of red Catalonian wine, 4fl pipes of
brandy, and other effects.

Lisbon Papers have been received to the Bth
inst., from which extracts will be found in another
column. No movement had taken place in
the British Army since our last communica-
tions. In Cadiz commerce was entirely at
a stand, and confidence completely deJroyed.
A Dr. ABRANTES has just arrived at Lisbon
from Rio Janeiro on some important mission,
the particulars of which are only conjectured.—
It was said that the EMPEROR would come
over in June to set things right, but the report
was not credited.

We have been favoured with the sight of a
Private Letter from Rio Janeiro of the 22d of
February, from which we make the following