The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-05 00:00:00

TO LORD JOHN RUSSELL

MY LORD,--it will no longer do to ha►
14tween two opinions—you cannot "serve God
and Mammon." The Christian religion is a
pUre religion, but the administration thereof is
most defective, else why do we find our insti••
tutions, our endowments, our professions, our
legislation, all poisoned by selfishness? Had the
ministers of our Church really hearts to serve
God, how is it thai: the teachers of our great and
nobly-endowed public schools have so neglected
to instil into the minds of those in the higher
walks of life the knowledge that the possessions
they enjoy in this short state-of trial are talents,
for which they will have to render a strict account.
Unfortunately ages of selfishness have so ob-
scured religion, that our legislation has largely
partaken of the same disease. If it had the rock
of our blessed Redeemer for its foundation it
would be a parental, benevolent government,
fostering and cherishing-the weak, and restrain-
ing the strong.
!It is with sorrow, my Lord, I refer to the
deeds of our forefathers; but how does it happen
that our prelates have amassed such immense
wealth ? God is not to be mocked, and avarice,
being the reverse of his benevolent revealed will,
is (we are told) most hateful in his sight. How
is it that our clergy, with large cure of souls, find
time to attend so much-,-alas! too much—to
secular affairs? The sacred office is never ful-
filled whilst there is a soul. under their charge
that requires instruction, exhortation, and Chris-
tian advice.

We are told to judge of the tree by its fruit.
How is it that we find the industrious classes
compelled to live, sometimes ten or more souls
in one room, where the common decencies of life
cannot be observed ? Again the barbarous state
of ignorance in which we too commonly find
them makes the faultiness of legislation more
apparent—legislation which is so cunningly and
selfishly contrived that it has the effect of re-
ducing the industrious grades to the worst state
of existence, and working them so unmercifully
that they are worn up long before they reach the
usual age of man ; whilst, on the other hand, it
protects the monopolist, capitalist, and the wor-
shipers of Mammon, as the millionaires of the
present day can clearly attest, well knowing the
grasping rapacity that has squeezed such enor-
mous wealth out of the industrious, leaving them
morally and physically wretched.
As a Christian and a Reformer, I earnestly
call upon your Lordship to do your duty man-
fully, and attack this horrid monster that has
eaten into the very vitals of society.
I have the honour to be,
Your Lordship's obedient servant,
Oct. 1, 1842. A

AN ENTHUSIAST.-The day before yesterday, just
before dark, a well-dressed young man was seen to
precipitate himself into the Seine from the Pont-au-
Change. A boat put off immediately, but life was
extinct when the body wa recovered. The following
note was found in one of the waistcoat pockets :—" I
owe to M. N—, of Mont-de-Marsan, the sum of
1161., and 120 f. to my comrade N—, the law student,
Rue des Boucheries, Hotel de Landes. I entreat my
landlord to pay these debts with the money arising from
my furniture and effects, which I authorise him to sell for
the purpose of paying those gentlemen and the rent that
is due. I die the victim of dreadful machinations.
I was a Republican, and have remained so up to the
moment of my death ; but, before God and men, I
protest I am free from all bad thoughts and actions.
I despise mankind ; I ask pardon of my family, and
I am about to seek, in the bosom of God, the repose
which I have in vain sought on earth." The deceased
was only twenty-two years of age. His body was
taken to the Morgue, and notice of his death was sent
to his family.—Galignanfs Messenger.