The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-08 00:00:00

The House of Commons met at Four o'Clock.

The Greenwich Colliery Railway Bill was read a
second time, after an ineffectual attempt on the part
of Mr. HODGSON HINDE to throw it out.

In answer to a question from Lord PALMERSTON,
Sir R. PEEL stated, that no change whatever had
been made in the terms of the convention entered
into in 1839, between this country and France, for
the regulation of the fisheries.
Sir J. GRAHAM postponed the Medical Bills to that
day week.
The House then resolved itself into Committee on
the Excise Acts, and
The CHANCELLOR of the ExcuxQuEß moved the
Repeal of the Auction duty.
Mr. G. BANKES opposed the repeal of those duties
on the ground that their repeal would confer no benefit
in the agricultural interests. The surplus revenue
had much better be applied to the reduction of the
county rates.

A long discussion followed, and upon a division
the resolution of the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
was carried by a majority of 137.

The new works in Trafalgar-square have hitherto
proceeded at so dogged and tardy a pace towards
completion, that public expectation has been naturally
excited in a degree proportioned to the delay. Fes-
tival-day after festival•day was named for the com-
pletion of the Trafalgar column ; for the raising the
colossal statue of NELSON to its Stylobate elevation
above the capital ; and for the anniversary, or com-
memorative dinner which was to hare been given tc
the surviving veterans of October, l 805—at which
one of NELSON'S brother officers was to have presided,
but which, alas ! was eaten only in imagination.
Duke llumphrey in the chair ! A published corre-
spondence, on each occasion between the Committee
of Management and the architect—the Committee
and the Governor of Greenwich Hospital, and the
Committee and the Board of Woods and Forests—
announced that the disappointment experienced on
the last occasion would certainly not recur on the
one now selected. After a great deal of evasion and,
what we will call, downright shuffling on the part
of the Board of Woods, &c., the consent which
the Government had given to the projected arrange-
ments was withdrawn ; and Lord LINcoLN, in a state-
ment memorable for its offensive illiberality, its chil-
dish absurdity, and its exquisite bad taste, acknow-
ledged that this ungracious determination of the autho-
rities proceeded on the apprehension that the veteran
tars forsooth, whom NELSON had so often led into con-
flict with the enemy, and deathless triumphs in every
conflict, might be likely—after such a public feast—
to commit some outrage dangerous to the public
peace, which their valour had so signally maintained
against the aggression of all Europe ! So, the com-
memoration fell to the ground. The subscription
raised for the purpose of dispensing festal hospitality
to the old heroes whose prowess had shed so much
honour on their country, could not be appropriated to
its legitimate object of doing honour to them. A
pecuniary fractional dividend was the poor
and mercenary acknowledgment of British
gratitude, when it became its misfortune to have its
expression controlled by the act of an inexperienced
but not very diffident public servant. From the first,
we have seen, with pain, that the works in Trafalgar-
square, which should have been achieved on a grand
national scale, have been designed and executed in a
manner whose shabbiness and littleness seem to be
quite congenial with the feeling with which the Noble
First Commissioner of Woods and Forests counter-
manded the leave to eat their dinner around
the column to the Trafalgar veterans. This
congeniality of feeling is the one only thing
in keeping about the whole affair. Few capitals in
Europe could have offered a finer site than Trafalgar-
square for an ornamental platform worthy of the
magnificent column consecrated to the memory of
NELSON, and of the picturesque, the unequal vista
that fronts it, leading to and partly revealing the
Banqueting Chamber at Whitehall, and the old Abbey
of Westminster. Neither the monstrosity called a
National Gallery, nor the incongruous but stately
screen of Northumberland House, can mar the
general effect of the new buildings, club-
houses, &c. which surround it, and the imposing effect
of the fine portico of St. Martin's Church. It is cer•
taro that the vacant space included within these
boundaries, lying as it does upon an inclined plane,
and in the centre of the greatest thoroughfare between'
the Court and the City, the public offices, and the
Parliament, presented capabilities for a magnificent
improvement. What has been made of it ? The very
finest chance has been sacrificed to the very demon
of bad taste. It was determined to have
enormous fountains, the agreeable office of which it
is to cool the air, and refresh the way-
farers in the heat of summer. Therefore
from the whole of this vast platform everything ap:
proaching to either shade or shelter has been rigidly
banished. In the dog days the pilgrim to this
" Column of Fountains" w ill have to endure the rays
of a noon-tide sun above his head, whilst his weary
feet will be refreshed with volcanic heat refracted
from the wretched pavement of pseudo-asphalte, which,
with its trumpery devices of eight pointed stars, sprawl-
ing in ugly antics of muddy gray and dirty white,
is really enough to expose our notions of public orna-
mental display to the laughter of all Europe. Already
this exquisite compost of mock bitumen is in a rapid
state of disintegration. In its hoar antiquity of
sixteen months, it is already falling into unseemly
hollows, if not absolute fissures.
Now, may we he permitted to ask how the notion
of planting so favoured a locality came to be aban-
doned ? Evergreens and odoriferous shrubs, which
are known to grow freely in the near neighbourhood
of St. James's Park, would have imparted picturesque
beauty to the locality, and health and refreshment to
the passenger. By the terraces and walks a match-
less vehicle would have been furnished for the display
of the almost infinite varieties of British marbles
and ores, whose deep and glowing hues are susceptible
of the most exquisite polish. We may imagine how
grand their effect would have been, introduced into the
facing of the magnificent terrace that overlooks the
square from the Pall-mall East approach. But it
would have been still more superb, as developed in
the handsome flight of stairs that already flank that
terrace,
Mosaic
cnodr in the compartments,party
-coloured
workin of th ewhether
l
surface of the square ;—in the parapets and dressingsgr
of the fountain reservoirs, and above all in the forms
of the fountains themselves. The expenses would have
been very trifling, because the marbles of Derbyshire
and other English counties, Anglesey, thelsle of Man,
and Ireland, are exceedingly cheap. Then the size
of the fountains is quite toy-like. They are like Mr.
Giant FREEMAN'S left off cups for tossing and catching
granetie boulder!. They are in every respect paltry.
.arid pitiful, for such a pupae and such associa-
tions. Taut the planting—how came that important
feature to be discar,4,?fl ? What difficulty of
selection could there be, where the image

of NELSON looked down upon the spot which was '
to bear his honoured, and thrice renowned, and
ever glorious name ? It is not yet too late to repair
this omission. The pseudo-pavement cannot be en-
dured—it must come up. On the soil it has been
it allowed to disgrace, plant, Englishmen! and reve-
rently rear, and anxiously watch over, and affec-
tionately approach, a grove of laurels ; the fitting,
and evergreen, and ever-beautiful and ennobling
emblem of that unrivalled maritime hero, whose
proud motto in life was Palmam qui meruit ferat ; and
who, after death, should have even his sculptured
effigy reared amidst the scions of that tree which his
undaunted head bore over every sea, to every shore,
and naturalised in every clime where the flag of his
native country had once been unfurled ; her power and
her honour vindicated, and his own fame enshrined
in the unsculptured but immortal records of victory !

Two meetings were held last evening in the metro-
polis, for the purpose of petitioning Parliament against
the proposed additional grant to the College of May-
nooth. The meetings consisted chiefly •of Dissenters,
and several of the speakers announced in suitable
terms their attachment to the Protestant faith,
and the danger of encouraging a religion which
they consider hostile to their best interest;.
No one who is alive to the blessings conferred
by the Reformation, can fail to admire the strong feel-
ing in favour of Protestantism prevalent in this country ;
but that feeling, and we may add that virtue, like all
others, should be exercised with discretion. It cannot
destroy the Catholic Church. The experiment has been
made, and every day only furnishes additional proofs of
its failure. Provision is already made for the education
of Catholics in Ireland and in all our colonies, not be •
cause their tenets are approved of by the State or the
majority of the nation, but because the Catholics will
remain fixed in their faith in defiance of persecution ;
and it is better that they should have teachers well
educated and friendly to our institutions, than a priest-
hood comparatively ignorant, imbued with foreign
habits and political doctrines, and hostile to everything
English. Opposition to this prudent and charitable
scheme is not only hopeless, but it is dangerous to the
very religion professed by the whole body of Dissenters.
They have more to fear from the Puseyite Church than
the openly avowed and ancient faith of the Catholics.
And who are the bitterest enemies of this grant to May-
nooth? The enemies of the Dissenters—the bitter op- i
ponents of the great measure for repealing the Test and '1
Corporation Acts, the unflinching and unscrupulous ad-
vocates of church-rates, and of every unjust impost levied
from other religionists for the benefit of the richest
Church in the world. Who were the tellers of the.
minority against the grant on Friday morning last ?
Sir ROBERT H. INous and Mr. J. P.'PLumPTax—the one
representing the Puseyite University of Oxford, and the
other the most bigoted and Church-ridden county in Eng-
land. The High Church party is represented by those
two senators, and one of the leading principles of that
party is adopted from the doctrine openly professed by
the monopolising and overbearing Romans—" Divide
and conquer." By joining with such men, the Dissenters
are playing into the hands of those that only watch the
opportunity of crushing them and Catholics together.
A debt of gratitude, too, is due to the latter. Their
representatives in Parliament have even voted f
relief to other religious sects—they have voted
against church-rates, and will vote again, though
all their best interests are opposed by Christians to
whom they have rendered essential services. It is
gratifying, however, to find that all Churchmen do not
belong to this persecuting sect. Even the men of Kent
begin to be moved by a sense of justice and charity.
The new and favourite candidate for the western division
of the county has announced his intention to vote for the
grant to Maynootb, on the ground that "in the early
education of the Catholic clergy, error was greatly
mixed up with truth, and he considered that a larg, r
grant for the purpose of procuring intelligent men to teach
the candidates for the priesthood in Ireland the whole
truth was exceedingly desirable." His remarks excit, d
some marks of disapprobation, but they were drowned
by the voices of men who, while they did not forget their
religion, remembered that there was but a choice of
evils, and that it was their duty to lean to the side of
charity.

Madrid journals of the 31st ult. have been received.
The investigation into the late conspiracy was going on,
and several of the persons arrested had been set at
liberty, there being no proofs against them. The Senate
had commenced the discussion on the Bill for restoring
the unsold Church property, which would be passed as
a matter of course.

The Three per Cents. closed 34i for cash, and 341
at 60 days; the Five per Cents. at 26 for cash, and 26i
at 60 days; and the Debt without interest, at Si at Gcr
days.

The emancipation of the negroes in the French colonies
and the news from Switzerland form the leading topics
in the Paris journals. On Saturday the Prince DE
MOSKOWA (son of NEY) resumed his speech in the
Chamber of Peers against the Government measure
for modifying the evils of slavery and preparing the
unhappy victims for complete emancipation. It
is rather singular that of the most ardent
friends of liberty (if we are to take their own profes-
sions), Baron CEARLES DUPIN and this chivalrous
Prince are the most bitter enemies of the blacks. The
Prince is especially indignant at the attempt—as dam
gerous to the colonies, and a reprehensible imitation of
England, which has ruined her colonies by setting her
slaves free. " The English colonies," said he, " are struck
to death. If we wi.-11 to preserve our colonies, let
us reject this Bill." Two other Peers addressed the
Chamber—one in favour of emancipation, and the other
against it, when the Count DE MONTALEMBERT rose to
reply, but owing to the lateness of the hour the debate
was adjourned till Monday. In the Chamber of De-
puties, M. BENorsT presented the retort of the Com-
mittee on the Bill for the Conversion of the
Five per Cents., which recommends that this
stock should be converted into Four-awl-a-Half per
Cents., and reduces to seven years the guarantee to the
holders that for that period no further reduction shall
take place. It also shortens the period within which
the holders are to make their declaration.

The accounts from Switzerland in thew:: papers fully
confirm the defeat of the volunteers in their attack on
Lucerne. The following appears in the Journal de

Debuts:—

" All the accounts which have reached us represent the
defeat of the free corps as more complete than was at first be-
lieved. The victors have made, it is said, more than 1,500
prisoners. The Government of Lucerne has 'refused to sur-
render them, and they are confined among the little moun-
tain cantons, where it «ill be very difficult to retake them.
Lucerne demands to be paid the expenses of the war. The
number of killed is not known, but it must be considerable
from the dreadful fury of the combat. General Sonnenberg
had designedly drawn the free corps into the heart of the can-
ton, retiring to Gutsch, a height overlooking Lucerne. When
he saw them engaged he fell upon them suddenly, while they
were attacked upon the other side by the landsturm, who
had risen behind them. The column of refugees and of Ber-
nese free corps who had entered from this side was cut in
pieces. The whole staff of the free corps, who had made part
of this column, were taken or killed. The victors returned
triumphantly into the town, bringing back the cannon and
munitions of the enemy. The column which had marched
from Zofinque, composed of refugees and of Argovian volun-
teers, encountered another division of Lucerneae troops at
Sursee and was equally defeated ; '2,500 men returned to Ar-
govia. Of the third column, which marched from Runach,
there is no news. The Catholic party of Argovia and a part
of the canton of Soleure had risen and marched to the relief
of Lucerne. List, the capital of Bale-Campagne, and one
of the strongest holds of the Radical party, was almost de-
serted, and the inhabitants in flight. The fear of a civil war
was general, for the Conservative party of the canton of Bale
were in a state of apprehension. The Vorort had ordered out
seventeen battalions under the command of the federal Col.
Donatz."

The Zurich correspondent of the Constitutiennel, who
pretends to good sources of information, admits the de-
feat, but regards it as only temporary. His letter is
dated Zurich, April 2 :
" Reduced to its proper forces, the Lucernese Govern-
ment, notwithstanding its immense preparations during the
last three months, could have effected nothing, for it was
opposed by half of its own population ; but, with the aid of
the four primitive cantons, who at the decisive moment
poured forth literally their whole male population, the
triumph of the Government was assured ; as yet it has only
been purchased by torrents of blood. The rethgees and the
vol,:nteers have succumbed after efforts worthy the most
heroic periods of our annals. For three hours the victory
was balanced, but how could from 4,000 to 5 000 men,
after a march of fourteen leagues, and who were
obliged to seize by main force upon all the im-
portant passages, so as to reach Lucerne in a day—how
could columns, composed for the most part of men who
had met for the first time only the evening before, and
whose organisation was defective and incomplete—how
could they hold out against 20,000 men (its number ac-
knowledged by the victors themselves) all fresh troops? For
they had only to make the journey of a lake upon two
steamers, in movement night and day, the 31st March and
Ist of April; on the other hand, the insurgents were obliged
to bivouack in the plains or upon bilk covered with snow
throughout two cold nights, while the troops Of the little
cantons disposed of the resources of a capital city. And yet,
when the expeditionary army learned what new and nume-
rous enemies it had to combat, not a word of discourage-
ment was heard to escape ; no one thought of retreating,
which would then have been easy; they all prepared, conse-
oqwvueeerrneltotl
overlook
efLoe rooortehfroneuerb avrt
Governmentet lree. t
akEe ing habtna
dtt
ti
amrleietosankstelni e.
put
Buthhi eoirgs hdtnesoc
oswmo
aceltri
than they were replaced by fresh troops. It would have re-
quired supernatural resources to have held out against such
odds. It was
wounded,rettin nad prisoners,
toeurantil they had lost 600 in kill. d,
retreat
r, that the insurgents thought of
because General Souri:onicalgirl
the forces of the invading army,d difficult ltenaabnlded, disastrous,
because
g, dizpbsing four times