The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-26 00:00:00

mu)) Xbition

SUN OFFICE Three o'clock.

A lengthened debate took place in the General Assem-
bly last Monday on a motion for the total abolition of
Church patronage in Scotland. The Non-Intrusionists
despairing of any aid from the present Government, and
convinced, by experience, that their Veto Act is little
better than a nullity when it comes in collision with the
law, resolved to carry matters with a high hand, and rest
satisfied with nothing less than the total abolition of th e
patron's rights. This scheme, however, was very coldlyirt.-
ceived. It was proposed by one of the leading fathers of the
Kirk, and supported in very strong figurative language,
by the Professor of Divinity, Dr. CHALMERS," but unfor-
tunately was opposed by the Procurator, the law officer
of the Church, and if we mistake not, a Noa-Intru-
sionisrhimself, when, on a division, the motion was car-
ried by a majority of 69. This is a sad falling off from
the majority which the same party had on the previous
Thursday, when a division took place on the Strathbogie
affair, and the Non•lntrusionists mustered 215 votes,
their opponents, the men resolved to obey the law, only
85 votes, giving a majority of not less than 130 votes.
There is evidently a division.in the camp. The threat
held out by one of the chiefs that they would secede in a
body and leave one-half of the churches empty, has
alarmed those who prefer a comfortable manse and a
good stipend to wooden houses and casual contributions,
and the alarm was not at all assuaged by the speeches
made on the occasion. The Procurator laid down the law
on the question, and hinted that if the object
of the motion were obtained, something like anarchy and
confusion might follow. What, said he, would be thought
of any Reformer of the Radical party moving in the
House of Commons that the present system of repre-
sentation should be abolished without substituting some
other in its place ?—" Would any man, except one as
wild as himself, listen for a moment to a scheme that
would throw the country, into anarchy and confusion ? "
This roused the fears of the less staunch Vetoists.
They shuddered at the very idea of losing their
livings in the general scramble, and Dr. CHALMERS,
in place of holding out any consolation, confounded them
still more. He absolutely denounced the popular voice,
and described the people as utterly unfit to choose their
own pastors. Who, then, are to choose them ? The
Church. This we have all along seen was the great ob-
ject of the dominant party. Under pretence of giving
the right of election to the Christian people at large
they would confine it only to a select few, whom
they could- mould and control according to
their own wishes. " I have no faith," said he, "in
the entire infallibility of the popular voice, and believe
a system of household or resident election, is as bad as
high-handed patronage. To the Church Courts belong
the highest and most important part , of this
matter." This, to say the least of it, is
plain language, easy to be understood by the
People as well as the Parliament, and, we trust,
will not be forgotten when the subject again comes on
for discussion. But we advise Mr. CAMPBELL to give up
his Bill. Has he the vanity to suppose that the men whom
Sir GEORGE SINCLAIR described as totally unmanage-
able, will be ruled by him, or that he can carry through
Parliament a measure opposed by great majorities in
both Houses, by all the patrons of livings in England,
and by the whole Episcopal Church ?

We learn from the Manchester Guardian that the
statements respecting the distress of the Operatives in
the manufacturing districts, are so far from being ex-
aggerated, that they scarcely reveal the whole appalling
truth ; and that, at Stockport in particular, nothing can
surpass the extent and intensity of the sufferings under
which the industrious Operatives are labouring, except the
patience with which they bear their privations. Under
these circumstances, permit us to ask what has become
of the proposal—broached the other day with so much
parade and emphasis by Mother Church—of preaching
simultaneous charity sermons on behalf of the famish-
ing artizans? If the thing is to be done, 'tis absolutely
necessary that it should oe done ut once. While the
Church deliberates, the Operatives starve. We were
never impressed with any very favourable ideas
of the project, thinking that the richest Church
in the world would be better employed in subscribing
itself, than in exhorting others to subscribe, for its des-
titute flocks ; still, as some little good was likely to arise
from it, we gave it our humble but ready support ; and
now repeat our question—when are the charity
sermons to be preached ? Are we to wait till
the parsons are in a favourable mood for pa-
thetic composition? If so, the scheme had better be
at once abandoned, and the poor be left, as usual, to the
chapter of accidents. If churchmen would but show as
much zeal in the cause of their famishing flocks, as lay-
men have shown in the cause of the burnt-out liam-
burghers, we should soon ,cease to be horrified with
details of the sufferings of the Operative; in the mann-
fActuring districts.

The Levant Mail brings the startling intelligence that
Egyptian troops have been ordered to Syria to quell the
insurrection of the Druses. We can hardly bring our-
selves to credit a statement which, if true, proves the
members of the Divan to be little better than lunatics.
What, entrust the quelling of an insurrection in Syria to
the deadly enemies of the Syrian people, whether
Maronites or Druses ? If said of any other Government
but that of the Porte, we should regard it as incredible.
A letter from Constantinople of the sth instant,
states that the SULTAN has sent a sword with a nishan
of high rank to Commodore Sir CHARLES NAPIER. We
are glad to have to announce this long-delayed recogni-
tion by the Porte of the Gallant Commodore's invaluable
services in Syria.

There is very little news of any interest in the French
Journals. The public is weary of the Right of Search
question, which is employed by the Opposition entirely
with'a view to drive M. GtazoT out of the Cabinet.

The French aro manifesting a generous sympathy for
the distress of the people of Hamburgh, for which we
cannot too much respect them.

The Moniteur of the 24th of May publishes, in its official
part, the law which gives to the Minister of Public 'Works a
credit of four millions of francs, to lie employed in repairing the
damage done to the dikes on the banks of the Rhine, between
Lyons and the sea, and also to the canal from Arles to Bone,
by the rise and overflowing of the waters. This law is dated
the 22d of May.