The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-07 00:00:00

must deny their great utility, or we rilust prepare
to submit to their sway. There is no alternative, I
and no middle course.

When such inordinate pretensions are put
forth on the part of the priesthood, it becomes
us to examine their claims. Fortunately tor
the public, even those who make the most ex-
travaant demands in favour of our own
clergy, will join with us in saying that the Ro-
mish 'priesthood of Italy, Spain, France, and
Ireland, are undeserving of confidence, and
could well be dispensed with. The condition
of those countries will bear out the opinion.
Far from being at present the messengers of
peace and good-will to men, the Presbyterian
priesthood are sowing dissension in the land, and,
by their example, exciting that resistance to the
legal authorities for which the Chartists are
punished. The priesthood of the Church of
England, it is admitted by their friends, were
frozen down to " the accidental formula!" of two
hundred years ago, and stood still while society
was expanding around them, making no efforts
to keep pace with its growth. Nay, they even
expelled from amongst them men burning with
zeal, full of activity and self-denial, able to
move the hearts of thousands, and suffered them
to lead into schism half the people. Now
we are required to believe that the priest-
hood, suddenly awakened to the loss of that •
power they have allowed to slip out of their
hands, and ambitious only of imposing on the.
senses of mankind, and of regaining dominion
over them by cunning and hypocritical contri-
vances, pretended purity, fasts, and vigils, are
the only possible instruments for securing order,
morality, and happiness in this world, as well as
leading the way to salvation hereafter.
Whatever the priesthood Might have been
during the dark ages, when they possessed all
the knowledge which had been preserved of an-
cient Greece and Rome, when they Were the

most civilized order of men, and were far
advanced in morality beyond the rude tribes
that swarmed over Europe—at present they are
not, either in knowledge, morality, or civilisation,
superior to other men, and cannot be the sources
of improvement. During the last two centuries
they have not been, and we have, therefore, no
reason whatever to believe that, they can now
again become, the leaders in civilization. Trade
which unites foreign nations in friendly bonds,
does not need to be, and is' not, heralded by the
priesthood. Division of labour, which makes
men mutually dependent, mutually civil, and
mutually forbearing, is not advanced by their
instrumentality. The knowledge of the natural
laws which regulate the course of society, and
of the laws which determine the well-being of
individuals on earth, which is indispensable to in-
creasing civilization, is rather retarded than pro-
moted by the priesthood, who treat such know-

ledge as vain and insufficient. To political free-
dom, which is essential to human happiness,
they are opposed. They dread and resist the
expansion of the popular mind. Far from being
in any part of Europe at 'present the leaders of
civilization, we find them everywhere resisting
its progress, and everywhere endeavouring to
hold back manklitd to the knowledge of dark
and barbarous ages. We boldly deny, therefore,
the vast utility ascribed to the priesthood; we
deny that they are essential to civilization ; and
we caution those who hold contrary opinions, that

the priesthood mean to build up for themselves
on their opinions, if they can, a great and en-
during power over the hearts and minds of their
fellow-creatures.

At a meeting of the English Shareholders in
the Paris and Rouen Railway, held at Liverpool
last week, the Chairman made the following re-
marks The Directors in Paris and the Eng-
lish Directors had worked together for two years,
and although the English Directors had origin-
ally had reserved to them the power of voting
by proxy on all points on which they differed
from their French colleagues, they had never
had occasion to put that forth, so harmonious
bad the two bodies worked together." In the
Report we also find a paragraph of a similar de-
scription in these words:—" We can safely
affirm that among the 8,000 men now employed,
nothing- has ever occurred beyond slight dis-
putes, which it is almost impossible to prevent
among so vast a body of men." When we con-
trast noble conduct like this with the inflamma-
tory and abusive ,language of writers in French
newspapers, we almost imagine that these
Writers, and the French Directors and workmen,
are people of different nations, and have no feel-
ings in common. According to the former
everything England does is bad—she insults
France by her haughty claims, rejoices in
Crippling her trade and commerce, and, in fact,
appears to have no other object in view but to
rasp at power and dominion only for the pur-
pose of humbling and weakening her neighbour.
we are assisting her in one of the greatest
and most useful works ever undertaken in that
Country, and embarking our capital for the corn-.
idetion of a line which will soon unite the most
Commercial port of France with the capital, and
thereby increase the trade and resources of both,
we are absurdly accused of wishing to ruin her.
This shows great want of judgment, want of
common sense, and of that courtesy which two
neighbouring nations owe to one another, and
writers who can indulge in such strains are the
very worst enemies of their country. Eng-
land rejoices in the prosperity of France.
She wishes to encourage trade and friendly
communications, as tending alike to the preserva-
tion of peace and the best interests of mankind.
Could we have given a stronger proof of these
feelings than in supporting this national under-
taking, even at a time of great political embar-
rassment, and when no man could tell if peace
would continue fbr six months? The good
understanding which prevails between the
French and English Directors, however, shows
that the people of France do not in general
participate in the warlike sentiments of certain
writers, and affords strong grrounds for antici-
pating harmony and peace. It sets a noble ex-
ample also, to other countries, an example of
vyeing with each other in carrying out a great
work with more harmony and expedition than
perhaps ever was exhibited on similar occa-
sions, by even men of the same language and
country. It was commenced only two years
ago; every part of the works will be completed
within the original estimate; and, we trust, in a
Short. time to have the satisfaction of announcing
its opening to the public.

The accounts from. Madrid are to the 27th ult.
The Government hoped to be able to settle the
affair of the forty millions of reals. Senor SA.
LAMANCA, who is said to be CHRISTINA'S agent.
bad arrived at Madrid, from London, and was
stated to be a bidder fur the quicksilver mines of
Almaden, which were to be put up for public
competition on the 27th.
General VAN HALEN'S circular was still the
subject of much comment, nor was it known what
course the Government intended to pursue. All
accounts, however, agree in stating that if such a
measure is put in force, it will bring the troops
and the Ayuntamientos into frequent collision.

The Madrid Gazette declares that all the re-
ports which have circulated by the Memorial
Bordelais, respecting certain financial projects,
which must entail a national bankruptcy in
Spain, are wholly destitute of foundation. How
is the Government to prevent vague and incre-
dible stories from being rumoured about, when
the Treasury is penny less, and the employes and
the army are crying out to be paid?

The Three per Cents. were done at 211, at
sixty days; and the Five per Cents. at 25/, for
c 2GI and. 27/, with half premium, at
sixtyasl ;
i days. The debt bearing no interest sold
at 5: fur cash.

The Paris papers received bring no in-
telligence of political importance. The Nationizt
has another article on the treaties for the right
of search, from which the following is an ex-
tract :—" According to the treaties of 1831 and
1833 British cruisers cannot exercise that right, un-
less they be provided with a warrant, delivered by
tbe French Governinent, and,which is renewable
every year. The continuance or immediate abro-
gation of the right'of visitation will accordingly