The Sun.
London, England, 1829-12-31 00:00:00

the Catholic 3 to their civil rights. The Catholic
Relief Bill alone will make the last Session of
Parliament for ever remarkable in history, as the
sera in which religious persecution ceased to
exist in the British kingdom. King GEORGE
the FOURTH has thus ratified his Edict of
Names for the restoration of religious peace in

his dominions—an edict, of which the utmost
efforts of bigotry and intolerance will, we may
safely predict, never procure the revocation. Its
healing influence has already begun to operate in
Ireland ; and though the language of panegyric
may have exaggerated the benefits it has con-
ferred on that unhappy country, the measure is,
nevertheless, of inappreciable value, as being the
indispensable preliminary to every step that could
be taken towards the social reformation of the
Irish people.
If the settlement of the Catholic question oc-
cupied a large portion of time, it has done so
not undeservedly. The difficulties were almost
insurmountable ; quite so, indeed, to any Mi-
nister who had not possessed the strong common
sense—the extensive knowledge of the world—
and the almost omnipotent influence of the
Noble Person who now presides in his Majesty's
Councils.

Besides the all-engrossing question, therefore,
our Legislature has done little, save the esta-
blishment of the New Police in London—an
institution which, as tending directly to the pre-
vention of crime, and the security of persons
and property, must be regarded as a great gain
to society. Much, indeed, remains to be done
before crime can be expected sensibly to diminish
among us, for whilst poverty and ignorance
exist, the incentives to evil will, we fear, never
be wanting. To remedy the latter of these, the
most unwearied efforts continue to be made ;
and when we see the most distinguished and
powerful men in the kingdom uniting in societies
for the diffusion of useful knowledge, and for
spreading information among the people cheaply
and plentifully—when we observe the constant
augmentation in the numbers of popular schools
of all denominations—and when we have just
witnessed the foundation of an university in the
west of England, in emulation of the two simi-
lar establishments of the metropolis—we cannot
but admit with wonder, the rapid strides with
which the schoolmaster is advancing, nor can we
anticipate without joy, the prospect of every suc-
ceeding year rendering the people of England
more learned and intelligent than they now are—
and consequently more virtuous, and more
happy.

If we compare the internal peace and pros-
perity of Great Britain, with those of other
nations of the European confederacy, we shall
generally have great reason to be satisfied and
thankful. The tranquillity of France has been
interrupted by setting over her an odious Minis-
try, the continuance of which bids fair to goad
the people into a second revolution. The
Netherlands are threatened with the deprivation
of that inestimable right, without which freedom
is but an empty name—the liberty of the Press.
In the south, Turkey bids fair to relapse into her
ancient barbarism. Italy is groaning under the
galling yoke of foreigners. Spain is losing her
inhabitants, her industry, and almost her name
as a nation. And Portugal, whose prisons are
crowded with the victims of a tyrannical usurpa-
tion, seems, of itself, as little able to resist op-
pression, as its fair and tender SOVEREIGN,
who was lately carried from our shores, having
abandoned the vain hope of the assistance of
the most ancient and powerful ally of her family
and her cause.

That in many parts of this country consider-
able suffering does exist, cannot be disputed ;
but the depression we believe to be merely tem-
porary. The resources of the country are unim-
paired—the energy of the people undiminished
—there are no symptoms of permanent decay in
our land. The difficulties we have to struggle
against must be met boldly, and grappled with
firmly ; and by so doing, the future may be
looked to with confidence aud hope. Those
who live in hope live in joy. Men should con-
sole themselves for the misfortunes that are past,
by anticipating the good that is to come. The
habit of looking constantly back to former times
is productive, in general, of little but sorrow ;
but the future is before us all; and happy are
those that can derive from it consolation for the
past, and can, by its aid, whilst years are mul-
tiplying upon them, preserve to their minds the
freshness and the animation of youth.

The Archbishop of CANTERBURY had an
interview with the Earl of ABERDEEN, on Tuesday, at tke
Foreign-office.
The Lord Chief Baron of Scotland is con-
fined to his residence in Henrietta-street, Cavendish-square,
by severe indisposition.
Mr. HERRIES has left town for his seat at
Seven Oaks, Kent.

The Chapel Royal, in the King's Palace, St.
James's, is now undergoing a thorough repair. The ceil-
ing, it had been ascertained, was defective.
We understand that the Marchioness of
CoNYNGHAm continues seriously ill.—Brighton Gazette.

Miss PAToN.—The Yorkshire Gazette
say We cmnot conceive why this lady should not be
styled Lady WILLIAM LENNox, instead of being exposed
so unjustly to the surmises which the continuance of her
maiden name gives rise to. Her husband acknowledges
her in his letters, and if he is not ashamed of receiving
the fruits of her exertions, he ought not to be ashamed of
letting her Publicly bear his name." We may remark,
by way of illustration, that when the lady alluded to was
at Sheffield, she settled the etiquette of the tiling, in an-
swer to a question, thus In the orchestra, Miss Pa-
Tort; in all other places, Lady WILLIA)I lANNox."
Leeds Intelligencer.