The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-21 00:00:00

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ierwards make

could not do it with justice, vv.

THE QUEEN'S CONSCIENCE.
The Non-Intrusionists are showing the last
symptoms of desperation. Defeated in the law courts,
discountenanced by the public, slighted by Royalty,
and with a dreary prospect of increased expenditure and
diminished income before them, they have become
utterly reckless, not merely of character, but of what
many of the least able among them will find to be the
very means of living. While they had hopes of main-
taining their ascendancy, or holding out an equal fight,
they were careful not to expose the Establishment
principle to risk or ridicule; but now that their
discomfiture is certain, they have become the best
allies of Voluntaryism. If anything could induce a
belief in the sincerity of their professed determina-
tion to go out of the Church, it would be their ob-
vious efforts to make it not worth remaining in.
Convinced that they themselves cannot much longer
enjoy the advantages of State connexion, they seem
resolved to render the endowments of their succes-
sors as precarious as possible. Better, they think,
that there should be no Church, than that there
should be a Church without them as its office-bearers.
This feeling has been indicated more than once
within the last few months; but never so strongly as
since the Queen's non-attendance at the High Church
of Edinburgh. The Scottish Guardian's remarks are
already known to our readers ; but the Witness, al-
though in more cautious phrase, has been equally im-
pertinent. Not content with expressing grievous
disappointment, this pious and loyal journal has been
showing its regard for the text, " Honour the king,"
by hinting at the fate of Charles I. and James VII.,
as warnings to our excellent and beloved Queen, and
exposing the weak points of State religion, by insist-
ing that her Majesty should have nothing but a po-
litical conscience, or one that should adapt itself to the
reli2,ious opinions of her subjects, wherever she may
for the time be.

Dissenters have been in the habit of urging that
the connexion between Church and State places the
Government in an anomalous position ; but they
have hardly gone the length of the Witness in urging
the individual responsibility of the Sovereign. If
it be true that her Majesty must personally coun-
tenance every form of worship that is supported by
the State—personally take part in the religious
ceremonies of every sect that enjoys the advantages
of Government support—she must discipline her
conscience till it become much more elastic than
even the Witness would like. In some parts of

England, she will be Puseyite ; in others, Low
Church ;—in some parts of Scotland, she will be
Presbyterian Non-Intrusionist ; and in others, Presby-
terian Moderate ;—in Ireland, she will be by turns
Episcopalian, Romanist, Presbyterian, and Seceder ;
and, should it please her to pay a visit to the more
distant portions of her empire, she will have greater
changes to undergo—even to Mahommedanism and
the creed of the Brahmins. Moreover, if she must
join in one part of the religious service, why not in
more ? The Presbyterian may ask her to sit (limn
at the Lord's table; the Romanist, to join in the mass ;
the Mahommedan to perform the ablutions and her

Hindoo subjects, in the unfortunate event of Prince
Albert's death, might require her to mount the funeral
pyre, and submit to be consumed with the corpse.
It will not do to say that the violation of her Ma-
jesty'3 conscience, in the one case, would be more
than in the other ; for, besides that strict conscien-

tiousness makes no allowance for small departures
from the truth, the Witness knows that between Pu-
seyism and Romanism there is less difference than
between Puseyism and Presbyterianism, and that the
clergyman who conducted the services before her Ma-
jesty in Dalkeith Palace, would rather officiate in St.
Mary's than in St. Giles.

Nor is it alone in denying a conscience to the
Queen that the Witness belies the principles that reli-
gious men profess to hold. Speaking of the attend-
ance of the Prime Minister in the parish church of
Dalkeith, he says—" What does it matter to the
Church of Scotland where Sir Robert Peel worships,
or what he worships, or whether he worships at all ?"
Really, for the organ of a party who pray publicly
and earnestly, every Sunday, that our rulers may rule
in the fear of God, this is rather a strange doctrine.
But it is quite consistent with their recent acts, which
seem to say plainly—Let us succeed, or let everything
go to wreck and ruin.—Aberdeen Herald.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]
PARLIAMENTARY LIFE ASSURANCE COMMITTEE.-
The daily instances which occur of the evils arising from
the breaking up of ill-concerted and speculative associa-
tions, render it to be regretted that the Parliamentary
Committee appointed in 1841, for inquiring into abuses
of this nature, was so soon terminated. During its sit-
ting, however, many valuable suggestions were thrown
out for the protection of the public ; amongst others, the
registry of the deed of settlement of every established
Company, and the publication from time to time of the
names of the shareholders ; and it is true that two or
three Companies were brought under the notice of the
Committee (the Law Life Assurance, and the Protector
Life-office), as having published not only the names, but
the residences of their shareholders, with the number of
shares held by each ; and it is to be much regretted that
this example has not been more generally followed, as by
this regulation alone the public have within their reach
the evidence of so many living witnesses, that the Corn-
Emily or Society they may be desirous of treating with is
acting in good faith, and is altogether secure and respect-
able.

MRS. HOFLAND'S NEW NOVEL.—It is so long since
this highly popular writer appeared before the public,
that her new hovel of " The Czarina" was looked for
with unusual curiosity and interest ; and the result has
more than justified these. It proves to be truly what its
second title promised—" An Historical Romance of the
Court of Russia," and at the most remarkable and ro-
mantic period of that Court--namely, at the accession
of Catherine the First, immediately after the death of
Peter the Great. The numerous scenes in this romance,
illustrative of the extraordinary condition of Russian
aristocratic society at the period in question, are exe-
cuted with as much truth as spirit ; aad the parts which
many of the old Russian nobility play in them must ex-
cite great interest in the reader, considering that every
one of the names who figure in the work, maintain
nearly the same position in European society now as
they did a hundred years ago. The love story blended
with the fate of the unhappy " Czarina" includes every
f: at ure to interest the younger and more romantic por-
tion of those numerous readers which the popular name
of Mrs. Hoflancl will secure to this work.
Dr. Morrison says, its some provinces in China a
public notice is issued by wealthy parents to obtain a
husband for their daughter; this is done by the afilu-
ent who are unwilling to part with their child, and
who, therefore, bring the son-in-law into their own
family, instead of the usual practice of sending the
daughter from home.
WORSHIP-STREET.--The following additional dona-
tions were received yesterday, by Mr. Broughton, for
Charlotte Briggs, the poor cabman's widow, and her dis-
tressed family W. C. (Bristol), 214 Sir Denis le
Slarchant, 11. ; Z., IL ; Mr. Mor. is. Lincoln's Inn, 10s.;
a gentleman, 11. ; anonymous, 2s. 6d.; and ss. from Mr.
Lord, landlord 4.1 the Salmon and Ball Tavern, Bethnal-1
Been.

country which he finds without an owner, and thus
igdfspcmdent domain. Whoever would af-
• ir.4ter of the entire country,
-""nt respecting the
12.4 if be

rights and independence of this person. ......
himself finds sufficient men who are willing to live
under his laws, he may form a new state withinthe
country he has discovered, and possess there bothlthe
domain and the empire.
" Now, this is exactly our position with regard to
these Dutch emigrants ; therefore, upon the plea of
justice, our occupation of Port Natal cannot be de-
fended. The policy of such a step I will not contro-
vert. Port Natal, at least, must be taken possession of.
Any attempt, however, to coerce or subjugate the
Dutch emigrants to British law by mere force, will
be attended, with immense expense and bloodshed.
With equal, or even superior numbers, we have no
chance against them. Arab-like, they will evade pur-
suit, while armed with their long guns, and being
excellent shots, they will contrive (being mounted)
to keep within their own range, and far beyond
that of our muskets. Artillery is of little avail
against them, for they scatter too much. Equally
useless would be any attempt to prevent their
obtaining ammunition. It is a well-known fact, that
dotted as the eastern frontier of the Cape Colony is
with military posts, along the extent of 100 miles, we
have been unable to prevent ammunition and guns
from being smuggled to the Kafirs. How, then, can we
expect to arrest the same system along the northern
frontier,, where there does not exist a military post,
and which is in extent 600 miles, inhabited also by
fellow-countrymen of the emigrants ? It has been
suggested, even by the ' Aborigines Protection Com-
mittee,' I believe, to incite the native tribes to fall on
the emigrants. This would not be exactly
fulfilling their .duty, nor the intention of
Sir G. Napier, in sending the first expedi-
dition. What a spectacle must the late conflict
have presented to the surrounding black tribes ! White
warring against white, after our missionaries, more
particularly in that quarter, have been preaching
against all bloodshed. Were Pretorious and a few
others in our power, something might be effected ; but
I repeat, that any.war with the emigrants (should
they remain united) will be attended with defeat on
our part. The wilds of Africa are before them, and they
will only retire into the interior. It is not improbable
that the next accounts will be of a more serious
nature. Captain Smith's instructions, of course, we
do not know, but he appears, to have been rash
in attempting an attack, even on the provocation he
received. It appears extraordinary that he should
have gone into action with his artillery unloaded,
and, on abandoning the same, that he should not have
spiked the guns. The authorities at Cape Town are,
no doubt, to blame on many points, which, indeed,
are so apparent, that it is unnecessary to enumerate
them. With a hope, however, that affairs may be
amicably and honourably adjusted, I remain, Sir,
" A VOICE FROM NATAL.
" Chatham Barracks, Sept. 10, 1842."