The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-11-17 00:00:00

. Many! Si
.Idctai rat Yonne,
rand Oros* woe

Tie Court broke up eh, six o'clock.

PRICE OF STOCKS THI
Bank Stock
per Cent. Rel 771 k
I per Cent.Cor. 78k 71 8
14 per Coat.
6 per Cents. Mk
b per Ct.Ntivy fill
II per Cont.
Long Ann 1949-16
hap. t per Cent.
Irish 6 per Cent.

DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
India Stook 241}
Dittoßondo —G. 7111.72440
Souttpites Mast
Elontitilioa 014 Aaa.
Ex Biased. 10001.41 as P.
Os•Ao. •
all 01. 41.81.
India r ditto if'
Con. bilked 784,11
Lott. MOW' X221:.141.

ANOTHER 230.000 AT NII4E.fPO'CI
TUESDAY MORNING.

ktatglintan. , -0;
"TN* BRIMS STATIMIAIii" Is INCOILSOIATID Ars a
STATEsIisN."

co

LONDON:4
SATURDAY EVENING. IYOVEORR 17. Mi.
STOCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE O'cLOCKIN
The Market is rather better this "morning. roe.
solo began at 781, and continue to keeP the aisle'
price.

.
The new arrangments of the Ministry nrehow the
subject of pretty general speculation. ;In action to
the quotation, in another column„ from a morning,
paper, we have to notice an article tiei the same subject
in a respectable provincial print, (The Norwich Afer-1
cury.) After referring to the periods when theA
1
power of the existing Administration has been ottlie
eve of extinction, the Editor asserts, " %Ve havg high
authority for the belief that such a crisis isli4er
past during this very week, or is now workitg.
—lf our information be correct, and. we repeat,
it reaches us from a high quarter, 'the resioa-,
tions of several Members of the Cabinet were
either actually tendered to his Majesty in Os con
of the present week, or on the point of being' offe

This disposition is so recent, that the result cannot

yet known. We ardently desire it may be a differenf
one from that we should anticipate. We ardently de-
sire its determination may be a total change omens. and
• •
measures. But of a consummation so devontip to be
wished, we confess there seems scarcely a hope in the
present posture of public affairs."

The metropolis has for come time past exhibited a
scene quite new in the annals of religious controversy.
A family has devoted itself to the propagation of Anti.
christian opinions, with a degree of zeal and per-
severance, of which there exists no former example.—
P.rosecution ate; prosecution bas been successfully
carried on against the different members of this family,
who have in succession placed themselves in the post
of responsibility ; and they still persist. The struggle
is now plainly between the power of the law and the
obstinacy of individuals, and it is now considered
necessary to persevere in these prosecutions as much '
to uphold the disputed majesty of the law, as for the sake
of the original object for which prosecutions were com-
menced. In this conflict the ultimate victory cannot
be doubtful—but whilst we allow, that there is danger
in suffering the law in any instance to be successfully
defied, we may be permitted to add, that we seriously
doubt the policy of any law to confront or restrain the
promulgation of any religious or irreligious senti-
ments whatever : and to lament the indiscretion,
which by appealing to the law in mere matters of
faith, attempts to produce an unnatural and suspicious
alliance between truth and force. The direct and imme-
diatc_itupressi:ns produced upon every mind, when
e of any dais of opinions seek the aid of
thegblaw;-ran be no other than this : that they doubt
the truth of their own creed, and fear to engage in
the equal conflict of argument. This view of the sub-
ject may be erroneous, but that it is the most obvious
and natural one, cannot be denied. On the minds of
the thoughtless, the uninstructed, and the young, who
cannot be expected to enter deeply into the merits of a
controversy, this substitution of coercion for argument
is likely to be decisive against theopinions of those
who resort to it ; and yet we are told that it, is fir
the special protection of those classes from error, that
the prosecutions are deemed nefes,sargp,_ From the us-
restrained conflict of opinion, troth has nothing to fear.
its influence is strengthened and extended by every re-
ne'wed attack. Every enntiteinewittocate of a true
•
litrieltyfaibi, will rejoice when his creed is about to
undergoe test of controversy. He will feel an as-
surance of triumph. He will exclaim, " now is the
unbeliever shout to be convinced :Ike wavering to be
.confirmek ipfl the indifferent to be awakened." If
authority shoilid attempt to interpose its officious man-
date to subdue the tone or regulate the language of his
assailant, he will, at once, disclaim such dangerous 411.•
sistance. " Let the field of controversy be a fait.
field," will be say, " do not injure my holy =MIN by
casting into thimirkwtoriversary, sympathies
and prejedices of ilse impartial world."
These observations appear to us to convey a correct
mend view of the impolicy of legal interference in
matter* of religious dinning's. There are, however,
seine topics of subordinate importance, which as they
have been adverted to by the advocates of these prose-
cedese may deserve a moment's cousideration. Aad
first, it is said.. that the parties who have faUea under
these prosecutions have not reaseaed fairly; that in-
stead of sober nrgtuaent. they have employed insidious
sarcasm. ;ad ssarrilaus invective. If this elm:masa
be well limmdet mad not having read nay of the week,
vs poise net *okay" whether it bee nicely or not,

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