The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-07-02 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN

before Cadiz by his troops. Lopes Banos completely
beaten. The garrisons of Cadii and the Isle of Groh do:
not consist of more than 3,500 militia, and MO of the
line.

French Funds at 5 o'clock on Monday availing, 88.
75.—Spanish, 36&.

The Paris papers of Sunday had previously arrived.
They contain nothing new from Spain, with the merles
if reports. One rumour was that Mina lay seriously ill at
Seu d'Urgel ; the other, that this ramose was only a stra-
tagem to deceive the enemy, and that be bad quitted the
place while the French and Ruyslists were preparing to
surround it. General Zayas, it appears, has been appointed
.ty the Cortes Captain-General of Cadiz. The Constitu•
tional Government, though forced to change its seat, retain
its spirit. A Cfreular addressed br the Spanish' Court, be
fore it left Seville for Cadiz, to its diplomatic agents to fo-
reign States, speakkof French aggression and injustice in
no very measured terms, and certainly not in a manner that
indicates a disposition to compromise with the Int/tidal*:
4.

•
Bayonne papers of the 24th ult., received this morn-
ing, observe that it will require a considerable force at
Seville to prevent all excesses, and to keep down the
Constitutional party, which is numerous and powerful
there. After leaving a sufficient garrison there, it should
seem that the divisions of General Bordesonit and Bour-
■ont will not be sufficient to form the siege of Cadiz,
and, at the same time, oppose the Constitutional tooops,
which have retired in good order into the mountains
of La Ronda. There is a statement in some letters
that part of the army of Dal lasteros, which bas withdraws
ato Murcia, has penetrated into La Mancha, with
the vies► of getting into the rear of General Bordesoult.

the night of the 16th a report was brought to Madrid
that the corps of Ballasteros was advancing, and was
not above twenty leagues from the capitak—A re-

truant of ealresders was sent out immediately to recon-
oitre,and,on the 171h,Qaesada.with his corps, entered the
city; end then marched towards Alcola.—Ballasteros,

ay the letters from Madrid, retired from Valencia in
good order in three column•, to the Xucar and the Ca-
brich,having left some free corps behind in Valencia. His
ine extends as far as Cuenca, which is occupied by a di-
vision of Constitutional troops, having its adnseed posts
k Mete. The troops of Ballasteros, who is in want of
.esoorces and subsists only by requisitions, wilt be able
act perhaps about the end of June. Molitor, who

atered Valencia with 12,000 men, of whom 3,000 are
Spanish Royalists, has left the country behind bim
destitute of troops, to undertake this expedition, which
has been long iA contemplation. It must be acknow-
ledged that his expedition seems a very bold experiment,
considering the state of Arragon and,Cataionin, which must
render his communication with Marshal Moncey difficult.

Villa Campo is to concentrate his forces at Orland& ; ha has
15,000 men, and is in communication with Belluteros.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMENTA RY.

Mc. Hurnepresented last night a petition of great im-
portance to the Haase of Commons; which, akhough it
' to no Parliamentary result, is calculated to make a
deep impression upon the public mind. The petition was
from various Christian sects, and signed by upwards of
two thousard persons, among whom were 98 ministers,..
against the prosecution of tho publication of theological

talons. It is of so groat a length. that we cannot
conveniently insert it to-day; but the principal point on
hich the argument rests, is, that tape religion cannot
. injured by investigation, or opposition; and that
persecution is far more likely to spread opposition than
suppress it. The law, or rather the administrators

the law have undertaken to draw a distinction between
argument and raillery on this subject:—hot daring, is
• face of so, many aorta of Christianity " as by law
asiablisbed," to proclaim that religion shall not be the'
'Nen of investigation, they Dave discovered that the
offence lies, not in the thing done, but its the mode of
ing it; a position which if applied to the adtninistra•
ion of the law in ordinary cases, would lead the re-
verend judges into some strange dilemmas. For in-
stance, it might upon their principle be pleaded in justi-
fication of an assault, that it was committed without an I

igry word, and in the most gentlemanly manner. If
1r grave and venerable judges were not accustomed
sometimes to supply the deficiency of the law, by such

Asnations, it would have sounded oddly in the public
to proclaim that Christianity, although " par: and
parcel of the law," might be argued against
'th all possible gravity and effect, without any
offence; but should the arguer be betrayed into
single smile, or one harsh epithet, he becime
amenable to the laws, and must expiate his offence in a
angeon. The Petitioners very properly discard this
distinction. They say, "Although they feel the strong-
' est disgust at every mode of discussion which op.
proaches to indecency and profaneness, they cannot
help thinking. that it is neither wise nor safe to con-
stitute the manner and temper of writing, an object of
legal visitation; inasmuch as it is impossible to de-
fine where argument ends and evil speaking begins :"
They record their protest " 'against the principle implied
in the prosecutions alluded to, that religion proceeding
from infinite wisdom, and protected by Almighty
power, depends upon human patronage for its perpe-
tuity, and influence;' and they require the Legislature
to take into consideration the prosecutions carrying
on, and the pnnisbments already inflicted upon un-
believers, in order to ecnnerate Christianity from the
opprobrium so unjustly cast upon it, of being a sys.
tem that countenances intolerance and persecution."

As is putting the matter in a true Point of view, and
must shame those intolerant spirits who have marshalled
themselves under 11 declaration that Christianity can-
not exist withotit their assistance ; for this is the lam-
guage,in effeci, of the Bridge street Club, and the Society
for the Suppression of Vice. To act as they have done,
to procfalit their oxen disbelief in the Christian revels!.
.
lions- Bid they deem.them of lion, they would not pre.,
same to offer their puny, paltry aid, to the Omnipotence 1
f Heaven! Were they believers In Christiagjty, they

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welid atsw believe that " the pewevi if Death and Heir
" could not prevail against it." If they believed it was
of GOD, they would also believe that it would stand eter-
nally. They would bend in resignation to the Almighty,
and say with the Poet—
Let not this weak. unknowing band,
Presume thy bolts to throw ;
Nor deal damnation round the Nod,
Oa each 1 judge thy foe.

But, instead of this, they net as if the State reltglon were
in their opinions a State-babble, and would burst if they
did not take it under their protection. Mr. Hume cones
eluded a masterly exposure of the wickedness and folly
of persecution, by moving that fret discussion had done
greater• benefit than injury to society ; and that it was
unjust to perseeute in matters of opinion. Mr. Wilber-
km, in bit usual inconsistent manner, argued for free
discussion and persecution in the same breath. He took
up the common cant about levity and insult; nod said
that the propagators of the Christian faith were always
decorous in the promulgation a their sentimebts. "Even
" the Government df Nero, (eacd the Honourable Mem.
" ber) one of the moat cruel triode that ever hoed, was
not abused by the Christians." Then is Mr. Wilber.
fora no Christian, for here we have hint .abusiog the
Government of Nero, is good vet terms, and without any
equivocation. So do men conublt themselves, who bottom
themselves on expediency, and look about to adapt theta'
selves to take advantage of every wind that blows. Mr.
Ricardo, with his usual spirit and candour on religions
matters, exposed the further fallacy of the nature of pre-
venting the abase of the Christian faith, by 'hewing that
books which were merely argtnnentative, and contained
no ribaldry, bad also been prosecuted. Mr. Horace
Twiss, who is always ready to lead a forlorn hope on the
Minfhterial side, undertook to reply to Mr. Ricardo I Our
readers will neither wonder at the presumption nor the
failure. Mr. Peel, who has got a very strange habit of w0n..1
dering, when other people an see nothing to wonder at,
" wondered how the petitioners could state that they hid
" &Strong sense of the benefit resulting from a bergd in
" Chriitianity ; and yet were opposed to the, laws
" against individuals who were attacking it, and destroy-
`` hag it r Why, Mr. Peel, the petitioners believe that it
cannot rte destroyed, per injured by the attack ; and
they fear that the pretence that is-necessary to protect it
by law, may cease ft to be set down as no better that
other creeds " established by law, " and trait it way be
brought into a diirepate as a Parliamentary religion
which would never attach to it, Were it leg to maintain it.
self upon its owo merits. To protect it by laws, as Ma,

lometseism is protected, is, is some measure to degrade
. - - - - -

it to the level of the false creeds which require the sup.
port of human authority. Think of this, Mr. Peel; aid
be assured that the religion which needs such propping,
cannot be upheld by it. The House did not divide upon
the resolution. It was unnecessary that it should dose•
The only thing requisite was to raise discussion, which
will have a powerful effect upon the public mind.
Mr. Brougham brought up again the petition of Mr.
Rowan, and contended that a good case was made out for
an enquiry, bet the Honourable House thought proper
to reject it, by a majority of 51 to 26, without any roma
bring shown to lead to the conclusion that the charges
against Colonel Croskie was unfounded. Perhaps the
House held it dangerous to create fresh precedents of in-
quiries into the.conduct of weathers. The thing might
bearded too far. Gay said of certain men in his day—
" When you ;Beaton vies or bribe,
"'Tin so pat to all the tribe, •
" That each cries 'twas levelled at me."
They are much mended, since that period, we date
say ;but there are yet many (*galled jades," who "wheat'
sorely when such words are whispered too loudly.

Another attempt was made to take the managenre at of
• new building, for the depositing of the late King's
Library, out of the hands of the trustees of the British
Museum; but, notwithstanding the admitted want of
taste in the trustees, the House.mensed satisfied that no-
body knew better bow to spend money; sat m that
Will the leading object, there could he no rational ob.
jection made to them. We are almost sorry that this
" splendid present" has been made to the public : for we
shrewdly suspect that after an expenditure of•teriew Ilia
*able of the gift, of the public money, it will webs a
px&lic library after all. t

The Scotch Appeal Bill was discussed in the Upper
House at some length. It appears that compulsion may
bring two or three Peers daily to answer to their names;
but that they will be then at liberty to leave the louse
and the Deputy Speaker to decide as they tbiik proper,
This, however, is no objection to the Bill ; for it is more
than probable, the Peers would know nothing of the
matter if they remaiited ; ■nd the Deputy Speaker can
decide quite as well withnut them.