The Sun. — 1838-10-18 (London, England)

AGAINST IMMORALITY._HOW much have we heard, within the last ten years, of " the march of intellect" and the wonderful increase of knowledge among the people I We should rejoice to see a proportionate improvement in the national morals.— Several attempts have been made to pass a Bill in the House of Commons for the better observance of the Sabbath, which has been considered, and we think justly, as an improper interference with the rational enjoyments of the humbler classes in their relaxation from the labours of the week, and tending to engender hypocrisy. But with respect to moral conduct, the case is widely different. This concerns the national character, and it is essentially the duty of Legislators to regulate and protect the morals of the people, for the general good of society in a civilized nation. There is a crime which is nearly allied to murder, inasmuch as it leads, in every instance, to mental and moral wretchedness, to domestic destitution, and, in frequent cases, even to death ; and yet for the punishment of such a crime we have no existing law in this enlightened country. How many victims of seduction appear at our police offices every week 1 How frequent are the paragraphs in the London newspapers headed " Se. duction and Suicide 1" How many families have had their domestic union and happiness destroyed by the artful and diabolical conduct of immoral men, alike regardless of parental feeling and of the horrible destruction of female chastity I The Legislature, we earnestly hope, will not much longer puffer this most unfeeling, unmanly, and degrading offence against morality to remain unpunisbable. We trust some Member, of high moral feeling, will bring a subject so important to the character of the country before Parliament, in the next Session. Let us have at least some reason to hope the " march of intellect" is not a mere empty boast, and that the march of morality is making some progress.— Warwick Advertiser.  It is now long since any new documents relating to the time of the Commonwealth have been given to the public ; and we aro glad to understand that Mr. Colburn is going to fill up this deficiency by the publication of an interesting se. ries of Private Correspondence between Secretary Thurlow, and the other distinguished men of the time, throwing much light on the principal events, and on the secret policy of the reign of Cromwell.  The Newcastle Journal states that on Monday, at Hexham, the bed of Mr. Hedley, butcher, was sold in the market place, by auction, for Church-rates. A croA d of people assembled on the occasion, and were addressed by Mr. Gray, on the impolicy of the Church of England employing such means fur the support of the Establishment.  - The workmen employed at Clarence House, St. James's, the residence of her Royal Highness the Princess Augusta, commenced on Tuesday to renovate the mouldings of the exterior of the edifice, which had been injured by the weather. The Commissioners of 'Woods and Forests have also ordered the edifice to be painted throughout. The Princess will reside at her delightful seat at Frogmore, bequeathed to her by her illustrious mother Queen Charlotte, until the first week in next month, when she will proceed to Biighton. Ttie m in the precincts of lion, formerly occupied by General Sir Herbert Taylor, has been *griped her.