attack, and not in the defence. If any man put his hand into my pocket to take my property, am I disgraced if I prevent him? Churchmen are ready enough to be submissive to their supe

either in the Bill which has passed, or in the Report which preceded it, is said of the duties of Bishops. A Bishop is not now forced by law to be in his diocese, or to attend his duty in Parliament-he may be en-riors; but were they to submit to a tirely absent from both; nor are there spoliation so gross, accompanied with wanting instances within these six ignominy, and degradation, and to years where such has been the case. bear all this in submissive silence;It would have been very easy to have to be accused of Nepotism by Nepoplaced the repairs of Episcopal Palaces tists, who were praising themselves (as the concurrent leases of Bishops indirectly by the accusation, and beare placed) under the superintendence nefiting themselves directly by the of Deans and Chapters; but though confiscation founded on it; the real the Bishop's bill was accompanied by disgrace would have been to have another bill, containing the strictest submitted to this: and men are to enactments for the residence of the be honoured, not disgraced, who come Clergy, and some very arbitrary and forth contrary to their usual habits, to unjust rules for the repair of their oppose those masters, whom, in comhouses, it did not appear upon the mon seasons, they would willingly face of the law that the Bishops had obey; but who, in this matter, have any such duties to perform; and yet tarnished their dignity, and forgotten I remember the case of a bishop, dead what they owe to themselves and to us. not six years ago, who was scarcely ever seen in the House of Lords, or in his diocese; and I remember well also the indignation with which the inhabitants of a great Cathedral town spoke of the conduct of another Bishop (now also deceased), who not only never entered his palace, but turned his horses into the garden. When I mention these instances, I am not setting myself up as the satirist of Bishops. I think, upon the whole, they do their duty in a very exemplary manner; but they are not, as the late bills would have us to suppose, impeccable. The Church Commissioners should not have suffered their reports and recommendations to paint the other branches of the Church as such slippery transgredient mortals, and to leave the world to imagine that Bishops may be safely trusted to their own goodness without enactment or control.

It is a very singular thing that the law always suspects Judges, and never suspects Bishops. If there be any way in which the partialities of the Judge may injure laymen, the subject is fenced round with all sorts of jealousies, and enactments, and prohi bitions - all partialities are guarded against, and all propensities watched. Where Bishops are concerned, acts of Parliament are drawn up for beings who can never possibly be polluted by pride, prejudice, passion, or interest. Not otherwise would be the case with Judges, if they, like the heads of the Church, legislated for themselves.

Then comes the question of patronage: can anything be more flagrantly unjust, than that the patronage of Cathedrals should be taken away and conferred upon the Bishops? I do not want to go into a long and tiresome history of Episcopal Nepotism; but it is notorious to all, that Bishops This squabble about patronage is confer their patronage upon their sons, said to be disgraceful. Those who and sons-in-law, and all their relations; mean to be idle, and insolent, because and it is really quite monstrous in they are at peace, may look out of the the face of the world, who see this window and say, "This is a disgrace- every day, and every hour, to turn ful squabble between Bishops and round upon Deans and Chapters, and Chapters;" but those who mean to be to say to them, "We are credibly injust should ask, Who begins? the real formed that there are instances in your disgrace of the squabble is in the Chapters where preferment has not

this view Chapters might be made eminently useful. In what profession, too, are there no gradations? Why is the Church of England to be nothing but a collection of Beggars and Bishopsthe Right Reverend Dives in the palace, and Lazarus in orders at the gate, doctored by dogs, and comforted with crumbs ?

been given to the most learned men | overlooked by a Commission of Bishops, you can find, but to the sons and bro-just as all mention of bridles would be thers of some of the Prebendaries. omitted in a meeting of horses; but in These things must not be- we must ake these Benefices into our own keeping;" and this is the language of men swarming themselves with sons and daughters, and who, in enumerating the advantages of their stations, have always spoken of the opportunities of providing for their families as the greatest and most important. It is, I admit, the duty of every man, and of everybody, to present the best man that can be found to any living of which he is the Patron; but if this duty has been neglected, it has been neglected by Bishops quite as much as by Chapters; and no man can open the "Clerical Guide," and read two pages of it, without seeing that the Bench of Bishops are the last persons from whom any remedy of this evil is to be expected.

But to take away the patronage of existing Prebendaries is objectionable for another class of reasons. If it is right to take away the patronage of my Cathedral and to give it to the Bishop, it is at least unjust to do so with my share of it during my life. Society have a right to improve, or to do what they think an improvement, but then they have no right to do so suddenly, and hastily to my prejudice! After securing to me certain possessions by The legislature has not always taken one hundred statutes passed in six the same view of the comparative trust-hundred years. - after having clothed worthiness of Bishops and Chapters as me in fine garments, and conferred is taken by the Commission. Bishops' upon me pompous names, they have leases for years are for twenty-one no right to turn round upon me all of years, renewable every seven. When a sudden, and to say, You are not a seven years are expired, if the present tenant will not renew, the Bishop may grant a concurrent lease. How does his Lordship act on such occasions? He generally asks two years' income for the renewal, when Chapters, not having the privilege of granting such concurrent leases, ask only a year and a half; and if the Bishop's price is not given, he puts a son, or a daughter, or a trustee, into the estate, and the price of the lease deferred is money saved You tolerated for a century the for his family. But unfair and exor-wicked traffic in slaves, legislated for bitant terms may be asked by his Lord- that species of property, encouraged it ship, and the tenant may be unfairly by premiums, defended it in your Courts dispossessed; therefore, the legislature enacts that all those concurrent leases must be countersigned by the Dean and Chapter of the diocese-making them the safeguards against Episcopal rapacity; and, as I hear from others, not making them so in vain. These sort of laws do not exactly correspond with the relative views taken of both parties by the Ecclesiastical Commission. This view of Chapters is of course

Dean nor a Canon-Residentiary, but a vagabond and an outcast, and a morbid excrescence upon society. This would not be a reform, but the grossest tyranny and oppression. If a man cannot live under the canopy of ancient law, where is he safe? how can he see his way, or lay out his plan of life? Dubitant homines serere atque impendere

curas.

of Justice-West Indians bought, and sold, trusting (as Englishmen always ought to trust) in Parliaments. Women went to the altar, promised that they should be supported by that property; and children were born to it, and young men were educated with it: but God touched the hearts of the English people, and they would have no slaves. The scales fell from their eyes, and they saw the monstrous wickedness of the

traffic; but then they said, and said | farious recommendation, and confer the magnificently, to the West Indians, living upon the young man; and in an "We mean to become wiser and better, but not at your expense; the loss shall be ours, and we will not involve you in ruin, because we are ashamed of our former cruelties, and have learnt a better lesson of humanity and wisdom." And this is the way in which improving nations ought to act, and this is the distinction between reform and revolution.

With regard to that common newsNever dreaming of such sudden re- paper phrase the public eye-there's volutions as these, a Prebendary brings nothing (as the Bench well know) more up his son to the Church, and spends wandering and slippery than the public a large sum of money in his education, eye. In five years hence the public eye which perhaps he can ill afford. His will no more see what description of hope is (wicked wretch !) that accord- men are promoted by Bishops, than it ing to the established custom of the will see what Doctors of Law are probody to which he (immoral man !) be-moted by the Turkish Uhlema; and longs, the chapter will (when his turn at the end of this period (such is the arrives), if his son be of fair attainments example set by the Commission), the and good character, attend to his ne-public eye turned in every direction

judgment; that the Protestant Church, not for the purpose of converting any not only permits, but exhorts, everyone to them, which would be an abuse man to appeal from human authority of the privilege of addressing you from to the Scriptures; that it makes of the the pulpit; not that I attach the clergy guides and advisers, not masters slightest degree of importance to them and oracles; that it discourages vain because they are mine; but merely to and idle ceremonies, unmeaning ob-guard myself from misrepresentation servances, and hypocritical pomp; and upon a point on which all men's pasencourages freedom in thinking upon sions are, at this moment, so powerfully religion, and simplicity in religious excited. forms. It is impossible that any candid man should not observe the marked superiority of the Protestant over the Catholic faith in these particulars; and difficult that any pious man should not feel grateful to Almighty Providence for escape from danger which would have plunged this country afresh into so many errors and so many absurdities.

I have said that, at this moment, all men's passions are powerfully excited on this subject. If this be true, it points out to me my line of duty. I must use my endeavours to guard against the abuse of this day; to take care that the principles of sound reason are not lost sight of; and that such excitement, instead of rising into dangerous vehemence, is calmed into active and useful investigation on the

I hope, in this condemnation of the Catholic religion (in which I most sin-subject. cerely join its bitterest enemies), I shall not be so far mistaken as to have it supposed that I would convey the slightest approbation of any laws which disqualify or incapacitate any class of men from civil offices on account of religious opinions. I regard all such laws as fatal and lamentable mistakes in legislation; they are mistakes of troubled times and half-barbarous ages. All Europe is gradually emerging from their influence. This country has lately, with the entire consent of its Prelates, made a noble and successful effort, by the abolition of some of the most obnoxious laws of this class. In proportion as such example is followed, the enemies of Church and State will be diminished, and the foundation of peace, order, and happiness be strengthened. These are my opinions, which I mention, not to convert you, but to guard myself from misrepresentation. It is my duty, it is my wish, it is the subject of this day to point out those evils of the Catholic religion from which we have escaped; but I should be to the last degree concerned, if a condemnation of theological errors were to be construed into an approbation of laws which I cannot but consider as deeply marked by a spirit of intolerance. I therefore beg you to remember, that I record these opinions,

I shall, therefore, on the present occasion, not investigate generally the duties of charity and forbearance, but of charity and forbearance in religious matters; of that Christian meekness and humility which prevent the intrusion of bad passions into religious concerns, and keep calm and pure the mind intent upon eternity. And remember, I beg of you, that the rules I shall offer you for the observation of Christian charity are general, and of universal application. What you choose to do, and which way you incline upon any particular question, are, and can be, no concern of mine. It would be the height of arrogance and presumption in me, or in any other minister of God's word, to interfere on such points; I only endeavour to teach that spirit of forbearance and charity, which (though it cannot always prevent differences upon religious points) will ensure that these differences are carried on with Christian gentleness. I have endeavoured to lay down these rules for difference with care and moderation; and if you will attend to them patiently I think you will agree with me, that however the practice of them may be forgotten, the propriety of them cannot be denied.

It would always be easier to fall in

What the present Archbishop means | and justice, and ancient possessions, to do with them, I am not informed. ought to be set aside, that this patronThey are not alluded to in the Church age (very valuable because selected Returns, though they must be worth from the whole diocese) of the two some thousand pounds. The Commis- heads of the Church is liable to all the sioners do not seem to know of their accidents of succession-that it may existence at least they are profoundly fall into the hands of a superannuated silent on the subject; and the bill wife, of a profligate son, of a weak which passed through Parliament in daughter, or a rapacious creditor,the summer for the regulation of the that it may be brought to the hammer, Emoluments of Bishops does not make and publicly bid for at an auction, like the most distant allusion to them. all the other chattels of the palace; and When a parallel was drawn between that such have been the indignities to two species of patrons-which ended which this optional patronage has been in the confiscation of the patronage of exposed, from the earliest days of the Cathedrals when two Archbishops Church to this moment. Truly, men helped to draw the parallel, and pro- who live in houses of glass (especially fited by the parallel, I have a perfect where the panes are so large) ought right to state this corrupt and un-not to fling stones; or if they do, they abolished practice of their own sees a practice which I never heard charged against Deans and Chapters.*

I do not mean to imply, in the most remote degree, that either of the present Archbishops have sold their options, or ever thought of it. Purer and more high-minded gentlemen do not exist, nor men more utterly incapable of doing anything unworthy of their high station; and I am convinced the Archbishop of Canterbury† will imitate or exceed the munificence of his predecessor but when twenty-four public bodies are to be despoiled of their patronage, we must look not only to present men, but historically, to see how it has been administered in times of old, and in times also recently past; and to remember, that at this moment, when Bishops are set up as the most admirable dispensers of patronage-as the only persons fit to be intrusted with it- -as Marvels, for whom law,

Can anything be more shabby in a Government legislating upon Church abuses, than to pass over such scandals as these existing in high places? Two years have passed, and they are unnoticed.

+ The options of the Archbishop of York are comparatively trifling. I never heard, at any period, that they have been sold; but they remain, like those of Canterbury, in the absolute possession of the Arch

bishop's representatives after his death. I will answer for it that the present Archbishop will do everything with them which

becomes his high station and high charac

ter. They ought to be abolished by Act of

Parliament.

should be especially careful at whose head they are flung.

And then the patronage which is not seized-the patronage which the Chapter is allowed to present to its own body-may be divided without their consent. Can anything be more thoroughly lawless, or unjust, than this- that my patronage during my life shall be divided without my consent? How do my rights during my life differ from those of a lay patron, who is tenant for life? and upon what principle of justice or common sense is his patronage protected from the Commissioners' dividing power to which mine is subjected? That one can sell, and the other cannot sell, the next presentation, would be bad reasoning if it were good law; but it is not law, for an Ecclesiastical Corporation, aggregate or sole, can sell a next presentation as legally as a lay life-tenant can do. They have the same power of selling as laymen, but they never do so; that is, they dispense their pa tronage with greater propriety and delicacy, which, in the estimate of the Commissioners, seems to make their right weaker, and the reasons for taking it away more powerful.

the same act which gives the power of Not only are laymen guarded by dividing livings to the Commissioners, but Bishops are also guarded. The Commissioners may divide the livings of Chapters without their consent; but