property which was given for the support of ministers, would, in my humble judgment, be quite as glaring an attack upon the principle, as it would be if you were to take it for the erection of lunatic asylums. I see no objection, indeed, if you run out the leases of episcopal or chapter estates, to your enabling bishops and other ecclesiastical corporations, after they shall have adequately endowed the poor benefices in their respective gifts, to endow-perhaps to build-new churches in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, &c., and to present to them in all time coming. Neither would I object to the Crown's attaching to the wealthier dignities in its gift certain poor and populous parishes, provided it either have the right of presenting to those poor parishes already, or can make arrangements for securing it. In the latter case, the incumbent prebendary would, of course, be required to keep an adequate number of curates, by which means the spiritual wants of the people would be better supplied, and the idea of a sinecure done away. But to confiscate any portion of what is called church property, in order to obtain a fund for churchbuilding or school-building, no one who is capable of demonstrating the simplest problem in the science of moral right would think of justifying that proceeding. If churches are wanted-and I am sure that they are; if schools are wanted-and I am equally sure that they are, then let the people of England build and endow them. But do not sanction the doctrine that corporate property stands upon a different footing from other property, by applying it, however sparingly, to a different purpose than that which the original donor or testator intended it to serve. As I know that your space is limited, I will not trouble you with more than a few hasty remarks on the subject of church discipline. We are said-and perhaps very fairly-to be much wanting in that particular; and many schemes have been devised for the removal of the blot. It strikes me that among them all, the following would be the best, because the most simple. In the first place, the archdeacons ought to be made more efficient than they are, which they never can be so long as the endowments of the office are unequal to the ordinary expenses of visitation. It would be well, therefore, if you append a stall to every archdeaconry, taking care, of course, to place in so responsible a situation only such men as deserve your confidence, and are, from vigour both of body and mind, adequate to discharge its duties. The office of rural dean has, I believe, been very generally revived. This is as it should be, and the good effects of it are already beginning to be felt. But the more ready means of maintaining discipline would be found, provided the bishops were authorized to preside in their own county, and had the power, whenever a charge was brought against a clergyman, to summon a jury of incumbents. to hear and determine the case. From decisions come to by such a tribunal, and from the sentence of the bishop consequent upon it, I would not, except under very peculiar circumstances, permit any appeal. Thus the heavy charges of ecclesiastical prosecutions would at once be got rid of; and few as we have reason to be thankful the instances are of scandalous behaviour among the clergy, even those few would be promptly dealt with. I have thrown these hints hastily together, in no spirit of jealousy towards the powers that be-without the slightest distrust either of their honesty or the prudence of the church commission. For if they shall have the effect of drawing public attention, however slightly, to the means of self-improvement which the church clearly possesses, the sole purpose which I have in view will be served. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, February 21, 1835. A LOOKER-ON. It only remains to add, that the opponents of the church are beginning in Parliament exactly in their usual manner. Captain Berkeley, for example, who knows as much about the universities, and cares as much about dissenters, as the man in the moon, tells us that Sir Robert Peel's intention of leaving the university question to the universities is very unsatisfactory, for the dissenters will and must have more. That is, Captain Berkeley wishes to secure a certain number of dissenting votes, and therefore makes these declarations. This, however, is the way in which mischief is done. Mr. Whittle Harvey has begun by declaring that the church revenues are five millions. Why did he not double it? It would have told better in Southwark, and, as Mr. Harvey knows, would have been just as true. * The dash is used in lieu of the words "by letters dimissory from the Bishop of." CLERICAL APPOINTMENTS. Chaplain to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Head Master of St. Peter's School, St. George's, Pimlico, a Master of the Free Grammar School, Bridgewater. A Surrogate of the Diocese of Bedford. Second Master of St. Peter's School, Pimlico. Domestic Chaplain to Lord Abinger. Chaplain to the Scilly Islands, on the presentation of A. PREFERMENTS. Preferment. Cruwys Morchard R. { ham R. Colmore R. w Prior's Dean R. St. Winnowe V. {Dinnington New Griffith, John...... Llanaltgo R. Cornwall Exon Northum. Durham Anglesey Bangor Wilts Sarum Somerset Rev. J. L.Worship Archbp of Cant. Sir J. Mordaunt, Bt. Lord Poltimore { J. Fowler, Esq. D. & C. of Exeter Bishop of Bangor Preb. of Calne |