[ 578 ] [Nov. 



NOTES OF THE MONTH ON AFFAIRS IN GENERAL. 



Our respect for the principles of his Majesty's ministers at all times 

 and places, is so thoroughly exhibited in every thing we do, that we 

 might pass over even the happiest opportunity of giving it a new testi- 

 fication. But when two such names come together as the Premier and 

 Dr. Philpotts, two such eminent friends to the constitution, two such 

 staunch abiders by their principles, we cannot refrain from calling the 

 public eye to the evidence of our admiration. However, another has 

 spoken too well on the point to suffer our feebleness to interfere ; and we 

 shall allow the Rev. J. P. Jones, the President of L 3rd Ebrington's elec- 

 tion dinner, to say all that is to be said on the occasion. 



Lord Ebrington was invited to dine at Teignmoutji on the 21st of 

 October, and came into the town in triumph, the people carrying branches 

 of laurel, and so forth. Lord Ebrington is a whig, but this we pardon 

 in a lord ; he is not to be expected to know much upon the subject; 

 and probably means no more by it, than that he can get his cutlet at 

 Brookes's any day in the season, and have all the newspapers to look 

 over in the bay window. But he is a goose in other points : for he made 

 the people no speech from the window of the inn ; and as they had 

 expected something to make them laugh, they went away in great 

 sulkiness, wondering what a whig could be, unless he was a talker ; and 

 determined to carry their laurels for some less hidebound orator at 

 the next election. The consequence of his Lordship's patrician dryness 

 was, that the populace would not go to his dinner ; and he had accord- 

 ingly that kind of muster which makes a man unpopular with his land- 

 lord. 



But there was one speech which was w r orth listening to, even if the 

 Speaker were of the Whig Club. The Rev. Chairman said 



" There is however one point to which I wish to call the attention of 

 the meeting, and that is the appointment of Dr. Philpotts to the see of 

 Exeter. I entertained a pure respect for Dr. Carey, and likewise for 

 Dr. Bethel, but I consider it to be a complete insult to the county of 

 Devon to bring down a political renegade from Durham, to fill the see 

 of Exeter : a mere adventurer, who abused Mr. Canning for his attach- 

 ment to the Catholic cause, and then turned and went to Oxford to sup- 

 port Mr. Peel, when the ministry determined to carry that question 

 for which he has got a bishoprick. If indeed this wretched apostate has 

 got a bishoprick for ratting, I think I ought to have an archbishoprick 

 for being consistent. This man has taken all sides and has got a mitre ! 

 What greater disgrace can be thrown on the Church of England ? I hope 

 my noble friend will, on taking his seat, support some measure to pre- 

 vent those translations, for within three months we have had three bishops 

 at Exeter !" 



We have not heard of the Rev. Dr. Philpotts' actual elevation to the holy 

 rank for which his sincerity, scorn of hypocrisy, and unsullied honour, 

 so proudly qualify him. We, of course, altogether disbelieve the tales 

 that the malice of mankind so ingeniously invent, on all occasions of the 

 good-fortune of a man born for glory. Nobody shall ever hear us 

 joining in those cruel calumnies. On the contrary, we long to follow 

 the lead of that panegyric of which the Canons, honourable and reve- 

 rend, of all cathedrals, are so celebrated for giving their example on 

 every new translation. If we should see in the address of those distin- 



