Dec. 28,] 



THE NEWSPAPER. 



[1844. 



I 







Christian truth, which I must not he prevented from calling to 

 your minds by a foolish fear of teeming thereby to be elevating 

 my claim to your obedience: obedience, I say, for that is the very- 

 pith and marrow of the text. ' Obey them that have the rule 

 over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souli, 

 as they that must give account.' Now, by the law of the Church, 

 ay, and of the great Head of the Church, I ' have the rule over 

 you.* You are bound, therefore you cannot, without sin, 

 refuse to * obey me, and to submit yourselves,' when, even in 

 • watching for your souls, as he that must give account.' I issue 

 any lawful order in conformity with the word of God. Youmny 

 think that I am a i ash and injudicious ruler ; be it so: still, if the 

 word of God be true, it is your duty to obey me while I keep 

 within the limits of the law which I have to administer— the law 

 of the Church. For if those who are'subjects of authority will 

 obey it only so long and so far as it is exercised according to 

 their own notions of what is wise and prudent, I am afraid that 

 the ruler and the ruled must change places (one of the changes 

 which I am quite determined to resist), in other words, the 

 rulers must obey, and those whom God has made subject to 

 their rnle will have to command. I am sure that, on reflection, 

 this is not a result to which you would desire to brin-r the matter. 

 Now let me say one word about myself. Whatever you may 

 think, I believe that there is scarce one among you who has a 

 lower opinion of my own wisdom than 1 myself have. So far, 

 indeed, I have some wisdom ; for I do not rely on my own 

 lights. I have recourse (after humble prayer to God) to the wis- 

 dom of the Church, and direct my government of ray diocese by 

 the Church's rule. On this great occasion ( for I feel the occasion 

 to be great, however small are the objects immediately in ques- 

 tion) I have issued an order, which the circumstances of the 

 time made me deem it right, and therefore my duty to issue." 



Since the above document was published, the Bishop, 

 in consideration of the strong feeling against the use of 

 the surplice, has withdrawn his order on that point, but 

 adheres to the enforcement of the rubrics. His lord- 

 ship has announced this decision in the following letter 

 to his clergy : — " Dear and Rev. Brethren, — It has been 

 represented to me by many of you, in different parts of 

 the diocese, that the use of the surplice in preaching is 

 more repugnant to the feelings of the people than could 

 have been reasonably anticipated. To those feelings, 

 however erroneous, I deem it my fluty to surrender what 

 may be abandoned without the sacrifice of any prin- 

 ciple. I therefore withdraw my order as respects the 

 surplice. That order was avowedly issued by me, not 

 for the sake of enforcing an express rule of the Church, 

 but in execution of the power given to me to ' appease a 

 , diversity' in divine worship, and so to remove a symbol 

 of disunion amongst ourselves. If my object cannot be 

 obtained in the way which I had pointed out, without 

 leading to other evils of as grave a kind, let me, however, 

 hope and entreat, that in using your own discretion in this 

 particular, you will so use it as shall least expose yoti to 

 the reproach cf cherishing party spirit. Wherever, there- 

 fore, the surplice is now used without offence, there I 

 hope it will be continued in use. The enforcement of 

 the rubrics rests on different ground. In them the 

 Church has spoken clearly ; and to the voice of the 

 Church, when it gives not an uncertain sound, every 

 true Churchman, and especially every faithful minister, 

 ■will hearken with reverence and submission. I am, &c." 

 —In the mean time, the agitation still goes on throughout 

 the diocese, and while the clergy of some of the rural 

 deaneries have determined to comply with the bishop's 

 injunction, the laity at every vestry meeting that has 

 been held have resolved, either unanimously or by large 

 majorities, to resist the innovations. In the parish of 

 the Holy Trinity, in Exeter, the parishioners in their 

 resolutions M contemplate the exercise of this individual 

 power, on the part of the bishop, with the most painful 

 apprehensions," and pass a vote of thanks to Dr. Bull 

 and the other dignitaries of the Cathedral for their appeal 

 to the Archbishop. They also express their concurrence 

 vrith their fellow-citizens in the duty of an appeal to the 

 Throne. At Plymouth the feeling excited by the pastoral 

 letter far exceeds what had been anticipated by any party. 

 In the two parishes of St. Andrew and Charles, and in 

 two of the episcopal chapels, meetings of the congrega- 

 tions have been held, and measures adopted in opposition 

 to the bishop's views. Besides these congregational 

 meetings, the parishioners have met in vestry, with the 

 churchwardens in the chair, and adopted the most 

 stringent resolutions, not only declaring their hostility to 

 the proposed forms as being at variance with the spirit 

 of the Reformation, but proposing a systematic a rrange- 

 ment throughout all the parishes in England, for the 

 purpose of organising a general opposition to any 

 change in the Church services. In the parish of Charles, 

 of which the celebrated Dr. Hawker was so long the 

 yicar, one of the resolutions adopted makes the following 

 important statement:—" This meeting most emphatically 

 declares, that should the bishop persevere and succeed 

 in his object, the most ready meaDS by which the pa- 

 rishioners can testify their dislike and determination to 

 resist, will be to retire from any Church in which the 

 innovations may be attempted, and seek to carry on the 

 Church service in unconsecrated buildings, until the 

 bishop shall remove the mandate and restore peace." 



Hurst.— On Friday another meeting of the parish- 

 ioners of this place took place at the Church-house, 

 having been convened by Mr. Leveson Gower, the 

 Chairman, in order that the parishioners might have the 

 opportunity of hearing the letter received by him from 

 the Bishop of Oxford, in answer to his letter to the 

 Bishop, communicating the resolutions adopted at the 

 last meeting, expressive of the dissatisfaction of the 

 parishioners in reference to the innovations recently in- 

 troduced into the performance of Divine service at the 

 parish church. The Rev. Mr. Cameron attended this 

 meeting, as did likewise Mr. Gower, Mr. Walter, the 

 Churchwardens, &c. The letter of the Bishop of Oxford 

 having been read, a considerable discussion on the 

 question ensued. Mr. Cameron defended himself from 

 the misconceptions put upon his conduct, and strongly 

 urged the meeting to abide by the Bishop's decision, 



and the prayer for the church militant, Mr. Cameron 

 was only obeying the law of the Church. Mr. Walter 

 then proposed two long resolutions, condemnatory both 

 of the Bishop's decision, and of Mr. Cameron's perse- 

 verance in resisting the feeling of the parishioners. 

 After a long and irregular discussion, during which Mr. 

 Walter expressed his readiness to withdraw the resolu- 

 tions if Mr. Cameron »would accede to the withes 

 of the parishioners, and a strong appeal to him to 

 do this was made by the one or two present from 

 whom Mr. Cameron had most reason to expect support. 

 Mr. Cameron at length intimated that, to prevent worse 

 evils, he would consent to apply for the Bishop's sanc- 

 tion to his returning to the mode of concluding morning 

 service, in the parish previous to September last. He 

 still, however, contended for some recognition embodied 

 in the resolution to be then carried of the right of the 

 Bishop to decide the question, as one of ecclesiastical 

 jurisdiction solely ; but finding that this was refused by 

 Mr. Walter, and met by impatient clamour on the part 

 of many present, he ultimately agreed that the resolu- 

 tion should pass in the following form:— " That this 

 meeting, having heard Mr. Cameron's declaration, that 

 be, in accordance with the wishes of his parishioners, 

 will not persist in reading: the offertory sentences every 

 Sunday from the communion-table, cannot refrain from 

 expressing its satisfaction at that communication, and 

 trusts that in consequence of this return to the old 

 practice of performing Divine Service in the parish 

 church, the harmony which up to a late period existed 

 between Mr. Cameron and his flock will be restored, and 

 never again interrupted." The resolution was unani- 

 mously agreed to, and the service will consequently be 

 performed henceforth in accordance with the wishes of 

 the parishioners. 



Ipswich. — An order for the execution of Mary She- 

 aring, the woman who is under sentence of death in the 

 county gaol, in this town, for poisoning her grandchild 

 at Martlesham, arrived here on Friday, "directing that it 

 take place on Tuesday next, the 31st inst. The judge, 

 by the same post, sent a respite for William and Walter 

 Howell, and Israel Shipley, who are in the same place 

 under sentence of death for the murder of M'Fadden, 

 until the 25th January. A petition has since been for- 

 warded from the authorities to Sir J. Graham, praying 

 that the execution of Mary Sheming may also be stayed 

 until the 25th January, so that the town may be spared 

 the pain of two executions. 



Manchester On Friday the Corporation and Mer- 

 chants of this borough gave a dinner to Sir Henry Pottin- 

 ger. Previous to the dinner, addresses were presented 

 to the gallant officer by the Mayor and Corporation, by 

 the merchants and manufacturers, and by the operatives 

 of the town. At the dinner the Mayor presided, sup- 

 ported by several members of Parliament, and the other 

 authorities of the district. The proceedings and the 

 speeches were necessarily of a similar character to those 

 which we have already reported in our account of the 

 dinners in London and Liverpool. Sir H. Pottinger was 

 welcomed with great enthusiasm, and was evidently 

 much gratified with the warmth of his reception. In 

 addition to this entertainment, the inhabitants of Man- 

 chester, as our readers are aware, intend to present Sir 

 H. Pottinger with a lasting memorial of their approba- 

 tion. The local papers state that the subscriptions 

 already amount to about 3000/., and that an opportunity 

 wifl be taken of consulting Sir Henry's wishes as to the 

 form in which this testimonial will be most acceptable, j 

 Oxford.— The Yice-Chancellor of this University, in 

 addition to the intended proceedings in the case of Mr. 

 Ward, has announced that the Board of Heads of Houses 

 are of opinion that the constitution of the University 

 requires a new and extraordinary power for the extirpa- 

 tion of heresy. At present, by the statutes, the Vice- 



urgea- the meeting to abide by the tfisbop s decision, «-- "~ timr their attention to the following consi- 

 which declared that in reading the offertory sentences, cation, requesting their awem o 



heresy. At present 

 Chancellor is empowered to test the opinions of every 

 one in the University respecting the doctrine and disci- 

 pline of the Church, by requiring subscription to the 

 39 Articles. But as those Articles, in which unsound 

 opinions, and "especially the errors of the Romanists are 

 condemned, have been by some persons unadvisedly in- 

 terpreted as if they were either scarcely or not at all op- 

 posed to those errors," it is proposed that no one who 

 may be hereafter required to satisfy the Yice-Chancellor 

 of the soundness of his opinion shall be permitted to sub- 

 scribe the Articles without first subscribing a new declara- 

 tion thathe is about to subscribe the Articles " in the sense 

 in which he sincerelv believes them to have been originally 

 put forth, and in which he believes them to be then pro- 

 posed to him by the University, as a certain and indu- 

 bitable token or test of his opinions." It will be pro- 

 posed to the Convocation on the 13th Feb. to introduce 

 this declaration into the statutes, and to give full power 

 of using it to the Yice-Chancellor. This measure is 

 avowedlv designed to check the progress of Puseyism, 

 and as "several members of the University holding fel- 

 lowships have resolved to decline taking the test, the 

 question will be brought to a direct issue, viz., \Yhether 

 or not Convocation will vote for the expulsion of the in- 

 dividuals in question ; such being the penalty proposed 

 to be annexed to the third refusal of the test. Among 

 others, Dr. Pusey has announced that he cannot take it. 

 He says that he is prepared for the consequences « hich 

 may attend his refusal, but even if he could satisfy him- 

 self that he could take the test according to any general 

 meaning of the words, he must know from past expe- 

 rience that he should not take it in the sense m which it 



derations : — " 1. That the proposed statute institutes a 

 new religious test in the University. 2. That a local 

 test, thus instituted, places the members of the Univer- 

 sity in a religious position different from that of all other 

 members of the Church, and the whole body of the clergy. 

 3. That the imposing any new test of doctrine beyond 

 those which rest on the authority of the Church is a serious 

 innovation, and alters at once the constitution of the 

 University, and its relations to the Church. 4. That a 

 great difference of opinion has always been permitted 

 among those who subscribe the Articles, and that it is 

 now proposed to introduce a new limit and restriction 

 to that difference. 5. That the test proposed, betnj 

 itself liable to different interpretations, is likely to cause 

 perplexity, and to operate as a snare to consciences. 6". 

 That it is not right or safe to rest on the supposition that 

 this test will not be applied ; since the obvious presump- 

 tion, from its being proposed, is, that it is meant to be 

 used. 7. That a test not applied to all, but linble to be 

 imposed upon suspected individuals, according to the* 

 will of the Vice-Chancellor for the time being, is an ob- 

 jectionable form of test, likely to encourage n system of 

 secret and underhand information, and to destroy mutual 

 confidence and fin >m of intercourse in the University.'* 

 Portsmouth. — We lately m< oned the di »ination 

 of Government to restore the fortifications of this port. 

 It is now stated that it has been determined to erect 

 barracks in Portsea for 1000 men of the Line on the Ord- 

 nance ground, between the Lion and Unicorn gates. 



Southampton. — At a meeting of the Dock Company a 

 few days since, the Directors were empowered to raise 

 the sum of 50,000/., for the purpose of making a graving 

 dock, which was considered necessary to render the 

 docks complete for the accommodation <f pp'"g, and 

 for applying to amend their Act of Parliament. The 

 Chairman gave a favourable report of the position and 

 prospects of the Company. 



Staines. — A melancholy occurrence has just taken 

 place at Ashford, near this place, a man and his wife 

 named Oliver, who occupied a miserable cottage by the 

 roadside, having been found dead in their bed on Tuesday 

 morning. It is supposed, from what has been gathered 

 from their two children, who were found ill in the house 

 at the same time, that the father intended to poison the 

 whole family, and that the death of himself and wife was 

 caused by arsenic. At present, however, nothing cer- 

 tain is known, but the coroner's inquest will doubtless 

 clear up the mystery. 



Swansea. — On Monday week, soon after the workmen 

 entered the Pentrafclin Colliery, the property of the 

 Swansea Coal Company, near Morriston, they were 

 alarmed by an explosion of foul air in one of the head 

 ings, ignited by a collier who was most severely burnt 

 On examining the spot it was found that two men and 

 a boy were killed. In the course of the inquiry it was 

 proved that the fan for ventilating the mines had not been 

 worked for two days. The jury returned a verdict of 

 Accidental Death, with an opinion, M that had the fan 

 been worked during Sunday night, or early on Monday 

 morning, the explosion would not have occurred. 



Tamworth. — On Monday week Sir Robert Peel gave 

 an entertainment, at Drayton Manor, to above 40 of his 

 principal tenants, mostly in the occupation of large farms 

 on his estate. Dr. Buckland, Dr. Playfair, and Mr. 

 Smith, of Deanston, who were on a visit to the right 

 hon. baronet, after dinner addressed the company. Dr. 

 Playfair delivered an eloquent discourse on the different 

 descriptions of manure, and the most approved systems of 



manuring land. 



JVells.—The Bishop of Salisbury on Sunday last held 

 an ordination in this cathedral on behalf of the Bishop 

 of Bath and Wells. In his charge, his lordship expressly 

 enjoined the candidates to make no deviation whatever 

 from the accustomed mode of performing divine service 

 in their respective churches, without first consulting 

 with their diocesan. It is understood that the Bishop 

 discountenances the introduction of novelties, or the re- 

 vival of obsolete practices. 



Windsor and Eton.— On Monday evening a fatal ac- 

 cident occurred at the Windsor theatre by the wife of a 

 tradesman falling over the front of the gallery into the 

 pit. It appeared at the inquest that the back row of 

 seats was five feet higher than the front row, and the 

 height of the railing in front of the gallery was only two 

 feet eight inches. The jury returned a verdict of M Ac- 

 cidental death ;" but wished the lessee of the theatre to 

 erect a rail in front of the gallery to prevent similar acci- 

 dents.—In consequence of the marriages, during last 

 week, of the Rev. F. E. Durnford, and the Rev. J. E. 

 Yonge, both assistant masters at Eton College, two fel- 

 lowships have become vacant at King's College, Cam- 

 bridge, which will be given to the captain of the Eton 

 school, Mr. Wright, and to Mr. Woolley, the next senior 



scholar at Eton. 



Worcester.— The Bishop of Worcester, Dr. Pepys, has 

 de'ivered a charge to the candidates for ordination at 

 their final examination on the 21st inst., which will 

 doubtless excite great interest in the present state of the 

 Church. The Bishop draws a striking contrast between 

 the prosperity and usefulness of the Church prior to the 

 appearance of the Oxford Tracts, and the dissensions 

 which their publication has produced. He requests his 

 clergy " to make the comparison, and then ask them- 

 selves whether the advantages, whatever they may be, 

 which can be derived from a minute regard to ritial ob- 

 servances and the usages of antiquity, may not be pur- 

 chased at too dear a rate, if purchased at such a price. 

 His lordship considers the use of the surplice as a 



thine insignificant in itself, but 

 " Acquiring importance when it is considered as the badge 



