1821.] Remarks on Mr, Broa 
tlimited. For introducing, then, so 
striking a passage as will presently be 
quoted, and on such authority, any 
improper intention is from the heart 
disclaimed. The passage is a strong 
one, and candour, charity, yes, Chris¬ 
tianity also, require that it should be 
acknowledged there are many distin¬ 
guished exceptions to the class about to 
be described—at the same time it must 
not be unnoticed that the eminent 
scholar and divine (Dr. Knox) con¬ 
firms liis statement by declaring (in his 
preface) that 44 after many years ex¬ 
perience, and eleven editions of his 
book, he has found nothing that de¬ 
serves retractation.” Invol. 2, p. 142, 
of liis 44 Liberal Education” the Rev. 
Dr. says, 44 I verily believe that much of 
the corruption of morals , and unbelief 
of religion, which is now visible through¬ 
out the nation , is derived from the ignor¬ 
ance ., carelessness , and vice of clergymen 
trained in the universities of England. 
The foul fountain has poured its polluted 
streams over the country ; the people 
have tasted , and have been poisoned 
with the draught.'’'’ Such is the testimony 
of a celebrated modern author, and 
one of their own body, regarding those 
very clergy to whom the national edu¬ 
cation is designed to be subjected ; and 
while it is wished the charge were 
wholly untrue, it is too obvious to the 
senses that there is a portion of truth in 
it, for surely, the learned divine could 
not revile his brethren !* 
Can the Dissenters, consequently, be 
expected tacitly to submit to a plan, 
which by, at present, as it seems, only 
attracting and comprehending their 
children, under the specious appearance 
of liberality, may (as has been sug¬ 
gested before) at no distant period— 
when the whole design shall be deve¬ 
loped—be. so altered as to 44 compel” 
them to come in 2 Shall they permit 
their children to be placed under the 
general superintendance and controul 
ot such characters as have been de¬ 
scribed 2 The good sense of English¬ 
men, national policy, alike forbid it! 
They who could submit to the measure 
are not the 44 squeamish Dissenters,” 
* The subserviency of many of the 
clergy has been strikingly displayed 
during the last twelve months; and never 
did a body of men more completely pro¬ 
claim their own official incompetency to 
stem infidelity than did they in their nume¬ 
rous addresses to the throne on the state of 
the nation. (Aug. 1821.) 
Monthly Mag. No. 359. 
gham's Education Bill . 209 
whom Mr. Brougham honourably dis¬ 
tinguished as some of his opponents. 
It is unpleasant to dwell on such a 
theme, but the necessity of the case 
renders it compulsory that some re¬ 
marks should be made on what has 
been written by a gentleman who signs 
his name W. Shepherd, in a letter to 
the Editor of The Times, Feb. 5. He 
professes to have been conciliated to the 
bill by what has passed between himself 
and Mr. Brougham personally. Allud¬ 
ing to the office of the master , he endea¬ 
vours to justify the investing of the 
resident clergyman” with the power 
of veto : — 44 The clergyman,” he says, 
44 has no authority to introduce any one 
into the office of master at his own will; 
and it is not to be conceived that many 
clergymen will run counter to the wish 
of their neighbours, without some sub¬ 
stantial reasons. The clergyman’s au¬ 
thority is none the less, although his 
whole power is not acknowledged by 
the bill. A definitive power to reject, is 
an indirect authority to appoint. And, if 
44 many clergymen” will not 44 run 
counter” to their neighbours’ wishes, 
some of that reverend body have too 
often 44 reasons” enough to influence 
their conduct, which subsequently they 
are able to pronounce 44 substantial.” 
The 44 resident clergyman who has so 
much power given to him by the bill, 
may forsooth be also a magistrate. 
What then will be the consequence? 
This same clergyman ivill have a dou¬ 
ble influence. It will be of no use to 
appeal from the clergyman to the ma¬ 
gistrate, or from the magistrate to the 
clergyman. His power is not only final 
but incessant ; and, whether sitting 
among the quorum at the quarter ses¬ 
sions, where he may very reasonably 
be supposed to maintain an influence ; 
or, acting in his individual capacity 
belonging to the other half of his com¬ 
pound character, liis 44 reasons,” whe¬ 
ther too at that time 44 substantial” or 
not must be always successful. 
Churchwardens seem to have a joint 
controul with the opposing parishioners, 
in the first instance ; but who does not 
know, from every day’s experience, 
that those officers are generally hand 
and glove with the clergyman, and if 
it should so happen that they are hos¬ 
tile, the limited period during which 
churchwardens hold their office, pre¬ 
sents no security for successful opposi¬ 
tion ; while the clergyman can always 
calculate on the final result by pro¬ 
tracting the proceedings. How suc- 
2 D cessfully 
