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    552 T^

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    The Week In Pisliament. Public Business....

    pl & natory note did impose upon tho Bishop of Batlv and Wells tho obligation of examining . Mr . Bennett ; and this he had done to his satisfaction upon " all the points . As to the motion for inquiry , he said— ¦ _ ¦ " If we have inquiry , wo ought to have an inquiry into the state and spirit of the enactments of our law ( hear , hear ) , which at the present mome nt are studiousl y framed , by successive aets of successive generations , to discourage bishops—to render it almost impossible for bishops to do that which you find fault with tho Bishop of Bath and Wells for not doing . ( Cheers . ) If you like to inquire into that subject , X shall have no objection- I am not sure that bishoprics should not bo included in the inquiry , where the facilities of objection are less . ( Hear , hear . ) If

    any gentleman will move for that inquiry in an impartial spirit , and investigate the state of the law , and bring the inquiry to a conclusion , he will confer one of the greatest services imaginable on this country , and greatly contribute to the stability of the Church of England . ( Hear , hear . ) I admit there is not sufficient scope to parishioners having canonical objections to pastors placed over them . ( Opposition cheers . ) I do not want to open the door to vexatious objections . I think we ought resolutely to set our faces against them ! but so far as canonical objections are concerned , they ought not to be left to be thrown in the lap of the bishop , and to be maintained on his responsibility . ( Hear . )

    Sir J . pAKrarGTCXN" joined with the right honourable gentleman in deploring the unfortunate dissensions by which the Church of England was at present torndissensions which he was compelled to ascribe principally to that party amongst the clergy which had taken the same line as Mr . Bennett ; a line which bad led to the most serious doubts as to whether the clergymen who took it were really and sincerely ministers of the Church of England . Looking to the \ inhappy results which bad taken place in our own Church , he could not but look upon it as a very great misfortune that any patron should have given a living of such importance as Frome to a person so situated as Mr . Bennett . On

    a former occasion be expressed an opinion that , the subject being once mooted , an inquiry must take place ; and from that opinion he bad no intention of now receding . It seemed to him that , the matters alleged regarding Mr . Bennett ' s conduct , especially at Kissingen , formed just ground for an inquiry by Mr . Bennett ' s diocesan . He could hardly believe it possible that the Bishop of Bath and Wells had not already instituted such an inquiry , but if not , he could not doubt that it would speedily be instituted . He could not , however , consent to make the judicial conduct of a bishop the subject of inquiry before a committee of the House of Commons .

    Sir W . P . "Wood supported the legal view taken by Mr . Gladstone . Several members suj > ported the motion for inquiry . The Chaktceixob of the Exchequer thought it had been sufficiently shown that there was no ground for casting any censure on the conduct followed by the Bishop of Bath and Wells , who probably would have subjected himself to very serious legal consequences had bo hesitated to grant institution to Mr . Bennett . The appointment of a committee could lead to no practical good , but the state of our ecclesiastical law was such as must engage , at an early day , the most serious consideration of the Government . He trusted tho motion would not be pressed to a division ; but if it were , ho should feel bound to oppose it .

    The members of tho Government who spoko pleaded to bo let off from a division , deprecated an inquiry , and promised that they would consider ecclesiastical law reform ; but in vain . At length Mr . Goulbttbn came to their aid . He thought that what was required was , not an inquiry into tho particular case , but an inquiry into the law , and bo would propose , as on amendment , that tho inquiry be directed to the state of tho law aft ' ecting the institution of clerks to benefices in tho Church of England . Mr . Horbman replied , mid tho House divided , when there appeared—For tho amendment , 111 ; agninst ifc , 156 ; Majority against , 45 .

    It was very late indeed , and Mr . Brothehton succeeded for once in putting n nightcap on tho House . They adjourned at half-past one . But , with this triumphant division list , Mr . Horninnu ' H hucccsh luis utoppcil . On Thursday , ho proceeded to iiominuto a committee . Ho proposed—Mr . Hors-Mian , Mr . Hoerotury Wiilpolo , Sir David Dundas , Mr . Oludrttom ' , Mr . Strut ! ,, Sir William I ' ago Wood , Sir

    Uunjmnin Hull , Mr . ¦ Holieilor-Gonoml , Mr . Abel Smith , Mr . " LoffcuH Wigmin , Mr . Kv . uuh , Mr . Puokd , Mr . Lnnfr-Hton , Mr . Nowdcguto , auid Mr . Hhallo Aduir . But grout wan hin stirpriHo ami vexation , when ho found that Sir William Pago Wood , Mr . Gladstone , Mr . hicko , mid Mr . Wignun , would not hoi-vo . Mr . Wuljiolo , ou tlui part of fcl « o Government , mid ho had done his bout , and could do no morn , to prevail on tho gontUmum who declined . Mr . ( . Jj , aj ) BTonj « mud nothing short of an onlor o ( the Houbc uhould nmlcu him aervo on thin couuuittoo ;

    and it was his intention , in conformity with abundance of precedents , immediately after the nomination of the committee to propose—" Thai ; the hpn . member for Cockermouth do reduce into heads or articles the charges which be lias made in ; Iris , place against Richard Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells , and do present the said heads or articles to this House . " ( Cheers . ) Mr . Ellice thought that , under these circumstances , the nomination of the committee could not be gone on with . - Mr . Sidney Herbert said the charges had been brought , the bishop had been arraigned , and , in justice to the man so arraigned , be called on them not to shuffle out of those accusations . Sir Benjamin" Hali , had no intention to shuffle .

    Mr . Disraeli attempted to conciliate all parties . He thought the resolution to appoint the committee was a " great mistake ; " but now the committee must be gone on with . But he recommended that the construction of the committee should be so altered , as to turn the inquiry from the conduct of the Bishop of Bath and Wells , to the existing state of the law . In this state of perplexity , upon the motion of Colonel Knox , tbe House adjourned .

    LORD BIANDFOED S CHUECH BILL Lord BiiAKDFORB moved the second reading of bis Bill , on Episcopal and Capitular Revenues , on Wednesday . He was met by Mr . Walpole , who recommended him to leave the matter in the hands of tbe Government ; but , pressed by Sir Brook Beidgkes to state tbe specific intentions of Ministers , he entered more fully into tbe question . There were , he said , four essential points comprised in the bill-r-first , the abolition of deaneries ; second , tbe further reduction of canonries : third , an addition to the episcopate ; fourth ,

    a provision for the better management of episcopal and capitular revenues . For tbe first be saw no reason With regard to the second , he thought it was extremely doubtful whether the number of canonries could be materially reduced . Parliament had already suppressed sinecures , and had thence obtained a fund for the augmentation of poor livings . If by this or other means a further fund could be raised whereby tbe third object might be carried out , he thought it would be very desirable , the episcopate not having

    increased with the numbers of the population and of the clergy . With respect to tbe last point , the manages ment of capitular and episcopal property , two principleshould be kept in view— -to relieve the high officers of tbe Church as much as possible from the cares and troubles of temporal affairs , and , at the same time , not to make them mere stipendiaries of the State . The spirit in which the Government would look at this question was , to see whether these great institutions could not be restored more fully to tbe high and holy purposes for which they were founded and endowed .

    A discussion followed , in which a variety of ecclesiastical topics wero touched upon ; but , finally yielding to the generally expressed wish of the House , Lord Blandford closed with the Government offer , and withdrew tho bib .

    MAYNOOTH . Another discussion of four hours has been wasted on this absurd motion on Tuesday morning . There wero only four speakers—Mr . Fb , bsb :: etei , d , Mr . Hbnry Herbert , Sir Wimiam Ver ' nek , and Mr . Vincent Scully , who spoke for three hours , that is , from one until four o ' clock , the hour of adjourning morning sittings . It was observed that no member of tho Government was present . Tho motion is not yet , therefore , disposed of , and hangs over the House , to coino on again in regular course , or not , as tho case may bo .

    NEW ZEALAND CONSTITUTION . The Houso went into Committee on tbe Now Zenland Government Bill on Thursday night . It will bo remembered that last week the bill bad passed through Committee as fur as tho 74 th clause On this clauso , which purported to onaet that upon all sales or alienations of waste lands 5 . v . per aero shall bo pnid to tho Now Zealand Company until tboir debt is discharged , Sir W . Molks ^ KORTII moved to substitute another onactment , to tho ofl ' eet that nothing in the act , or in

    any future act or local law , shall nlfoct so mnch of the 10 th and 11 th of Victoriti , c . 112 , as relates to the debt in question , thoroby charged upon tho proceeds oi salon of domoHno lands of tho Crown in tho colony ; in other words , that there should bo no nlterntion in thia inattor . \ n tho course of his , speech , Sir William entered vory fully into tho conduct of tho Now Zealand Company , wliiob , bo contended , entitled thorn to nothing boyond thoiv strict legal right undor tho act of 1847 .

    Mr . AflxiONrmr , at somo longtli , dofondod tho proceedings of tho Company . Sir J . Pakinchw , af ter bearing both hiiIoh , thought that tho question did not boar Huflieiontly- upon tho bill to cull for a decision of tho Houso upon it , or to jnutify tho proposal oi' Siv W .

    Molesworth , which would hot" be fair towards . the Company . After considerable discussion , in which Mr . V , Smith , Mr . V . Pjeel , Mr . Mang-les , Mr . Gladstone and Mr . JT . Av Smith , took part , tbe amendment was negatived . , Sir JVPakington moved to substitute in the same clause for 5 > s . an acre , * ' one-fourth of the sum paid by the purchaser in ; respect ojf every such sale or aliena * tion . " Sir W . Molesworth objected that this was too favourable to the Company , and proposed that they should have only one-tenth of the ^ ' purchase-money . The amendment of Sir J . Pakingtqn was , however agreed to . .. ;¦

    Mr . Gladstone moved to add tbe words , " but so that the said payment shall in no case exceed 5 * . per acre so sold or alienated . " This proposition was nega * tived upon a division , by 120 to 51 . Sir J . Pakin 0 ton moved to substitute for clause 4 , providing for the appointment of superintendents , a new clause , enacting that persons qualified in each province to elect members for the Provincial Councils shall , before the election of members , elect a superintendent , subject to the disallowance of the Governor within three months after the election . This clause was agreed to , and tbe bill was reported to the House . HALIFAX AND QUEBEC RAILWAY .

    Earl Grey moved for copies of the correspondence oii the subject of this railway . Some years ago , when Lord Derby was decretory of State for the colonies , he had receivedan application from the North American colonies respecting the construction of such a railway as that now under consideration . " With that view , he had caused certain officers to explore the country . Their report came to him ( Earl Grey ) in 1848 ; and in 1849 the Earl of Elgin , the Governor of Canada , sent over a resolution of the Executive Council of that province , proposing certain very liberal terms for the execution of the worKj in which he had no doubt that Nova Scotia and New Brunswick would have concurred . But as the scheme involved a largeexpenditure by this country it was not considered advisable to adopt ifc at that time .

    In the autumn of last year , Mr . Howe brought over , on behalf of Nova Scotia , a proposal for a loan of 800 , 000 ? ., to he raised by that colony , with the guarantee of this country , which would enable the colony to obtain the money at a lower rate of interest by 2 & per cent . This proposal was acceded to by the Government , and in March of last year a notification was made to Lord Elgin and the Governors of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick , providing that the expense should be divided among the three colonies . At the same tune , it was made a condition that the line should pass entirely through the British provinces , and that any deviation from Major Eobinson ' s projected line should be submitted to the Government . Tarious communications had since taken place , and a few days before his retirement from office he had been informed by a communication from the colonial authorities that they had themselves

    agreed upon the division of the expense among , but that they required a different line from that proposed by Major Robinson . He was also informed that a deputation , consisting of Messrs . Hincks , Chandler , and Howe , was coming over to communicate with the Government respecting tho matter . He had replied that tho Government was quite prepared to consider the proposal as then made , and he had had sanguine hopes that tho arrival ot this deputation would have led to an arrangement ; Dus ho had been disappointed . , Tho Earl of Derby vaguely said that Earl Grey s remarks involved two distinct charges , that the " substance of the negotiation bad been br oken off , ana next , as to tho " manner" of that breaking off . He

    began with the latter . Iieforring to tho letter of Mr . Hincks ( noticed m tho last . Leader ) , in which ho complained of delay , Lord V & rm stated that Mr . Hincks had arrived in this country ontno 15 th or 10 th of March , and had had frequent interviews witli tho Colonial Secretary , but that Mr . Chandler didI not arrive till about tho 16 th of April . I ^^^ V ^ tJJ interview with Mr . HinckB and Mr . Chandler on the suw of April , whon " it was for tho first time announced , tnav tho throo provinces had agreed among themselves ai » . construction of the railway , " and lie then first ^ " ^' r tho colonies had decided on a lino deviating vory maw riallyfrom that first proposed . Tho lino ^ w proposes was such , that for all practical purposes , it nngnt as w havo boon in . tbo Unitod States' territory . P-o was b ,,..:, ¦/! «* . 4 i * n IkI'I-a * i . ili ! nli nnn / iniwd in tlio napOXS , Ml y "

    Mr . Hinoks , writing 'twenty-four lioura after tms w view , complained of delay . Lord Dorby then road jomo pasHagos from Mr . Hincka' lottor . publwW at tlmt m and complained of the unreasonableness of that ^ " ° " „ in exporting an answer upon this quoshon in b » ' d porioi . Ills lordship wont on to state that ^^^ a Cabinet on . tho 8 th of May , at which tho TO' ° " W bo fully diacusBod ; and ifc wafl dooidod , tlmt it wouW » for tho advantage of this country thdfc tho G « " ; the Hhould accodo to tho proposition of tho colonies , ^ main advantagos which would havo anson "o i original Hchomo had boon lost . This decision was , "J ^ firet instanco , communicated ¦ to tho governors oij- , Bpootivocolonios , whiohho tlioughfcwas tho most ro ^ ^^ courso ,. and subaoquontly to tho deputation . xu ding pluoo aboufc tho middle of tiio month ( tho 20 th ,, ajjw ^ to Sir J . Pakinqlon . ) in tho ' mo anhrao , ab 0 " */ who of May , in answer to an application from a b ™"' ^ tjl 0 sought to combino an oinigration b 0 " ? . * " ! * '" doubted proposod railway , his lordship replied , that n © ^ whofchor tho negotiation would load to any r . X nhandlcr liovod that it was through this medium that Mr . v »»

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• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 12, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12061852/page/4/