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    JOT.T 26,1856.] THE IUIEB, 709

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    THE COUP D'EGLISE. The faithful Commons ...

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    FIRST FRUITS OF BONAPARTISM IN SPAIN. Th...

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    The Coup D'Fctat Trade. Mabtial Law Has ...

    It is difficult for an Englishman to understand how the trade in suppressing imaginary revolts can be a profitable line of business ; but in Eng land we have contracted notions , and we have not t he experiences which illustrate this species of commerce . The Cuban tale , however , has a sequel not less interesting . G-eneral O'Donneli . returned to Spain . He was received as a man who had preserved to his Sovereign the brightest jewel in the Spanish diadem—the Queen of the Antilles . If the truth were known , it is possible that this Jeffries-like campaign is among the most powerful of the causes which have shaken to the very foundations the allegiance of Cuba to Spain , — which have loosened it from the original monarchy , and have rendered its future Sovereignty doubtful . However , for the time at least there was queenly gratitude for the manner in which the insurrectionary attempt of the Blacks had been prevented before it burst forth , and high favour was shown to the Spanish Colonel Bi-ood . Decorum itself was transgressed , for he was made a nobleman of the highest rank . The story shows how many uses an insurrection seen infuturo may serve .

    Jot.T 26,1856.] The Iuieb, 709

    JOT . T 26 , 1856 . ] THE IUIEB , 709

    The Coup D'Eglise. The Faithful Commons ...

    THE COUP D'EGLISE . The faithful Commons have not refused to assist Ministers in essentially changing the constitution of the Church of England . Much depends , as the saying is , upon the manner of doing the thing . The specific necessity which is pleaded on behalf of the measure might have been met without altering the state of the Church of England . Indeed , there is not a word to be said against providing for the proper performance of the episcopal duties in the sees of London and Durham , and for making all handsome provision on behalf of the two aged prelates . Dr . BiiOMFiELD was born in 1786 , and is therefore seventy years of age ; but his condition of health is worse than might have been expected from the mere duration of his life . Dr . Maitbt was born in 1770 , and is therefore eighty-six years of age . He has been twenty years in his present bishopric ; he is fatigued ; other men could perform the duties better ; and he ought to have the right to retire . The two bishops are rich men , they have enjoyed handsome incomes for many years , and the relatives for whom they have provided might reasonably be expected to provide for them in return . We do not , however , hold with them who think that a State should be near in providing for its old servants . A handsome generosity is tho very life-blood of ^ social intercourse , for States as well as for every rank of life ; and it is not well for the official body to set a bad example . Tho duties of the two aces must be performed . Lord Pax , merston ' s Government is answerable for tho proper conduct of all public affairs , and in some way or other wo might expect to see acting bishops appointed to London and Durham—of course with proper payment for the work done . Arrangements of this kind have been formerly made in various ways , by the appointment of Suffragan or Coadjutor Bishops . In the case of Bath and Wells , Sir Hobert Pis el proposed , aa it wore , to place tho see in commission ; perhaps it is a still better plan to permit the agod Bishops to retire from duty , and to place tho office in perfectly new ban da . Any measure for this purpose , we conceive , ought to have nothing but support from Parliament , and from tho public . Ministers know exactly what was required at tho end of last year . They havo actually been considering tho subject for tho whole session , and wo are prepared to say that the arrangements such aa wo have pointed out

    mig ht have been accomplished . It would no doubt have been necessary to consult the heads of the Church in order to ascertain how to provide for the retirement of the Bishops without disturbing the Apostolical succession . Lord PAi-MERSTOir appears to think that if Coadjutor Bishops had been appointed , after the old plan , there might have been a conflict of authority between the Coadjutor and his chief , and that the Coadjutor would not have that distinction and influence which he ought to possess . Surely , however , if the State could interfere at all , it could interfere effectually . It could , for example , retain for the Bishop of London the title and the actual possession of the see , but it could totally exclude him from interfering in its administration ; could divert from him the larger part of the income , retaining only the retiring allowance . It could , in fact , leave him in possession of tlie palace , the title , and the " succession , " while transferring the active ministration to the new Bishop with the certainty of succeeding to the post . This would , in fact , be to appoint a regent and heir to the Bishop . As a matter of business such a plan would have been quite as effectual ; it would have been but slightly to modify the older practice of Coadjutor Bishops ; it would not have disturbed the Apostolical succession . But , we repeat , there is a manner of doing the thing . We are not inclined to join in the common cry against Bishops as " rolling iu purple and fine linen ;" we do not cavil at giving 60001 . to the one , and 45001 . to the other . Their names have been in the list of peers ; their pensions do not greatly exceed high judicial pensions ; their age is greatly advanced , and the enjoyment of the pay is not likely to be protracted . It is not we , therefore , who speak in terms of slight . But when Lord Palaierston , with his easy manner , tells us that the Bishop of London , " instead of laying up treasures on earth , has sought rather for those treasures , " & c , it is impossible to avoid laughing at the manner of presenting clerical mortification . In truth , " the Bishop has not made any other provision for hia family than that which arises from insurances on his life "—that is , just aboutthe most economical mode of saving . Now , we do not object to Dr . BLOMFiEiiD for ^ Fecting an insurance upon his life , but surely that act of providence does not con- ^ stitute a special claim upon Parliament . If that is presented as one of the peculiar claims of Dr . Blomfield , it does compel us to note that the real plea advanced on behalf of the Bishop ' s petition is , that he has been rich and has tried to make hia family rich after him . The civil servant , for example , who has enjoyed a salary of 607 . a year , and who is superannuated upon a pension of 201 . a year , will be " quito unable to keep up tho insurances" that he has not effected ; and the absence of a policy would , in strict humanity , bo a stronger claim upon our sympathy and aid , than tho possession of a property which has a saleable value . If Lord PAiiMEHSTON had told us that the Bishop had established an office , " not for insurances in this world , " but for effecting insurances in the future , by great sacrifices ; if he had shown us practically how to obtain a policy in that office , tho plea would have been irresistible . But , perhaps , it could not have been urged in support of a pension of GOOOJ . Tho one difficulty that ought really to havo made tho Minister pause , was the treatment of Apostolical succession . How can'Lord Pai > mbuston take away tho episcopal character from Ciia . rt . kh . Tamkb Blomh * i- » P Tho Premier , indeed , did not consider thin point at all . II o was not obstructed by tho difficulty ;

    he did not try to untie the knot ; he cut ithe cut the succession ! We are in future to have Parliament-made Bishops . As to the Apostolical succession , it is not even worth debate ; it cannot for a moment be set in comparison with the succession of premium on a life-policy . If any of us have supposed that there was a mysterious virtue in the Church of England from that Apostolical succession , the delusion will be entirely dissipated by the union of the Executive , Lords , and Commons in disposing of the episcopal office . The Established faith has had some few hard knocks lately . When this week Mr . Heywood pointed out a number of fatal mistranslations in the acknowledged version of the Scriptures , proposing a revision , he was answered by Sir George Geey , that to alter the translation would " unsettle the faith of the people . " The faith of the people , therefore , depends upon the maintenance of an erroneous translation ! It is not very long since that Mr . M'Naught was expelled from the Clerical Society of Liverpool because he had expressed doubts in his own mind as to the " verbal inspirational infallibility" of the Scriptures ; a member of the society who expelled him said that " he would not stoop to pick up a copy of the Scriptures , if he doubted the absolute verbal infallibility of every part . " How is the Reverend Hugh M'TnTeixe ' s friend reconciled with Sir Geoeue Geex ? ^ Sir George affirms that he dares not investigate the text of the authorized volume , which , is issued by the authorized printer , and Lord PaIiMEeston does not think the Apostolical succession worth , debate . It is not sceptics or Dissenters who have put forward these strange avowals with respect to the Church of England .

    First Fruits Of Bonapartism In Spain. Th...

    FIRST FRUITS OF BONAPARTISM IN SPAIN . The events which have just occurred in Spain would be a lesson to the world , if the world ever learned by experience . We much question , however , whether the coup d'etat of General O ' Donneli , will have any other effect than the coup d ' etat of Lours JSTapoleon . It will demoralize , if that be possible , the country in which it has taken place , and contribute to corrupt and confuse the public conscience throughout Europe . Success always finds its devotees , and we shall presently begin to hear that O'DoNNEiiL is a good and a great man . It is now full six years since every one who took the slightest trouble to become acquainted with the progress of ideas from the changes of situation in France , foresaw tliat a burglarious attack was about to be made on tho Republican Constitution . On all hands the pi'ess raised its warning voice ; but was , of course , not listened to . Tho people supposed to possess " special information" smiled knowingly , and shrugged their shoulders , and talked contemptuously of alarmists . Innocent llepublicaus and terrible Socialists were allowed to have the greater part of the talk to themselves . Sham ententes were got up hero and there . Prightful doctrines were imagined by timid or venal journalists , and attributed to opponents whose existence even has remained problematical . Meanwhile , tho Imperial conspiracy was carried on openly . It was secret only as to tho time of execution . The whole political world looked forward to a coup d ' etat as wo look forward to thunderstorms in Hummer . They must come , but no one knows on what day . Yet , when tho fenrful crime was committed , every one protended to bo not only shocked but surprised . With tho exception of tho few inveterate newsmongers , who will have

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 26, 1856, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_26071856/page/13/