The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-08-13 00:00:00

CHARGE OF THE BISHOP OF SALISBURY.

uiTned

On Thursday the Bishop of Salisbury delivered his
charge to the clergy of his diocese, and reviewed, at very
considerable length, the various questions that bad
arisen since his last sisitation. litany of these are of
purely local interest—others have a wider application.
In relation to the death of Lord Herbert the bishop
said : All present could, no doubt, recall imam lesson
of God's dealing with them or their families, and he
would place amongst them that loss which the whole
nation was new mourning, and which that chlrcli and
diocese, and especially the poor of that neighbourhood,
felt to be their own. He (the bishop) never met a man
who, by hie generous, noble bearing, by his general
sympathising disposition, by his unruffled forgiving
temper, by his great abilities, and unflagging devotion
of them in the work which was allotted to him, by his
forward zeal in providing the means of grace and
education, and by the mark which he set upon them of
hie sense of their value, by his ungrudging sod bounteous
liberality, and by his personal sacrifices —recomuiensled
the faith and life of a true Christian more than Lord
Herbert did ; and he was sure that all this kingdom,
particularly the soldier, the clergy, and Christ's poor,
would feel this dispensation of Providence as a deep
family affliction. As to the professed revision of the
Lit urgy,he would advise the clergy to watch with suspicion
any help that might be offered them towards revising the
Book of Common Prayer. Such suggestions might be
made by those who had not learned to love the Prayer.
book by constant use, or by those who did
not know what were the difficulties in the way
of alteration. It was advised by some that the
changes proposed should be made in the rubrics
only, but thaw contained points of doctrine, and he
should most decidedly object to such a course. It bad
been said that many would be likely to come into the
Church it these services were altered; bat even for this
he could not consent to alter the doctrines which
permeated all the offices of the Book of Cominon Prayer.
They might be assured that there were those in the
Church of England who were determined not to part
with that great body of truth maintained in that
blessed book, and that if a change were to be made at
all, it could only be by the issue of • moat delta-initial
and probably prolonged struggle, and that the choice
lay between a hopeful, honest use of the blessing,
however allied with some imperfections, and a resolute
party contest for the mastery. The resolution of the
House of the Peers on the matter was most encouraging.
Not one noble lord who was present when the subject
was brought forward, could be found to second Lord
Ebury's proposition. It was thought that there would
be a further agitation, but that WM not the case but
still there would be need of watchful care on the part
of those who feared the risk of alteration. His lordship
having adverted to other Parliamentary measures, to
the proposed subdivision of dioceses, and the increase
of the Episcopate, and other acts of Convocation, raid
there were many other subjects of interest which lie had
intentionally passed over, rather than weary the patience
of the clew. But there was one matter which he had
over from very different considerations. He had
ritia precluded by the legal proceedings in which he
waathen engaged from eularging on a subject which would
lie closer to all their hearts than any of those upon
which lie had touched, and one far more worthy
of their deepest attention. They would all under.
stand that he was alluding to a book, profaning to be
the work of six clergymen and one layman, called
" Essays and Reviews," and though he was not going,
however much he might be tempted to do so' to break
the rule of silence which circumstances had imposed
upon him, still he felt that he owed it to the diocese,
both to the clergy and laity, to explain to them, in not
Men, words, the reasons which had led him to adopt
the course upon which he had now entered. Ile had
instituted proceedings against the reputed writer of one
of those essays. There was much to dissuade him from
acting as lie had done. His belief was, that there was
not sufficient power in either of the essays to exercise
any permanent influence over the minds of men. This
was one cause of hesitation. Again, he was not free
from fear that legal proceedings would extend and
intensify the influence, whatever it might he ; and
further, he did riot think that the constitution of our
courts of judicature were as well fitted as one could
desire to weigh the balance of truth on many of the
questions which must necessarily be submitted to thew.
Then there was another cause for hesitation—the
dictates of • righteous 'caution lest indignation against
a reckless and ruthless attempt to poll down
the fabric of Christianity to its foundation might
make him forget the claims of charity and justice.
There were these difficulties in the way of instituting
legal proceedings: but, on the other side, there were
preponderating reasons for formally submitting the
Essay to the Archbishop's t'surt, and to show that the
Church disapproved it. The Church allowed great
latitude, but there must be a limit somewhere. At
the time of his consecration lie (the Bishop),
accepted the responsibility of keeping the teaching of
his clergy within these wide limits. Again the arch'
bishops and bishops of the Churohof England testified by
• public record that in this ease the limits allowed
by the Church had been transgressed, while the Lower
House of Convocation and his own clergy bad given in
their adhesion to that testimony. Such testimony had
helped to force the conclusion upon his mind that the
case was beyond the bounds of tolerations, and bail
quickened ties sensibilities it. Upon the writers of
the "Essays and Reviews" this record had no effect.
On ihe contrary, by frequent publications, they had
challenged the bishops to show that their views were
inconsistent with the law of the Church of England and
her ministry. Ho might almost say that the writers
protested against informal acts, and had demanded in
the name of justice decision from those Courts to which
decision on such points belonged. The matter had cast
• heavy burden upon him, but loyality to his Church
compelled him to adopt the course he had takes—any
other canna would have shown him to be cowardly and
unfaithful to his trust. His lordship proceeded to speak
at some length on the Incarnation, duatificatiou by
Fsith, and the other doctriues assailed in " Essays and
Reviews," contending that upon them hinged the
whole Christian system, and concluded by pronouncing
the benediction.
The proceedings against Dr. Rowland Williams, to
which the Bishop adverted in his charge, hays so far
progressed that the caste will be ready for hearing early
next term. The articles have been filed. In the
preamble it is stated that Dr. Williams is charged with
having, within the last two years, written, printed,
publielsed, dispersed, and set forth in • book entitled
" Essays and Reviews," a certain article, or essay, or
rosier, with diver* notes thereto, entitled " Bunaen's
Biblical Researches," and by having in such article, or
essay, or review, and in the notes them eto, advisedly
affirmed and maintained certain erroneous, strange.
and heretical doctrines, positions and opinions, coutrary
and repugnant to the doctrine and teaching et the said
united Church of England and Ireland.

The South-Western Company have announced their
intention of running excursion packets from South-
ampton to Havre and back. The excursionist may
remain abroad one month. Them excursions are one of
the results of the abolition of the pamport system in
Trines.

THE BANKRUPTCY AND INSOLVENCY BILL.

This bill received the r,yal aa•ent on the day of the
prorozati,m. The followne< are some of the most im-
portant changes made to the law :—Nundraders are to
be laws in resfr:ct of future
delta, to
The the i
bara nk
nr alo
au f s of tire gsroda of a debtor
unidey
under an execution fer a debt .1 .I:SU will he a act of
bankruptcy, and all Seek sales must be I/ public
duly ailvertlsed. Percentagea arc no longer to be taken
from bAnkrupts' e-hates, and tire official assignees and
messengers are to be greatly reduced ui number, and
paid by fixed sal•ries. At the first meeting ru:der a
bankruptcy, the creators linty re 1111 l ve the prooredings
to any county court, or, if they think fit, determine to
wind up the estate under a private arrangement, and
also decide whether the bankrupt shall have any and
what allowance for support. The offizial assignee is to
collect the debts not exceeding CIO, and the court is to
order in WhOtie custody the books endpapers belonging to
the estate shall be depoeited. The creditors are to de-
termine whether the estate shall be realised by an
official assignee or assignees chosen by themselves, and
in the latter case may allow then the assistance of a
paid manager. All loonier; received by the assignees are
to be forthwith paid into the Burk of
England, to the account of the accountant
in bankruptcy, and in the country districts
where there shall be no branch of the Bank of England,
then into such other bank as the court shall direct. The
creditors' resgnee murt every three months submit a
statement of 1114 ileColllll., with vouchers, to the official
assignee for examination, and slier such accounts hove
been passed the official assignee is to send a
printed copy thereof, or • statement showing
the nature and residt of the transactions awl
accounts of the assignee, to every cred tor who
Iris proved under the bankruptcy. The proof of debts;
may ho main by tending to the assignee through the
gettersl post a statcment of such debt and of the
account, if any, between the creditor and the bank-
rupt, together with a declaration signed by the creditor
that such statement is a full, true, and complete state-
ment of account between them. False declaration is
to be a tniadoineanour. All atatemeuta of account are
to be compared with the Looks and papers of tire bank-
rupt by the assignee*. The claierifiestion of certificates
is abolirhed, and the bankrupt, alter the mussing of his
last examination, is to be entitled to an order of dis-
charge. Very stringent penal clauses are provided, and
for a variety of offences the court may summarily order
impriroanient for any period not exceeding one year,
or may reform or suspend the order of discharge, or
attach conditions thereto as to future property. For
offences made misdemeanours under the act bankrupts
May be tried in the court with or without jury, at the
option of the bankrupt, and, on conviction, may be run-
'-issued for any term not exceeding three years, and
, liable to any greater punishment attached to the
offence by any existing statute. The court tray dirort
the creditor" assignee, official assignee, or any creditor
to
,

act as prosecidor, and the custioi such prosecution
will he borne in the same manner u the expenses of
prosecutions for felonies are now borne •, and other
costs incurred by such prosecutor not no defrayed are
to be paid out of the Accountant-General's Fund.
Moat important facilities are afforded to enable a
debtor and his creditors to effect private arrangements
under treat or composition deeds. A majority of cre-
ditors in number, including three-fourths is value, may,
on execution of a deed of arrangement, and registering
it in the court, bind • minority, and are to have the
use of the court in all cases in which they shall require
its assistance to decide questions as to disputed claims,
or any differences that may arise between the parties
interested in the dehtor's estate. The court is not, how-
ever, to interfere in any matter except its aid in in-
voked by some person having a direct interest in the
matter. Every deed of composition must be regia.
tered. There can scarcely be a doubt that these altera•
lions "

in the law will not only greatly lessen the ex-
penses Attending bankruptcy proeeebngs, but will be
tenet acceptable to the mercantile awes, releasing
them from the official trammels with which those pro-
ceedings have hitherto beet invested. It is believed
that a bill will be brought in next session to consolidate
the law in one statute.