The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-26 00:00:00

AN EPISODE OP THE COLENSO TRIAL

Soon after Dean Douglas had commenced his
opening address after the trivial Bishop Cokes*,

The Archbishop of Grahamstown (Merriman), interrupting
the Dun's argument, rme and said :—I feel constrained
to coalman inquiry. I hope I shall in pardoned for doing
so • and will give my reasons. I have come from a dishot
Fait of the province in the hope that I should here meet
the Bishop of Natal, and that in the course of these argu-
ments, and by our remonstrances but still more by
brotherly intercourse with your lordship., he would be in-
duced in some measure to retract, or modify in some way,
the very painful statements which we have come here to
examine. But, although he is not here present, we are
exceedingly glad to find- that he has employed a gentlemen
to represent him, bat in respect to whom I should very
much wish to know whether we have the hope that in ad.
ducing these proofs—the citation and the formularies upon
which we found our arguments—we are addressing one who,
like the Bishop of Natal himself, would give due weight to
them ; whether Dr. Bleak—l believe that is the name of the
gentleman ; I have sever seen him before, and therefore I
can here no possible objection to him ; on the contrary, I
am exceedingly glad •to see him here—whether be is a
member of the church of England, or of any communion
which will recognise the formularies of oar church, upon
which the whole of our arguments are founded. 1 hops I
shall be permitted to put that question—of course through
your lotripe—before we proceed fm :her with the argu-
ment.

The Archdeacon (Badnall) of George—l hope I shall be
allowed to supplement what the Archbishop of Grahams-
town has maid to this effect. This is the first occasion upon
which I have had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Reek.
I did not even know it was he who at down at the
table. Therefore I am sure he will acquit me of every
vestige of personal feeling ; and, not residing quite so far
from Capetown as the Archdeacon of Grahamstown does, I
may be allowed, perhapi, to say that I have heard his name
mentioned as that of a gentleman, not only not a member
of our communion, but of a geutlercan very well known to
sympathise in the very strongrit way with quite the freer
sort of SOCi01•1:141T. Ido not intend even the slightest per-
sonality ; but miles. that be expressly denied, I cannot help
asserting in the strongest way my surprise at the eatra-
ordinary fact that the Bishop of Natal, a bishop of •
Christian church, should have chosen such a repre-
sentative. Therefore I beg to supplement what the
Archdeacon of Grahamstown has rid, and to join with
him ia reqaesting that the question may be decidedly
put. We do not at all wish that Dr. Bleak should absent
himself in the least degree. On the contrary, I am sure T only
express the feeling of the Archdeacon of Grahamstown, sod
of the dean, as well as myself, when I say that it ia our
sincere hope that every indulgence may given to him. But
still, returoing to the point that has been raised, I mast
request that the question may be put.
The Bishop of Capetown—Dr. Bleak, you have heard the
question put by the Archdeacon of Grahamstown ; if you
feel inclined to answer it you may do so.
Dr. Bleek—l came here to perform aertain formal acts io
connexion with the inquiry going on, not for the purpose of
any inquiry being made as to my own opinions. I did not
come here as a member of the church in any way, but
merely to read this letter and to do some formal things. If
this wart is to be converted into any other purpose than
that which I am instructed not to recognise, then 1 have no
bashing bean.
_ _

The Bishop of Capetowo—The question proposed to you
was, whether you, as the agent of a bishop of the Church of
&Wood, were • member of that communioowhether,
if Dot • member of that chard], you held the faith of the
Church of England ma these subjects.
Dr. Bleak —My lord, I decline to aoewer that question.
They have so right to ask such a question.
The Deem then proceeded with his address.

Tan BENCH or BISHOPS.—The past seven Tessa
have been attended with numerous champs on the episco-
pal bench. Dr. Longley has succeeded Dr. J. B. Sumner
is the archliehopric of Canterbury, and Dr. Thomson has
succeeded Dr. Musgrave in the archbishopric of York. The
me of London ia now occupied by Dr. Tait, in the room of
Dr. Blorafield ; that of Durham by Dr. Bering, In the room
of Dr. Maltby ; that of &cheater by Dr. WiSTILIDI, in the
room of Dr. Murray ; the* of Bangor by Dr. Campbell, in
the room of Dr. Bothell ; that of Ripon by Dr. Bicker-
sloth, is the room of Dr. Langley ; that of Worcester b
Dr. Phßpott, in the room of Dr. Popes ; that of Norwich
by Dr. Pelham, in the room of Dr. Hinds ; that of Carlisle
by Dr. Waldegrave, In the room of Dr. Villiers ; and that
of Gloucester sod Bristol by Dr. Ellicott, in the room of
Dr. Baring. We have thus eleven abeam In the seven
years armor twesty-eight English and Welsh biasoprios, so
that the average career of a bishop does not much exceed
fifteen or 'lateen years. This is a very fair allowance, how-
ever, ooesidering that divines do not become bishop, until
they ass well advanced in yews.