The Press.
London, England, 1858-11-20 00:00:00

THE PRESS, NOVEMBER 20, 1858

endeavoured to vindicate, his determination not
to interpose his authority to prevent, on the part '
of some of his clergy, an intrusion into the parish
ofa brother clergyman, to which he does not feel
himself justified in giving his direct sanction;
a species of neutrality hardly consistent with
the Bishop's official position,. all the less so
since he does not conceal that his sympathies are
with the intruders. In the other, and much
more important case of Mr. POOLE, the Bishop
is accused of having exercised his power in an
arbitrary manner, which certainly did not carry
with it the feelings of many who would readily
subscribe to the views set forth in the Charge
with regard to the confessional ; and as that
exercise of his power has been made the subject
of an appeal, first to the Archbishop, and, on his
Grace's alleged refusal of justice, to the Court of
Queen's Bench, it would, perhaps, have been
more dignified if leaving the personal question
affecting the revocation of Mr. POOLF:8 licence
untouched, the Bishop had contented himself with
laying down in general terms the principles by
which he was guided to that decision.

For the clearness and frankness with which he
enunciated those principles, Dr. TAIT has entitled
himself to the gratitude of the whole community.
In his few introductory remarks on the views of
the character and authority of the ministerial
office taken, respectively, by the two schools of
theology within our Church, he carefully abstained
from pronouncing authoritatively between them ;
on the contrary, having with great fairness stated
what is called the High Church view, he implied
his personal dissent from it in the most modest
and unobjectionable form by including himself
among those for whom he claimed the " liberty "
of resting content with the lower view. But
when he came to the deductions drawn from the
High Church view by some few men of extreme
tendencies, in support of a regular system of formal
and habitual auricular confession, the Bishop as-
sumed, as became him, a more decisive tone. The
arguments by which he combated that system,
protesting against the introduction of it into our
Church, the advocates of auricular confession will
find it difficult, or rather impossible, to answer.
The references he made to the provisions by
which the Roman Church guards the office of
penitentiary were particularly felicitous, inas-
much as they clearly prove that the indiscrimi-
nate claim of some of our clergy to act as " father
confessors," simply by virtue of their priests'
orders, goes considerably beyond the system of
the Church of Rome, which does not extend the
office of confessor to all her priests, but makes
it the subject of a distinct licence and appoint-
ment. Not less to the purpose were the Bishop's
observations as to the inference to be drawn from
the silence of the Church of England in regard
to auricular confession—a silence the more signi-
ficant since it appears from the history of her
formularies that it is the result, not of inadver-
tence or forgetfulness, but of omissions deabe-
rately made with the express design of discoun-
tenancing a practice which,—out of tenderness,
doubtless, to weak consciences,—had been suffered
for a short period to continue in our Reformed
Church, and of insuring its disuse for all future
time. Nor, on the other hand, was the Bishop
less explicit and emphatic in asserting the sanc-
tion which, in exceptional cases, our Church
undoubtedly gives both to private confession and
to special and individual absolution. We trust
that this eminently sound exposition of the doc-
trine of our Church on the point in question, and
of the line of conduct indicated in her formu-
lanes for the guidance of her ministers, may have
the effect, as on one hand of allaying the excite-
ment which has been created in the public mind
with regard to auricular confession, so on the
other hand of inducing the abandonment of
practices in imitation of the Romish confessional,
for which nothing contained in the Prayer-book
of the Church of England affords even the shadow
of a warrant.
lye cannot, without largely transgressing our
limits, follow Dr. TAIT into the vast variety of
topics embraced, and for the most part ably and
explicitly handled, in his Charge. There is one
point, however, of great practical importance
)Tbich we cannot pass over in silence. Dwelling
kith much force upon the insufficiency of the
spiritual provision made at present for the inha-
bitants of this vast metropolis, the Bishop laid
down, and by the most convincing arguments
mlPPorted, the position that, in attacking the

practical heathendom into which an alarmingly
large portion of the population has lapsed, the
first measure must be a commensurate addition
to the numbers of the clergy, and the employ-
ment of a part of them in a distinctly missionary
character, by the side and in subordination to,
the parochial system, and the ordinary means of
grace for which that system provides. The
" Diocesan Home Mission," set on foot for this
purpose by Bishop TAIT, will, we doubt not,
largely enlist the sympathies of the laity, when
its proper objects, and the principles laid down
by his Lordship as his own rule of action in car-
rying out those objects, come to be properly un-
derstood, as they cannot fail to be after the lucid
statement of the Charge. And, in connection
with this point, Dr. TAIT further deserves great
credit for the boldness with which he has spoken
out on the subject of the remuneration of the
clergy, showing its utter inadequacy to the sup-
port of men of the education and social standing
below which his Lordship justly remarked that
it was not for the true interests of the Church
and the people of England that her clergy should
be suffered to sink. The statement made by the
Bishop as the result of his inquiries into this
matter—that, while not less than 2,000 souls, on
an average, fall to the charge of every clergy-
man in the diocese, the average income provided
for these hardworked and overburdened public
servants, does not exceed 1401. per annum—will
startle many persons who have, perhaps, never
bestowed a thought on the question how their
clergy arc supported. Not only did his Lord-
ship point out the injustice as well as impolicy
of so anomalous a state of things, but he pledged
himself to urge the claim of the clergy to a com-
petent provision upon the laity, with whom the
remedy rests, on all fitting occasions. To hear
a Bishop recognizing this part of his episcopal
duty in express terms, and with special reference
to the ample provision made for the Episcopate,
as imposing upon their Lordships an increased
weight of responsibility in this respect, must have
been singularly gratifying to the clergy ; nor is it
to be supposed that the appeal made by the
Bishop on their behalf will fail of its effect upon
the laity.
In all this, and much more that we cannot now
advert to, there is much promise for the Diocese
of London and for the Church at large. May
Dr. TAIT live to carry into effect the plans which
he has formed, and so auspiciously announced,
for the spiritual welfare of the population of the
metropolis, and thus furnish his successor with
materials for a tribute to his episcopal adminis-
tration as justly encomiastic as that which, in the
opening of his Charge, he so gracefully paid to
the memory of Bishop BLONIFIELD.

1123

triangle to reach one of the extremities of the
third side. The shortest way between two
points, however defective as a mathematical de-
finition of a right line, is a correct exponent of
the rule of modern travel and modern enterprize.
If we are to govern India as we ought, we must
diminish the distance between us by the fullest
application of the resources of modern science.
We must have a means of warm and vital com-
munication between the heart and the extremi-
ties. Every one in India should be enabled to
feel that for all the practical purposes of govern-
ment he is as well off as in the mother country.
The British resident should feel that he can com-
municate at a days notice with his native land ;
and the llindoo, or Mussulman, should be made
aware that the first symptom of disaffection or
mutiny will bring within a month an overw helm-
ing force of British troops to the rescue .

This does not, however, imply that our reign
in India will be a reign of terror, or that we shall
hold that continent by the power of the sword
alone. Quite the reverse. Increased facility of
intercourse between this country and the East
will do more than anything in the world to
improve the administration of government, to
promote civilization, and to breathe into all
Indian institutions the improving influences of
the Western world. The fear of our soldiers may
prove a wholesome check to such atrocities as
have lately rent our hearts, but we shall never
use it for the purpose of maintaining tyranny or
supporting maladministration.

About a year ago there were two railway
schemes before the public—one proposed by Mr.
STF.PHENSON, and the other by Major-General
CHESNEY. The former designed a passage over
the Balkan, the Taurus, and other mountain
ranges, involving many engineering difficulties,
and making a length—reckoning from London
to the entrance of the Red Sea, and thence to
Kurrachee—of 6,077 English miles. On the
other hand, Major-General CHESNEY'S scheme,
via the Euphrates Valley to the entrance of the
Persian Gulf, and thence to Kurrachee, gives
only 4,973 miles, leaving a difference of
over 1,100 miles in its favour. This disparity
is found in the difference between the two sea
voyages. The obvious advantage of the latter
arrangement is, that it would allow us to convey
mails and passengers to Kurrachee, which would
then probably supersede the port of Bombay, in
thirteen and a half days, or less than half the
time at present occupied in the existing transit
by the Red Sea and Aden ; while the introduc-
tion of an electric telegraph line along the same
route would place us within eighteen or twenty
hours speaking
_distance.
But the rapidity of intercourse by rail and
electric telegraph, though naturally an object of
absorbing interest at the present moment, affords
a very limited idea of the political benefits which
must result from opening a way by the Euphrates
Valley. No country possesses associations of

deeper historical interest, or teems with greater
internal resources. Here we find the site of th e
famous empires of CYR us the GREAT and CYRUS
the YOUNGER; here, again, ALEXANDER laid the
basis of intercourse between the East and West.
The Romans, also, well knew the value of this
territory as a roadway, for CRASSUS, TRAJAN,
and JULIAN, all made attempts to conquer it.
To come down to later times, the First NAroLEoN
conceived, in 1809, the idea of transporting a
force down the Euphrates with a view to the in-
vasion of India.

It is evident that a district so eagerly sought
after from the earliest ages must possess no oral

1.124

nary attractions; and it is now practically for us
to decide whether we will turn those attractions
to our advantage or leave the prize to our neigh-
bours. Looked at as a mere commercial specula-
tion, the prospect is not unpromising. The
amount of traffic and commerce not unreasonably
anticipated would probably exceed all that
England has yet seen, for there is no definable
limit to the productive powers of the adjoining
countries, provided capital and skill were there
to make the most of them. The chief products
now are grain, which might be imported to
Europe to any extent; and cotton, largely culti-
vated, which has not unfrequently been left there
as refuse, for want of means of transport. Wool,
copper, sugar, indigo, saltpetre, dyes, and other
products are the ordinary exports of Mesopo-
tamia, most of which find their way into Russia
through Trebizond, whence also the natives
receive the bulk of their supplies. But if
greater facilities for commerce were established,
why should not their wants be met by Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Birmingham ? Can we
be justified in neglecting these vast sources of
trade, and the obvious opening for colonizr' ion
which are here awaiting our enterprize

Moreover, few political projects could be of
more importance to England at this moment, and,
indeed, for all time, than those which this route
would completely accomplish. In the first place,
the consolidation and the commercial and political
resuscitation of the Turkish empire would be
greatly promoted. We have lavishly devoted
life and money ostensibly for this purpose, but
with not the least benefit to ourselves and without
materially strengthening the dominion of the
Porte. But this line would secure the permanent
defence of her frontier against Russia and Persia.
It is, indeed, impossible to overstate the bene-
ficial changes in European countries to which the
completion of this design appears to be the certain
index. Combined with telegraphic wires, it would
be of essential value to us now. The means of
rapid and safe transmission of mails and pas-
sengers, of troops and stores, are what we are now
craving ; and the longer we live the more we
shall feel that distance is difficulty and delay
danger in the treatment and dominion of our
Eastern possessions.

ROMAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS."

Sir,—A paragraph extracted from the London
Record has gone the round of the papers, and has
created excessive consternation. It states that Mr.
Walpole intends to recommend the giving of a
charter to the Roman Catholic University. You will
perceive that such a procedure would be attended
with most disastrous consequences to the cause of Pro-
testant and enlightened education in Ireland, and
would increase still further the influence of the
Roman priesthood. Besides, the chant ring of so
puny and unsuccessful an institution would be to
make univer-ity education quite ridiculous. Let me
assure you that I express the sentiments of the
educated classes in Ireland when I say they anxiously
await a contradiction of this absurd report in the
next impression of your powerful journal.—l am,
Sir, &c., LL.D.

Dublin, Nov. 17, 1858.

[We state confidetiCy that there is not the slightest
foundation for the report which our correspondent
states has been current, " that Mr. Walpole has it in
contemplatio:i to recommend the grant of a charter
to the Roman Catholic university."]

THE LATE Mn. ATTWOOD.—In consequence of a
letter received from a member of the late Mr.
Attwood's family, we have made a closer investigation
into the accuracy of the statement which appeared in
our number of the oth• inst., with regard to the
treatment of that gentleman by the population of
Birmingham. That statement, referring to facts an-
tecedent to the experience of most of the present gene.
ration, was furnished to us from a source which we
could not doubt. We are glad now to be able to
state, upon the authority of a near relative of that
geitleman, that, in whatever degree recovered from
the violence of the opinions which Mr. Attwood
at one time represented, his fellow townsmen
never forgot his private virtues or his public
spirit so far as to avenge upon him by insults failings
in which they had so largely participated.