The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-04 00:00:00

THE BISHOP OP MANCHRTEB AND THE

BISHOP OP NATAL.

The Bishop of Manchester has addressed the fol-
lowing letter to Dr. Odium :

Mau!dello HO, Manchester, April 2,186&
My Lord,—l have to acknowledge the receipt yesterday
of your letter, dated March 1863, Warring to some
remarks reported to have been made loy ma be the Pres-
trade Hall, Maocheeter, cm March 17 last.

Without pretending to assert that thiTwords as reported
were those actually used by me, though I have seldom to
complain of inaccuracy in this reapect, I readily and to the
fullest extent am willing to adopt them. I wholly believe
and assert that " the very foundations of our faith, the very
basis of our hopes, the very nearan and dearest of our con-
solations are taken from ns when one line in that sacred
volume on which we base everything is declared to be un-
faithful or untrustworthy."
No man in his senses ever ventured to say that every
word in the Bible is precieely and mathematically correct.
Language is necessarily imperfect—it is addressed to
limited intelligences—it ia compelled often to adapt itself
to preconceived and popular ideas ; it was intended in the
Bible not to convey precise information on points of science
or natural history, but to illustrate the ways of God to
VIAL

The passage of Leviticus, xi. 6, in which you correctly
quote the authorised version, as stating " the ban, be
cause be cheweth the cud," and cite Profewor Owen as your
authority for the untruth of the statement, will illustrate
what I have said above, and also your mode of dealing with
Holy Scripture.
Grant that the Hebrew word rendered " hare " is rightly
traaelated in our version, still, the statement io question
wee set made to instruct mankind in the natural
of ham, but to assign a reason for a prohibition in
aoeord-
apoe with popular belief. So common a book as Smith's
valuable " Dictionary of the Bible," mentions the popular
belief that the hare ruminates, aW explain' the crigni of
that belief, the peculiar motion of the animal's mouth.
Bartholinaa, more than 200 years ago, noticed the error,
and bow it was favoured by the peculiar fun n of the mi-
mes stomach. I here not Lioness at hand to verify the
quotation, but I see it stated that that great naturalist
placed the bare among ruminants. In addressing man,
the style is suited to wares knowledge and ideas. The Wa-
stage may, indeed, be not stnctly cornet, bat the i
conveyed is unequivocally so. Thus, "tin hand7Glit7
" the anger of God,' sad innumerable other instant:tn.
Eves the Saviour himself (see /lark vii. 33 ; viii. 23 ; John
ix. 6, 11), to reassure doubtless the timid and ignorant,
with whom He had to do, graciously condi:wended to
comply with the long-awning and yet, in the Bast, pre-
valent belie( that human saliva, especially when mixed
with dust, is of virtue against the power of demons and the
evil eye.
But it is not certain that "the hare' is the animal
alluded to. The Septuagint translators use a word which
renders this doubtfoL Is this evidence on which to
convict the author of the Book of Leviticus of having put
a he into the mouth of Him who is emphatically the
Truth? Is the disseminating such a notion the way to
cultivate vewaratiou for His name and trust and eon&
deuce in Hie promises? Where shall we look for these if
not in Scripture? How in Scripture if the well of truth is
polluted ?
Bat are you ignorant that the Vatican manuscript,
c rzt. by Cardinal Carafe in 1587, reads "the hare
he does not chew the cud," and that this same
wading was also given by Aldus in 1518, by Cephalmus
is 1524 and by hielanctlion is 1545? This, at least,
might lead ',none to hesitate before outraging the feelings
of others, and, perhaps, unsettling the faith and hopes of
weaker brethren.

I cicirni; further correspondence. I adhere to what I
have mid above, confident that every lios of Scripture, if
viewed with relation to the subject it really refers to, the
state mentally and morally of than to whom it ws ad-
thieved, and the effect it was intended to convey, will
amply bear the prewar* of any test applied to it. But I
most &Wed to other duties than a controversy with ate
who has already beau so aoly encountered.
Ihave seen with pain your readinees to destroy. I would
fain know what you would build op in its pleat —I have
the honour to be, my lord, your faithful servant,
The Lord Bishop of Natal. J. P. MANcusem.

From Mr. Hyde Clarke (says the Athenaunt), of
whom our readers Let heard as opening a railway to Ephe-
sus, we have DIMS of the discovery, at Seance, of the foun-
dations of the famous Temple of Juno. Excavations have
been conducted on the spot by Prof. &mak, for the Berlin
Mumma. Nothing of value turned up for the Prussia'
eolketion, but the diggiuge laid bare a great number of
columns of the HSTII3[IIII, renowned in ancient tines a. one
of the seven wonders, so AS to develops to a large extent
the form, Si" and character of the temple. The beam of
the columns are found about twelve feet below the sur-
face ; they ere numerous and of gigantic sue. For the pre-
sect, we bear that these interesting works are stopped,
awaiting instructicnis and foods from Prof. Snack.

The trustees of the National Gallery have
(obeerres the Atheisrum) recently come into possession of
Mr. Lewis's bequest at 10,0001. The will was a little
singular. Mr. Lewis left a portrait of his father, " tleatl►
man Lewis," the wellknown comedian, a crony of Clomp
the Youth, to the nation, and on condition of its acceptance
by the trustees he bequeathed the 10,0001. in money, to
be applied in the first instaace in taking due care of the
picture, and a/ terwards as the authorities shall agree. The
mosey, we ttoderstaod, has been funded, and the proceeds
of It, about SOO/. a year, will be applied generally far the
geed of the collection.

BISHOP COLENNO AND THE DIOCZBE OT EXIITZIL
At a meeting of the clergy of the arclaciseooory of Exeter,
which has just been held at the chapter-house, under the
presidency of the Rev. Prebendary F 1091111.11, speeches
were delivered condemning the bishop's views of the
Pentateuch. Ammo the speeches were, in addition to the
chairman, the Rev. G. W. B. Willa rector of St. Leonard's,
Exeter; the Rev. F. Hole, rector of Geresetutm ; the Rev.
H. Bramley, sod the Rev. Prebendary Mackareess. A
memorial to the bishop of the diocese was ussaireely
speed to
THIS ROYAL AORICULTVRAL Sueiwrw.—lt is pro-
wled to bold the country meeties of the Royal Agricultural
&ciety of 1864 is some place in the dilatant composed of
the counties of Oumberiaad, Westmoreland, Durham, sad
Northumberland, and a rivalry seems to exist between New-
eastle-nn-Tyea sad the city of Durham which eta have
the honour. The Tows Council of Newcastle bas ratified
• guarantee made by the mayor of • rum of 1.0001. for the
eociety's expenses in ease they visit Newcastle is 1864, and
the agriculturists of Durham are awaking • similar arras-
rot. The place of meeting for 1864 will be detemard
by the council of the society at • meanie to be held ea the
6th of May.
Meliwimiell IN HONOI7I or THE PION= or
Weir —oe bur Meads! festPliz *Mies we le be
married without the psymeet of fees at Bt. There's
Church, Lambeth, is homer of the Pres sad Priors of
Wales. The incumbent lark week save entice What poor
people, and forty-six couples immediately availed them-
selves ef the offer. The incumbent is 'aikidos sabeerip-
Hoes to provide • milistential meal ou the occur, with the
view of celebrating the royal wedding.