The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-06 00:00:00

DB. COLENSO AHD THE BISHOPS.

The following is the reply of Dr. Colenao to the
address of the Bishops, which appeared in our
columns a few days since :
My Lord Archbishop,—l have seriously con-
sidered the address which has been forwarded to me by your
grace, signed by a great number of the archbishops and
bishops of the church of England. In reply, I feel obliged
to say that I am unable to comply with the suggestion
therein conveyed to me, that I should resign my episcopal
charge. I trust that I yield to none of your lordships in •
heartfelt reverence for the Holy Scriptures. But certainly
I do not believe, as the words of the address seem to imply,
that your lordships do believe that "all our hopes for
eternity rest" on the literal historical truth of such
a narrative as the scriptural account of the Roa-
ch/se Deluge. But I must refer to my books for a
statement of the reasons which justify, to my own
mind, the course which I am taking. To resign my
office would be to admit that my conduct has been legally
or morally wrong, which I am very far from feeling.
Rather, I am persuaded that my duty to God and the
national church, through which 1 have received, in the same
manner as your lordships, that episcopal commission which
we have no power of abdicating, requires me to persevere in
the task which I have undertaken—namely, to set before
the English church the real facts of the cue in regard to
the composition of the Pentateuch, in ►ccordance with the
most trustworthy results of recent criticism. I venture to
add that the progress of true religion appears to me to be
grievously impeded in this country by the contradictions
which undeniably exist between the traditional notion of
the historical truth of all the narratives contained in the
Pentateuch and the conclusions of science, as now brought
within the comprehension even of the youth of both sexes
by the general extension of education. And it is my firm
conviction that this subject deserves, more than say other
at this time, our moat serious consideration, and, if possible.
our united action as bishops of the national church.—l an,
my Lord Archbishop, your grace's very faithful and obedient
ser►ant, .1. W. NATAL.
London, Meech 5, 1863.

Tea ILLummanona.—Maaara. Defries and Sons
have just undertaken the contract from government to
illuminate the Fountains at Trafalpr-square, which will
play on the evening of the illumination, with all the
prismatic colours that are to be produced. They have
also contracted to illuminate the Nelson Monument, from
the National Gallery, by the electric and lime light.
The Earl and Countess Russell entertained at
dinner on Wednesday the Russian ambassador and Baroness
Brunnow, the Spanish Minister, Earl Grosvenor and Lady
Constance Grosvenor, Lord and Lady Wodebouse, Baron
Marochetti, Captain Fitzclarence, Mr. Meade, and M.
Tricoupi.

Captain and Mre. Washington Bibbert enter-
tained at dinner last evening, at their residence io Dover
street, the Marchioness of Downshire and Lady Alice Hill,
the Earl and Countess of Cork, the Earl and Countess De
Grey and Ripon, Count Maffie, Lord. Harris, Colonel the
Hon. Strange and Mrs. Jooslyn, Hon. Mrs. Fellowee, Hoe.
Arthur Morgan, Sir Henry Cotterell, Sir Robert Broworigg,
Colonel Fraser, Major Alison, and Captain Stewart.

Mr. Henry Baring, M.P., and Mrs. Baring
received at dinner last evening, at their residence in
Wilton-place, the Earl and Counter Vase, Vimenat
Canterbury, Viscount Chelsea and the Hon. Miss Coups.
Lord and Lady Cecilia Bingham, Lord Corimenay, Ice.
The Earl and Countess Cowley have arrived at
Lord Elatry's residence is Park-street, from the British
embusy in Paris.

The Conntess Spencer's party, announced for
Tuesday next, is postponed.

Lord and Lady Colchester received a select
party at dinner hurt main at their nisidenea in Berkeley.
Kona

The marble statue of the late Admiral Lord Lyons?
by Mr. Noble, for which a mbeeriptioa was raised, hag now
been placed, by the kind permission of the Dean, in the
south aisle of St. Paul's OathedraL On the completion of
the work to the entire satisfaction of the committee, they
have handed over to Mr. Noble the sum of 1,1141. I.le. 7d.,
the amount subscribed.

The copyright for engraving Mr. W. P. Frith's
picture of the forthoomiog royal marriage. has been secured
at the price of five thousand guinea by the purchasers of
Yr. Frith's last work. This sum is said to be the largest
era gives for the copyright of say painting. exceeding by
two thousand guineas the price paid to Sir Edward land•
seer for his "Peace" and " War."

Ou Wednesday the Emperor Napoleon, in Lis
phaeton, met the Empress in the BM. de Boulogne when
taking her usual drive. Their majesties both alighted and
walked for some time neer the lakes. The fiosassa of the
weather had attracted a great number of persons both on
honeback and on foot to that spot, and the circular alley
was scarcely sufficient for their accommodation.

A uote from Vienna, dated Saturday night, con-
tains the following :--"Adelina Patti appeared with
Giuglini this evening in Soninambala. The . wee,. wu
immense, colossal, without parallel in Vienna."