The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-18 00:00:00

Hereford has been ptgliely called in question by several of
the prel►tes of our church, and being also aware that a
statute was passed in the year 1836, in the convocation
of the University of Oxford, in which the writings of the
said Regina Professor: were stated to be the groundwork of his
exclusion from the performance of certain duties heretofore
confided to the Regius Professer, do hereby declare our
opinion, that it is the duty of Her Majesty's Ministers not
to interpose the authority of the Crown against any legal
proceedings which may afford to Dr. Hampden the oppor-
tunity of justifying hi► appointment to the vacant see r 7
proving before a proper tribunal the conformity of the opt-
aims contained in his writings with the doctrines and disci-
pline of the Church of England.
We deem it due to ourselves also to state, that while we
disavow any desire to impede tho exercise of the Royal pre.
rogative in the nomination of bishops to vacant sees, we can-
not contemplate without alarm the prospect of a really com-
pulsory election and confirmation of a bishop ; nor consider
such a proceeding, however sanctioned by statute-law, in any li
other light than as a withholding from the Church of Eng-
land that liberty which is now essential to the preeervation of
her purity and the maintenance of her integrity.

OXPORD, Dec. 17.—A very !meaner" report is in circlets
Lion here to-day, which, us inquiry, there is reason to
believe has foundation in fact, though passing strange. It
is said that, as a lost and desperate effort, the leading
trattoria= have put themselves in communication with the
bishop of the diocese, urging his lordship to institute pro-
, oeedings in the ecclesiastical courts against tie Bishop of
Hereford, in order to delay his conscerativn. The accusers
are said to be Dr. Pusey Mr. Sewell, of Exeter College;
Mr. Meriott, of Oriel College, the friend and advocate of
Mr. Macmullen, when he, though a Roman Catholic, sought
to compel a B.D. degree ; end Mr. Moseley, of Otiel
' College-; and the Times. Well.informed persons, who
knew the sympathies of the bishop, incline to believe he will
assent to this extraordinary request. —Can:snide.

THE BANK or AUSTRALASIA held its half-yearly
meeting yesterday; Mr. Foster being in the chair. In the
absence of the secretary, the chairman read the directors'
report, which, after referring to the appeal case now pending
before the privy council, stated in general terms that the
reporta from Sydney, Maitland, Melbourne, Hobart Town,
Adelaide, and other settlements where the bank had este-
blishmento, were of • satisfactory description, though the
price of labour, the difficulty of procuring it, and the depre-
cated price of colonial produce operated very disadvan-
tageously to the interests of the shareholders. The
chairman, in conclunion, stated that he expected
judgment to be pronounced in the appeal cue in
the course of January; and further, that if any
shareholder required explanations on any point, he was
ready to afford them. A long and desultory conversation
took place upon several points, during which the propriety
of winding up the concern was suggested on the part of one
sr two of the shareholders, but the suggestion was so strongly
condemned by the majority as to lead to no result —A pro-
prietor asked when it might be expected • dividend
would be declared ?—Mr. Brownrigg, a director, said that
the terms of tha charter precluded all prospect of a dividend
whist the subscribed capital was in any degree encroached
upon, and the result of the appeal case might be to take away
160,0001. of their eubacribed capital—A proprietor sug-
gested that a meeting should be called of the shareholders al
soon as the result of the appeal case was known.—Mr. H.
Crabbe Robinson said that the proper time to call a meeting
would be after the directors had received the reports of
meson. Hart and Hatherton, who were specially deputed to
examine into the state of the banking affairs at the
different settlements in Australasia, and without whose
report no decision nor any judgment on that subject
could be come to.—The Chairman said this was the wisest
and most practical observation that had yet been made. The
' reports of Messrs. Hart and Hatherton could not be expected
before the month of June, and until that period, therefore,
it would be expedient to postpone all discussion upon the
I vital points tl.at had been mooted. It was incidentally
stated during the course of the proceedings that up to the
i present period the liabilities of the Bank upon bills remitted
I from the coknay were 1,6601., amply secured by endorse-
' meats ; 2,5151. on bankrupt houses, the endorsements on
which there was reason to hope would prove sufficient • and
a balance of 11,6481 , which was due on bills accepted by
houses which had suspended payment, but which would not
be totally lost. The amount of bills in the possession of the
Bank, as securities, was 14,0011. odd, but these were so suffi
ciently endorsed as to leave little doubt of their goodness.—
Alter some further discussion the report was agreed te, and
thanks being given to the chairman, the meeting separated.

- - - -
DONCASTER FLOUR MILL SOCIETY.— Circulars
have been issued in Doncuter calling a meeting of the inha-
bitants to consider the exoetliency of establishing a Proprie-
tary Flour Mill Company, on the principle of similar COM-
pauses to other towns.

BADEN. CARLERITHE, DEC. 10. —The grand
duke, in the course of his delivety of the address to the
chamber, which commenced their *ninon on the 9th, made
the following remarks respecting the censorship of the press
" I have attended to the unanimous wish of my faithful
states for submitting the press to a repressive
and for setting aside the censorship. In corncob with other
governments, my government also has taken legal measures
in this respect, and I trust that this difficult question may
be satisfactorily settled without the infringement of liberty,
order. or morals."
Ildnuarrics. The Hindley, arrived at Liver-
pool, has broughtintelligence from this island to the 25th
September. The letters received, however, make mention
of no matter of interest. Exchange ruled at 4 discount.