The Express.
London, England, 1849-07-12 00:00:00

THE NEW WHISTON CONTROVERSY.

The Express of Thnrs'ay laid contained a fall
report of a putlie meeting held at Rochester on the pre-
vifas day, respecting the dismissal of the Rev. Robert
Whiston from the head-rnasterehip of the Cathedral
Grammar. schosl. In the course of the proesediras it woe
',solved that an address, signed by the chairman, Captain
B.ker, should be presented to the rev. gentleman, and the
following is his answer to that address:
To the inhabitants of Rochester, Chafh Strom', and
their vicinities, in public meeting aisemb'ed, in tte
f Rochester, on Wednesday, the 4th day of July, 1819.
Gentiemen,—Permit me, with feelings of the liveliest gra-
titude, to return you my hearth st and warmest thanks for
the tribute of respect, regard, and sympathy which you have
in your most welcome address paid to me. It is, believe
me, an honour which, as the fr.!, will billing and the un-
sought testimony of those with whom I have for ea many
years lived, does, indeed. at once efface the mark of
the indignity which has been put upon me. It is, I assure
you, a reward which in full sad altogether re pays me for
any sacrifice of " personal ease and comfort" in conscien-
tious:ye advocating claims which no one asserts to be un-
founded, and in upholding without fear, and as I trust
wit.uut reproach, a cause which no one denies to be
most righteous and just. For the further assurance of
y readiness and desire to aid and assist me, I can only
use the same language to give utterance to the same
sentiments, r.gretting that ro words of mine can fitly
express what I now feel, and that no deeds can hereafter
discharge the debt of obligation under which you hays
laid me. On the other wavers alluded to in your address,
and on the letter "industriously circulated" before your
meeting, I deem it my duty, for the preseat at least, to be
silent; but as regards my attempted dismissal by the Dean.
and Chapter of Rochester, I may quote their owu language,.
and say that "whereas the laws of this realm provide a.
remedy for every grievance and wrong,"to them I shall con-i
fidently and immediately appeal, for the vie dicid ien of my,
character, end the uninterrupted exercise of my du ies and
rights That 1 shall do so with entire success, I memo: doubt
in ennformity with the Inclement of the highest le gal mishit .
Titles, wit) after a careful and critical txsmieation of tt
cathedral statutes, have declared their opinion that this act of
the dean and chapter " bus not either by the general law of
the land, or by the founder's etatutn•, any leg .1 force or v all-
day." Sincerely horieg that the truest happiness, and the
most choice of God's Wettings may fall to a i.O and yearns,
attending you under all eircumstancss, and being whs, you
in ell your undertakings,
I remain, gentlemen, with the most unfeigned ge *thuds
end re•peet, your much obliged and faithful servant—'llotimer
Woman:ft, Master of the King's Schee', Rather ter, and
Yellow of Trinity Coll. ge, Cambridge.—Rochester, July 9,
1849.

DISAETROUS FIRE IN LAMBETlL—Yesterday morn..
inir, about 5 o'clock. a fire, attended with nearly fatal iv,.
=lts to the htmetea, Aral cut upon the premises beloner ag
to Mr. C. Coarser, a earn and seed merchant, in the New
Cue, Lambeth. The Inmates, on being aroused, found the
flames ascending the eleven° so fiercely es to prevent their
descending, and they were at length obliged to jump upon
a Laden roll over ere of the stores filed with 'clay and
straw. Two police officers licving got a short ladder, they
held it out at arm's I.ngth in the form of a bridge, ore;
which the part:di passed Into the house adjoicing. The fire
wee not evinguistied uwil the whole of Mr. Cochyune's
furniture cud stock in trade were destroyed, and It,e pen.
ell se 11.•..v.y itutted..—A. abort time previous, a Ls bruits
out at No. 47, Edmund-street, evntherwtli.., tolorging to
Mr. Ho. kins. The Brigade and West hi 'Rowland 'noises
click y attaoVed, but th- five ,:.e n..t ex ihguished until the
in *4" it tat' i we part:ally destroyed and the
one ansiaing War