The Express.
London, England, 1847-01-08 00:00:00

't court.

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WINDSOR, THIIRM:ay.—The unfavourable state of
the weather prevented the Queen and Prince Albert taking
their accustomed morning 1,
His Excellency M. Vb. n de Weyer, the Belgian
Minister, and Madame Van de .Weyer., his Excellency Baron
de Brannon', and Sir Robert inn Lady Peel, took their de-
pasture from the Castle to-day.
Her Majesty and Prince Allas•rt, accompanied by
their Royal Highnes,es the Prince of N Vales, Prim* Alfred,
the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the Princess
Helena left the Castle for Claremont at hmr-Past two o'clock
this afternoon.

A Deputation on the Tea Duties, consist. ing of Sir
George Larpent, Chairman of the East India nod China
Association, Mr. S. Gre.tum, Deputy Chairman ; hfr.• Norton.
and Mr. Dallea, had an interview with Lord John Russell
yesterday, at his otficill residence in Downing-street.
Baron de Rehausen, Swedish Citar.c d'Affs ire',
tranracted business yesterday at the Foreign-MEN..
Mr. Bellingden Ker had an intervit w with S.
George Grey yesterday at the llome-offiee.
The Commissioners of Railways had a meeting, But
Sot since the holidays, at their office iu Great George-street,
yesterday.
Despatches were sent off last evening from the Co-
lonial-uifice for the Governor of Ceylon.

MEETING OF SHIP OWNERS FOS THE. ABOLITION
OT rite LIGHT D ETTI ES. —Yrsterday, a meeting of the ship
owners of the United Kingdom woe held at the London
Tavern, " to consider the best means Oahe adopted for urging
Government and Parliament to take into consideration
the heavy charges with which shipping property is bur-
thened." Joseph Hume, Esq.' Al l'., took the chair, and
said, that as the subject on which they had met was one
which concerned the whole of the Uuited Kingdom, he
believed that to many pr. sent an outline of what had already
been done for the removal of light duties would not be un-
acceptable. In 1821 he (Mr. Hume) presented, in the
House of Commons, a petition for enquiry, and the then
government appointed a committee, of which Mr. Wallace
was chairman. That committee reported that the burthens
on British shipping were so great, so to require the im-
mediate attention of the I geilieura. lu 1822, the Fo-
reign Trade Committee testihed as to the heavy 'meth=
of the Trinity-house lights. But, notwithstanding all these
testimonies agaiust it the abuse still cent.nued. 8, veral of
the Trinity-house lights were held by private individuals
under grants from the crown, and the committee to which
he had alluded recommended that the leases of those indi-
viduals should not be renewed. Mr. Iluskissou gave a
pledge to that effect, bet his successor, Mr. Goulburn, in
1826, renewed the lease. of nine lighthouses for twenty-ooe
years, refusing to be bound by Mr. Huakision's pledge. A
committee sat again in 1834, which duel (red the oppressive
nature of these duties, and a bin was passed enabling the
government to buy up private lights. By that hill private
lighthouses were bought up man expense to the country of
1,190,000/. Of those bought up, three were heal under
leases renewed in violation of the pledges of government.
He would now proceed to aho sr to the meeting the extent to
which they were burthencd and the right they had to be re-
lieved. He should first state that he had obtained a
commission to inquire into the charges on tidal
rivers, de and the r' suit proved that unless govern-
ment took scene steps to protect the coating-
trade it was in danger of utter destruction from the compel-
ling) of the railroads, which had neither light duties nor port
charges. (Hear, hear.) In the case of Yarmouth alone,
250,000 quarters of malt, formerly bent coastwise in vessels,
was now transmitted inland to London by rail. (Hear.)
The system was vicious, the light houses of the kingdom
were maintained by a tax on shipping to the amount of
356.901!., or about 5 per cent. on the earnings of tho vessels,
when the whole might be done for 100,0001., and should he
paid for out of the general revenues of the country. The
principal weight of this tax fell on the comtin.r trade, as out
of the whole amount levied one-half, 174,4071., was paid by
that interest. (Hear, hear.) In addition to this upwards of
a milli°. of money was paid in port charges by unsling Tea-
sels. In France and in the United States, the lights wens
cared for by the government, and no charge was made on
either foreign or domestic shipping for their support.
The lase committee which sat ou the subject, and
of which two members of the present government
LonlPahilerston and Admiral Dundee were members re-
ported, that the lights of the country should be a national
charge, that they were as useful to the navy as to the mer-
cantile marine, and that, there/ ire' they should be supported
by the nation at large. Olean) What was the situation in
which they stood now ? The Trinity-house considered they
had a vested right, and would not readily relinquish it. But
the time was come when the system must be altered, but
government must be pressed. Nothing could be done with •
government without pressure, and if they wished this crying
evil to be removed they must unite in pressing their wishes
on the government. (Hear.)—Several resolutions were
moved, the first by Mr. Foster, M.l'., to the effect that an
ossociation of shipowners be formed to procure the abolition
of light duties—Mr. Phillips seconded the resolution.—Mr.
Mitchell, from Leith, moved the next resolution, nominating
a committee to carry out the objects of the meeting.—
He said that in the ease of Scotland the lighthouse dues were
extremely oppressive, especially on the steamboats, one of
which of 119 tons burthen paid fora light which she never
passed except in the daytime, an annual tax of 1761. Another
for pausing a light twice daily (also in the daytime), 7801. 4s.
(Hear, hear.) In his opinion, the lighthouses should be
maintained by the nation at large, and this was the unani-
mous opinion of the shipowners of Leith shnhad deputed him
to attend that meeting. Mr. C. Wye Williams. from Dublin,
seconded the resolution. Mr. Moffat, M.l'., moved that a
memorial embodying the views of the meeting be steed by
the shipowners generally, and presented to the Lords of
the Treasury. Mr. Law Ogilby seconded the motion.
Sir E. Codrington moved the next resolution, " That the
petition, when signed, be presented to government by e
deputation from the association." He fully sympathised
with the objects of the meeting. Some persons wished to
separate the navy from the mercantile marine, but he looked
upon them as one body, and conceived their interests in all
important points to be identical. The light duties were a
heavy burthen, but if the will of the partici, interested
should be unanimous for their removal, the government, who
were appointed by the pee/A, must yield to the will of the
people. (Cheers.)—Mr. 1). Grainger, from Belfast, repre-
senting on behalf of that port, as he stated, 500,000 tons of
shipping, seconded the resolution.—Mr. W. J. Hall said,
that as nothing could be done without "the sinews of war,"
he begged to move that a subscription be entered into to
defray the necessary expenses, and as a commencement he
begged to put down his name for ten guineas. (Cheers.)
He contended that if something were not done for the
coasting trade, its ruin through the agency of the railroads
was inevitable. la the case of Hull, of 35,000 bags of wool
sent to that port from London, 30,000 were now transmitted
to Ireland by railroad.—Mr. T. Todd seconded the
resolution.—All the above resolution. were carried unani-
mously.—A vote of thanks to the chairman having been
moved, and seconded by Sir Edward Codrington, it was
(tarried by acclamation.—The chairman returned thanks,
and the meeting adjourned.
CLERICAL, MEDICAL, AND GENERAL LIFE ASSURs
once Socteve.—Yesterday, an extraordinary general meet-
ing of this society was held at their offices in Bloomsbury, for
the purpose of declaring the result of an investigation of the
society's affairs for the five years ending June 30, 1846. Dr.
Moore occupied the chair. The chairman read the report of
the directors, whence it appeared that the society's eucom•
for the year ending June' 1841, having been 97,0001., that
for the year ending June, 1846, was 116,3001., exhibiting en
increase of annual income to the extent of 18,4001. The
amount of the properth, of the society, accumulated from the
excels of receipts above payments, which, in 1841, was
418,9031., bad, in June, 1846, reached 639,7971. After de-
ducting the sum required to meet the liabilities of the so-
ciety, there remained a surplus of 15.5,2421., while, in 1841,
the corresponding surplus was only 89,400/. This sum of
155,2421. represented the amount of profit realized by the so-
ciety which had now to be dealt with. In conforming with
the provisions of the deed, half of these profits would be di-
videi among the assured for life, and one-sixth among the
proprietors, or in round numbers, 77,2501. among the as-
sured, and 25,7501. among the proprietor., leaving 51,5001
to accumulate as a reserve fund. This division would give.
to the proprietors a bonus of 61. 3s. per share, and to the
assured, 114,0311., the equivalent ix reversion of the 77,2501.,
which, payable at the death of the parties, would form:an
addition equal, on an average, to more than 36 per cent. on
the premiums received during the last five years, any of the
assured having the option of commuting the present bonus
for a reduction of his annual premium, without prejudice to
his adding any future bonus or bonuses to the amount of his
policy. It further appeared, that the proprietors' fund could
not accumulate, by the addition of bonuses beyond 50,0001., all
subsequent bonuses being paid over to the eroprietors in cash,
and that accordingly of the present 25,7401., 17,0001 only
would be added to the proprietors' fund, which would then
reach the limit, and the remaining sum would be paid to the
proprietors in cash, in the proportion of 11. 15s. per
share. A resolution, adopting the report, was moved by
Dr. Sheatman, sad seconded by Dr. Dunlop, and unani-
mously carried. The report, and a subsequent resolution,
was ordered to be printed and distributed, and the meeting
then separated, all the speakers having expressed their
entire satisfaction at the progress of the society's affairs.
UNITED HILLS MINING COMPANY.—Yesterday, at
a special general meeting of the shareholders in this com-
pany,
Clarke, Esq., in the chair, it was resolved to re-
wind certain resolutions passed at a meeting held in Nov.
last, and in their stead to adopt other*, authorising the
directors to raise the sum of 4,8001. by the creation of that
number of 11. shares, the money to be applied to the pay-
ment of the company's debts.
PROTECTOR LIFE ASSURANCE ASSOCIATION.
Yesterday an adjourned meeting of the proprietors was held
et the dace of the society, in the Old Jewry, to take into
letweiderstion a resolution passed at the annual meeting bola
• sip, which declared that the 17th clause in dm
And IltlONlMeat, compelling all persons purchasing shares
fit 1118 Misty to effect insurances upon their lives, under
osar • GM, be abolished. Mr. Copps, M.P., presided,
✓id the proceedings by stating that the act of settle-
mat mired that any alteration in the laws should be con-
firmedly • second general meeting, which was the occasion
etas pullout one being called. Mr. J. M. Barnard had
meal in proposing the resolution, with the object
of wlfaL be cordially concurred. Mr. Collin seconded, and
the resolution was about to be put to the meeting, when, in
answer to a question larim a proprietor, the secretary said
that the amount annually accruing to the society from the
operation of the clause in question was about 6,0001. or
7,0001. in policies, the profits on which were from 1501. to
2001. a year. A discussion then arose as to the propriety of
removing the clause, the opinion on the one side being that
its existence tended to cramp the free exthange and transfer
of shares, and depreciated their value in the market; while

eta the other it was contended that the experiment was
dangerous, and in the present proaperous cendition of the
pedepany quite unnecessary. It was maintained by one
gentleman that the abolition of the clause could not be good,
because in the event of every person taking sheers without
gaming policies, there would be a dividend of 21 per cent.,
and the company would be defunct. In the end, the alga-
mints of the abolition party prevailed ; the resolution was
married unanimously, and the proceedings terminated.
THE OVERLAND MAIL—We have to express our
thanks to the spirited proprietors of the Daily News, for
their'attrotion in fornanling to us expresseopies of their paper
Of Saturday morning, containing exclusively the news bythe
overland mail, expressed to them by Licut. Waghora rid
Trieste.—Glasgote Constilalianal,
NATIONAL EDUCATION.—Sir,-1 have read with
pleasure your arguments for a fair and complete system of
madam' education, and horn observed with greater pleasure
that such arguments a-e making their way in the country.
After all the objections urged against a national system, I
find they resolve themselves into two—one political, the
other religious. With the first objection you have
roccessfully contended, and I see not on what principle
it can be denied that the education of the people is a duty of
government. Coneerniug the second or religious objection,
I have heard much at various meetings in the country, and,
perhaps, you will allow me to say a few plain words in reply to
it. It amounts simply to this: that a fair plan of education for
all, without regard to religious distinctions, is not sufficient for
the people, or, in other words, that a syetean of education must
be founded on the doctrinal min of some particular church.
To this I reply, that national education is not offered to
supersede the efforts of any religious bodies, but to supply
the waats of a people who have no education. The objection,
therefore, is based un the principle that, if w.. cannot give to
a poor man a large fortune, we must withhold from him a
supply of his present urgent neces,itiea. The ease may be
thus Illustrated —Here is one main road, which branches off
into three roads, all supposed to lead to one town.
The main road may represent a general plan of
education, while the three roads may represent the parti-
cular plans of any three parties. Now, because we differ on
the merits of these particular routes, shall we refuse to travel
together on the main road which we all admit to he safe and
good? To drop the figure, Homisnists, Anglicans, Dis-
senters, and all parties, must allow that some general moral
and intellectual eultivatiou is necessary, whatever
may be the religious system to be developed. I
trust this simple view of the Question will be unfolded in a
better style than mine, and that, as a people, we shall soon
correct the mistake which hes misrepresented our common
religion. be attaching to it objections against general educa-
tion.—M.
CULTIVATION or WASTE LANDS.—Mr. R. Wti6On
has addrinseal a letter to Lord J. 'lessen, recommending the
plan adopted at Corwar to be empl eyed upon the waste lands
of Ireland. Mr. Wasnn prefaces his plan by much that is
true, metro that is duhious, anal much which it is id.e to
complain of, and impossible to remedy. We should assign
many other causes than " small farms " fur periodical dis-
tress. Large farms may he very good, but they imply a
large introduction of capital and wide and new modes opened
for employing and locating the labouring po aulation,
which exists and which cannot be swept away from the
surface of the earth. Mr. Wason, and other writers, who
simply propose to remodel Ireland anal make it a second
England, must be told that a country which exports agri-
cultural produce, and nothing else, cannot be organised in
the same manner as a country in which the manufacturing
interests and classes form two-thirds of the population, and
which imports food. Ireland is not England, anal Ireland
must he treated as feriae& The following are Mr. Waesn's
plans for dealing with the reclamatim of waste lands :
The first step would be to lay down certain general ram, upon
compliance with which government awdstance would be given. The
second, to divide the wad- land in Ire,and, capable of being profit-
ably reclaimed, Into two claws. I. Thar belonging to proprietors
who are willing to take the reclamation upon themselves if amisted
by government. 2. Those which belong. to proprietont who arc un-
Mikan, or to ineapacited n• who are unable to undertake the
work, end their lambs would have to be purchased by government at
their present value, under authority of an act of parliament, and re. :
solder tel to persona willing to embark in the rectanottio .
The most important engagements into which the proprietors would
have to enter, as a condition of receiving government assistance,
would be—l. That the Land should be mortgaged to the state for re-
payment of advances, with fair Interest. 2. That the land should be
divided into forms of such .ire. and let upon such terms as would In-
duce men of enterprise and skill to take leases, which ought to be of
30 years' duration. The plan would work in the following manner:
After the nreemory act of parliament had been obtained, there
would be two closes, of memorials, one from poetics In the
neighbourhood of waste lands, whose proprietnry were unwilling or
incapable of entering into the usidertakieg, and these would simply
Mate the het, and pray that the lands might be purchase I for the pur-
pose of re-selling or letting; these memorials would assuredly be pre-
sented, because parties in the neighbourhood of such waste land
would be benefited by the reclamation employing the destitute
population around them. The other clam of memorials would be from
those proprietors who might be ales:rouri of reclaiming the waste land
themselves upon receivinr the assistance of governme. t; such memo-
rials would be accompanied with a plan of the property, and
roust set forth, Ist, The number of scree, and the value in
its present state ; 2nd, The prohable value per acre when re-
Maimed; 3rd, The cost of reclamation per acre during the trot
some; tth, The probable value of the crops per acre during
the first course; sth, The emit of the farm.house and cottages
proem. al to be erected ; 6th, the removed dm of the farms ; 7th, the
amount of assistance required. Immediately upon !moralists such
memorial, government 1•01111. lend dawn a oommimioner to inspect
the Lod and to report thereon. If that report arm in every respect
rabbi...tory to the Board of Works, it would be forwarded to Govern-
ment for its final decision, when if favourable, the work might be
Immediately commenced.
METROPOLITAN IMP ROVEM P.NTS. —The Commis-
sioners of Woods and Furors have given notice that early
In the ensuing session they will apply for an act of parlia-
ment to alter, amend, and enlarge, an art peeled in 4th
Vic. intituled " an art to make a street from Piccadilly to
Long-acre, Eg0..," and to authorise and empower them to
form and make, in continuation of the street from Coventry-
street, Piccadilly, to Long-acre, mentioned in that act, a
new street from or near the west end of Long-acre, into
King-street, Covent-garden, which street is intended to com-
mence near the junction of Long-acre, with the north end
of St. Martin's-lane, and to run from thence towards the
south-east to Rose-street, then crossing the latter and
running from thence to the west end of King-stmt, oppo-
site, or nearly so, to Bedfordstrect, Covent-garden. Also
to continue Hart-street, Covent-garden, from its west end,
in a direct line westward into the said new street ; and to
divert, alter, widen, nod improve, the west end of Long-
acre on the south side thereof, and such parts of the present
streets, courts, alleys, and ways, es will form entrances
into the intended new street, which, with the continuation
of Har'-street, and other imnrovements proposed to be
made, lie in the perishes of Si. Martin-in-the-Fields, and
St. Paul, Covent-garden.
TILE SMITHFIELD NUlSANCE.—Yesterday, the fol-
lowing notice, by order of the market committee, was posted
at all the principal entrances to Smithfield:—" Carts, car-
riages, and other vehicles, are not permitted to pass through
Smithfield on Mondays, market days, before the hour of
twelve o'clock. Signed, Thomas Saunders, comptroller."
So that in addition to the lives and limbs of her Majesty's
subjects being constantly jeopardised by this unsightly nui-
mace, the public will be compelled to make a detour of a
mile or upwards, if proceeding to the north or north-east dis-
tricts of the metropolis, or rice rersa, Smithfield being the
ady direct thoroughfare rid Blackfriars-bridge.
OMNIBUSES AT ONE HALFPENNY A MlLE.—Yes-
terday, a number of omnibuses commenced intoning between
Shoreditch Church, the Bricklayer's Arms, and the Elephant
and Castle, conveying passengers the entire distance, up-
wards of five miles, for threepence.
ARTESIAN WELLS.—The wells in Orange-street,
Leicester-square, from which the fountains in Trafalgar-
square, with the Houses of Parliament and government oes
in the vicinity have been supplied, are about to pass into the
hands of a private company, just established for supplying
he metropolis with water from this source. Another well
will, for this purpose, shortly be trunk in connexion with the
present establishment, from which, during the last two sea
eons, the supply for watering the etreeta in St. Martin's
parish and the Whitehall district has been obtained.
SIGNS OF DISTRESS.—The number of recruits from
different parts of the country, brought up to Westminster
during the few days of the present year, has been much
greater than for many years peat ; whilst experienced recruit-
ing serjeants state that the men are in a far greater state of
destitution than usual, even at this season.
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DEATII OP A LADY BT FlRE.—Yesterday Mrs.
Lucy Legge, aged 4.5, a lady residing ►t 31, Sidmouth-street,
Regent-wrote, was burnt to death. The unfortunate lady
was standing in her drawing-room looking in a pier-glass
wtich stood over the mantel-piece, in the act of arranging
her hair, when she was suddenly seized with a fit and fell
forward on to the fire. One of the servants of the house
hearing the noise occasioned by the fall, rushed into the
apartment and discovered Mrs. Legge lying near the lire
enveloped in flames, which with great difficulty she sue-
seeded in extinguishing. She was frightfully burnt about
the upper portions of the body, but continued to linger in
great agony until death put a period to her sufferings.

. - -
THE. HOLBORN UNION.—LNCREASE OF PAUPERISM.
—Yesterday afternoon a numerous meeting of rate-payers
wu held in the hoard-room of the Holborn Union, to make
ante for the relief of the poor. Mr. Home said that in
the next quarter a very heavy sum would be demanded by
the guardians. The money expended for out-door relief
amounted near to 201. a week, and for the in-door poor to
1001. a week in the Upper Liberty. There were 494 in the
house, the number having been at this period last year 395.
This addition has taken place within the past month. He
knew, owing to the enhanced price of provisions, that great
dirtress prevailed. From that cause they may expect the ap-
plications for relief to be more numerous. The vestry
clerk remarked that the board of guardians were now pay-
ing more than double the amount in relief than they did
twelve months ago. A nlnepenny rate for the quarter was
agreed to.
SUICIDE. FROM LONDON-BRIDGE.—About one o'clock
yesterday morning, a man about forty-five years of age was
observed to be going backwards and forwards on London-
bridge, when he suddenly went into the middle arch on the
south side, deliherately ascended the parapet, and sprung
into the river, and although an alarm was given, and boats
pat out immediately, he wu unfortunately drowned. He
left a black hat in the recess, with no maker a or other name
inside, which is now at the station-house, Fenchurch-street,
for identification.
114(11:ESra, YESTERDAY.—ALLEGED MURDER.—
Before Mr. W. Carter, at the Jolly Gardeners, Princes-street,
Lambeth, respecting the death of Wm. Rowe, aged 47 years.
The inquiry bad been instituted in consequent/. of • letter
having been sent to Mr. T. Dunn, the summoning officer,
which contained a most serious charge against the wife of the
deceased. The communication was forwarded from a benefit
society in Hatton-garden, and was to the effect that a man
named Rowe had died suddenly, and as he was the fourth
hatband, and there being so short a time between his
marriage and the death of the last husband, it was
thought necessary to hold an inquest. Mary Hunt deposed
that she was secretary to a Birmingham benefit society for
married females; the members numbered about 150, and
the funds were to aid the sick, to pay at the death of a

husband, and 61. at the decease of • member. The wife of
the deceased man, witneu had been informed, had had four
husbands, the whole of whom had died very suddru..y. Mr..
Rowe had been paid for one husband's death some time since,
and she had applied for the money for a second death. The
members had a meeting on the subject, and found that Mrs.
Rowe had boen paid for two deaths at another club, which
would make four husbands in the whole. Two females had
been appointed to visit the deceased during his illness, and
at the death there appeared some reluctance to allow the
body to he opened to ascertain the precise cause of death.
Mr. Smyth, a surgeon, of Vauxhall-walk, had been the
medical attendant, but he did not give any opinion us to the
cause of death. It was shown in evidence, however, that
there was not the slightest cause for any suspicion against
the wife, and the coroner, in strong terms, animadverted on
the conduct of the persons connected with the soeietr, which
is called " The Friendly Sisters;" trusting that the caee
would be a warning to them for the future, for no one could
possibly tell what such vague rumours might lead to. lie
then left the case in the hands of the jury, who unanimously
returned a verdict of " Death from natural causes."-- Res
acre.—By Mr. Payne, at Guy's hospital, on the body of
Um Mary Bateman, aged 72 years, lately residing in Mor-
gan's-lane, Tooley-street, Southwark. The deceased, on the
14th of Dec. last, was passing along the Blackfriars-road,
towards the bridee, and in the act of crossing to the opposite
paving, when • four-wheel cab, numbered " 269-3," came
up, and before she had time to recover the footpath, she was
knocked down, thus sustaining a broken thigh. The unfor-
tunate creature was at once taken to a neiehbourind sur-
geon's, and from thence to the above teepiral, wherein she
lingered urtil Tuesday last, when she expired from the
effects of the injury. It further appeared that the accident
was wholly unavoidable, and, in tact, attributable to the
deceased's deafness, the driver havinu cried out several yards
before he reached her. The deceased had formerly been a
gentleman's housekeeper, but had been Heine, during the
:ant ten years, in independent eireurnstanees.—Verdict, "Ac-
cidental death."

THE ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONERS.

Abridoted from Ow Lotto' ofs omit troolent to the pates,.

Le
t the country read what the Ecclesnuno.,..
mission has done. The wants of the land, with respect to
religious instruction, were those chiefly springing from •
vast increase of population. There was a cry, an irresistible
cc 7, for more churches, more ministers, with manses, in the
midst of a new race " perishieg for lack of knowledge,"—
more labourers in the vines aid. Philosophers and states-
men justify and approve the union of Church and State;
but in this joint concern, each partner has a right to examine
the power, the disposition, the solvency of the other. What
did the bishops then do. on the occurrence of this run for
instruction on the house in which they were the chief propri-
etors and directors ? Their first measure was to secure their
own revenues from the impious touch or those who had
claims upon the firm from the demands of the country
That was their union of Church and State. The bishoprics
were uneguil ; therefore, the more rich were to give some-
thing to the poorer. To this end, and "in order to provide
for the augmentation of the incomes of the smaller bishoprics,
such flied annual coma shall be paid to the commissioners

out of the revenues of the larger sees respectively as shall
leave an annual average income," &c. 16th and 7th William
IV., e. 7). But on no account should any portion of the
sum total of the revenue of the two archbishuprics, together
with that of all the bishoprics, pass out of the epi•copal body
or descend or he applied to the extension of the church, or
relieve the religious wants of the community. A more
heartless measure was never offered to parleenent, much
less sanctioned and passed into a law. Who called for this
pretended equalisation of the bishoprics? For it was in
truth no more, as will soon be shown It might. it faithfully
execut d, have been useful; hut that was not the most ur-
gent want of the church or of the country. The bishops,
therefore, by this act, preserving their own revenues exclu-
sively to themselves, broke themselves off from the great
body of the church; they had no more anything to do with
it or its distresses. It might be argued on a demurrer, and
if we had such judges as Hale on the bench would be ruled,
that they were no longer a part or portion of the established
church of the realm. they are not the youngest, but the
eldest, prodigal sons, who, ha, lug clamoured fur the portion
of goods belonging ti them arum a too indulgent father, have
started away with it to a far country, and are no longer in
the domestic circle.
This act of supposed self-security being perpetrated, how
do they proceed, the want of Christian instruction also re-
maining wholly unmitigated? There are in all the cathe•
drab; a number of small or minor canonries or prebends—
each some 401., 501., 601., or 701. a year—itenerally given (if
not of sufHcient magnitude to tempt the cupidity of the
bishops themselves fir their off Spring or connexions)—gene-
rally given, I say, to meritorious and studious clergymen of
small inoome. The gift was " • feather in the cap, though
no clothing to the person." It conferred a certain degree of
respect, rebutted offensive familiarity, and repelled scorn in
the vulgar, for—
Nil habet lafclix paupertas durius Moe
Quasi quad ruheulos homincs twit.
I haroly dare write the words, the act ',erne so improbable.
These same prelates, who had so secured their own thou-
sands per annum, clap their hands upon, confiscate, seise ;
and, with the exception of some four to each cathedral,
consign to the improvement and increase of small livings
all these petty endowments,On the demise of the existng pos-
sessors! Nor is even this all. Those minor canonries
had each the patronage, not the income, of some small
living with cure of souls attached. The whole of that
patronage was also seised by the bishops for themselves and
their successors. It may be sold, that the original presenta-
tion to the minor canuuties appertained to the bishops;
true; the administration of each see belongs generally to
the bishop; but the bishops did not establish or found those
canonries in which the patronage was inherent. And,
observe the fact, that those minor canonries, even thus
shamefully denuded of both income and patronage, are
still courted hy exemplary and honourable men as objects of
ambition. Why should they not, at least, obtain the
patronage with the name, though deprived of the several
incomes ?
And now, weigh fur a moment the pretences for all these
acts—the equalisation of bishoprics, the abolition of corn-
mendams. Have they had these effects, or was it really
intended that they should have them? Let facts Answer
these questions. I find Blomfield, bcsidcs being Bishop of
London, with 11,7001. per annum, is also Provincial Dean
of Canterbury, and Dean of the Chapels Royal. Maltby,
as Bishop of Durham, has put down himself as receiving '
8,0001. per annum. Will he assert he receives no more, or
that the see produces no more ? The two Sumner have
each more offices than their bishoprics. Bird Sumner, of
Chester, Is also a canon of Durham. I fully agree in the
principle that whatever is taken from the church is an act
of spoliation committed on tho people— on the poor chiefly •
let the present Bishop of Bath and Wells declare in what
state he found the leases and other property of that see on
his acceptance of it. It appertains to the legislature, not,
indeed, to appropriate or wrest its property from the Church,
but it is its duty to see that the Church has her dues
for the good of the nation. Copleston, Bishop of Lien-
&Of, remains also Dean of St. Paul's, and all this while
there is an excess in the general bishops' rued. But
perhaps I have reserved the two most offensive cases for the
last. Phillpotts, Bishop of Exeter, who has really created
something approaching to an insurrection in the counties
over which his see extends—and who dares not suffer a cause
in which he is engaged to be tried by the gentry and magis-
tracy of the county, assembled as • special jury, on account
of the odium excited against him, or attached to his name
and character—still retains his rich stall in Durham Cathe-
dral with the see of Exeter—and Monk, now the bishop of
two sees, Gloucester and Bristol—the man who excited the
derisive scorn, and suffered under the biting lash of the im-
mortal Sidney—besides those two sees, I believe, still retains
a lining—• benefice with cure or neglect of souls—in the
heart of the city of Peterborough, and a stall in Westminster
Abbey ! ! I recollect his also having been charged with giv-
ing a son of his • situation, a lucrative one, in the see of
Gloucester, while he was yet • boy at school.
But do not mistake me. "He means to plunder the
church," it may be said. Heaven forefend I should gain
nothing by the plunder of the church. I again say that
every pound which is or shall be wrested from the church is
an act of sacrilege committed on the people of this realm.
The church and state too are united. The overthrow of the
one would be the downfall of the other. But does it not then
become the more secular pact of the union to see that the
funds possessed by its copartner are employed and applied in
the most beneficial way to the service of religion, and there-
fore of the public good ? Nay, I allow that another element
ought to enter into the consideration of the question—the
will of founders: but bow had that will been violated be-
fore ! This, however, leads me into too wide a discussion at
present.
But the immediate question is, how are the wants of the
people, their claims, their just demands for more religious
instruction, to be supplied ? Allow me to suggest a hint or
two on this head belore I close the present letter. The
bishops have already separated themselves and their revenues
by the act above cited from the rest of the church : increase
their numbers out of their hoarded funds : make them
preaching bishops as well as ruling bishops: fill up the
breach which they have now made so wide between them-
selves and the subordinate grades of tho clergy, not with
" the dead bodies of the saints, but with living members of
Christ's body—members acting by advice also, by counsel,
and even by restraint, if necessary—as necessary it has been
—on those above them " All ye, as brethren," are the
words of our Mewed Saviour.
A vast increase of population requires additional means of
instruction and control, moral and religious, as well as legal.
The want has obtained its supply in the latter department.
It is within the recollection of the present race, when twelve
judges, divided into three courts, disposed of all the common
law business of England. To these have recently been added
twenty-two judges of superior courts, and 123 of inferior
courts, all exercising great power over the property and even
the liberty of the subject. Take this as your model—there
ought to be at least four bishops of London. Was anything
so preposterous ever heard of as assuming Essex and Hert-
fordshire to the see of Rochester ? Undo that most absurd
doing! —SYNCILIAM

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, Jjic. 6.
The long neglect of the Irish fisheries is at length
about to be effaced. You announced the formation of
a Joint Stock Company to push the enterprise, but
beyond the announcement we have heard nothing
since, except the sensible remarks of an " Old Fisher-
man," tendering me some information. The govern-
ment, as you are aware, selected three curing stations
on the western and north-western coasts, rather to
enable the people to receive a cheap and wholesome
food in their present destitution, than for permanent
purposes. Instruction, however, will be combined
with maintenance, and as the proper means of curing

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