The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-06 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 6, 1862.

DEATH OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF
CANTERBURY.
(THIS DAY.)

We have to announce the death of the Arch-1
bishop of Canterbury. The venerable primate
expired at a quarter after 3 o'clock this morning,
at Addington Park, Surrey. For several days
past his grace had been gradually sinking, and not
the slightest hopes of recovery were given by
his medical attendants on Wednesday last.
The late Right Hon. and Most Rev. John Bird
Sumner, D.D., Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate
of all England, and Metropolitan, was born in
1780, at Kenilworth, in Warwickshire, being the
eldest of the two sons of the Rev. Robert Sumner,
vicar of that parish. He was sent to Eton
College, and there showed such talent as to
promise a brilliant future. As one of the suc-
cessful scholars of that foundation, he, at the
close of his probationary career, removed to King's
College, Cambridge. At that University he greatly
distinguished himself. In 1800 he was Brown's
Medallist, and Hulsean Prizeman in 1802. He
took his degree of B.A. the same year, being then
a Fellow of his College, and was soon afterwards
appointed one of the assistant masters of Eton
College. In 1805 he was admitted to priest's
orders. In 1817 he was elected Fellow of Eton
College, and in the following year appointed rector
of Maple Durham, Oxfordshire ; he was, in 1819,
chosen a prebendary of Durham.
In 1828, the see of Chester becoming vacant by
the translation of the late Charles James Bloom-
field, D.D., to the bishopric of London, the Rev.
Mr. Sumner was selected by the Doke of Welling-
ton, the then First Lord of the Treasury, to till
the vacancy. At that period, and, indeed, during
nearly the whole of the 20 years that Dr. Sumner
was bishop of that diocese, he was the hardest
worked prelate in the kingdom, the vast and
populous district under his control demand-
ing his constant attention. To the duties
of his episcopate he displayed untiring
devotion, and his energy, coupled with amia-
bility, rendered him a favourite not only
with the clergy, but also with the laity
with whom he became associated. By the death of
the venerated Dr. Howley, in February, 1848, the
archbishopric of Canterbury became at the disposal
of Lord John Russell, who at once appointed Dr.
Sumner to that exalted and responsible position in
the church.

During his protracted public life be rarely
spoke in the House of Lords on subjects
not relating to the church. Soon after his
elevation to the bench of bishops, he was
called upon to concede hit vote on catholic
emancipation, an act which rendered him for the
time most unpopular among the clergy of his dio-
Me. latterly, he strongly opposed the admis-
sion of Jews into parliament, and in the Divorce
Bill strenuously objected to the proposed clause
allowing the marriage of the guilty parties. He
was also a staunch opponent to the revision of the
Liturgy, and against the resuscitation of the active
powers of Convocation.

The late Primate had been a liberal and
successful contributor to theological literature.
Among the best known of his books were "Ser-
mons on the Christian Faith and Character,"
" Apostolic Preaching considered in an Examina-
tion of St. Paul's Epistles," " Treatise on the
Records of the Creation, and on the Moral Attri-
butes of the Creator," and " Evidences of Chris-
tianity derived from its Nature and Reception."
The venerable Primate was brother of the Bishop
of Winchester. He married in 1803 Miss Robert-
son, daughter of Captain George Robertson, R.N. ;
she died iu 1829.

His Grace was made a Privy Councillor on his ele-
vation to the archiepiscopate in 1848. He was
an official trustee of the British Museum, a Go-
vernor of the Charter House, Visitor of All Souls'
and Merton Colleges, Oxford ; Visitor of Eton
College and of Harrow School ; of King's College,
London ; and Dulwich College; Visitor and
Elector of St. Angustine's College, Canterbury, &c.
From his exalted position in the church, as might
be expected, he was a benefactor to the majority
of the religious and charitable institutions of the
metropolis. He was president of the Society for
Promoting the Enlargement, Building, and Repair-
ing of Churches and Chapels ; president of the
Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy ; president
of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts ; president of the Society for Main-
taining and Educating Poor Orphans of Clergymen
of the EstablialiedChurch; vioe-patron of the Church
Missionary Society ; patron of the Prayer Book and
Homily Society ; president of Dr. Bray's Institu-
tion ; patron of the London Society for Promoting
Christianity among the Jews ; !president of the
National Society ; vice-patron of the Colonial and
Continental Church Society ; president of the
Society ..for Promoting the Employment of Addi-
tional Curates in Populous Places ; visitor of Arch-
bishop Tenison's Grammar School ; president of the
Grey Coat Hospital, Westminster ; visitor of
Marlborough College ; a governor of the Duke of
Wellington's College ; patron of the National
Truss Society ; patron of the Ladies' Charity
School; vice-patron and vice-president of the
Female Orphan Asylum ; president of the School
for Indigent Blind ; president of the Royal
Asylum of the St. Ann's Society; patron of
the London Hibernian Society ; president of
the Infant Orphan Asylum ; president of the
Society of Schoolmasters, dm
The diocese includes the county of Kent
(except the deanery of Rochester and a few
suburban ,parishes) together with Addington
and Croydon in Surrey ; annual value 15,0001.
The province of Canterbury includes twenty
sees, viz., those of London, Winchester, Bath
and Wells, Bangor, Chichester, Ely, Exeter,
Gloucester and Bristol, Hereford, Lichfield, Lien-
daff, Norwich, Oxford, Peterborough, Rochester,
Salisbury, St. Asaph, St. David's, and Worcester.

The will of Charles Parker, Esq., has been
proved in London by the executors. The personalty was
sworn under 70,0001. This gentleman, who was a widower, died
in May last. He was a retired aolioitor, formerly of the arm
of Mann Hayes, Twieden, and Parker, and after a sumer-
ful profeesicoal career he appears to have sought the trait-
quality of a rural life. The will is of moderate dimen-
dons, and bears date 1860, with a codicil executed one
month prior to his decease. His freehold estate and resi-
dence at Binfield, together with the cottages, land, and
farming stock, he devises to his two sisters-in-law for their
lives. There are also several other bequests left to them
absolutely. On the decease of the last survivor of them
the estate is to pose to the testator's brother, John Henry
Parker, Esq., who is also nominated residuary legatee of the
entire property. There are many bequests to the testator's
nephews and other relatives and friends, and a legacy of 501.
to an old servant. The following chi' liable institutions
have bean considered by the testator, namely, 500 f. to the
Royal Berkshire Hospital, 500/. to Ring's College Hospital,
and 5001. to the St. John's Training Institution for Nurses,
Norfolk-street, Strand.
Brussels is now very full of foreigners. Among
the most recent arrivals are the Lord Mayor of London and
Sir Joseph 011iffe.