The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-07 00:00:00

CARLISLE CATHEDRA L.—THE DBdN
THE PRECENTOR.

A dispute has arisen between the Dean of Whale
end the Rev. T. G. Livingston, the precentor of the maw
drat, which has led to the suspension of the latter from his
duties, for the time being, by the dean. Mr. Livingston lay
published a osrrespondenoe which has taken place on
subject, and adds that he bas previously yielded " for as
sake of peace, to many, as I considered important encroach,
mints on the precentor's functions, and it is when the hat
ghost of his authority is now impugned, that I feel bound
to conscience to make a stand." Mr. Livingston, in plans:,
the matter before the bishop of the diocese, writes
Friday evening March 12 (according to the custom whiskhes prevailed for some little time, to which I have so-
quieued, but unwillingly), Mr. Ford, the organist, sent as
a draft of the musical services for the following week.
made no objection except to one anthem, put down ix
Sunday evening the 21st. On Saturday morning, the lath,
according to custom, I sent the draft for the dean's inspec.
Lion at the deanery, with the following words written on it
over spinet the ohnoxiouaanthem .—cl objectto this anthem.
on the ground that the words of the chorus cannot be sang
with proeristy as part of the service in a Christian clunk
—T. G. Livneuron.' I heard nothing more till Sunday,
the 14th, when, alter morning service, I found the draft m
the minor canon's vestry, with these words, in the dean's
handwriting, added, ' I do not concur in this objertion.—P.
CLosa, Dean.' " In the afternoon of the 14th Mr. Living.
eton wrote to the dean, asking him to reconsider his judg.
mint. Re gape " The recitative ' All they that us
Him ' and chorus He trusted in God that He would deliver
him/ which Mr. Ford wishes, are from the Messiah.'
[
As is suited to en oratorio, they are emphaticall of I
dramatic character ; end this is shown in the chorus more,
perhaps, than in any other one in the ' Messiah'), which Is
exquisitely worked up so as to bring out the mocking words
in their fullest sense, and gives the effect of a chorus of
fiends rather than of men. Although this is very beautiful inert
oratorio, which is essentially a sacred drams, yet, I submit,
the use of this chorus in a service of worship, especially at
this season, is simply shocking. Although the 22nd halm
is need in the daily service, yet the whole context gives a
different character to the Bth verse to what it has when
used thus alone and thematically. Last year, when this
anthem was performed, I felt the effect to be so utterly
opposed to a religious service, that I resolved never again
willingly to sanction its use. A simply mitered objection,
after your having relieved me of all musical responsibility, #
1 would not press ; but this is a case which I feel compelled
to urge strongly:. No answer was received by the precentor
to this letter before the time for writing off the customary
music lists on the morning of Monday (16th). Mr.
Livingston, after putting off preparing these till the
very last moment, substituted for the objectionable
anthem Handel's chorus, " Surely he bath bones
our griefs." The dean was at morning prayers, t
but said nothing to Mr. Livingston. Afterwards.
however a letter was received from the dean, se fol-
lows : As you have been so far wanting in commas
duty and respect to me, as not to wait for my decision on ties
point which you referred to my re-consideration in your note I
of last night, but have p•med to alter the singing-pew
which had been approved by me, I will not henceforward
trouble you to meddle with the einging•lists, as I don pre.
pare them myself weekly, and furnish the organist and eh*
and authorities with them. Any reply you may wish to mein
must ba addressed to the dean and chapter as loan reCeiel
further personal explanations from you." The list publicly a.
posed in the church was altered before the afternoon's service
The anthem, "Surely he bath b..ree our grief.," had beta
struck out, and that from the " Messiah" inverted in the
dean's handwriting. Mr. Livingston's signature, and the
printed word " Precentor," were also scratched through, sal
"F. Close, dean," written in their stead. The chapter
were now appealed to by Mr. Livingston, and an sady
day for hearing his statements requested. The chatest
clerk responded that the letter would be laid being
the chapter at their next meeting on June 23. The
, clerk's letter also contained a notification of lir. Livingsbm's
suspension until the next meeting of the chapter front the
office of wecutor. This suspension in deemed unstatutabb by
Mr. Livthptos, no reason being assigned in the notificsnoa.
The Bishop of Carlisle, in reply to Mr. Livingston's Meer
went, has written :—" As the business to which your letbe
refers may come before me judicially, you will at once as
that I ran offer no opinion upon en ex parte statement. Thee
could be no doubt that in every chapter the dean can enema
during the interval preceding the meeting of the chapter. If
the chapter confirm the decision of the dean, then, and est g
till then, can Leinterfere as a visitor." On receipt of file
communication, Mr. Livingston again represented to the
chapter "the extreme hardship of withholding a hear*
until the meeting of the half-yearly chapter. leaving ma in
the meantime, under censure, debarred from the exercise d
my office, and superseded by another member of the cathodal
church." He also points out " that the statutes seam la !
prescribe to the dean and chapter the more frequent or •
marbling of themselves than at the two half-yearly used
chapters." The clerk answers that he la "not aware that
any chapter will be held earlier than June. If a chapter
should be held before that time, I will take are to mud
your letter."—JfeneAuter Guardian.

CRYSTAL PALACE DINNERS.—The following letter
to the Times describes the exprrienco of many hundreds al
Beater holiday visitors:—" While confirming the state
melds of your correspondents with regard to the charge fa
attendance, but which, instead of Id. and 2d. as they wets
respectively charged, was 3d. in my case, I should like musk
also to bring before your near* the wretched canine aid
exorbitant charges which have bean inaugurated under tle
new regime of Mew*. Sawyer and Strong°. On Saturday
last I attempted to dine—l say advisedly, attempted, be.
cause dine I did not—and for which abortive atterbora:
young lady, who was perpetually writing and .
mystations slips of paper about the room, charged as
to the extent of 6a. for my dinner and 3d. for attars}
acre,
acre. exclusive of wine and beer, for about as wretched
a dinner as was ever set before a hungry man. no
amp was cold, so cold that the fat floated at the top. The
fish also cold, besides the emelt being tough and woolly, la
a pies of turbot looking so unsavoury and dirty that I as*
sent it away at once, lest it might destroy an appetite width
waa new appeased, at least at the Crystal Palace. A rert
chicken, meant to be hot, but failing woefully, as ova a
tough and unpalatable, with esparsgus that eongeshd tit
butter upon coming in contact with it,—a wild duck, *eagle
up only to be sent away ; and if I add • piece of chafes Oke
only choose to be had), looking like yellow sap,-may,
very indifferent yellow soap,—l am inclined to think yea
will agree with me that the charges were not stederee, sd
that I do not complain without reason of the chaps sal
attendance for dinners at the Crystal Palace.-1 is, sly
your 3bedient servant, Joon DINNEHLTN9.-6, Donesinel,
W.—P.S. Being a shareholder, I intend to furnish tin
director* with a statement more at length of the Irak
which the manse at the Crystal Palace is mismanaged."

•
FIRE IN OXFORD-STREET.—Last night between
eight and nine o'clock, a fire happened in the premises amt
pied conjointly by Mr. Hatchworthy, a carpenter and cabal
maker, Mr. Bird, Mrs. Low, and Mr. Hooper, Wulf d
No. 6, Union•strest, Oxford-itreet, almost opposite this*
remises of Meows. Laurie and Manner, the
bu . The fire commenced in the workshops, ince=
was deposited a large stock of work. The engines wee ad
on the spot, but the flames continued to spread, and ft IS
not until nearly li o'clock that they could he mastered, mi
not before the house and property of Mr. Hatchwortby sal
the other parties living in the house in which the disuse
commenced were totally consumed, and the adjoining bassi
on either side seriously damaged by fire, water, and am*
removal.

FIRER IN THE NEW NORTH-ROAD AND lbw
NONDGET,—WhiIst the tire was raging in I:pistolled,
Oxford-street, two others also took place, viz., one in is
New North-road, Islington, end the other at Beneeedeg.
The one in the former place happened on the if
Mr. Selth, a grocer and tea dealer, nearly facing the rerlfwE
Pole Tavern. As to the origin of the misfortus, nttYg
that could be relied upon could be learned ; bat who go
alarm was given the lower part of the building was
regular Mete. The Royal Society's escapee, under the ewe
mend of Mr. Baddeley, promptly attended, as well Nib
engines of the parish end London Brigade ; but in Ofed
the exertions of the firemen, who were aided wialt:g
supply of water, the fire could not be got out until a
arecouot of damage was done, which will fall use IM
Son Fire-offloe. The other fire that took plate fir
fortunately turned out to be the most stain
one that has (warred in the sans locality for sows
end at the time we write this brief account (half-past 1
It was far ha& being entirely extinguished. The dm
sated in one of the coal wharfs supposed to bigwig to
Messrs. Murrell, sad the fire rapidly extended to is isisa
sirs warehouse, Ailed with oil cake, and other &dicks. TM
flames ran round the buildings with great rapidity, and Ws
spas of time almost incredibly brief the venous floors WS
ignited, and threw up each a lurid glare into the anomie,
se to illumine the whole of the eastern sad loathers diesels
of the metropolis. This caused a general torn out d M
scenes belonging to the parish, Loudon Bilged., and IMO
of Englund ogee; but bee the firemen could red b
the flames had obtained a powerful escentleary, wl
there seemed every chance of the whole of tb•
rounding buildings being destroyed. Mr. Braideeet
the eaperiniewdent of the brigade, rind Mr. NW
demo, Use foreman rif the /I district, notwittitank
be that the land engines were well suppHed WO
wear from the fire-plugs in the district, lotted Me
the tity yielded was Inadequate to conquer ge
element, and the two large steam floating 011100
were set for hem Southwark-bridge and Rotberhithel/
thew experienced officers. These, with the land eoZ
were at awes called Into operation, and water at the
nearly 2,000 gallons per counts was scattered over the blot
bat in spite of which there seemed not the least elesees•
getting the ere totally subdued until an advancedl::
morabog. The police, under Mr. Superintendent B
of the if division, rendered great assietance to th kiwi
by keeping an Immense crowd out of danger. As 60
Was atoll Progressing when we went to press, it wassails
au impossibility to state with anything approxioridef2°_,.
curacy where it would terminate, but it wax gent rug
derstood that the firemen had got it under their control.
THE LATE FATHER COOKE, OF LIVERPOOL-40
Rev. Father Cooks, a Roman catholic clergyman. dlJre
pool, who died last week from fever (caught, jel".7
daring his ministerial labours) was interred yeomen
G." 1", "it Liverpool, the funeral being attended M.
immense armours of persons. The deceased was area
and vies in the catholic church. Re sal at
time a mambar of the protestant establishment, to Idea
relative, ash belong.