The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-01 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRU.

THE CILARGE3 40.11.V6TEur3
Clad TB.

The inquiry into the charges preferred against the
Rev. Mr. O'ent, curate to Dr. M.Neile, of St. Paul's, Liver-
=pone resumed on Satordey in the nisi pries court, St.
'a Hall, which wee densely crowded. The only wit-
ness examined wee Dr. 11'Neile. Beton examining the
rev. doctor, Mr. James put in four letters, which had been
sent to the reverend gentlemen, relative to runners respect-
ing the conduct of Mr. Gout. One ktur was rime a Miss
&nth, derliag that Mr. Gent had written to bee as " My
deer Jane ; one from a Mr. Evans, denying that Mr. Gent
had bean intoxicated at the bedside of his (Mr. Ewe') las ;
eras from • Dr. Gruggin, denying that Mr. Gent was in the
habit of smoking and drinking with him; and one from •
Mrs. Bushell, denying that Mr. Gent was in the habit of
drinking wine whit her, at her house.
These letters having been reed and commented upon by
Mr. James, the Rev. Dr. M•Neile WY examined by that
gentleman. After referring to a etunber of rumours that
were albeit in Liverpool respecting Mr. Gent, Mr. Janice
&iced —Consequent upon your interview with Mr. Gent and
upon thaw rumours being brought to hie attention, and upon
various letters you had received from Mrs. Bushell, Mn
Smith, Mrs. Evan', and Dr. Gruggin, did you desire Mr. Gent
W resign and give the six tenths' notice f I requested and
advised Mr. Gent to give me notice, and at the expiration,
or at say tine, moet convenient to himself, lo resign within
the six month..--Did Mr. Gent a sprees his "Magness to do
eo, provided the haputationa upon his character were with.
drawn P No, he promised to resign unconditionally. I was
in expectation, during the two following days, of • °ennui-
cation front him to that effect, and I was disappointed by it.
non-arrival.—Are you quite distinct in your recollection of
hie promising to resign? Perfectly, without the slightest
wavering Haver yon a letter, Dr. M.Neile, from Mr.
Goat, dated the 11th September ? I rosy have re•
mind one, but I have not kept it. I have destroyed
M.—Perhaps you will be good enough to say whether
you think this is a correct copy of that beta. [Mr.
Jones hers read a lengthy letter fries Mr. Gent, ad-
dressed to the Rev. Dr. 11'Nette, in answer to the
=rbrought against hint of smoking and drinking to a
m. night after night, with Dr. Gruggin. The letter
west on to say that Dr. M'Neile would that morning re-
ceive • letter, in which Dr. Gruggin politely and positively
denied the imputation as applicable either to his habits or to
Mr. Gent's. In 'newer to the second charge, that of being
incapseitated, by ut.e effoctsof drink, to perform pastoral dun
M the bedside of Mrs. Evan., Yr. Gent enclosed • copy of
a haw from her hatband, who was present the whole time,
indignantly refuting the charge With regard to the chugs
of using unusual fesiliarity with Mies Smith, he would
renew a letter from her by that very post, denying the ha-
pasedes. The letter went on to say that ins • /perinea of
the way In which he we. 'pestered to refute the charges. Mr.
Out egrettsd very much that the Rev. Dr. M`Notle did not
assit as interview with him before he lent himself to such
rumours. He regretted still more that Dr.
DIICIaI as
intired to give him a hearing upon the subject. The
letter conaludei by an expansion of respect for the Rev. Dr.
M•Neile's talents and position, but ureic'g that, uan Leg.
linkman, he had • right to carry the subject before • higher
tribunal, to vindicate that character upon which the welfare
el • delicate wife and a little family depended.] I don't know
whether you are aware that about the same time be applied
to the bishop? I understood he applied about that time.—
He desired to clear his character before he was compelled to
withdraw P

After mime discussion between the counsel, relative to the
admissibility as evidence of some correepondence, Mr.
James read a letter hem Mr. Gent to the bishop, dated the
11th of September, 1857, and in which it wee stated
_.. It is
a great gm( to me to inform your lordship that Dr.M.Neile
hae, on his return home, lent his belief to elanderom reports
against me, maliciously contrived of those below me, whom I
have been under the recent,. of reproving for neglect of
duty, and that he has believed do to without investigation ;
and has forced on me the alternative of resignation ova notice
to quit my curacy. •• •• •• •• I can only re-
sign on a • reputation which Is, as it has always been, stab:L-
ien. • • • I humbly beg your lordship
will give Dr. WNW* permission to give me notice until
your lordship kindly extends to me what Dr. M'Neile hes
refused me—a thorough inveotigation." (Applause.)
His lordship replied, on the 14th of September :—" Deer
Sir —I am sorry that a sussof disealistaction should have
vices between Dr. M'Neile and you. Very sincerely do I
hope it may be removed by mutual exploit/Aim. As yet
I have not receired any application from him on the sub-
ject. I trust, I need scarcely add, that in any can my wish
de the same as tansy duo to act impartially.".
Mr. James then put Ina— letter from Dr. M'Neile to Mr.
Gest, dated Sept. 14, 1357, in which it was written :—" I am
truly sorry that scything should have occurred to disturb
the Lemony and usefulness of oar co-operation at St. Pours.
I ant altogether unwilling to pen in the form of charges or
accusations, any of the rumours which are afloat, and some of
which I have mentioned to you. Nothing meld rive me more
slacere setiefection than to be able to believe that they woman
exaggerated. if not wholly uncalled for ; but, most =ban-
pity, they have taken etch hold on the minds of many of our
pople, and are so sedulously circulated, that I cannot but
help thinking it judicious sad expedient that you should
withdraw from the scene." And the letter pointed out,
further, that, by resigning, a public medal would to
avoided, and a better chasm given to Mr. Gent to secure
smother curacy. Did you receive from Mr. Gest a letter of
the ems date, Sept. 14 ? Yes.
Mr. James—l will reed that letter:
" Deer Dr. M'Neile,—Withoul adverting for a moment to
details of the unhappy depute which now exists between
and me, or to the sad consequences with which it is
to myself and family, I beg to say that I have thin
en receipt of your letter, nought the advice of two
j- .1 the very highest standing in this town—one of
when is Me. Christopher Bushell—and the result of their
iismbissi judpsist, to which I am only too happy to bow,
is, that the matter be laid before six disinterested gentlemen:
of the aoeytrgation, three to be chosen by yourself end three
by me, ud that it be fully investigated. If this should meet
with your approval, I should be most happy to ea-operate
with you. My earnest wish is with yourself to save that
public exposure, and that public scandal, which It must other-
wise be feared will inevinbly ensue."
Examination continued—You declined to accede to the
made by theadvice of Mr. Gent's friends?
crier—AtiA: I believe up to this time be had continued
to discharge his duties se its had done before? He had.—
Now, upon that occasion, did you desire him to desist from
deeding to those duties P—l did.
Mr. Jame, then read a latter adenoid by Mr. Gent to Dr.
M'Esile, and dated September 23rd, stating that he continued
to receive many applications for the discharge of his functions
am curate in the district ; and desiring to know if he 00,710:417
understood Dr. M'Neile to hese told him, on the preview
Thursday, that Mr. Gent was aei'ber to present himself is
the vestry agate for the purpose of assisting in the chard
serykes, nor was be In any way to officiate as curate in the
district. To this letter the following answer wee renamed :
" Dear Mr Gent,—ln reply to your letter of yesterday,
which I have just now received, I beg to say that you did
understend me quite correctly. I told you that you had
sewed to be acceptable to me as a curate, and therefore re-
reeled you to took out for some other sphere of duty in six
Mean Ido sot intend to avail myself any more of your
senior. If you ask me why, I have told you already, and I
do sot feel railed upon to tell any one else. I have brought
no charge against you except to yourself, nor do I intend to
do en. I make no complaint except the discourtesy of one
evident= continuing to force himself on another, after he
ha. bsen told he Is no longer acceptable. lam quite aware
that, without the bishop's permission, I cannot transform roy
Etesy nt into s legal notice; and, should his lordship ree it
to withhold his !eminent, I shall continue to pay your
as lung as you see it right to continue to take it
Examination resumed —1 believe nu further personal com-
munication took place between you and Mr. Omit ? I think
aria—Did you, upon the 16th October, receive a letter from
Mr. Francis Mills P Yes. [Mr. James read the letter for-
warding a memorial, signed by 63 pew holden of St. Pours
Church, —.vier that the Rev. Mr. Gent might have ae
.. .

opportunity seeded him of refuting the charrisinid eh had
been circulated apinst hint, is order to Wag at once to •
terroisettan the present grievous @medal In the church.]
Rumination resumed - I returned to that as answer, dated
lith October, in reply to Mr. Mills, stating that the proper
orrw to the bishop of the diocese, and not to a tn banal
tiras
own constructions—l believe that you had after that
an interview with the bishop? I had; on Tuesday, the
20th October.—Ou the 21st of October you wrote to Mr.
Nine stating the feet ? I did. [The letter was reed, steam
that, from tte interview with the bishop, the winless con-
cluded there would now be no onneceseary delay In appoint-
ing • commiesiou cf inquiry under his lordship's epleeopsi
cal.]

Mr. Jame' then read a letter from Mr. Oast to the bithep.
It wits dated SI. Paul's, Prism's Park ; and went me to mg_ ,
be ghoul! have esteemed it • Feat honour to have had
smother interview with his lordship, to hare pretested this
memorial is person, but he was unwilling to occupy
His lordship would well understand what hie wounded
feelings must be to appear now amongst Lie brotbree. He
bad only jest beard in time for the poet to We lordship, that
Dr. was to have an interview with his lordship to-
morrow. He bed said this in reply to the gentlemen, 63 Ia
number, and of high standing in the congregation sad in the
town. who had signed • memorial, which he had now the
honour of forwarding to his lordship. He had every cause
to feel timakful for the very great courtesy and kindness hie
lordship had shown to him la this matter, more particularly
now, in the hour of great trial, whoa& party ware eadeavour-
lag to crush him. He was quite prepared to go into his
lordship's court with • perfect vindication of his conduct—
partly documentary and partly by withesais. He could Dot
convey to them an adequate idea of the amount of exagge-
ration current with respect to these charges. Aheady it hod
got tato the Liverpool newspapers, and be veatemid ag
suggest that without • full hivestigatlea hie sepeassies
woe utterly ruined. He deplored that his heasured in-
etualreat was so led stray. Dr. WNIaWil ti MY 10
pa ppm the inquiry, and hie pretext was beim to
Ida. each kudzuss was really no Modules ; he did ma
aek it at his hash. He salted only for justice. If be err
the akerastar Dr. bqtatia hed been led to Warm, be dr
agreed in sir, sad be was willing to Nair ; bat his as..
mimes isli him le was set He sin ilea am the =i
at his kerdeldp
19,rs ant ha hal ream to emit Ged for •
MilSki_9o)
Dr, Awe. 'kW le explains etwer r this Why,
with rupees to the matianid baseriew with ids
lordship. That Ishmael.. was use seseapsi la hie ne•
pi 77,, it was in a esiesserst sad Shaft Asa
Mr. Millehr Ys ishressiks.
Mr. Jams—la truth, Mr. Gat ble Made a labiate is
ham it la the reply ; Wit is at se bspertesen.

By the Vissr.Oeseral—'Thin is a question which I wish
to propose to Dr. WNW*, Wash is this—Whether thew
amps wash hare already bars the subject of investigation
were elso isotitned

Dr. 11'NeUt;LOnr; of then; that of Mrs. Powell. Per
you will allow me, Mr. Commissioner, to avail myself of
the liberty you have now given, to say that the only object
I have, and lite impreedon left by thb examination is, that
it conveys ea a fact that I bad brought charges against Mr.
Gent. The fact is not se. I have conversed privately with
him concerning these rumours, in order that I might ascer-
tain Mr. Gent's own version of these rumours ; so that from
his own account in the first place, before I admitted any
opinion from others concerning him, I might form my judg•
meat as to the degree of want of condom, to say no tweet
which might have been exhibited in his conduct. It wee net
because of these rumours that I ceased to avail myself of
Mr. Gent's serviose ; and my
inpodtion with regard to Mr.
Gent would remain unchanged the event—the happy stoat
—of no charge being substantiated against him in this MOM
(Applause.) In my correspondence with the bishop I de-
cidedly objected, over and over again, to make any charge
against Mr. Gent, or to appear se his accuser.
Altar some diecuesion relative to the production al Dr.
correspondence with the bishop, Dr. IllfelWe
deposition was then read over, and he added that, with ll-
epect to the charges against Idr. Gent idost in 1866, he was
entirely satisfied with that gentleman's explanation, and did
not credit those charges. There wee one omission in the
deposition. The clerk had nowhere introduced the expression
of feeling which he had given, and which was a very sincere
one, that he would be rejoiced if no imputation could be made
good against Mr. Gent.
This cloeed the evidence on the part of the prosecution ;
and, after an appeal front Mr. James br an immediate deci-
sion on the inquiry, the court adjourned till this (Monday)
morning.

BPORTING.