The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-28 00:00:00

SPIRITUAL WANTS IN DIOCEgi OF DURHAM.

Vi;;;.;i"
DGNGANNON row to 17;;;;, aP;itsironTrOm
the inhabitants of Darlington, in the county of Durham,
complaining of the large amount of revenues abstraoted
from the diocese of Durham, while little or no regard had
been paid by the Ecclesiastics' Commissioners to the spiri-
tual wants arising from the vast increase of its popul
and praying that such measures might be taken as should
insure, in future, a recognition of its just and manifest de-
mands. The noble lord said the petitioners further stated
that the population of the diocese had been augmenting to
an enormous extent for a considerable length of time, and
that they felt most grateful for the resolution peeved by the
committee appointed by their lordships in the last
parliament, to the effect that wherever church pro-
perty had been greatly increased in 'nine by the
population dwelling upon it, the spiritual wants of
that population should be first considered in the
appropriation of the revenue arising from such ruitipeLti..,
Formerly Durham was the wealthiest diocese in
but a large portion of its revenues now went into the ands
of the ecclesiastical commissioners. In some parishes in
the diocese, the clergy were, no doubt, well paid, but on the
other hand, there were other parishes, containing a large
population, so miserably endowed as scarcely to be able to
maintain an incumbent. Their lordships knew nothing as
to how the large funds receives' by those commissioners were
imitligetyhr7i. throughout the countr
furnishe y, and wsomeas now lugnh
utim
pon
the subject. The noble lord then enforced the prayer of
the petitioners, which he said was founded oa common
justice and fairness, and expressed an earnest hope that
some remedy would be devised for the crying evil of which '
they complained.
An animated discussion took place upon the subject, in
which Lords Grey, Ravensworth, Chichester, and the
Bishops of Carlisle, Llandaff, and London took part.
The Charitable Uses Bill was brought up for the second
reading, but, on the motion of Lord ABINUER, the bell
was ordered to be read a second time that day six months.
In reply to Lords Clanricarde and Clencarty, Lord DE
GREY and RIPON stated the reasons by which the Kam
ca meat had been influenced to call out the militia in
at the present season of the year.
' MARRIAGES (ENGLAND AND IRELAND) BILL.
This bill pastelthrough committee.
__

DIVOITCE (ARIIIT BILL

biljOn the bringing up of lunendmenti to this
, _

Loral REDESDALE proposed a clause providing that
where a case was brought before the judge of the Divorce
Court, where it appeared from the evidence that the wife
bad been unchaste before marriage, and that fact was known
to the husband, he should not be entitled to a divorce, but
the Fronting him a divorce should be placed within the dis-
cretion of the court.
I The LORD CHANCELLOR objected to the proposed
clause. He said the object of the bill before their lord-
ships' house was not to change the law, but to inipzove the
procedure of the Divorce Court.
The clause was then negatived without a division, and
the report was speed to.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY BILL.
This bill was reed a third tins saaamaatl
INCLOBURE B

This bill was olio read third time and pamk.d.
Their lordshipsthen adjourned at top minutes to eight
o'clock.

HOUSE OF OOMMONI3.—FRIDAT Anux. 27.
The BITAR= took the chair at four &awl.
PRIVATE BUIISTIFEE.

The Bonham and Steyning and Seeding Reads and the
Wellington Swipension Bridge BBL were read a third tune
sad pluaed.

PUBLIC BUSINESS.

LOCAL MANAGEMENTOF THE METROPOLIS.
Mr. TITS pee notice that on Monday he should move
for leave to Ming in a bill to amend the act relating to the
local management of the metrlis.
THE REFORM BILL.

Mr. RTEUARTgi;;; notice that OntAe motion for going
into committee on the Reform Bill he should move
a resolution to the effect that, in considering the pm-
piety of making an addition to the number of persons
possessing the elective franchise the house will consider the
claims not only of those who possessed property but oleo
of those who by intelligence were proper persons to have
the elective franchise bestowed upon them.
____ THE OFFICE OF CORONER.