The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-29 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE
_CITY OP LONDON

CLARGY.

(From the Rcrord.)

A meeting of the City of London clergy was
summoned for Thursday last at Sion College, for tho pur-
pose of taking into consideration the recent attacks made on
the authority of the Bible and the doctrines of Christianity,
by clergymen holding high offices in the universities and the
public schools of England. The meeting was private, and
we can, therefore, only report the general outline of the pro-
ceeding; as they have been related by those who were pre-
emit. In the first instance, the Rev. Dr. Rowsell, recently
appointed to succeed the Dean of Ripon in st. Margaret 'd
Rectory, ruse, and protested against the summons for the
convocation of the London clergy, as implying a libel on the
clergymen, whom itcharged with infidelity. He admitted
that as no names were mentioned it could not be accounted
actually libellous, but that had the names of the seven essay-
ists and reviewers been stated, it would have been action-
able at law. It was replied to Dr. Roweell that the transac.
lion wee one between the clergy and their bishop, and that
such communications were privileged. But Dr. Rows&
was not satisfied, and left the meeting, being followed by
two junior clergymen, one of them lately appointed to a
living in the east of London.
After the retirement of Dr. Rawson the proceedings were
conducted in a spirit of singular unanimity.
An address to the Bishop of London was moved by the
Rev. Dr. !Maur., and seconded by the Rev. E. Aown., in
which his lordship's attention in called to the peril of the
crisis, and to the necessity of some action being taken by
the riders of the church, if we are to stem the tide of
infidelity which is now setting in, and which is all the more
dangerous because no longer proceeding from open ene-
mies, but from those who profess their assent and consent
to the articles of the church of England, and have obtained
ofilcial sway over the education of youth by positions of
influence which they hold in important educational insti-
tutions.

The Rev. W. Scorr expressed his general assent to the
views expressed in Dr. M'Cours &areas, but suggested
another, which he thought would more certainly mews
unanimity. After a good deal of discussion Yr. Scott's ad•
dress was adopted, after some of the clauses in Dr. ll'eaufs
address bad been imported into it. The result was that the
clergy present, without one dissenting voice, have carried
an address to the bishop condemning the essays and reviews,
and have appointed ► disputation to wait on his lordship to
request him to fix a day for its presentation.

Mr. Thwart ox EArrrEg Bum—Mr. Bright,
M.P., has forwarded a letter to the association famed at
Accrington in opposition to the collection of Easter dues.
Yr. Blight says :—" It is amazing that any clergyman, in
our day, should attempt to continue an exaction so unjust
and so odious, but I hope the spirit of your district will re-
sist it to the utmost of their power. Ido not know what
chance there is that parliament will pant you any relief.
Parliament is unwilling to touch the church in any of its
ancient rights or wrongs. There is, however, one remedy
left, and that is • passive resistance to the injustice sought
to be indicted on you ; and this may be employed with effect
if you have an association that will support those who are
attacked by the clergyman and the law. Perhaps It would
be wise to take the matter to a higher tribunal. It would
create a greater public interest in the question, and might
force parliament to interfere. If you could prevail on
either of yourcounty members to introduce a bill to reuied7
the grievance it would do good. I should be glad to give it
ant
_support in my power.
illnintat or PATILITS, 13017 TE KiNSINOTON.—
Number of visitors for the week ending dm 28, 2,896,.
Total number thine the opening of the Menu free daily
oak May, 1868), 316,80.

DRAMA.

MR. AND MM. CHARLES SEAN.

After an absence of eighteen months, during
which they have been engaged in a provincial tour marked
by the most gratifying results, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean
have returned to pay a dying visit to the metropolis, and
last night appeared at Drury-lane Theatre, before an
audience which crammed the house from floor to ceiling, and
which gave them such a reception es is but seldom accorded
even to the most popular of our theatrical artists.
Hamlet was the play selected, and Mr. Kean's perform-
ance of the hero is so thoroughly well known to all mem-
bers of the playgorng public as to require but little somment
from us. It would slued sullies to say that all his great
points were made in his usual manner, and produced their
customary effect (notably the closet scene, where, after
having killed Polonius, he throws such awful earnestness
into the question "Is It the King" and where his physical
and moral energies seem tasked to the utmart) ; but it is
ratty of notice that in this same character be made his
dEbut at this same house three-awl-twenty years ago ; and
that, while retaining the original excellences of his style—
force, intensity, and dignity—he has year by year been im-
proving in classical polish, elegance, and repose. "Amara
imam," old Michael A ngelu's motto, seems to have been
adopted by Mt. Kean : from his earliest youth he has lost
no chance of salbimprovemeut, a practice which has re-
sulted in renderipg bier one of the most perfect tragedians
of the British stags.
Mrs. Kean, who looked in excellent health, played the
Queen•mother admirably, and with a thorough Shakesperian
appreciation and artistic rendering. All the sweet womanly
feeling with which Mrs. Kean endowed the younger and
more feminine Shakesperian women is brought into play
in thine wenn where Gertrude's better feelings are Ais-
played, backed by a power and a pathos peculiarly her own.
The applause which from time to time kept bursting forth
was checked bythe older playgoers, on the look-out for their
well-remembered points : at the end of the seta and at the
conclusion of the play it burst forth in tumultuous enthu-
siasm, and 'damped the return of Mr. and Mrs. Kean as a
renewal of former triumphs.

MB. BOUPELL, 11. P., AND HIB CONSTITUENTS.
Yesterday evening, Mr. Hempen, M.P., met his
constituents in the Horns Tavern, Kennington, to give an
account of his parliamentary stewardship, and to explain
his opinions on political questions. Mr. Wurrximorrom
occupied the chair, and the room was crowded.
The CHAIIIMAS said Mr. Boupell was there to redeem his
pledge when he was elected, that he would annually appear
before them to give an account of his parliamentary conduct.
Mt. ROUPELL then rose, and was most cordially received.
He aid he had not forgotten the pledges he had given on
the hustings. The dearest wish of his heart was
to prove that he truly represented their opinions in
the House of Commons. He wished not only to re-
present the interests of the entire borough, but also to re-
present the opinions of the people of England. During the
recent frost he had been acutely alive to the sufferings of
many of his constituents. It was needless to ask whether
their sufferings resulted from their own faults. In England
it was said that no man need starve, and he was there to in-
quire whether that were so or not. He believed that the poor
laws had broken down, and that in the metropolis especially
their inefficiency bad been most clearly demonstrated. The
poor when improvements took place in the wealthy parts of
London were crowded into localities like Southwark and
Lambeth. He then reviewed the present mode of rating in
the metropolis, and Laving asserted that it was the poor
who in many cases were rated for the support of the poor,
he said that the question of the poor laws, and the equable-
Non of the metropolitan rates, was one of the first ques-
tions with which parliament ought to deaL He then went
on to consider the present aspect of European affairs. The
conference at Warsaw had been a failure ; and it bad shown
the despots that the days of absolutism were on the wane.
(Cheers.) It had shown them that the old maxim of
the divine right of kings to govern wrong win
out of date. It would be interesting to inquire
whether Louis Napoleon, when he intervened in Italy,aslcu-
lated what would Ise the effects of his doings. He had,
however, defeated Austria, and given Italy the opportunity
of raising her voice in favour of constitutional government.
The noble Italian people had found a nobler leader in Ga-
ribaldi, who was the very incarnation of patriotism, and
who had proved himself fully equal to the occasion. (Loud
and long-coutinued cheers.) In Garibaldi's period of rest ha
was preparing measures which would consolidate liberty in
Italy, and which perhaps would react on Hungary as they
hid already reacted on France. (Cheers.) He
hoped Louis Napoleon was prepared to grant
liberal concessions to his own people, for be
thought it impossible that Italy should be free and that
France should contentedly remain under an absolute govern-
ment. (Applause.) He then went on to discuss the foreign
policy of England, and said it had been most successful in
preserving the peace of Europe. He hoped England would
steadily adhere to the policy of non-intervention. As re-
garded the present position of Austria, he was of opinion
that she would be unable to retain Venetia, and that if
she did not cede it for • consideration, it would be wrested
from her by fores. Prussia had a pet project of her own,
and she ought to be advised to adopt • moderate
tone with regard to the question of the Danish
duchies. France was !prepared to withdraw her forces
from Syria, but altogether he believed the present position
of Europe was suggestive of danger. It reminded him of
a carefully covered powder magamne, which might be tra-
velled over with a lighted candle but which was ready to
be ignited by a single spark. He then expressed hues
pleasure that the Chinese war lad ended, and having
touched upon the war in New Zealand, from which
he said we could derive no honour. lie proceeded
to discuss the present position of the United
States. The aggressive conduct of the Southern
States had compelled the Northern States to take
up au attitude which was honourable to them both
as men and as Christians. We had nothing to gain by the
disunion of the States. We had no right to interfere, and
we had scarcely the opportunity of giving advice. Yet the
question was moat interesting to us, for four millions of
our people depended for employment on the supply of cot-
ton from the United States. It was a scandal to us that
we had been dependent on them so long, and means ought
immediately to be taken in order that a supply from other
quarters might be obtained. (Loud cheers.) The speaker
then touched upon domestic questions, and said
that constitutionally we were now in a worse posi-
tion than at the beginning of the last year. The House
of Commons bad sent to the House of Lords • bill re-
pealing the paper duties. He would not dimmed whether
the bill was • wise one or not, but he believed that it was,
and that it would have been of great benefit to trade. The
great subject for consideration was the inalienable right of
the Commons to impose taxation, and the Houns'of Lords in
rejecting the bill had virtually imposed a tax on the people.
He trusted that the House of Commons would take an early
opportunity of vindicating its rights, and hie efforts would
be directed for tbe accomplishment of such a remit. (Cheers.)
As regarded the subject of parliamentary reform, the bill
which had been introduced during the session had
been abandoned. It was not a comprehensive bill, and
therefore he had not been able to say anything in its favour.
Some of his friends bad 'Token often in the house on the
question ; but he did not think that by doing so they had
done the muse of reform much good. (Hear, hear.) He
would, however, impress upon them that the House of
Commons was not alone responsible tor the failure
of reform. He most earnestly advised them to pre.
sent petitions to the House of Commons in favour
of a thorough and comprehensive measure. He had not been
entrusted with a petition from them in favour of reform.
The question was not to be played with. There were
already indications that another ministerial attempt was
to be made, and if a real measure was introduced it should
have his support. But if it was a smaller measure he would
rather that the question was left alone altogether. Hs
wanted • good bill which would satisfy the people
for at least twenty years. The subject of reform
was becoming " small by degrees and beautifully
less," until he feared that soon nothing would be left but
the name. He then referred to the question of church
tares, and said it did not now occupy the position it had
previously done. Church rates were as obnoxious to him,
as a member of the church of England, as they
were to the dissenters. He next referred to the
failure of the Bankruptcy Bill, and said he hoped Sir
Richard Bothell, who was a most ardent law reformer,
would introduce and carry a comprehensive bill in the en-
suing session. The treaty with France bad been a most
valuable measure, and was calculated to benefit both coun-
tries. Those who had travelled in France must have been
struck with the large influx of English commercial travel-
lers. The measure was yet in embryo, but he had talked
to many merchants, and they said that they expected peat
advantages from it. In en international point of
view it would be very beneficial, for he be-
lieved it would tend very much to perpetuate peace.
Mr. limpid' concluded by referring to the volunteer move-
ment, and remarked that Louis Napoleon had been our
firmest ally since England had armed. England armed
was England respected. But, while he had admired the
volunteer movement, he hail not been insensible to the
het that there was some danger in its being confined
to particular dunes. This was • danger against which his
efforts had been zealously dimmed. It bad always been his
wish that the workiegelasses should partasipate in the
seevemsat, and he bad slew* desired to see the elite
among them connecting themselves with it. After some
further remarks in the same strain, the speaker concluded,
amidst loud applause, by saying he would be happy to
answer any questions.