Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-24 00:00:00

VIE NORTHERN TIMES, MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 1859

ARE THE -ECCLESIASTICAL CANONS
GOOD OR BINDING ?

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL

LIVERPOOL, Saturday:Evening.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.

Sir,—l have just read, in this morning's paper,
your interesting article with reference to the
withdrawal of what little authority ever seemed
to support the political services at the end of the
Prayer Book.
In the course of your remarks you refer to " the
canon law of the church" as having been always
opposed to the use of the now forbidden State
or political services : and of these " canon laws of
the church," you say that they are equally binding
with the statute law of the land.

This, sir, is an unintentional, but a most impor-
tant error, which I am sure you will be the first to
rejoice in correcting.
By the term " canon law of the church," it is
clear that you refer to the " Constitutions and
Canons Ecclesiastical, agreed upon by the convo-
cation, and published by his Majesty's authority,
A.D. 1603.

Now, Sir, I deny that these canons are at all
binding ; and I repeat that it is well for the English
laity and clergy that they are not binding.
To prove that the canons are of no authority, I
adduce the following quotations :
" Certain constitutions and canons ecclesiastical,
141 in number, enacted by the clergy in the year
1603, sanctioned by the charter of James 1., but
never confirmed by parliament, do not bind the laity,
whatever regard the clergy may be bound to pay
them." Warren's Blackstone, p. 61. .

The Rev. Henry Goames, in his edition of
Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History (vol. IV., p. 265,
edit. 1845), declares that these -141 canons were
"never sanctioned by parliament. Hence," Mr.
Goames continues, " the Court of King's Bench
has unanimously pronounced them no
*further
bending upou the laity than they may embody the
provisions of common or statute laws." To the
same effect, all that Mr. Hallam (Constit. Hist. of
Eng., vol. 1., p. 303, edit. Bth) can say for the
authority of the documents under consideration is,
that "a new code of canons had recently been esta-
blished in convocation with the King's assent,
obligatory, perhaps, upon the clergy, but tending
to set up an unwarranted authority over the whole
nation."

Thus clearly, sir, is it acknowledged that the
canons ecclesiastical are not binding at all on the
laity : thus questionable is their obligation of the
clergy—yea, hardly " questionable," in the sense of
admitting a doubt, for, assuredly, the clergy ought
to be amongst the chief guardians of all truth, and
toleration, and freedom; but how far the 141
canons are'friendly or unfriendly to these glorious
virtues will presently appear.
So much for my denial of the authority of the
canons.

And, as to my assertion that it is well for Eng-
lishmen that the canons ecclesiastical are null and
void, let the following considerations witness for

The first twelve canons, after vindicating " the
King's supremacy," &c., proceed to declare that all
who deny the Established Church of England to
be " a true and apostolical church ;" all who oppose
the Established form of worship as, in their judg-
ment, corrupt, superstitious, or unlawful, or con-
taining anything in it repugnant to the Scriptures ;
all who " affirm that the Thirty-nine Articles are,
in any part, superstitious or erroneous, or such as
they may not, with a good conscience, subscribe unto ;"
all who affirm that the rites and ceremonies of the
Church may not, with a good conscience, be sub-
scribed unto ; all who affirm that the government
of the Church by Archbishops, Bishops, Deans,
Archdeacons, and the rest that bear office in the
same, is anti-christian and repugnant to the Word
of God ; all who oppose the Established mode of
ordaining Bishops, Priests, and Deacons ; all who
dissent from the Established Church ; all who speak
with toleration of Dissenters ; all who call bodies
of Dissenters " true and lawful Churches ;" all

who affirm that Dissenters may lawfully join
together and make rules for their own religious
government : all these are to be " exco►nmunicated
ipso facto, and not restored but by the Archbishop,
after their repentance and public revocation of such
their wicked errors."
Lest any, reader should think that the " excom-
munication' referred to was a trifle, Mr. Hallam,
in the place before cited, reminds us that, amongst
other ill consequences, men, by excommunication,
" became incapable of being witnesses, and of suing
for their debts."

Said I not rightly, sir, that it is well for us all
that the canons are of no authority ? That they
are a nullity, and that you were mistaken in
describing tliem as " equally binding" with the
Statute Law, will, I think, rejoice your heart, sir,
as it does that of, yours, &c.,

The deoand for Cotton continues pretty steady.
10-day the Oales were 6,000 bales, including 1,000
of speculatioi: and for export, at about previous
rates.
In the Liverpool Share Market, to-day, the
business done was limited, and prices were hardly
stpported.
The demand for Money continues easy, with a
moderate commercial demand, which is principally
satisfied in Lombard-street, at from 21 t 0.24 per
cent. At the Bank the slightly lower terms
required in the open market affect the amount of
ttansactions there, and business is limited, though
it was more active yesterday than on Thursday.
Tie tone is one of some degree of confidence all
round; but the announcement of the intended
negotiation of an Austrian loan for £6,000,000, has
rendered it somewhat feebler than it was in the
early part of the week. The supplies continue
large ; and in the Stock Exchange they are very
peat, owing to the rapid absorption of stock by
tle public, in small but numerous lots.
The Market for the Public Funds and Securities
continues very fiat, but business is quiet, and the
purchases for investment neutralise the effect of
the speculative sales. The variation, therefore, is
comparatively unimportant. For the moment the
(gyrators appear very cautious. because the ten-
dency of values is susceptible of immediate change,
according to the nature of advices received from
the Continent. The Rentes closed yesterday at a
further slight reduction, and although other causes
may have contributed an influence, the depreciation
here is principally traceable to that movement,
which is prezumed to denote continued apprehen-
sion in Parisian circles on the subject of political
af'airs. Just previous to the close, a slight re-
action set in, and Consols were quoted at an ad-
vance of o per cent., viz., 95, to 96 for both
Money and the Account. The New Threes and
Reduced were 961- to 963, and Exchequer Bills
38 to 40 p. Foreign Securities are heavy, and
business restricted. Turkish 6 per Cents. are 901
to 911 ; ditto Scrip, Ist issue, 80 to 801 ; ditto,
2d issue, 51 to 44 dis. ; ditto 4 per Cents, 106.
Venezuela 5 per Cents., 431 to 44. Buenos Ayres,
6 per Cent., 8071. Grenada Active, 20. Mexican,
191. Russian 5 per Cents., 114 Spanish Deferred,
301 ; and Belgian 41 per Cents, 891.
The London Railway Share Market has been
dull to-day. and a slight decline must be noticed
Bristol and Exeter have receded to 941. Caledonian
to 841, 85. Eastern Counties to 621, 621. Edin-
burgh, Perth, and Dundee to 29%, 29'1. Great
Western to 551, 551. Lancashire and Yorkshire
to 971, 974. Midlands to 1024-, 1021. North British to
62 and 624; and North Eastern—Berwick, to 93%,
931-. Brightons improved to 1131, 114: and North
Esker'', York, to 774, 771. The Foreign and
Colonial Lines have also exhibited a downward
tendency. Lombardo-Venetian are at 14, 11 pm. •,
and the New Shares, ' 1 prem. Northern of
France declined to 371 fParis and Lythis to 334.
In the Colonial Market Grand Trunk of Canada
advanced to 364 ; and East Indian receded to 105,
and 1051. For Joint Stock Bank and Miscella-
neous Shares there was scarcely any inquiry, and
prices remain steady.
Respecting the movements in Mines the .ilfining
Journal of to-day says :

The Mining Share Market, without any extraordinary
activity, has been well supported since our last, and there
is the same difficulty experienced in getting stock in
several mines. One or two improvements have also taken
place, and caused an increased demand. Shares most
sought after have been Basset, East Basset, Rosewarne,
Grambler, North Grambler, Pendcen, North Dolcoath,
St. Ives Consols, Providence, Margaret, South, Caradon,
Tamar Consols, Kelly Bray, South Caradon Hooper,
Crebor, Tolcarne, North Downs, and others.
The movements of the Precious metals during

the past week have been to a moderate extent.
The imports have comprised £13,880 by the
Fulton, from the United States, and £81,440 by the
Asia ; £133,859 from the West Indies and Mexico,
by the Magdalena ; £12,116 from Alexandria,
by the Indus ; and about £50,000 in silver,
from the Continent ; the total amounting to
about £291,295. The exports have been £270,958
to the East Indies and China, by the Pera ; £16,695
to the West Indies, by the Atrato ; and shipments
to the Continent, through the London Custom-
house, estimated at £38,492, the total amounting
to about £326,145.

There is but little alteration to notice in the
course of the London Produce markets during the
week ; a full inquiry exists for most articles, while
the supplies are fully adequate to the demand.
Sugar, continues active, and the better descriptions
have brought 6d to is aivance. In Coffee there
has been less animation, and sales of the planta-
tion kinds of Ceylon have been made at a fall of is
per cwt ; the native sorts are also rather lower.
Soft grain qualities of Rice advanced about 3d per
cwt; but this was barely maintained to-day. Salt-
petre closed flatly at a deline of Gd to is per cwt.
Tea is firmer, and the useful grades generally
attract increased attention, prices baing occasionally
rather higher. . . .

Our advices from Birmingham state that con-
tinued, evidence of improvement manifests itself in
almost every branch of business. The factors'
travellers, who are again on their journies, are
beginning to send home very good order-sheets,
and accompanying these are favourable reports as

to the prospects of the home trade. The present
condition of trade in the town is such as to afford
much room for congratulation. It seldom happens
that at so early a period in the year the manufac-
turers are so well off for orders as they are at the
present time. In all the leading branches the
workpeople are making full time, and very little
is being done in the way of an augmentation of
stocks. _

yY
The Maid of Judah has arrived in the Downs,
from Sydney, after a quick passage of seventy-
seven days, but has brought only 230 ounces
of Gold.

The wind being favourable, some remittances of
Australian Gold are shortly looked for. The
Blackwall has now been eighty-six days at sea,
with 322,300/. ; the Donald McKay seventy-five
days, with 137,600/. ; and the Swiftsure sixty-
eight days, with 339.1001.
The Royal Mail Steam Company have received
intelligence that their steamer Oneida, which has
lately been fitted with a new screw, arrived at
Point de Galle on the 23rd December. after a good
run from Aden. This vessel carried the English
mail for Australia of November. _ _ _

...... .
The steamer Panther, with mails for Calcutta
and China, arrived at Malta from Marseilles on the
15th instant ; also, on the 16th, the Ceylon, from
Southampton, with the heavy portion.
At Mr. Bunten's Timber Sale, on Thursday, at
Greenock, St. John yellow pine (ex Thomas
Killam), 1,000 and 1,100 feet pages brought from
is s'd to is fild per cubic foot; do. 700 feet pages,
is lid per do. ; do. 590 feet pages, is 1111 per do. ;
beam fillings, is Olid per do. ; pine deals, ex same
ship, fourth quality, from 71,d to 90. per do ; deal
ends, from 61,d to. 61d per do. ; lathwood, 6/ lOs
per fathom ; 4:1,- feet palings, 3/- per 1,000.
Quebec yellow pine (ex Champion), 1,200 feet
pages, is 2d per do. ; beam fillings, is ld per do. ;
Quebec board yellow pine, 1,700 feet pages, from
is 64d to Is Rd. per do. ; do.— red pine, 700

feet pages, from is 5d to is ad per do. ; do. 1
600 feet pages, from is 4d to is 5d per do. ;
pine deals, third quality, 111,-d per do. At Messrs.
Edmonstone and Mitchell's sale, Quebec yellow
pine (ex Wacausta), 1,200 feet pages, sold at is lld
per cubic feet ; do. 800 feet pages, is ld per do. ;
do. 400 feet pages, is per do. ; pine deals, third
quality, 10d to 111 d per do. ; spruce deals, 1044
per do. In connection with this subject, we may
mention that during the past year 57 timber
vessels, measuring 36,771 tons register, have dis-
charged at this port, being a great falling off as
compared with last year, when the number of
vessels was 133, measuring 82,393.
At the Wool Sales to-day, Messrs. Hughes and
Ronald offered the ninth catalogue of the series-
-4,548 bales in all. They consisted of 1,687 bales
East India ; from Bombay, 1,228 ; Russian, Dons-
koi, 556 ; Iceland, 198 ; Oporto and Lisbon, 147 ;
Peruvian, 115 ; Egyptian, 54 ; Cordova, 54 ; Chili,
73 ; Foreign Noiles, 78 ; English and Shaddy, 307;
Scotch Highland, Cheviot, and sundries, 48 ; grand