The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-24 00:00:00

stantly increasing revenues; while the stipends of other
objects of their bounty remained without any aug-
mentation in amount, and viere constantly dimin-
ishing in value? No, indeA; but as they tell
us in the name of that Lord who broke the bonds
of Rome, "That south might be lineraily trained,
old age fostered with things necessary for living, and
liberal largesses of alms to the pour in Christ, and repa-
rations of roads and bridges, and other offices of piety
teeming over from them might thence flaw abroad tar
undwideto all the neighbouring places to the glory of
Almighty
God, end the common wellare and happiness
of the subjects of the realm." Such, my Lords, were the
purposes for which cathedrals were founded, with statutes
so clear, that any one may read, and ordinances so plain
that no one can misunderstand them. Such, the objects
for which chapters were created, and bound to observe
all and every one of them by oaths the most solemn,
and sanctions the most binding. My Lords, had these
statutes been faithfully observed; had the obligations of
these oaths been indeed deeply felt; had their sanctity
been truly revered; those objects would have been, must
have been, fully realised, and the founder would not
(to use his own words) have been defrauded
of the expectation and wish with which, and for
which alone, he endowed cathedrals, and incorpo-
rated chapters to perpetuate their endowments and
administer their Government. Then, indeed, might
they have been a support to the Church, a blessing and
an honour to the nation, objects of veneration with the
the rich, and of grateful affection to the poor, springs of
good and useful influence, fountains teeming and fl -Acing
over with all generous and kindly offices. When the ear
heard of them, it would have blessed them; when the
eye saw them it would have given witness of them. In-
stead of this, we find a bishop even in the olden times,
complaining to the Queen of England, not without deep
sighs, that the good offices required of cathedral chap-
ters were, in a manner, almost cleaned and varnished,
and then praying her Most Sacred Majesty to take the
matter up herself, so that the holy plant of her Father's
hands might by her be well nourished and cherished,
and so the Lord would bless, prosper, and multiply her
days, to the great comfort of the Church, and all her
most faithful subjects. Then, in later days, we read of
one M.Y. telling the House of Commons, that to speak
no less truly than plainly, deans and chapters did
either just nothing, or nothing that was just, while an-
other said to the same assembly, "You see wherefore
the lands were granted unto deans and chapters; what
their statutes are, and their oaths to keep them. It
might be thought that these men do know some way,
another or nearer way to Heaven than they track us;
or, otherwise, that they would not sit where they do
without remorse of conscience. For it is notoriously
known that not one of the said statutes are, or ever have
been during my remembrance, kept, or the matters con-
tained in them performed, by any of the deans or pre-
bendaries of the cathedral. They come, indeed, once a
year to receive the rents and profits, but do not distri-
bute unto the poor and needy their portion, and do not
keep any common table; and, instead of preaching the
word of God in season and out of season, they are and
have been the chief hindrances to the same being done
by others." But, my Lords, I will not dwell upon
what the chapter plead ss their excuse—the invariable
practice of their predecessors, for, only twelve years
ago, said the Bishop of London, " very many of the
cathedral statutes are notoriously disregarded, al-
though every dean and canon has taken a solemn
oath to keep all and every of them." So said
the late Lord Melbourne, "It is scarcely worth while
to preserve bodies to per.orm duties which they have not
performed for 300 years, while only a few net ntbs ego
but one voice was heard in the Commons of England
against a measure conceived and accepted in the spirit
of the Bishop of Exster's declaration. That if the par-
ties who are now members of cathedral bodies shrink
from the performance of the duties assigned to them, he
should be very glad to abolish these institutions alto-
gether." And, if this be so—if institutions founded
with such care—fortified with such bulwark—confided
to such guardian—provided with means so ample—fur-
nished with resources so abundant—and placed in posi-
tions so commanding, have proved not the strongest ci-
tadels of our Zion, not the most impregnable fortresses
of our Cburch,but her open weakness and her uncovered
shame, until her very friends have been fain to swell the
cry of her foes, and have almost said, "Down with
them, even to the ground"—my Lords, if this be so
—and who can deny it ?—would the foun-
ders, and if not the founders, will you—
I do not say dismiss—l will not say punish
me, but even breathe upon me the most subdued
whisper of the faintest, censure, for endeavours—hearty,
sincere, and honest, as they have been—to avert a catas-
trophe so melancholy, to prevent an overthrow so humi-
liating and ignominious, by making these institutions
faithfully and truly what their founders have declared
they meant them to be. My Lords, those founders would
not, and you cannot, condemn me, except for an inor-
dinate crime—a very grievous immorality. They would
not, and you cannot dismiss me except for an aggravated
delinquency—a gross violation of moral integrity; and I
repeat that my exertions began in integrity, have been
kept up in sincerity, as they are even now sustained by
the consciousness of that justice which gives strength
irresistible to the feeblest, and armour impenetrable to
the most unprotected, while it unlocks the steel and un-
nerves the arm, and daunts the heart of him whose con-
science with injustice is corrupted. Bear with me, then,
my Lord 9, if now at the last I say that cheerfully have
I spurned delight, gladly and confidently have I lived
laborious days in the task (I use the words of one
of the most eloquent of living men) of trying to save
from the operations of time and the worse injuries of
an interested malversation, some of those monuments
which yet remain to us of the genuine glory of our an-
cestors—trophies which they won in a pious and inno-
cent warfare, and left to commemorate triumphs un-
mingled with sorrow, unpolluted by blood, and gained
over the worst enemies of the human race—ignorance
and her progeny, vice. To labour in such I feel indeed
a privilege, to toil in such a task I count indeed an
honour; to succeed will in truth be a triumph unal-
loyed by any feeling of wrong, unsullied' by any act
of dishonour, untarnished by any word of deceit, un-
truth, or shame. And even, my Lords, if in such a
struggle I am to suffer more than I have already done—
if this suffering is by your judgment and through your
agency (by whom it least should) to be put beyond re-
paration, and denied all redress, my consolation will be
that I suffer in a righteous cause—for principles which,
"though beffl,d oft, yet ever win "—with the approval
of my own conscience, and the deep and wide-spread
sympathy of my fellow countrymen, iu the endeavour to
regain for others advantages like those for which I am
myself indebted for the princely living of the same
founder, and to which many of the chiefest
of England's intellectual and moral hierarchy owe
everything which has made their lives precious
to their country, and their career honourable
to themselves. It may be—for human frailty will show
itself in the best of actions, and weaken even the

strongest cause—it may be that in doi©g so I have
sometimes spoken with more plainness than prudence',
with more anal than discretion, with more indignation at
the wrongs of others than consideration for the comfort
and welfare of myself. But, my Lords, before you im-
pute this to me as an inordinate crime, before you
charge this against me as an aggravated immorality,
stay, I pray you, a little, and reflect that deep impres-
sions, and firm convictions, and strong conviction, are
not criminal; they are not immoral, they are not even
blameable; they may be irresistible; and, as they alone,
humanly speaking, enable a man both to do and to
suffer, et fausre et parte festre, so they make him not
studious of phrases so long as he keeps to facts, and in-
different about language so long as he tells the truth.
My Lords, that is what I have done. I have not
written a book which is untrue; I have not pub-
lished a calumny which I cannot prove. I have
told the truth, which is great; and assuredly will
she prevail, whatever power be arraigned against
her. I have pleaded for justice, and assuredly will
she assert her majesty and hold her own, whoever may
usurp her rights and ignore her supremacy. If I have
done this imprudently—if with any impropriety or for-
getfulness of my position, call not this an aggravated
sin, visit not such a fault with anything like cruelty,
approach it not with anything akin to partiality or vin-
dictiveness—leave all that to others. Do you rather, far
rather, regard it with favour, be it only for the good
which it has done, even if you cannot reward it with
admiration for the feelings from which it has sprung;
nay, my Lords, if you cannot, it' you will not follow
your own better feelings, and bestow even a reluctant and
faint-hued commendation where others have instinctively
proffered the mead of unqualified praise, deny me not
that consolation which honesty of purpose claims and has
its claims allowed; withhold not that indulgence which
is everywhere else shown to those who plead and
prove continued provocation in others and the absences
of all malice in themselves. Refuse me not, if you
have any regard for the credit of our national justice;
refuse me not, I say, that equity which is granted to the
meanest criminal who elects "to be tried by God and
his country;" remembering, in the words of a great
writer, "As the man who attacks a flourishing estab-
lishment writes with a halter round his neck, few will
be found to attempt alterations but men of more spirit
than prudence, of more sincerity than caution, of warm,
eager, impetuous temper; so that it' we are to wait for
calm, th the
udhiesictr, euert part j
ters of State propose it, i will ofs
i mankindprovem ebegin,nt t ttillh the
churchcool , tlie
governors
l
with whom venture
to pronounce,
nothing
is
that without His interposition
impossible, we may remain as we are till the renovation
My Lords, I have done. May your
of
judgmentall t h
suchibnegs"ve
as the universalac air of England
will at once ratify, and that "still
whispers in the unseen tribunal o_fyosumrao wheartsvoice"
whichwill
never condemn, and I have no fear or misgiving as to
what that judgment will be.
The Bisnop of ROCHESTER—We will consider what
judgment we will give.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
ilson,
Mary Ann Stagg, about 18 y ears old, John W
aged 23, and Charles Starkes, aged 2l, were broughtbefore Sir P. Laurie, charged upon bu.picioo of havwg
robbed a farmer at Aldburough fair of bank notes to the
amount of 500/ , four sovereigns, and two cheques. The
moment after the prisoners were taken to the station
' upon suspicion of having committed a robbery, Acting
Inspector Hamilton, of the City police, communicated
by telegraph with the police at Norwich, and speedily
received an answer stating that the property described
next tilt.
by him had been stolen, and requesting that the .
and by pri-
Boners might ba detained in custody,
the chiet constable of Norwich arrived itilheLp3noldi°,:.of thein
officially received
Mr. John Dunne, chief constable of
AinitdObromroauttgehn
city of Norwich, said—l
which had been c -
of a robborY crammed at
fair, on Monday night, tt
on fir' George
farmer and dealer in they parishof orgo Gooch, a
county of Norfolk. Yesterday xi Marsham, in the
me that as he was returning h r. Gooch reported to
on Monday night, he Was home, at about 12 o'clock
sc,per
_on she green , .. accosted by the female pri-
vg We Tillage of-Aldboromb, SW _