The Sun.
London, England, 1830-11-29 00:00:00

DR. PHILLPOTTS.

REPLY to a Statement 'of Dr. Phillpotts, road in the
House of Commons on Monday, 22d November, 1830,
impugning the Correctness of certain Allegations con-
tained in a Petition presented to the King, from the
Inhabitants of Stanhope :,---
DR. PHILLPOTTS'S STATEMEN •

The petition from the inhabitants of Stanhope to his
Majesty; praying that the rectory of that parish may not
be holden in commendarat with the see of Exeter, contain*
three allegations, and only three of any moment. They
are as follows
Ist, That " the population of which the rector has the
spiritual care consists of 12,000 inhabitants."
2d. That " he delegates the spiritual care of these 12,000
souls to a hireling."
3d. That " the parish pay him a tithe of 4,000/. a.year,
and therefore may claim the advantages of a resident rector."
Every one of these allegations is substantially untrue.
1. It is alleged that the population consists of 12,000;
whereas, at the last census, under the most extended de-
scription which can be given to the district, the numbers
were found to be no more than 7,341.
But of these 7,341, the far greater part, no less than
4,994; are not placed under the spiritual care of the rector.
They belong to an ancient chapelry, locally situate in-
deed within the limits of the parish of Stanhope, but placed
from the earliest times under a distinct minister, with a
distinct endowment ; and for many years put an indepen-
dent benefice. Within this chapelry a second independent
benefice has recently been erected.
Over the incumbents of these two benefices, which are
indeed in his patronage, he has no controul whatever.
In short, instead of 12,000 inhabitants, as is asserted in
the petition, 2,841 only are under the spiritual care of the
rector of Stanhope.

Scks.
ISO

V7O
Wl2

301
1.5121

13802

14D33

2. The second allegation of the petition is, that the
rtetor " delegates the spiritual ears of 14.?,000 inbahitante
to a hireling."

It has jus—t been shown that the care of 2,:i4 I only can
be delegated by him at all.
It is delegated during the time of his necessary absence
to two resident curates, both of whom are men of educe.
Lion and high character; one of them a man of 'indepen»
dent fortune, who has resigned a small living of which he
was incumbent, in order to become curate at Stanhope.
These curate, are not dependents ; fur when they are
licensed, as they are bound to be, they are irremovable,
rept for some fault of which the Bishop is the judge; and
from his sentence they have an appeal to the metropolitan.
In short, therefore, Instead of " the spiritual care of
MON inhabitants being delegated to one hireling," as is
asserted in the petition, the truth is that 2,811 are
placed, doting the absence of the rector, under the charge
of two licensed and responsible curates.
3. The third allegation is, that " the parish pays to
the Rector a tithe of 4,000!. per ar.num, and therefore has
a right to the advantages of a resident Rector ;" whereas
iu truth, the whole amount of what is paid to him by the
parishioners is something between 5001. and 6001. per an.
num, hardly a shilling in the pound on the rental.
The great bulk of the emoluments of the living arises it
from a payment not made by any inhabitants of the parish
of.Stanhope, nor by persons who can in any sense be called
parishioners. It is, in effect, an ancient donation from
the See of Durham, made long before the restraining sta-
tutes prohibited such an alienation of its fondle, 'Phis do-
nation conferred on the Rector of Stanhope a portion, no-
minally a tenth, of the ore raised from the lead mines of
the See situate within the parish, which portion, amount-
iug in value at present to about 3,000/. per annum, is
paid by the lessees of the Bishop's mines, who live at a
great distance from Stanhope.
There are other considerable mines within the parish,
especially those of the Chairman of the meeting at which
the petition was voted, but neither he nor any other pro-
prietor, except the Bishop, pays any thing whatever to
the Rector on account of his mines.

This payment, therefore, being the bulk of the income
of the living of Stanhope, is taken from the revenues of
the see of Durham; and thus, that opulent see, so often
as the Rectory of Stanhope is/holden irs courrnendurn, con-
tribute, to supply the defective endowment of DOM poorer
Bishopric;—an appropriation so fitting, that this Rectory
has repeatedly been made the subject of a consnandana.
The three Rectors in succession, who immediately pre-
ceded the last incumbent, held this living with their re-
spective Bishoprics. I. Bishop Butler, the author of the
mal.)gy,—a man not more distinguished by his wonder-
ful talents, than by his pious and conscientious discharge
of all his duties.—with the See of Bristol. 2. Bishop
Keene, with the See of Chester. 3. Bishop Thurlow,
with he See of Lincoln.

The see of Exeter, in consequence of the speliation of
its revenues in the reigns of Edward VI. and Queen Eli-
sabeth, is notoriously too poor for the maintenance of its
Bishop. It has been the invariable practice to allow these
who are raised to it to retain some or all of their former
preferments. Since the commencement of the present
century there have been three instance, of Bishops of this
see holding livings ; one of them, Bishop Courtenay, was
rector of the rich and populous parish of St. George,
Hanover-square, containing 48,996 inhabitants (though
of this instance it isfreely admitted, that the parish being
situate in London might be superintended by the Bishop,
during the months in which lie attended in Parliament. )
2. Bishop Pelham held a parish in Sussex, of 1,907
inhabitants. a. The late Bishop held a parish in York-
shire, containing 841 inhabitants, the income of which
being ma, was found not sufficient to make the revenue.
of the see of Exeter adequate to the demands upon him,
though be was a single man.
It must be observed, that when a poor Bishopric is to
be sustained by a commendani, the question what that
commendani shall be must be decided, generally, by the
nature of the preferment previously held by the person no-
urinated to the Bishopric.
In the present instance, besides this general principle,
there were special circumstances of a very peculiar kind.
When the present rector of Stanhope succeeded in the
living, he built a house upon it, ut the requisition of
the late Bishop of Durham, the patron of the living, and
on a plan approved and settled by him. The charge of
building this house and the premises annexed to it, to-
gether with a house, which, of his own accord, and
without being required by the Bishop, he built for the
residence of his curates, has amounted to near 12,0001 ;
which charge, equivalent to 1,000/. per annum, was not
laid permanently on the living, but attaches sukly to him-
oelf, and, of course, would continue so to attach, even
if he should cease to be rector.

In consequence, when his Majesty's gracious intention
of raising him to the Bench of Bishops was ittitiounoed to
him, four months ago, not having solicited, nor taken any
step, direct or indirect, tA.) olitain this or any other Bi.
shopric, he immediately felt it his duty to state the itn,
possibility of his availing himself of his Majesty's gre,o,iiasts
purpose, unless, like his predecessors, he sholthi Inn per.
mittud to retain his living in commendain, ttiot being no
other preferment vacant at the disposi of the Crown
approaching to an equivalent lot tiiestictifice.
It was after this 0010444;4141inn that he was informed
by his Majesty's A.Wilter, that orders were given for pre-
paring the ppl,,er inittroinents to enable him to retain the
be, in consequence, no longer scrupled to accept
tbo of promotion.

CUTHBERT lIIRPON'S ANSWER.
The amount of population cattulli he ascertained. The
friends of Dr. Phillpotta4 few though they be, admit it to
exceed 10,000, T 44, eases quoted was taken in 1001 i
since why}{ tbuo the increase of 'houses and inlitiWtoto has
hettn yvi great. The impudent essumptihks 61 this old
ttturn, as datum for computing, lytt,t4 such kriametiol
'dotty, the present numbers n potoe., is a pitiful at-
tempt to impose deoriti
The geographicali thersoription of the district may assist
the jutignlegt in other details!. The pat iel:. al Stanhope
extewis 18 tulles, from cast to west, sar)(sug from 6 to 7
stiles, north and south. it is titdded into 4wlrteri ; such
not being townships, not. behig in any way independent
each other.

The twuetult quarters, to wl.ich the Ilectoett spiritual
car; is, by his statement, fictitiously limited, embraces an
extent of seven square miles, contains eise Church, a Chit•
pel of Ease, and a School ito#44, /kerma for Divine War,
ship, 8,600 inhabitants, The duties me delegated t# Ism
Curates, your wen, one of whom, the Roll 4. Pittiatu,
gave tux the firing of Shotwick, in Cht444 value 7W. a-
year, for reason, as Dr. Phillptittl,ittitruutti the writer, of
the house appended thereto, heiag unfit for'shis resideuet,
lie was engaged, tu Mai hist.
Tba rsov. Edmund Goldsmith, the prodertewit of Air.
Maim, was peremptorily dismissed, te.Vaitta eppeal am
the Bishop, six months once.

The ancient elopelrx e# 4s. Jaho'*) endowed by be..
quest, and otherviixt, rin'tns a local representation clf 4,1
Church, ltiral,9 which it is distant seven in the two
p; ywit gultkers of the parish, and is rein ;red for the cony's,
ntence fat' Inhabitants distrilateJ over so great no extent of
t:ountry. A portio of this Chapelry hse been allotted,
since t4,e int:unthency of Dr. Phillpotts, to form a 101144
as Copt 11111. The right of appointment to theta Outfight
is vested in the Hector.

The Rev. Joseph Waite less natiArkood by Dr. Kin.
pone to the Chat*lry of St. 4ohn's, who, being a note.
rious'druniustds has !teen suspended from of metiog by the

'Bishop, for more than two years, and his ditties are DOW
performed by a temporary hireling.
A'l tithes within these Choi:retries are paid to the Keetor.
One half of the fee, paid to these Chapels, for mar-
riages, eliurchings, funerals, and even publishing of banns,
is paid to the Rector. On what ground, if these Chapel-
ries he not .vithin his care, can he demand support bum
the living and the dead ?
If the etivelry of St. John's had been, as stated, en.
ti rely independent, by what poWee did Dr. Pbillpotti and
the Bishop manage to divide it, and forms the distinct
Chapelry of Copt Hill? Can a Rector, by thus p 'reel ing
out his parish into Cumin, retain the profits and evade
the duties? Is he not bound to be a resident overseer of
these cariona Ministers, more especially when the Cliapelry
of St. John's has no effective incumbent, by reason of hi,
drunken nomination ? Is not a bequest of land, prodne-
ing 401 a year, enjoyed by the Curate of St. John's, "pro..
vided he bey. the orders and directions of the Rector of
Stanhope, as he ought to do, by virtue of his dependency;"
and in default of such obedience, is not such directed to be
applied for the relief of insolvent debtors in the giol of
Durham?

The term 4, hireling" as applied to the representative of
the proper shepherd is, I believe. sufficiently scriptural.
The petition does not name one hireling a it expresses that
the duty of the Pastor has been delegated to another.
The common tythes, now on lease, pay to the
Rector
A £650 per aim.
Glebe farm 3OO
Glebe lands
40
Besides small rents, payable by properties in this neigh.
bourhood, and exclusive of gardens, &e. Sce., attached to
the Rectory House.
A tenth of all lead ore obtained from the Episcopal
Royalties was finally secured to the Rectory of Stanhope
by an Act of Parliament passed in the reign of Charles the
Second. It now forms part and parcel of the general
tythes of the parish, which are to be enjoyed by the Priest
in remuneration of his spiritual services. To assert that
sorb is taken from the opulence of the Seo of Durham is
to foist falsehood on the public. The Rector's tithe is ab-
solutely his, free (rein all controul of the Bishop, who re.•
ceives a tenth share also, and wholly independent of the
Rector's claim.

The former Rectors' &wars accepted 4 commutation in
gold, from the lessees of the bishop's mines, in lieu of
tithe. These lessees (Aired to Dr. Philipotts a sue► much
exceeding 4,000!. a year, whicl► he refused, demanding,
for his tenth 1,200 hinge of ore. His own cupidity and.
love of meddling thus made hint a willing dealer in
thus subjected hint to the losses attendant on the depreci•t
lion in value of that metal, anal thus enabled him, lay coo
coiling the filets of the case, to plead, with unblushing
effrontery, the losses of his elected trading in petition for
relief.

The residence of these lessees must he immaterial. The
tithe is drawn float the soil of the parish.
Bishop 'thurlow last heist this living iu conamendam
with the See of Lincoln, from 1779 to 1787. Ills entire
income derived therefrom was 1,2001. per annum, the
number of inhabitants under 2,500.
The softening down of +those, under the priestly phrase°.
log of " necessary absence," evinces the apathetic hunt:,
ference of this Steward of Coil to all religious responsi.

The poverty of the See of Exeter cannot warrant th.
prostitution of that momentous duty, the cure of souls, to
the purpose and production of Episcopal pomp.
On the demise of the Rev. Henry Hardinge, the former
Rector, lather of the gentleman who volunteered his ser-
vices in defence of Doctor Phillpotts, who, on the plea of
ill health, generally resided on his nutty, 27 miles distant,
following the calling of a farmer, regarding the cattle
market of Darlington rather than the Church of Stanhope,
and time neglecting the duties of his parish, Bishop Dar-
rington thus communicated the appointment of the present
Rector to the writer of this statement My first care
has been to appoint a Rector. whose Hine and strokes way
be exclusively devoted to Me hentlie of the parish. On
this understanding I have offered it to the Rev. H. Phil!.
potts, by whom it has been willingly accepted." eau De.
Duren, the confidential friend of the llishop, testify to the
truth of this understanding between Eithop anti Rector ?
Are splendid suites of apartment', of thirty feet propor-
tion, and upwards, conservatory, riding-house,
necessary and proper for the Village Preacher's modest
mansion ?
A house and land were bequeathed by the will of Dr.
Hartwell, a former rector, to the use of the poor of the
parish, subject to the condition that in ease the curate of •
Stanhope should deem such homes anti land suitable for
his residence, that the rector for the time being, who was
appointed trustee, should allow him to occupy it, on pay.
ing a rent of 71. per annum ; which sum was to be ap-
plied in binding out two poor children, an apprentices to
some useful bade. The house was pulled down ity
Phillpotts, nod another of superior description erected on
the site, Hair not the rector required and received (ruin
his several eureka, the Flee. L Yorker, now of Afirford.'
Northumberbutd, the Rev. W. Hawke, how of Gateshead'
Fell, and the Rev. E. Goldemith, now of Whitburre in
Durham, a rent of SOL a year fur this said house; and bee
he not applied the same to hie own benefit, though to the
abuse of this charity l, Did be nut, during the time.. of
Mr. Hawks, place his gardener in part of the house ? Did
he not, like Ahab, covet the modicum of land, bequeathed
by a generous benefactor, far the help and assistance of his
poorer curate—did he not, I say, take pussesden of anti en.
joy it? Did he not even deny to Mr. Hawks the use of the
stable attached to it, and eventually only consent to con- '
cede it, on condition of receiving the stable manttre--thus •
exacting from his Curate a positive dung rent? Did
not know such conduct was illegal—that it was, as
Commissioners for Inquiry into the State of Public Cho.
rides admitted, a gross abuse of the benefaction, a positive
perversion of the intent of the testator, a wrong to the
Curates, a fraud to the poor ?
Are ;he spiritual rights of a parish to be bartered by a
Minister, to be used as baits for entrapping holy rats?
Are the tithes of a parish to be given in premium for
cheleal fecundity ? Are the prodigal wants of fourteen
children to be preferred to the just claims of 10,000
people ? Would no benefit be afforded to the pariah in
these days of distress and pauperism, if the income of the
Rector were disbursed within it, thus enriching the neigh.
botahood from whence it is withdrawn ? Reason may
reply. Defiance has been given, honour ateariled, rewire
impeached. Before the tribunal of the world 1 state these
facts; which at any time, end in any place, I ant prepared
to maintain, I submit the ease to the judgment of my
countrymen, whose justice will award the stigma of de.
ceiver to him who deserves it.

( Stanhope Castle, Nev. 26. UTIIIIERT

COURT CIRCULAR.

Viscount Mittatoossis had in oudienco of the KING on
Saturday.

The buchess of CINOWER,LA)II4 the pushes of Gt.rol..
enarsa, and the Princess SOPHIA, visited their hlaJts.
I'M on Saturday.
Yesterday their MaJaerraa, the Duke nod Duchess of
GLOUCIIESTSR, and Prince LOOPOLO, attended divine set.
vice at the Chapel Revd, and heard a sermon by the Rev.
Mr. Meow, from the 17th chapter of St. John, the 4th
vett*. The Communion service was read by the sub.
1 Dean, the Rev. Mr. Ileum. The musical service watt
sung and chanted by Messrs. EVANS, SatortoN, Gont.ottX,
Vauunatt, Dawes, Roans, CLaur, and Sam The
anthem was " When the Son of Man," composed by Ken+,
which was sung by Messrs. GOOLOOS, Mecca, And Secy,
The Rev. Dr. nutmeg was clerk of the Herd Ch""*l
The Marquis of iiollNtill tits the Lord in Waiting on
the KIING. 104110,016, the Queers% eltamtemlain, wait
in litteO4OVV,era b r Maistarr.
Vadardar the Duke. and Duchess of Cumexat.4!.l)
direct with their Menweses.

Mr. STECPINtI.II-thlawaN preiiented to hill MAP...bri: at
the ',veto on WottiostLiy, by the American Itlittibter.
'lle flue btesii of Cv3ilikatAND, tha Dueheiti of Gt.ou.
tlwotat, wits the Kin-cud* SUP/114 viislted the (4urtx
On
tintiattay.

Ahinet Council wits held at four DANA yesterday
afternoon ot the troreilia (Ace. which was atteutled by
Earl Ons,,,s4s Martinis of LattenOWNtt, Lord flota.aNti,
Lord IlvAatikm,
illitkistOyi, Viscount ALT *oll,l*, Sir JAMB CixAHaAt, &ct.
The Prussian Mistiatcr had a conference with Earl
Garr on fistula**.
The 1104aaaatior fin the Netherlands 1,4,1 4 long in.
terview Vial Viscount Patausatant4 on Saturday, at the
Akfteilri °Mee.
'the twwly appointed I.ohla of the Admiralty corn,
Punt
itLio4redxpecof
ttth4
tattle•ii their oftirld duties on Itsturday, on which day
their pretlecreauta office, and other functionaries in the
departuntnla evicted their functions.
u'llys: of Lord J.
1444.0 Ilainuaav and family have removed front the
ae
STE rieYi taktitulul ren .171t:iiiip'''HilrItCfor°14:strt6trtlitels::: of
trti:G
Will itWiily occupy his official residence.

The First Lord of the Admiralty has ap-
pointed it 11414 THOUNI tt) be his Peva*
Secretary.

It is stated in a letter frcm Paris that FrallC°
will not renaguitit Du* Menu.