The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-12 00:00:00

CONVOCATION.

Yesterday both Houses of Convocation assembled at
Westminster for the transaction of busineis.
LOWER HOUSE.
BISHOP COLBNSO'S BOOK.

Several petitions having been presented from the clergy
in different parts of the kingdom,
Archdeacon DENISON moved the suspension of the stand-
ing orders, with the view of submitting the motion of which
he had given notice.
The motion was seconded by Dr. M'CAuL, and carried.
Archdeacon DENIS oil then moved an address to the Upper
House, to direct tha appointment of a committee to examine
a book lately published in London, within the province of
Canterbury, entitled "The Pentateuch and Book of Joshua
Critically examined," by the Right Rev. John Wm. Colenso,
D.D., Bishop of Natal, Parts I. and 11. ; and to report whe-
ther any, and if any, what, opinions heretical or erroneous
in doctrine are contained in the said books. His objections to
the book were that in the preface the truth of Holy Scrip.
ture was denied ; and that in the book itself the authority
of Christ as perfect God and perfect man was called in ques-
tion by the explanation given of the references to the Pen-
tateuch in the words of the New Testament. The policy of
the course which he felt it his duty, upon the publication of
this most heretical work, to pursue was questioned by some,
it being alleged that it interfered with the regular business
of Convocation; but he apprehended that Convocation had
no higher duty to perform than to protect the Church when
it was assailed by the publication of works such as this,
emanating from one holding high authority in the Church.
He would not upon that occasion enter into a discussion as
to the merits of particular passages in the work, having
already stated sufficient to justify tho motion which he had
placed upon the paper. In conclusion, he desired only to
express his entire conviction that the truth of the Holy
Scriptures, and the authority of the Saviour were as near and
as dear to the hearts of every member of that house as to his
own, whether they agreed or not to the course which he felt
it his duty to take in this matter, but he left the motion in
the hands of the house, in the full conviction that it would
command the support of the vast majority of the members.
I .

Dr. 1111CADL said he seconded the motion most heartily
because the book to which it had reference had caused a
very great deal of scandal. The object of the motion was
to institute inquiry into the work, and he would neither
waste time by speaking of matters that were so well known,
nor in any way anticipate the judgment of the house
upon the subject. But there was no doubt that very great
alarm had been excited by the publication of the Bishop of
Natal's book in all the friends of the Church of England,
and that alarm had extended not merely to the uneducated
and to those who were not acquainted with theological sub-
jects, but amongst the clergy themselves. In order, there.
fore, to satisfy the minds of the clergy and laity, and parti-
cularly the operatives, to whom the book was especially ad-
dressed, the Convocation should inquire and come to a de-
termination as to the character of the work, and should
declare plainly whether the Bishop of Natal spoke the truth
respecting the Pentateuch and respecting the Saviour, or
whether the book was full of error based upon fallacious ar-
guments, contrary to the private convictions of the great
body of the clergy. Bishop Colenso stated unmistakeably,
that the Pentateuch was based upon a legend, and as a proof
of the injury vihicl, the reasoning of the writer had done he
mentioned the case of a young man on the eve of ordination
expressing publicly his views in favour of the book, and
insisting that its arguments were conclusive. The book
therefore encouraged immorality, for he held that the highest
degree of immorality was for any man, upon the most solemn
occasion of his life, standing in the presence of God, the
angels, and the people, to declare that he unfeignedly be-
lieved the canonical Scriptures when he rejected as untrue
a most material portion of the Bible. On these grounds it
was absolutely necessary that an inquiry should be insti-
tuted with regard to the book, for the protection of candi-
dates for holy orders and the salvation of the souls of the
people. There were tens of thousands who could not in-
quire into the truth of these things for themselves, who had
not the means, the leisure, or the necessary preparation,
and they were looking to Convocation to show them that
the arguments of Bishop Colenso were false and unfounded.
Two years ago they were called upon to inquire into another
similar book, and the minds of candidates for orders were
the most readily poisoned by such writings, as their Uni-
versity training prepared them to receive such seeds of
infidelity. But the very existence of the Church depended
upon the clergy and the laity of the Church repudiating all
such doctrines ; for he was convinced that the straightfor-
ward, honest, practical minds of the people of England
would never consent to have a clergy of hypocrites teaching
from the pulpit what they did not believe in their hearts.
If then they loved the souls of the people and the Church
which they had inherited, he hoped the Convocation would
lift up its voice in condemnation of this book. (Hear, hear.)

Archdeacon HONEY rose to move an amendment, a course
which he felt some reluctance to pursue, because it might
be constructed to some extent as sympathising with the
writings of the Bishop of Natal. He felt that that book was
as mischievous as any that had ever come under the notice
of Convocation ; but at the same time he was of opinion that
the proceedings proposed to be taken by the Convocation was
the commencement of a system which, if carried on, would
be injurious to Convocation, and perhaps at last fatal to its
continuance. Convocation was only in theory a true repre-
sentation of the clergy of this country, and under those cir-
cumstances it was necessary that in a matter of this kind
they should proceed with caution. The result of censuring
such books as this, and the "Essays and Reviews," was only
to give them publicity and to give them a circulation which,
upon their own merits, they would not be likely to attain.
He was not saying that the writers of such works should
not be punished, but the prosecution in the "Essays and Re-
views" cases only proved how impossible it was to bring down
upon the offenders a punishment at all adequate to the
offence. This was an era of free writing, and upon all sub •
jects books would be published which were not considered
strictly orthodox, and believing that for Convocation to take
cognisance of such cases would lead them much farther than
it would be safe for them to go, he moved an amendment to
the effect that it was not safe that any steps should be taken
in Convocation with a view to the revival of the power of
censuring books or writers.

Archdeacon MOORE seconded the amendment, concurring
in the opinion that it was extremely unwise for the house to
establish itself into a court of heresy to pronounce judgment
upon heretical books. Formerly Convocation had the right
of judging, not only of books, but of the men who wrote
them, but since they had now no longer the power to call
the writers before them, it would be most unjust to con-
demn the writings, and more especially in this case, where
legal proceedings might be prejudiced by the expression of
their opinion. If they proceeded to synodical judgment
upon the book it could have no practical result whatever,
except to send the writer into a court of law with. the weight
of the opinion of Convocation against him. and that was a
course that neither the wisdom, the charity, nor the justice
of Convocation would be thought to sanction. (Hear.)
Canon BROWN thought the decision in the case of the
" Essays and Reviews" highly unsatisfactory and inconsis-
tent with the dignity of the house,after the anxious inquiry
which it had instituted, and the unanimous opinion which
it had expressed with regard to the book in question. He
was afraid that in this case also, if they adopted Archdeacon
Denison's motion, no practical result would be come to, and,
cßoinsshiodering that they ought not to permit a question of this
kind to pass, involving opinions which he could not separate
from Deism, he moved "That this house, deeply deploring
the scandal upon the Church and the damage to the faith
of Christ, which have arisen from the publication of the
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The question was then put, and the first amendment was
declared to be negatived.
The amendment of Canon Brown was afterwards sub-
mitted with the same result, and the motion was agreed to.
The house then adjourned.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

Rear-Admiral Eden, one of the Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty, and Mr. E. J. Reed, the
new Chief Constructor of the Navy, paid a visit to
Woolwich Dockyard, and inspected the works on
board the iron-cased ship Caledonia and other
vessels at Woolwich. The appointment of Mr.
Reed appears to meet the approval of the officials
generally, a rumour of his sound scientific qualifi-
cations having preceded his elevation.
Mr. Watts, C. 8., the late Chief Constructor, has
been permitted by the Treasury Board, on account
of his eminent services, to enjoy his full pay on
retirement—viz., /900 per annum.

Her Majesty's iron paddlewheel vessel Caradoc,
Lieut.-Commander Wilkinson, having been tho-
roughly repaired to resume her station in the Me-
diterranean as a despatch vessel, yesterday sailed
from Woolwich for her destination.

The paddlewheel sloop Alecto, Commander Blake
intended for service on the seuth- east coast of Arne•
rica, is now ready for sea at Woolwich. She yes-
terday received the whole of her hands, the officers
and crew having been turned over from the receiv-
ng ship Hcbe.
The Royal paddle yacht Osborne, Master Com-
mander G. K. Bowers, made her official trial of
speed at Portsmouth yesterday under the superin-
tendence of Capt. H. Broadhead. The yacht left the
harbour at 1.30 p.m., with the wind at W.S.W., at
a force of 3, and freshening. On reaching the trial
course in Stokes Bay the wind had increased to 4,
which it retained throughout the trial, and in
some of the runs during a squall reached 5. The
yacht was not, therefore, tried under what can be
considered the most favourable circumstances of
weather, in addition to which she has temporary
floats to her paddlewheels of the ordinary pattern,
in lieu of feathering floats with which she was pre-
viously fitted, her old floats having been removed
and her new wheels not having yet been received
from the makers, Maudslay, Son, and Field. It is
calculated that this substitution of the temporary
ordinary pattern for the feathering floats reduced
the ship's speed about a knot in the re: lilts of each
run. The speed attained, however, in both the full
and half power trials must be considered satisfac-
tory. Although certainly not a " clipper" under
steam, the Osborne possesses, for her horse power
and tonnage, a moderate rate of speed, has excellent
cabin accommodation on deck and below, no unim-
nortant consideration in a Royal yacht, and is a
very superior seaboat. It must be admitted, how-
ever, that the vessel which was once considered the
perfection of shipbuilding has not only been sup-
planted in the most important of her Royal duties
by the more swift and stately Victoria and Albert,
but that she has also entered upon the last stage
of her existence as a Royal yacht—this, how-
ever, after 20 years' service. She was launched
at Pembroke, where she had been built, from
the design of Sir W. Symonds, then Controller of
the Navy in 1843. To a tonnage of 1,033 tons she
was supplied with engines of 400-horse power by
Mauds.ay and Field, constructed on their double-
cylinder principle. These have done their work in
an admirable manner ever since they were first
placed in the ship. The trials yesterday were con-
fined to four at full power and two at half power,
which gave the following results :—Full power.—
First run—time, smin. 56sec. ; speed, 10112; steam,
1121 b. ; vacuum, 27* inches ; revolution of engines,
14.5. Second run—time, sinin. 37sec.; speed,
10.682 ; steam, 12* ; vacuum, 271; revolutions, 15.
The mean speed at full power was 10,695 knots. At
half power the results were :—First run—time,
6min. 17sec.; speed of ship, 9.549 ; steam, 121 lb. ;
vacuum, 271 ; revolution of engines,ll•so. Second
run--time, Bmin. Beee. ; speed, 7229; steam, 121 ;
vacuum, 271 ; revolutions, 10.75. The mean speed
of the two was 8.389 knots. With the helm star-
board, in next testing the ship in making circles
the half circle was made in 2min. 20sec., and the
full completed in 4min. 32sec. With the helm aport,
the half circle was made in 2min. 18sec., and the
full in 4min. 33sec., the diameter of the circle in
each instance being unusually small. The power of
moving the engines quickly by telegraph signals
from the " bridge " brought the trial to a con-
clusion, and was as under :—Engines stopped
from time of moving the telegraph handle in
21sec.; engines started ahead ditto from a state of
rest in 7sec.; engine turned astern from full speed
in 14sec. The yacht afterwards returned into
the harbour to complete her painting, &c., in
readiness to proceed to the Continent to assist in
conveying to England her Royal Highness the
Princess Alexandra of Denmark and suite, and fo-
reign distinguished visitors to the royal marriage.
The principal work remaining to ba effected on
board the iron plated frigate Royal Oak, 34, 800
horse power, now that the whole of the armour
plating has been bolted to her sides, is the construc-
tion of the reconnoitring turret on her fighting
deck, and the completion of her cabin and men's
berths. The object of placing the turret on the upper
deck is to enable the officer in command of the ship
to reconnoitre the movements of any hostile vessel,
he being at the same time protected from danger by
the shot-proof tower. The turret will be plated
externally with semicircular armour-plates of 4*
inches in thickness, laid on a backing of teak, the
inner plates being 9.l6ths of an inch in thickness.
The only communication With the turret will be
from the main deck. One of Gisborne's electric
telegraph signals will be placed within the turret,
which will enable the officer in command to forward
instructions instantaneously to both the engineer
and also the men at the wheel, With the exception
of two pivot 110. pounder Artnstrongs, the whole of
the guns will be placed on the main deck, by which
arrangement not a man will be exposed on the
upper deck. While the Royal Oak is in action
every man on board win be protected by broadsides
of iron, which will prove invulnerable to every de-
scription of ordnance brought against them. The
entire surface of the upper deck is covered with
plate iron one inch in thickness, over which again
is laid the ordinary ship's planking. This, it is be-
lieved, will materially lessen, if it does not altoge-
ther prevent, any effect from the explosion of shell
on the upper deck, the bursting of shell on board
ship bei'eig always more destructive than shot. The
Roy-di Oak is also constructed to be used as a ram,
for which purpose her boilers and machinery have
been securely plugged to prevent injury from colli-
sion with a hostile vessel. From the enormous
weight and strength of the Royal Oak, there is

little doubt that in any encounter of this kind the
utter destruction of the opposing vessel would be
effected, as there is no wooden vessel, and but few
iron ones, that could remain afloat after being run
into by a ship of the Royal Oak class. To enable
the frigate to be used as a ram, the bowsprit is con-
structed so that it can be canted back, an operation
which may be performed from the main deck. The
operation of testing the anchors in the testing-
house at Chatham dockyard having been
completed, they were shipped on board yester-
day. The Royal Oak takes eight anchors,
of a size larger than those supplied to most line-of-
battle ships. She is furnished with four bower and
sheet anchors, each of Newt., besides stream and
kedge anchors of a lesser weight. Her anchors
were all forged at the establishment of Messrs.
Brown and Lennox, who supply all the largest
descriptions of anchors in use in the navy, the same
firm having also manufactured the large chain cables
for the Royal Oak. On being tested at the dock -
yard, a pressure of 72 tons to the square inch failed
to detect any flaw in the anchors. Yesterday the
hands were busily engaged getting carpenter's,
gunner's, and boatswain's stores on board, and it is
now stated that everything will be in readiness for
the Royal Oak to leave the dock at Chatham some
time during the first spring tides in the ensuing
month.
_ _

Yesterday a large batch of convicts, in charge of
several warders, were despatched from St. Mary's
convict establishment, Chatham, to be employed on
the public works now in progress at Portsmouth.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Commander Thomas Barnardis-
ton, to the Cumberland ; Lieut. Thomas Howes,
Lieut. A. L. Clarkson, Lieut. A. L. Trevor, and
Lieut. F. Walter, to the Nile; Lieut. Peyton Bla-
kiston and Lieut. Henry E. Stephens, to the Cum-
berland ; Acting Lieut. T. L. Woods, to the Forte;
and Acting Lieut. G. N. Smallpiece, to the Bac-
chante.