The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-29 00:00:00

S 101 Ny DECEMBER 29, 1847.

Church. But while I ask you to believe that lam
principally swayed by higher motives—motives which
have no connexion whatever with 'this earth or with
the present life, yet I will frankly confess that. my
mind is much affected by this circumstance, that
among the bishops of our church who have signed a
certain remonstrance, there are in the first place, two
prelates Who are said to differ in opinion on some
other particulars, the Bishop of London and the
Bishop of Winchester; that, secondly, there is one
so distinguished for mildness and Christian meekness
as the Bishop of Lincoln ; and thirdly, there is one
of so powerful an intellect and of such sincere piety
as the Bishop of Oxford. I say that I confess that
the above facts seem to me important, and confirm me
in the resolution which I just now stated that I felt
myself obliged on the present occasion to adopt,
namely, to wait for an important and solemn decision
on this subject from a tribunal competent to,pro-
nounce it.
One or two other persons having tendered their
assents, it became the duty of the Dean cf Hereford
(Dr. Merewether) to record his vote.
The Dean of HEREFORD rose amidst breathless
silence, and spoke to the following effect :—I am
standing in the sanctuary of the Most High God, and
together with my brethren, the ordained ministers of
our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, am called upon, in
the name of the Sovereign of this land to choose and
elect such a person as may be meet to be the bishop
and pastor of this diocese. I solemnly declare, here,
in the Divine presence, that it is my earnest and
hearty desire to be faithful and bear true allegiance,
Ito pay all humble duty and submissive obedience to
her Most Excellent Majesty the Queen of these do-
minions, who, I feel assured on her part, " knowing
whose minister she is, will above all things seek His
honour and glory who is the King of kings and
Lord of lords," to whom above all I owe my first
allegiance. And whereas, by the exercise of that
civil privilege which gives to the First Minister of the
Crown the power of recommending to the Sovereign
for nomination to vacant bishoprics, the Rev. Renn
Dickson Hampden, D.D., has been so nominated and
to us recommended by the official instruments this
day laidbefore us, to the bishopric of Hereford—and
whereas we the dean and chapter of this cathedral
church are forbidden under heavy penalties to elect
any othet person. into the said bishopric except the
said Renn Dickson Hampden—and whereas, the
University of Oxford in full and lawful convention
did decree that the said Renn Dickson Hampden
should be deprived of certain functions and offices in
the said University, because in his writings he had so
treated theological subjects, that in this respect the
Church and University had no confidence in him, and
that the convocation afterwards, within five years last
past, after full debate refused to rescind the said
decree and deprivation—and whereas the said Renn
Dickson Hampden is now under the effect of
the said decree of the University of Oxford
in convocation assembled, and from the care-
ful and attentive perusal of the said writings, I
do believe their decree to be just, those writings
unsound ,in doctrine, and dangerous in their ten-
dency—and whereas, taking the premises solemnly
and anxiously into consideration, I preferred a
humble petition to her Most Excellent Majesty, dated
the 17th of December instant, praying postponement
of the election until due investigation had been made,
and a sufficient removal of the censure and depriva-
tion of the Rev. Dr. Renn Dickson Hampden had
been effected by a just and competent tribunal ; and,
moreover, further pleaded to her Majesty's Prime
Minister the entire circumstances of the case, toge-
ther with the awful and constraining obligations by
which we are bound—and whereas the Primate of all
England, with thirteen bishops or more, have pre-
ferred their objections to the said appointment, and
great numbers of clergy and laity throughout the land,
of every shade of religious opinion tolerated by the
Church, have by the most solemn appeals entreated us
to exett ourselves in staying such election until such
time as.the aforesaid objections should be removed or
another unobjectionable person substituted,—on tak-
ing all the aforesaid circumstances into my most
serious consideration, I did most humbly and im-
ploringly supplicate that her Majesty might even yet
be pleased to reconsider this earnest and disinterested
prayer, to correct and amend the errors and misfor-
tunes which have arisen, and still more seriously
threaten us from the ill-considered advice of a mis-
informed minister, as on other occasions her Ma-
jesty's royal predecessors have done, and so avert the
injury which must otherwise be inflicted on the
Church, and pacify the outraged feelings of her mem-
bers. And here, in the sight of God, in the midst of
His temple, and in the performance of the priestly
office, I solemnly protest that it is no deficiency in
the smallest degree of loyalty and humble devotion to
our Sov, reign, or of implicit respect and deference to
the laws of this realm, which impels inc to make this
declaration ; it is the dictate of my conscience, the
conviction of my mind which constrains me thus to
act in arresting the progress of infi lelity, mockery of
religion, and profaneness. Upon these grounds I
cannot vote for the election of Dr. Renn Dickson
Hampden, as bishop of the vacant see of Hereford and
pastor of the cathedral church of which I am dean.
And I do hereby protest against this proceeding to-
day, inasmuch as many persons have voted who are
merely. honorary prebendaries, and have not complied
with the statutes of this church which I have declared I
will observe; and I protest also a_sainst the majority
which will be claimed, inasmuch as it is necessary for
giving validity to a vote that the, majority should in-
clude the dean and three canons residentierv. This
protest I shall forward to the Crown, the Lisrlop elect
(Dr. Hampden), and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Rev. 'W. E. EVANS, one of the honorary pre-
bendaries protested against, rose, and addres,iog the
dean, said—l stand forward most emphatically to de-
clare, that on a former occasion I hail a pledge from
you that you would not oppose the votes of the hono•
rary prebendaries on this occasion.
Lord SAYE and SELE and the Rev. Mr. Wasin
offered some observations, both contending that the
honorary predendaries were entitled to vote, and
that it was a distinct understanding the dean would
not oppose their privileges in that respect.
The DEAN (somewhat warmly)—lt is not for the
dean and chapter to discuss these points on the pre-
sent occasion. When he (the dean) called the chapter
together to consult on the petitions that were sent in
to them with reference to the appointment to the
bishopric—entreating the chapter not to confirm the
nomination of Dr. Hampden—he had remarked that,
when the question of the appointment came to be de-
cided, a question might probably he raised with, re-
ference to the right of the honorary canons to vote; and
he distinctly asserted that it was not for him to object,
but that he should receive their votes, and in ac-
cordance with that declaration those votes had been
received. He had now done a solemn duty in the
sight of God, and although some amongst his rev.
brethren had endeavoured to throw a slur upon his
character and motive, he was perfectly clear of any
imputations of the kind. He told the honorary
canons that it was not for him to reject their votes,
for he should leave that question for another tribunal
to decide.
[lt may be stated that the votes protested against
by the dean are those of the honorary prebendaries,
who are neither canons residentiary nor canons non-
resident, but simply persons on whom an honorary
distinction has been conferred, as some acknowledg-
ment of successful and zealous services in the Church.
The honorary prebendaries receive no emoluments,
have no duties to perform, and have no voice in the
general management of the cathedral property in con-
junction with the capitular body. One of those ho-
norary prebendaries, the Hon. and Rev. Orlando For-
rester, was the first to tender his vote to-day ; it was
given in favour of Dr. Hampden.]
Archdeacon MUSGRAVB certainly understood the
dean to say he intended allowing the votes lof the
honorary prebends without opposition.
Lord SAYE and Rene read an Act of Parliament,
the 4th and sth Victoria, chap. 16, in order to prove
the right of the prebendaries to a vote.
The Dean of HEREFORD contended that the Act
quoted by the Rev. Lord did not bear upon the ques-
tion, and requested that the matter might not be
further proceeded with, as it was their duty on that
occasion to avoid secular bUsiness as much as possible.
Archdeacon MusGneve remarked, that as a report
of the proceedings of that day would in all probability
go forth to the. public, he wished to call attention to
the fact that in the observations which had been made
:by the Very Rev. the Dean, that gentleman had stated
that the Primate of England had joined 13 bishops in
opposition to
,the appointment of Dr. Hampden. It
did not appear to him (the Archdeacon) that there
was sufficient authority for that statement, as the
name of the Archbishop of Canterbury was not to be
found in the list of remonstrant bishops as published
to the world.

The DPIAN would not have stated so solemnly and
so positively that the Archbishop had protested against
the appointment of Dr. Hampden, had he not known
that such was the case. Previous to the protest,
:which was signed by so many Right Rev. Prelates,
the Archbishop wrote to Lord John Russell pointing
ont the danger that would result to the Church if the
appointment were persisted in. Other bishops, too,
had adopted the same course, although their names
did not.,appear in the list.
Archdeacon MUSGRAVE—I have not seen any notice
taken of that circumstance.

[PE ICE SD.

The Dean of llErm:am—Well, I take notice of it,
and I make the statement on my own responsibility.
After a smart discussion on this point,
The DEAN said—l will now proceed to state to
you the number of votes pollei. Three canons resi-
dentiary have voted for Dr. Hampden ; fire preben-
daries of the old order have voted for Dr. Hampden,
nineteen of that body being absent ; six junior pre-
bendaries hare voted for Dr. Hampden, three of that
body being absent. The dean and one canon residen-
fiery had voted against Dr. Hampden. The case then
stood thus :
For Dr. Hampden-3 canons residentiary, 5 pre.
bendaries of the old order, 6 junior prebendaries.
Against Dr. Hampden—the Dean of the Cathedra
Church and one canon residentiary.
The canons residentiary who voted in favour of Dr.
Hampden were Lord Saye and Sele, the Rev. H. H.
Morgan, 8.D., and the Venerable Archdeacon Mus-
grave. The canon residentiary who voted against Dr.
Hampden was the Rev. Dr. Huntingford.
Canon MORGAN moved that the election of Dr.
Hampden should be declared, according to the usual
legal formalities, the capitular seal being affixed to the
declaration.
Lord SAYE and SELE briefly seconded the motion.
The DEAN remarked, that having declared that
there were for Dr. Hampden 14 votes, against him 2,
it remained for the chapter to say whether that was
an election of Dr. Hampden or not. The statute re-
quired that there should be an unanimous assent and
consent.
After some discussion on this point, the motion
proposed by Canon Morgan, and seconled by Lord
Saye and Sele, was agreed to.
The Dean of HEREFORD.—We have now to decree
three certificates—one to the Crown, one to the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, and one to the Bishop elect.
They will run to the following effect :
" We, the dean and chapter of the cathedral
church of Hereford, by virtue and authority of your
Majesty's royal licence, most graciously made and
granted, for electing another bishop of the said cathe-
dral church, being capitularly assembled in the said
cathedral church, and there making chapter (saving
to ourselves all the privileges that ought to be saved
with regard to the said election, as well as by the
laws of this our famous kingdott of Great Britain as
by the ancient and laudable customs of our said cathe-
dral church), and having maturely and seriously
considered of a person meet to be elected thereto,
at length have agreed to elect the Rev. Renn Dick-
son Hampden, D.D., .Regius Professor of Divinity in
the University of Oxford."
The chapter would also have to agree to the follow-
ing address to Dr. Hampden :
" We, the dean and chapter of Hereford, being
capitularly assembled, and prayers to Almighty God
before all things, we did, according to the statutes
and ecclesiastical laws of the famous kingdom of
Great Britain, canonically proceed to the election
aforesaid in manner and form following, to wit :
First, after mature and serious consideration had be-
tween ourselves concerning a fit and proper person
in that hehalf to be elected (and saving to ourselves
all the privileges that ought to be saved with regard
to the said election, as well by laws of this our famous
kingdom of Great Britain as by the ancient and laud-
able customs of our said cathedral church), we did at
length give our votes for you, the Rev. Renn Dick-
son Hampden, D.D., &c."
These documents were received, and the capitular
seal was ordered to be attached to them.
Mr. Richard Underwood, Mr. John Burder, and
Mr. Francis Hart Dyke were appointed notaries, and
the official documents having been enrolled, the secu-
lar business of the day was brought to a close.
The dean and chapter then returned to the choir
and proceeded with the usual services of the church

LORD JOHN RUSSELL AND THE
DEAN OF HEREFORD.
The following letter has been addressed to the
Dean of Hereford, in reply to his to Lord John
Russell :

" Woburn Abbey, Dec. 25.
"Sir,—l have had the honour to receive your
etter of the 22d inst., in which you intimate to me
jour intention of violating the law.
"I have the honour to be your obedient servant,
"J. RUS SELL.
" The Very Rev. the Dean of Hereford."

DR. HAMPDEN.

TO TILE EDITOR OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE

Sir,— So the murder is out ! In the inisive just
issued forth fr, m the decanal chair of Hereford, we
have a clear interpretation given us of the nature of
the opposition to Dr. Hampden's appointment. It
peps out in one little sentence, and the Dean's "faith-
fulness to the cathedral church of Hereford" resolves

itself, I tear, into bitter disappointment that he is not
the fortunate indivi,lual selected to preside over the
diocese. It s;-ems pretty clear, from Dr. Mere-
wether's own statement, that he is a political martyr ;
for how else can we interpret the following quotation
from his letter :--" Forgive me, my Lord, for the re-
fh-ction on that death-bed injunction, if I say that, had
it been observed—as but for political and party influ-
ence it would have been—your Lordship, the Church,
and the nation would have been spared this most un-
happy trial, the results of which, as I have already
again and again for boded to your Lordship, it is im-
possible to foresee."
Although I never bad the least sympathy with those
who have placed themselves in opposition to our gra-
cious Queen in the exercise of her rightful and ina-
lienable prerogative, still I was inclined to think Dr.
Merewether sincere in pressing upon Lord John Rus-
sell his views as to the propriety and fitness of the
selection he had made of Dr. Hampden to fill the
vacant see. I should be unwilling to say anything
to wound the Dean's feelings, still less would I pervert
knowingly ary expressions which appear in his letter,
but if Lord John Russell wants further confirmation
that the course he is pursuing is the right one, it is
:-IfTurded him, I think, in this decanal letter. The
Dean's grandiloquent avowal, that he has "counted
the cost," and is prepared to give up houses and lands,
and forego every earthly consideration for his one dear
and cherished principle, is sadly impaired, if not al-
together destroyed, by too many expressions in his
letter; clearly indicative of blighted hope and disap-
pointed ambition.

---
Before this reaches you, Sir, all doubt on this sub-
ject will he at an end. The chapter of Hereford, as
dutiful and loyal subjects of the Queen, will have
completed her gracious nomination; and the diocese
of Hereford will have the privilege (I trust for a long
period) of being governed by an amiable, learned,
and consistent, though sadly persecuted man.—l
remain, A LONDON INCUMBENT.
December, 1847.

THE SEE OF HEREFORD.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—A deep sympathy prevails in this city with
Dr. Hampden. it appears to be the ardent wish of
every person, Churchmen and Dissenters, that he should
be consecrated to this see. The ridiculous conduct
of the Dean of Hereford has considerably promoted
this wish. The Dean, who is most unpopular, has
rendered himself doubly so now. His manifesto has
occasioned much laughter here amongst those who
know how it was concocted, and by whom it was
composed for him. Another ridiculous incident has
occurred. A petition was got up by a printer and a
dealer in bran and oats, praying Government to ap-
point the Dean of Hereford to the vacant see instead
of Dr. Hampden, and hawked about for signatures.
The affair was so absurd that the Dean was obliged
to suppress it, but was nevertheless weak enough to
publish a letter in the local papers, thanking the
getters up of the petition for their exertions on his
behalf. Before the Dean's manifesto was published a
meeting took place, at which seventy-two of the
clergy attended, but not one would append his name
to the document.

The Dean's second letter to Lord John Russell hes
been received here with greater ridicule than the first.
To-day the constituent members of the Chapter as-
sembled, and the election was nearly unanimous—
fourteen members:voting for Dr. Hampden, and two
only against, one of whom was the Dean. The oppo-
sition of the Dean and his protest was considered
quite a farce, and it is supposed he has some personal
object in view by making himself so conspicuously
foolish.—Yours most obediently,
Hereford.

A RECTOR.

SEPARATION IN HIGH LIFE.--We regret to hear
that differences have occurred between the son of a
Noble Earl and his young wife, who have only recently
entered into the holy state of matrimony. The estrange
went which had existed has ultimately led to a mutual
separation, the lady having retired to the Continent on
an allowance, liberal considering the limited resources
of her husband, who has but little to depend upon be-
Loud his income as connected with one of the British
Embassies abroad. It is said, and we have reason to
believe truly, that incompatibility of temper is the cause
of this unfortunate separation.—Morning paper.
Letters front Marseilles mention that the efforts
made to sustain Forbin, Janson, and Co., who were com-
pelled about three months back to suspend, with liabi-
lities for 200,0001. or 300,000 L, have proved unsuccessful,
and that, Consequently, the firm will have to pass into
f
bankruptcy. The business of the house was that of
sugar refiners, and the arrangements contemplated wer
n
were,
we believe, somewhat similar to those mentioned yester-
day _
as being in progress in the case Of De Druyn d
Sons.