The Sun.
London, England, 1834-05-30 00:00:00

HIS MAJESTY AND THE BISHOPS.

We take the following from the Standard of last
'light, we ourselves knowing nothing about the mat-
ter ; but we cannot help suspecting that somebody
has imposed upon our zealous contemporary, who
has allowed his feelings and his desires to blind his
hdgruent....—Tinte.s. [ln this suspicion we cordially
4gree.—En. Sun.]
It will be seen by the Court Circular, that the
Afrehbishops and Bishops, preceded by the Archbishops
Canterbury and Armagh, waited upon the Sovereign
with a
dutiful and affectionate birthday address of con-
gratulation, which was delivered in the Royal closet by
1,,t1e Most Rev. Primates of England. For what fol-
s, we pledge whatever of character for veracity
nd caution this journal has earned We believe that
ye give the very words of our beloved Monarch ; we
t'Te sure that we give the substance of his reply with
ae strictest fidelity.
" After a short conversation, in which his Majesty
kid, among other things, I now remember you have
right to require of me to be resolute in the defence
e the church,' the king proceeded—
" ' I have been, by the circumstances of my life,
1/4d by conviction, led to support toleration to the ut-
140ist extent of which it is justly capable ; but tolera-
ti
°ll must not be suffered to go into licentiousness ; it
b its bounds, which it is my duty and which I am
1° lved to maintain. I am, from the deepest convie-
-°N attached to the pure Protestant faithwhich this
church, of which I am the temporal head, is the hu-
Illan means of diffusing and preserving in this land.
that placed " I cannot forget what was the course
aof event
my famil on the throne which I now fills hese events were coy nsummated by a revolution which
as rendered necessary, and was effected, not, as has
Trnetimes been most erroneously stated,
merely for
the sake of the temporal liberties of the people, but
A.or the preservation of their religion. It was for the
gefetre of the religion of the country that was made
thesettlement of the crown, which has placed me in
the situation that I now fill ; and that religion, and
the church of England and Ireland (Ireland with pc-
onliar emphasis), the prelates of which are now before
it is my fixed purpose, determination, and resolu-
loll to maintain.
I am ` The present bishops, I am quite satisfied (and
rejoiced to hear, from them and from all, the
of the clergy in general, under their governance),
ota.x,' never been excelled at any period of the history
°I).l our church by any of their predecessors, in learning,
Ifettf.v, Or zeal, in the discharge of their high duties.
dis'uere are any of the inferior arrangements in the
eipline of the church which, however, I greatly
%
toib the expression of doubt was again delivered by-
N.
ent
in estY with great emphasis), that require amend-
the , have no distrust of the readiness and ability of
toprelates now before me to correct such things, and
ault:ot
3hril trust, they will be left to correct, with your
Y unimpaired and unshackled. •
ih.
tI trust it will not be supposed that I am speak-
! am ° You a speech which I have got by heart. No ;
I h4,,mee,laring to you my real and genuine sentiments.
bless 'e almost completed my 69th ear, and though
d by God with a very rare measure of heal th,

not having known what sickness is for some
years, yet I do not blind myself to the plain and
evident truth, that increase of years must tell largely
upon me when sickness shall come. I cannot,
therefore, expect that I shall be very long in this
world. It is under this impression that I tell you,
that while I know that the law of the land consi-
ders it impossible that I should do wrong—that while-
I km* there is no earthly power which ettn call me
to account—this only Mattes me the more deeply sen-
sible of the responsibility under which I stand to that
Almighty Being before whom we must all one day
appear. When that day shall come, you will know
whether I am sincere in the declaration which I now
make of firm attachment to the church, and resolution
to maintain it.

4" I have spoken more strongly than usual, because
of unhappy circumstances that have forced themselves
upon the observation of all. The threats of those who
are enemies of the church make it the more necessary
for those Who feel their duty to that church to speak
out. The words which you hear from me are indeed
spoken by my mouth, but they flow from my heart.'
" His Majesty was affected to tears during the de-
livery of this declaration, and concluded the interview
by inviting the prelates to partake of the Holy Com-
munion with him at the Chapel Royal, on Tuesday,
the fad of June."