The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-25 00:00:00

RIGS WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY—Morn. 18 min. aft. 7—Evening 45 min. aft. 7
Tsi-NfOßßOw—Morn. 14 min. aft. B—Evening 49 min. aft 8

THE WEATHEE-SUN OFFICE, JULY 25.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHAML

75 -highest sir so noon yesterday.
fit -lowest thismorning and during the night.
71 —this day at noon.

i A 40METER-29.95.
WIND, S.W.—Light, with dull weather, indicating a
storm.

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LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1856.

The Bishops of LONDON and Dualism Retire-
ment Bill has. duly passed through Committee—.
has been reported without amendments, and stands
this night for a third reading. Judging from the
divisions on different points, there can be no
doubt that the measure will receive the Legisla-
tive sanction, and that these Right Rev. Prelates
will receive Oh very comfortable retiring pensions
of 6,0001. and 4,500/. per annum, for being re-
lieved from duties which they were no longer
capable of discharging with credit to themselves
or advantage to the community. The Bishop
of LONDON seems to have made the
better bargain of the two, inasmuch as
he is to be permitted to retain the Episcop4l
Palace at Fulham, while his brother of Durham
will be compelled forthwith to surrender posses-
sion of the premises which he has occupied in
right of his see for the last 20 years. It eannot,
however, be said that either of these distinguished
members of the Episcopal Bench have fared badly,
or that they are greatly to be sympathised with,
in the comparative poverty to which they are
about to be reduced.
We confess, however, that it would have
been apparently more consistent with the
doctrines which these Right Reverend Lords
have professed had they exhibited greater
moderation in their demands, and not dis-
played quite so much acuteness in striking a hard
bargain with the nation. The argument put for-
ward on their behalf is that, however helpless and
inefficient, they could not be got rid of without
their own free will and consent. That the
Church should endure the burden of inefficient
Bishops, however injurious to its best interests ;
and that, therefore, we ought to be thankful for
their moderation is being contented with some-
thing less than a third of what they could have
enforced by law. But there is such a thing as
conscience, and we must suppose that even Bishops
are not quite exempted from its operations, that
the "still small voice" will make itself heard in epis-
copal palaces as well as in the glebes of humble
curate; passing rich on 801. a year, or the cottages
of poor men, that conscience might be rendered
uneasy at the enjoyment of a princely income
where there could be no quid pro quo, no consi-
deration for its receipt. If au inferior member
of the Establishment were to resign his living he
must do so for conscience sake, and he is precluded
under stringent pains and penalties from receiving
any pecuniary consideration, while his successor,
even though ignorant of any payment having
been made, would be liable to forfeit his prefer_
wont, and to bo for ever precluded from holding
any ecclesiastical benefice or preferment.
Now why should a different measure be meted
to Bishops, than to the inferior clergy ? Why
should that be publicly sanctioned by Parlia-
ment in the one C. 140 which would be a gross
misdemeanour in the other ? It may be very
well to enable incompetent parties to resign the
functions which they can no longer satisfactorily
perform, but unless a general measure be intro-
duced, applicable not only to bishops but to every
beneficed clergyman, a great scandal will be com-
mitted, not only on the Church by law established,
but on the Parliament, which authorised what
could only be regarded as an illegal and criminal
arrangement.

The argumentum ad mi3ericordi canhas, how-
ever, been resorted to. We are asked to pity
these venerable prelates, who have not the
Paeans of enjoying suitable comforts during
their declining years unless this contract be
fully carried out. The Bishop of LONDON
provide for large insurances,
is compelled to
which will form the only provision for his family