The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-18 00:00:00

PROPOSED INCREASE OF THE EPISCOPATE.

Lord Palmerston hits rOceived a memorial sighed
by ,the Duke of Tuccleuch,the Duke of Marl-
borough, the Marquis of Westminster, the Earl of
Denbigh; the H.rl ' CarvarVdn, the Earl of
Romney, the Earl Nelson, the Earl of Verulam, the
Earl of Effingham, the Earl of Galloway, Lord
Eversley, Lord Calthorpe, Lord. Itedesthile, Lord
Leigh, Lord Ebury, Lord J. Manners, M.P. ; Lord
R. Cecil, M.P. ; Sir J. Patteson, Sir J. T. Coleridge,
Mr. Adderley, M.P. ; Mr. Sothoron Estcourt, M.P.I
Mr. Mow.oray, M.P,; Vice-Chancellor Sir W. Page
Wood, Sir W. licatheot e, M.P. ; Sir IV. James, Sir
W. Farquhar. Sir J. 8.. lynne, Mr. Hubbard,
M.P. ; Mr. Kelcwich, M.P. ; Mr. J. J. Rogers,
M.P. ; Mr. P. Watlingt(in,, M.P.; Mr. Whateley,
QC. ; Mr. lt. Palmer, Q.O , and a large number
of other influential laymen, asking his lordship to
adopt measures for'an increase of the Episcopate.
The memorialists state that the population of Eng-
land and Wales has more than doubled itself during
the last 50 years, but that 'the number of bishops
has been only increased by one since the middle of
the 16th century. In America and the British
colonies the episcopacy may be increased according
to the needs of the population, and they hold that
it would be reasonable and just that a similar benefit
should be enjoyed by her Majesty's subjects at home.
The memorialists express their opinion that more
frequent personal intercourse than is now practic-
able between a bishop and the clergy and laity of
his diocess would promote unity and efficiency in the
labours of those who are endeavouring to advance
the moral and spiritual welfare of the people. They
proceed to direct his Lordship's attention to cer- .
tain dioceses which seem to need subdivision, and
in which there are already resources available for
the foundation of additional sees. The diocess of
London contains more than 2,000,000 of souls.
That diocess might be divided, and another see
might be formed by converting the collegiate church
of 'Westminster into a cathedral church, as it
formerly was, and by raising the Dean to the
dignity of a Bishop. Another diocess which re-
quires subdivision is that of Exeter ; it is the most
extensive of any in England and Wales, and the
cathedral city of Exeter is distant about 145 miles
from the western extremity of the diocess. Another
similar instance may be found in the diocess of
Durham. Its population has increased with unex-
ampled rapidity in the last few years. The income
of the Bishop is £B,OOO a-year, which greatly
exceeds the average income of other episcopal sees.
Means might thence be derived for the subdivision
of that populous diocess, and for the erection and
endowment of an episcopal see in the town of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The memorialists, having
also called attention to the dioceses of Rochester,
Lincoln, and Glocester, conclude as follows :
" Other dioceses might be mentioned which need sub •
division. We consider, however, that the inhabitants of
those dioceses are the persons most competent to express
an opinion on this subject, and that, it they are desirous
of such a subdivision, local contributions would not bo
wanting when once the necessary powers may have been
given by Parliament for the erection of additional!qes•
With this view her Majesty's Commissioners for inquiring
into the State of Cathedral and Collegiate Churohginci
m comended in the year 1855 that a permissive.b
Marto the
be framed and introduced into Parliament, s majesty
cer-
and
Act 31st of Henry VIII,, c. 9, empoweringocese
under her
her Majesty's successors to divide anY'ldll
an.
to effect the d, with the
tain conditions of territory and poknilatioo4d
consent of the Bishop, where it is p
e'er°. pThis recommen-
division before the avoidance of the
eers, among whom were
'Plias:bishop of London, and
dation of her Majesty's Cotmh
the two Archbishop
deserve attentive conside-
t;Y:otork and the Bishop of Oxford,
athpepeparressetontyAo.urer hnibeln2shsooagnaledis-
hey understand, your lordship on a
as t ed an opinion, in which they entirely
ration,
recentoanceadsisomuce,
PZesestion of episcopal extension ought to
th reference to the country at large, they
Id earnestly entreat your lordship either to introduce
would earnestly
anywi
into Parliament, or to. support such a legislative measure
may enable her Majesty's subjects who desire an exten-
sion of tho episcopate to profit by such an exercise of the
royal Supremacy in constituting additional sees at home as
has already been called into action, and is now in operation
with very beneficial results, secular and spiritual, in the
colonial dependencies of the British Crown."
Lord Palmerston has promised that the attention
of the Government shall be directed to the subject.

The famous Doomsday Book of William the
Conqueror is now at the Ordnance Map Office, Southamp-
ton, for the purpose of being copied by the new process of
photozincography.

A BEGGARLY EMPIRE.—If, says Punch, Austria
ever studied finance in any particular school, we should
say it must have been the ragged school; for not only is
she pauperised and beggared almost to her last kreutzer,
but her very bank notes are what a cook would call "done
to rags."
A ROYAL INCENDIARY.—A letter from Frosinone,
in the Nazionc, of Florence, says :—" Count Trapani is
making experiments with incendiary articles. A few days
back he went with his wife and two other persons to a
place called Ponte Salaro, and there, at some distance from
the roadside, put on the ground certain ingredients, and
fired at them with pistols—each shot set fire to these things,
a thick smoke arising. The Count, the Countess, and tiPir
two companions, all fired. The new discovery is, no doubt,
destined to burn the Italian fleet, but the poor Frince 15
losing his time.