The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-21 00:00:00

chin-chinning, or leave taking, when the Minister,
Commodore, and their attendants, crowded anal
squeezed again into their moving dens, and the
cavalcade returned to the jetty and junks with all
the ceremonies already described. In passing down
the river to rejoin the Toeywan the party ivzis
saluted by a body of cavalry drawn up on the itft
bank oppo2ite the Toeywan. They were mour_ted
on small horses, but were too distant for clue in-
spection and intelligent comment."—New York
Times.

TILE REV. THOMAS DALE AND THE
PARISH OF ST. PANCRAS.
--4.--
The Rev. Thomas Dale having announced his in-
tention of resigning the office of vicar of St. Pan-
cras, an address from the clergy of the parish has
been addressed to him. On receiving the address,
the Rev, T. Dale made the following reply :
" Reverend and dear Brethren,—lt is with the
utmost gratification that I receive this assurance of
your regard and esteem, proceeding as it does from
so many of those with Whom I have been associated
in the pastoral charge of the vast parish of St.
Pancras, and without whoso co-operation I could
never have accomplished the objects of which you
have been pleased to speak in terms of such high
and unmerited commendation. I accept, also,
with unfeigned and lively gratitude the united
expression of your wish that I should continue
to reside among you as vicar of St. Pancras
under altered circumstances, and no longer encum-
bered and oppressed by those parochial responsibi-
lities which have hitherto, under the provisions of
the local acts, constituted an integral and insepa-
rable portion of the office. I would it were possible
for me thus to act. Not a few are there among the
brethren of the clergy, as there are many among the
members of my congregation, to whom I could fitly
address the words of the Apostle Pftul, Ye are in
our hearts to die and live with you.' But with
the request so kindly intended, and so cordially
expressed, it is now altogether out of my power to
comply—first, because the arrangements connected
with my proposed retirement have advanced too far
to admit of honourable retraction; and secondly,
but chiefly, because by adhering to my original in-
tention of relinquishing for the future all personal
interest in St. Pancras, I may hope to carry out
more effectually that great principle of parochial
sub-division which I publicly avowed at the com-
mencement of my incumbency, which I have kept ,
steadily in view throughout the 13 years of its con-
tinuance, and for which I have cheerfully sacrificed
a large portion of my income and a still larger
measure of my peace. I need hardly remind you,
my dear brethren, that the ecclesiastical anomalies
of St. Pancras, with which many of you are so
painfully conversant, arise chiefly from imperfect
and ill-considered legislation. The local acts by
which the ecclesiastical affairs of the parish have
been administered for the last 30 years were pur-
posely so constructed as to concentrate all spiritual
responsibilities on the person:of a single incumbent,
and to place all the other parochial clergy in the
relation to him of subordinates or stipendiaries. It
has been affirmed by a high legal authority, that,
`the stateof the law under those acts formed an in-
superable obstacle to the providing properly for the
cure of souls.' Much has indeed been done at
various times by the introduction of clauses into the
several Church Building Acts, and more especially
by the 19 and 20 Vic., c. 104, commonly called the
New Parishes Act, to mitigate the pressure of the
local acts, but no authority except that which
legalised the evil can avail to provide the only
adequate and effectual remedy. It is therefore the
opinion both of our diocesan and of the friend who
is most deebly interested in the question, that appli-
cation should be made to the Legislature in order
to a fair and equitable settlement, and that
it might possibly be expedient to defer the
legal avoidance of the living until a bill for
that purpose can be carried through the House of
Lords. The bishop has expressed himself willing
to undertake the charge of such a bill, if he can be
satisfied that in so doing he represents the opinions
and the principles of the great body of churchmen
in the parish. It ought certainly to be made known
(and in no way can this be more effectually done
by tho introduction of such a bill into Parliament)
that while the existing acts continue in force, future
vicars of St. Pancras will, like myself, derive no
emolument whatever from the surplus pew-rents of
the parish church, amounting after the payment of
all expenses to £6OO per annum, while yet a large
portion of the fees and offerings which now con-
stitute almost the sole emolument of the living will
pass, as in all fairness they ought, to the incumbent
of the new parishes. I will not, however, on an
occasion such as this, enter further into the details
of this complicated but most important question. I
will only add, in reference to it, that my present
eafrlformaom
Pancras will follow as soon after
and final
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that date as the bishop shall think fitting to receive
it. On one account, my dear brethren, I may well
claim your sympathy. Many of you will readily
judge from your own feelings what mine must be
on the severance of the tie that binds me to the
congregation of the parish church. From that
congregation, needing nothing for itself, I have
received larger contributions to the great cause of
church extension than from the entire residue of
the whole parish of St. Pancras, while my personal
intercourse with its members has ever been marked
with a degree of regard and affection on their part,
of which I now feel myself utterly undeserving,
more especially when I consider how often, from a
mistaken sense of duty, I have sacrificed the inte-
rests of the congregation to what I then accounted
the interests of the parish, occupying in parochial
controversies and unprofitable discussions hours
which might have been far better emploped in pas-
toral visitation and kindly social intercourse.
Gladly, if it were possible, would I continue with
my own beloved flock, it only to repair this error;
but it must not be. The interest of the church de-
mand from me this last sacrifice ; the interest of the
parish—at least of the poor—demand it; the just
claims of the clergy:to complete parochial indepen-
dence demand it; and, cost me what it may, it
shall be made. But great as the sacrifice is, it will
be abundantly repaid if, leaving in 1860 twenty
parishes, complete or prospective, where in 1846 I
found but one, I shall hear that you, my dear
brethren, having become each the centre of his own
parochial charge, shall be as happy in your flocks
as have been in mine ; and still more, if you, by
united action, shall effect what I, single-handed,
have einly striven to accomplish, the concentration
of the "energies of this vast parish in the further-
ance of the kingdom of Christ.
" Entreating an interest in your prayers, and as-
suring you of remembrance in my own, lam ever,
reverend and dear brethren, your faithful and affec-
tionate friend and brother,
(Signed)

"THOMAS DALE."

THE LATE MR. ROBERT STEPHENSON.

A public meeting of the leading inhabitants of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the neighbouring coun-
ties of Durham and Northumberland, was held on
Saturday afternoon to take into consideration the
best mode of testifying their respect for the memory
of the late Mr. R. Stephenson. The meeting first
assembled in the Council Chamber, but it being too
small, the assembly adjourned to the new Town-
hall. The chair was occupied by Lord Ravensworth,
and among the gentlemen present were the Mayor
of Newcastle and a number of the aldermen and
council ; Mr. G. Ridley, M.P., Mr. Taylor, the
chairman of the coal trade ; Mr. Nicholas Wood, of
Hetton ; Mr. M. Bell, M. I. L. Bell, Mr. T. E. Ha r-
rison, C.E., Mr. Bourne, C.E., the Hon. 11. G. Lid-
dell, M.P., Mr. John Clayton, the Mayor of Tyne-
mouth, Dr. Bruce, Mr. Joseph Cowen, chairman of
the Tyne Commissioners, Dr. Grecnhow, Mr. Haw
thorn, Mr. Kell, and Mr. Haswell—nearly all of
whom were personal friends of the deceased engi-
neer. A considerable number of respectable work-
ing men employed at Messrs. R. Stephen on and
Co.'s engine factory were in the body of -the hall.
Letters were read from the Duke of Northumber-
land, Mr. Ingham, M.P., and Mr. Hu,.,0•11 Taylor,
M.P., regretting their inability to attend, but cor-
dially approving of the objects of the meeting. The
noble chairman opened the proceedings by passing
in review the leading circumstances in the life of
the great engineer, and in the life of his eminent
father, George Stephenson. Mr. George Ridley
moved a resolution to the effect that the best mode
of testifying respect to the memory of the late Mr.
Robert Stephenson would be to erect a monument
to him in Newcastle. The resolution was seconded
by the Hon. IL G. Liddell, M.P., and was carried
unanimously. It was also agreed that such monu-
ment should partly consist of a statue of the late
Mr. Robert Stephenson, and, that in addition to
the monument, a portion of the funds subscribed
should be devoted to educational purposes. A com-
mittee was appointed to carry the resolutions into
effect.