The Sun.
London, England, 1821-07-10 00:00:00

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Extracts of I.42tters from Sydney, New South Wales, dated
January 30, 1820, and February 2 and 3, 1821.

" Things are so continually changing from the
increasing population and from numerous other
causes, tba-t one year scarcely bears any resem-
lance to the last. One thing is certain, we have
a blessed climate. All kinds of fruit thrive re-
markably well ; the apple-trees are loaded, but
no great variety ; the principal is a sweet apple,
of which I have eaten some very,like it in Devon-
shire. Vegetables are in great perfection and
abundance ; all our English kinds and the pota-
toes are very large and good. Their cattle are
shamefully neglected, no care taken of the breed;
they herd promiscuously together ; the conse-
quence is, they begin too young, and are visibly
degenerating : sheep iw the same way. Several of
the new settlers, I am told, are about commencing
a new system with both cattle and sheep, and,
certainly, were attention paid to the breed and
the wool, they would pay well. The prices for
them are nearly nominal, every thing being paid
for in property ; sheep they call worth a pound,
but with moneyi no doubt, they might be pur-
chased for from 15s. to 17s. The land in the
neighbourhood, and for 25 miles around Hobares
Town, is all granted to the body of new settlers,
who are now going in the neighbourhood of Port
Dalrymple, which is a very fine country, long
luxuriant grass, and quite clear of trees ; so that
.you. would have nothing to do but run your
plough through, and sow the grain, without any
felling of trees or clearing away stumps, which
must in a new country be great nuisances. The
grain is received into the Government stores at
lOs. a bushel, and they can always find a market
at that price, which is certainly not a bad one,
when you consider no rent, no taxes, no tithes,
no pcors'-rates, and a long list of eice!eras, that
grind down your English farmers."

Miss RA.E.-,-On Thursday evening we witness-
ed the representation of The Honeymoon. The part
of the Duke by Mr. H. J-DFINtiTONE, and that of
JCLliana by a young lady the daughter of the re-
gretted Mr. RAE, being her first attempt on any
stage. This young lady certainly possesses some
of the, first dramatic requisites ; with the advan-
tage of a fine figure, she combines those of an in-
telligent countenance and a melodious voice.—
Under all the timidity and embarrassment of a
first attempt, she evinced considerable talent and
drew forth much applause. We hope shortly to
have the pleasure of seeing her again with a self-
possession•that
,will enable her fully to display
the capabilities which we think she possesses.
Mrs. H. Cr,Altrct played Volante in a most pleas-
ing manner, and Mr. BRUNTON in Ro;ando was as
lively-as ever. Miss F. BRUNTON Zamora was
very interesting.—(E'rightoll Herald, fa% 7.)

FOR THE SIN.

EPISCOPAL QUESTIONS.

MR. I:Dl'f-cm—Having 'skid tlv?, defence iviiich
the Pishop of RE TEILFOROIT an made from the allegation of a
Petition to the Howe of Lordscrespeeting his Examination Ques-
tions, I did hepe that all controversy about the right, at kast,?.
.wfis at an end l, and every objection on that score laid as Atty
on the .shelf as the Petition itself was jn that flguse,:swithou'r
one dissentient voice. • _

What then was my surprise when I saw in nn Evening Paper
doubts started 'afresh upon that right, by one too professing to
be a Yorkshire incumbent. A Northern light, to want clear-
nes3 of intellect, and an incumbent, not to feel the full force of
the canons of his own church ! _ .

His most_ zealous opponents in the blouse, howesser they
might dispute the expediency, seemed to leave the right to the
Bishop,to examine, 'fOunded upon their canons. Nothing in-
deed can be plainer,more especially to a man of " justice and im-
partiality," as this incumbent professes himself, than the exist-
ence of this right by , the 48th cation, which the Bishop very
aptly tiubtes— No curate or minister shall' be permitted to
serve is any place without examination and admission of the
Bishop of the diocese, or ordinartnof the place, having episcopal
jurisdiction, in writing, under his hand and seal, having re- •
spect to the greatness of the cure and the meetness of the
party."
Here the Bishop is not only permitted, but enjoined to exa-
mine, as this incumbent himself allows, and this examina-
tion is in general terms—not confined, as he would have
it, to " literary qualifications, biblical knowledge, and general
competency of the applicants." These indeed are very fit ob-
jects of inquiry,- and such as the Bishop declares he has been
in the constant habit of inquiring into, ever since it •was his
office. But they are not the only objects; either by this or any •
other canon of the Church, or by the general practice of his
brother Prelates, who either themselves, or by their Chaplains,
anti commonly both, examine also into what has hitherto been .
considered of the first and last importance, however insignificant .
it may appear to this incumbent, theological sentiment.
In the sight of every " just and irnoartaal man" not to eau-
Mine in this, is to fail in a point which is the chief use and pair-
pose of examination, and one which so intimately concerns the
Church and the People, and the Candidate hiniself. A man
may shine pre-eminent in " literary qualifications," and be in
general competent, as far as competency in other matters de-
pends, and yet not conform, as he is required, to the articles
either in the letter, or in the spirit; and therefore, however
qualified he may be for admission into other Churches, he may
be far from being qualified for our own, and the Bishop who
admits him would fail in one important branch of his highly
important duties.
lt. is said, the examination is " to have respect to the great-
ness of tile cure, and the meetness of the party ;" but this is
only the stronger argument for inquiting into the theology of
the Candidate, and not only his " literary qualifications," &c.,
which may be highly essential to the select Preachers far the
pulpits of Cambridge or of Oxford, or any other learned
bodies, bat not to Preachers before " ignorant, illiterate con-
gregations."
With these the great qualification is sound doctrine, which
even in the most refined and enlightened will prevail snore than
all the Arabic and Algebra that ever echoed from the pulpit;
but in the more ignorant and illiberal, is absolutely indispens-
able. As it is from thence chiefly the common people catch the
tone of their religious feelings, not having either time or talent
to examine for themselves, if Ministers are proved deficient in
sound doctrine, however proficient they may be in the learned
languages, or other " literary qualifications," the flock will
follow their leader where they `can, and as they cannot follow
him in the abstruser and more recondite speculations, they •
will ramble with him in the labyrinth of errors, into which the
blind leaders of thnblind, in every age, have led them, and, no
doubt, would still continue to lead them, did not the church
sometimes interpose hct sacred shield to preserve the sheepfrom
the wily artifices, of the hireling, who, under the guise of the
shepherd, would lead
.them to other folds, and quite different
pastures.
Some have called this shield a sword ' • but if so, it is the
sword of the cherubim that was placed at the east of the garden
of -Eden, turning every way to keep the way of the tree of life.
If the hireling is admitted to the flock, all the strength of his
" literary qualifications," and his religious sentiments, are net
properly sounded ; the Bishop is responsible for all those conse-
quences which are sure to arise both to religion and morality in
to.e hearts of the people, from false doctrine.
It is to the Minister bat -the people in general look for in-
struction in the work of salvation, and notwithstanding the vain
philosophy which may infect some of the higher circles, be-
cause they will trust so much to " literary qualifications,". &c.
religion still maintains its rights in the bosom of the people,
who still follow their leaders with as much zeal as ever, at pro-
per seasons, to hear the Gospel.
In many instances they cannot read it, and in most, without
assistance,cannot rightly understand it, much less deduce a system
of opinions from it; for that they-naturally look to the doctrine
of the-Minister, the great standard of the truth to them that
cannot judge or even read for themselves. How then ought that
Minister to lock well to his own doctrine, whether it is indeed
the truth, and his Diocesan to beware lest he admit any such
to that office as cannot stand the 'test' of examination' upon a
point of such infinite importance.
In•thoseilayso when every beneficed man was "not allowed
to be a preacher," the object of episcopal inquiry. might, in the
licit orders, be confined to literary qualifications,. &c.. as those
elementary accomplishments might be thought amply sufficient
for their subordinate department, and they might be supposed
only advancing by degrees to that higher department, where
the knowledge of the book of articles of religion, to which they
subscribed, was necessary to be more matured ; and they might
be expected to be better grounded in those doctrines of the
Church, to .which those qualifications were only preparatory.
Now, however; an examination into these doctrines themselves
is become most of all essential to the interests of religion, 000 w
that every Deacon even is licensed to preach, whether beneficed
or not, and the Bishop . is in some sort responsible for the ge-
neral tenor of his sermons, particularly-now that the homilies
are discontinued, and . the youngest man in orders can deliver
his own sentiments to all kinds of congregations,,illiterate or
refined. The Bishop therefore puts him to the test of examina-
tion, which he does not set up, as he rightly observes, as any new
standard in these questions which so naturally arise from the
articles themselves, and are only meant to make the candidates
rally round them, as the banners of the faith: and ife instead
of rallying round them in their true colours, they' cause to set
up colours of their•own, and either will not follow the sense of
the church, or subscribe to its canonical regulations, they plainly
belong to another church, and therefore cannot complain of be-
ing rethsect admission into our own. These questions, as the
Bishop says, are intended to ascertain not the talents, the
doctrine of such as appear before him--sto know whether it is
conformable to the good old standard erected by the Church 'in
its articles—and therefore he justly observes, " if in subscribing
the answers it appears that a new standard is subscribed, it is the
standard of the person who answers, not of the examiner." If
. it appears new to him, the articles in the sense of the Church
also must be new and therefore to him it is an excellent
criterion of his, want of conformity—he is weighed in the balance
and found wanting.
In this, therefore, the Bishop is not only following •up hid
general right of examination, by the.. 48th Canon, but strictly
adhering to the ltfith, which is here.- quoted • against him, as
all his questions turn upon the third division to which sub-
scription is required, the " book of Article:, of Religion."—
Nor doss the Royal Declaration interfere with these questions ;
the best Divines haVe been of-opinion; that this, was issued "- to
restrain the Calvinists, who 'at the time, not finding the articles
strong enough for them, began to enlarge the meaning, and
-turn them to their own putpose,- so as to-go very far beyond the
articles ; and to prevent such freedoms aiid abuses, it was pre-
fixed to a fresh publication ; and hence the Calvinists were the
first to complain of this declaration, as abridging their liberty
of pi-caching."
This may provide against the exercise of private authority, or
even public preaching, " that may draw tine - article aside any
way," but. not against the authority of the Bishop in his own
diocese, who is delegated by the Church, and specially called
upon by one of its Canons to examine Candidates before ad-
mission, and who, so far from drawing any of the articles
aside, endeavours all he can to keep the candidate firm and
' faithful to them in their " plain, literal, grammatical sense.
If mere-subscription were sufficient in the estimation of the
Church, she never, would have commanded her Bishops to
examine. ' This examination can nev=er be instituted to any
purpose, without inquiry into the sentiments • of theology, as
tar as relates to her own articles, whith are published " to
avoid diversity of opinion, and establish consent touching true
religion." The same authority that appoints the examination,
so far from declaring against the messes, seems to declare most
positively in their favour.
If the Bishop is so appointed to examine, by what means
can he perform his duty hut by questions is These are generally
put by his Colleagues, viva voce, or' given in writing ; the only
nit crevice is, that these are sent.to the candidate's own house,
where he may enjoy all. the advantage of coolness and retire-
-ment—not labour under those obstacles to. modest merit which
all who have ever undergone a public examination must well
remember, if they have the least trace left either of merit or of
modesty. -
The quotation from Dr. Paley concerning the " priVate
opinion of the . Bishop being of no aigoideatton to the sub-
scriber," when fairly and fully considered, would be found not
to contradict this Prelate so directly as his opponent imagines ;
but it is well known that the quotation is taicen from one of
those few passages in the adgairable works of teat truly Chris-
-Can Philosopher; which ace not.. reckoned orthodox •by the

Church at large, and therefore Cannot be fairly appe,led td
any just authority by its faithiul members, or demand any
further consideration ; besides that my letter is. already t xy.
long. There is however one mistake of this incumbent which
I must not omit to rectify: if he will refer to the debate
question, he will find that t'ie Prelate declared most solemnl-,,
that it was not the object of his plan to " exclude Calvinists ;s4'
and therefore if it was " avowed," as his adversary says, it was
avodiecl by some•other voice the by the'voice of di ;
and ili4Ntever maybe the coustriNigh men may cliuse to put
npon.tkese quchions, they 'have no right tb publish it as tile
construction of the 13ishol,, more especially when we ate
favoured with his own word that he was conscious of no such
construction.

This would surely be unworthy of a man of " justice
.and
impartiality" to make another roponsible for his own error and
infirmity.

CANONICUS.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS

The following is the only business remaining
in the House of Commons

Tuesday, July 10, 1821.
NOTICE OF MOTION.

Mr. Spring Rice.—To move that the Fourteenth Repert cf
the Commissioners on Education in Ireland be printed.

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