The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-17 00:00:00

NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE.

FRIDAY, FEB. 14.
Leeds and Think Railway—Committee on Petition, Tues-
day Feb. 25.
Barnsley Junction Railway—Committee on Petition, Tues-
day, Feb. 25.
Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction Railway—Committee
on Petition, Tuesday, Feb. 25.
York and North Midland (Goole Branch) Railway—Com-
mittee on Petition, Tuesday, Feb. 25.
London, Worcester, and South Staffordshire Railway—
Committee on Petition, Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Manchester, Bury, and Rossendale (Heywood Branch)
Railway—Committee on Petition, Tuesday, Eeb. 25.
Bridgwater Navigation and Railway—Committee on Peti-
tion, Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Guildford, Chichester, and Portsmouth Railway—Com-
mittee on Petition, postponed from Monday, Feb. 17, till
Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Sou ru DEVON RAILWAY.—Great progress is being
made with the works of this undertaking in St. Thomas.
The stone arches over Okehampton -street and Alphington-
street are completed, while that over Cowick-street is in a
state of great forwardness. The ballast along the line is
nearly laid for a considerable length, and no doubt is enter-
tained but that it will be ready for opening at the time ap-
pointed, should nothing unforeseen interfere with the laying
of the rails and the atmospheric apparatus. Great credit ap-
pears to be due to Messrs. Carpenter and Chesterfield, the
contractors fur this portion of the line, for the efficient and
expeditious manner in which they have carried on the works.
Woolmer's Exeter Gazette.

The Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of
Commons commenced his Parliamentary dinners on Saturday
last, at the Right Hon. Gentleman's mansion in Eaton-
square. As customary at the first of these Parliamentary
entertainments, the leading members of the Government in
the House of Commons were invited. The company present
included the Earl of Lincoln, Earl of Jermyn, Lord Arthur
Lennox, Lord Charles Wellesley, Lord Ernest Bruce, the
Right Hon. H. L. Corry, the Right Hon. Henry Goulburn,
the Right Hon. Sir George Cockburn, the Right Hon. Sir
James Graham, the Judge-Advocate, Sir Thomas Fremantle,
Sir George Clerk, the Attorney-General for Ireland, the Lord
Advocate, the Hon. Capt. Gordon, the Hon. W. Bingham
Baring, the Hon. H. Manners Sutton, the Solicitor-General,
Mr. G. W. Hope, Mr. H. Baring, Mr. Young, Mr. Pringle,
and Mr. Cardwell. Sir R. Peel was prevented from dining
witk the Speaker, the Right Hon. Baronet having received
her Majesty's commands to repair to Brighton. Rear-Ad-
miral Bowles, Lieut.-Col. the Hon. Dawson Darner, Mr.
Miles Gaskell, and Mr. Greene, were unavoidably absent.
RESTORATION OF THE PORTLAND VASE.—At the
meeting of the Society of Antiquarians on the 13th inst.,
the recent demolition of the Portland vase, in the British
Museum, was adverted to. Mr. Windus said it was some
consolation to them and to the public that the miscreant
had not succeeded to the full extent of his wish. It was
but too true that nothing could restore to them the vase
itself ; but genuine copies had fortunately been made. Tho
late Pichler, the eminent engraver of gems, struck with its
beauty, moulded the vase at Rome. This mould was put
into the hands of Mr. Tassi ; and after a certain number
(only a few) of casts were made, it was destroyed. The
Marquis of Exeter, Mr. A. Pellatt, and he himself (Mr.
Windus), possessed copies. Sir Henry Ellis stated that the
British Museum had also one of these copies, which would,
as early as possible, be exhibited to the public. The vase
by Wedgewood, it appears, is only a modern copy, and not
cast from the original. Sir Henry Ellis also stated that the
vase had not sustained so much injury as was expected ;
that the principal figures were preserved, and persons ef-
ploied in the Museum would be able to put it togeth levees
this Right Hon. the Speaker will hold two eve
this session, the first on Saturday, the Ist, and the second on
Saturday, the Bth of March.
—This Society
HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON.ason on Saturda
held their first general meeting
last, at the Clarendon Hotel, ewfor.ittohne se
et
-street, Lieutenanty -
General Sir James Macdonell, President, in the chair. The
dinner was served up magnificent
in elegant, indeed St e,
h cest description. The evening
passed off in the mo
and the wines were otfctohnevc o
ivial and social manner, bringing
back to the recollections
of many present the days of "Auld
lang svne."
Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the
town of Pontypool, in the parish of Trevethin, containing a
population of more than 15,000 persons, has not had the
benefit of a money-order office extended to it. We think
this must be an oversight of the Post-office authorities.
DEATH OF JAMES BISCHOFF, ESQ.—WO announce.
with sincere regret the death of this excellent and amiable
man, the author of the " History of the Woollen and Worsted
Manufactures," and of several valuable pamphlets, intended
to promote' the repeal of the wool duty and the corn-
laws. Mr. Bischoff was a Leeds man, brother of the late
Thomas Bischoff, and brother-in-law of the Messrs. Stans-
field. Though settled in London, he was connected by trade
with Yorkshire, and he was one of the most zealous, inde-
fatigable, prudent, and enlightened promoters of the repeal
of the mischievous duty on foreign wool. Mr. Bischoff was
possessed of extensive mercantile and statistical information,
and such was the known soundness of his judgment that he
was often consulted by Mr. Huskisson and other Ministers
at the Board of Trade. Mr. Bischoff was a sound Whig, and
ardently attached to civil and religious liberty. Jr! priv.ate
he was respected and beloved for his kindliness, sincerity,
and rectitude; and to his widow and numerous fancily the
loss is irreparable.—Lfedi Xercury.

vj

-- -
OXFORD CONVOCAtiOIt.
LETTER FROM MR. WARD.
College, Feb. 1 &
• Mr. Vice-Chancellor,—l entertain so mach respect foi !the
authority of the House of Convocation, wken acting wi thin
its legitimate province, that I think a staten:enurnvt unity
t of_ the rea.
sons which led me to consider my positior; 10 tr,e i
iue to,
morally unaffected by what has passed to-day, is You
and to all those who have been instrumental in pl. "W
the censure voted against me. Of course lam not IN, lr
ferring to the act of degradation, the validity of which ViIK.
be the subject of legal decision. I refer to the former of the :t
two resolutions passed in convocation ; a resolution which, ~.
as it in effect pronounces certain theological propositions
published by me (and to which I firmly adhere), inconsist-
ent with the Thirty-nine Articles, might seem, at first eight,.,
to impose upon me the obligation of voluntary retirement.,
from all those rights and privileges within the University,.
for which subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles is a quali-
fication. Could Ibe satisfied that convocation is the true
"imponens" of the Articles upon members of the University,
so as to be capable ef authoritatively determining the sense
in which they ought to be subscribed, I should not be dis-
posed to inquire how far subscription is necessarily Lobe con-
sidered a continuing act, nor should I hold myself at liberty
to subscribe any longer in the sense which convocation has
repudiated. I should in that case at once relinquish my
position in the University.
But I think it will be obvious to every one, that my duty,
under such circumstances, must depend essentially upon the
question, whether convocation is the true imposer and the
competent interpreter of subscription, or not. If not, it is
plainly beyond the power of convocation, either by the ge-
neral condemnation of any particular modes of interpreting
the Articles, or by the express condemnation of that sense Its
which I myself subscribe, to acquire any moral authority
over my conduct in this respect.
If convocation cannot rule affirmatively the sense in which
members of the University shall subscribe, it necessarily fol-
lows that convocation cannot rule negatively the sense in
which members of the University shall not subscribe. Now
it is well known that the question, whether convocation is
legally capable of requiring members of the University to
declare that they subscribe the Articles in a particula: sense,
has been lately the subject of consideration by legal auLlinri-
ties ; and it has been held by those authorities (nor, as fax' a 3
I know, has it been disputed by others) that the Articles are:
imposed, and the sense of subscription determined, by thm
law of the land; and that the judges of ecclesiastical courts
alone have the power authoritatively to declare that sense,.
while the Supreme Legislature alone has the power ef alter-
ing or adding to it. Under these circumstances, great and
sincere as is my respect for the House of Convocation, I can.
not feel that any obligation whatever is laid upon me, in
consequence of the events of this day, to act for the future
upon any different view of subscription to the Articles, from
that on which I have hitherto acted, and which is expressed
in my work and pamphlets.—l remain, Mr. Vice-Chancellor,
your faithful servant,

WILLIAM GEORGE WARD.
OXFORD, FEB. 14.—Mr. Frederick Oakeley, Senior Fellow
of Balliol College, has addressed the following letter tcr the
Vice-Chancellor, in connexion with these proceedings:—
" Balliol College, Oxford, Feb. 14, 1845.
" Mr. Vice-Chancellor,—The vote of convocation upon they
two propositions submitted to it at the meeting of yesterday,
seems to make it imperative that I should address a few
words to you with the view of clearing my position in the
University.
" I am anxious then to draw your attention to the follow-
ing passage in the preface to a pamphlet which I forwarded
to you about six weeks ago, and which you acknowledged by
return of post with that courtesy and kindness which I have
ever experienced at your bands:—
" I have no wish to remain a member of the University,
or a minister of the Church of England, under false colours.
I claim the right which has already been asserted in another
quarter, of holding (as distinct from teaching) all Roman doc-
trine, and that, notwithstanding my subscription to the
Thirty-nine Articles.'—(Subject of Tract XC. historically
examined, &c. Preface, p. xiii.)
" In a Tract which I put out during the last fortnight, I
have stated that these words were published with the fullest
deliberation.' I appropriated and repeated them in that
Tract ; and here, with the same deliberation and distinct-
ness, I again appropriate and repeat them.
" A statement on the subject of subscription tantamount,
in substance, to the above is made, as I need hardly say, in
the course of the extracts from The Ideal of a Christian
Church,' upon which convocation yesterday expressed an
opinion. And, as it must also be unnecessary for me to ob-
serve, it is to this statement that I refer in the above passage
where I speak of the right which I claim having been already
asserted in another quarter.'
" This right having been apparently called in question by
the vote of yesterday, it seems to me quite necessary, with
a view to the defence of my own position, that I should
publicly state in what light I regard that vote.
" I consider it, then, as expressing a certain opinion upon
a series of extracts from a particular work, comprehending a
variety of statements, my agreement with which I am in no
way called upon either to affirm or deny, except in the single
instance, relating to the question of subscription to the
Articles, in which I have already declared that I take pre-
cisely the same view of the case with Mr. Ward. Had the cen-
sure of Mr. Ward been limited to the single point of his state-
ment upon the subject of subscription to the Articles, the case
(as far as this part of my argument is concerned) might have
been otherwise. But as this statement is only involved in a
commendation with a variety of others, it is impossible, as I
conceive, to determine whether, in the minds of the proposers
and ratifiers of the measure, all the extracts are considered
to be at variance with the' good faith' of the author's sub-
scription, or only some of them, and if some only, then which
in particular of the whole number. I consider, therefore, that
convocation, in expressing an opinion upon these passages,
has by no means necessarily made any declaration with re-
spect to the question of subscription in particular, so as to
affect those, who, like myself, while appropriating Mr.
Wards's view of subscription, do not appropriate (nor yet
disclaim) other sentiments expressed in the selected pas-
sages.

But if, in the judgment of the Board over which you
preside, and of the Rouse of Convocation, I have rendered
myself personally liable to penalty by the declarations above
cited, I am anxious' not to shelter myself' (as I say in my
pamphlet) under the cover of supposed differences, as to
this matter of subscription, from others who have been di-
rectly assailed.'—(Pretace, p. xii.) If, on the other hand,
I am allowed, after this plain and public declaration of my
sentiments, to retain my place in the University, I shall re-
gard such acquiescence as equivalent to an admission, on the
part of the academical authorities, that my own subscription to
the Thirty-nine Articles is not at variance with goodjaith.'
" lint I am here arguing upon the assumption that the
house of Convocation has a power to determine in what sense
members of the University shall, or shall not, subscribe the
Articles. I wish it, therefore, to be distinctly understood
that my argument so far has been purely one 'ad homines.'
I reserve to myself the power of disputing, if necessary, and
at the proper time, any such claim on the part of convoca-
tion. I consider myself to receive the Articles at the hands
of the University, solely as an organ and representative of the
Church of England, and, inasmuch as the Church of England
has nowhere declared against the sense in which I claim to
subscribe them, I accept them under no other limitations than
those which are imposed by my own conscientious belief
of their grammatical meaning, and the intention with which
they were at first put out, and are now proposed to me by
the Church of which I am a member.

" It is necessarily difficult, as I am sure yen will perceive,
to word a document of this nature so explicitly as its very
purpose requires, without the appearance of presumption as
well as disrespect. I assure you that I would gladly have
embraced a different alternative, had any one presented
itself, which seemed to me equally consistent with duty both
to the University and to myself. But I am deeply and
deliberately- satisfied that the course of frankness, whatever
present inconveniences or miscontructions it may entail, is
at once the kindest, and the fairest, towards all parties, as it
is undoubtedly also that which is most agreeable to my own
feelings. And I hope that this course will at least have the
effect of clearing from the very suspicion of insincerity, those
assurances of personal respect towards yourself with which
lam most conscientiously able to accompany it.—l have the
honour to be, Mr. Vice• Chancellor, your faithful humble
servant, " FREDEILICK OAKELEY

" Senior Fellow of Balliol College.
"The Rev. the Via-Chancellor, &c."

* A Few Words to Members of Convocation, on Mr. Ward's Case.

A St. Petersburgh letter of the Ist informs us of the
death of Admiral Greig, in that city, on the 30th ult.
LEWES, SATURDAY EVENING.—Mr. George Baring
Kemp, the Liberal candidate, who, for the last three days,
has been canvassing this borough, has this afternoon sent in
his resignation. Lord Dillon was the bearer of the commu-
nication to Mr. Fitzroy's committee. From the moment of
Mr. Kemp's first appearance here there was not a shadow of
chance for him. There is a split amongst the Whig party, in
consequence of some of the leading men wishing to let Mr.
Fitzroy walk over the ground now, in order to conciliate the
Conservatives, and get an easy seat for one Whig at the next
election. There prevails a sonsiderable feeling of dissatisfac-
tion in the borough in consequence of this proceeding. There
electors who vote from principle feel that their franchise has
been nullified by this onesided attempt at compromise, for
such is the effect, call the proceedings by what name you.
will. The nomination will take place on Monday, and, of
course, the Ifon. Henry Fitzroy will be elected without op-
position. A band is parading the town this evening.
THE ATMOSPHERIC BAILWAy.—We understand
that Mr. Cubitt, the English engineer, has visited the esta-
blishment of M. liallette, of Arras, near Calais, and inspected
his new plan of atmospheric railway ; and that Mr. Cubitt
has expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the plan, and
has declared that he shall warmly advocate its
adoption in
England.—Leeds Mercury.
RETIRED NAVY LIST.--We have heard from a
source generally well-informed, that it is the intention of
Government to make a retired list for the navy in
_all its
grades—after each officer has reached his 60th year.—fictrap.
shire Ind4pendent.
g . . vinegar
practice which
into this
FOREIGN VINEGAR.—The Commttishrsee:oners of the
Customs
tusptroems
present
ht avi
prevailsn h a had
in
under considerationrtaning th e. s
uwpointh Ir'sefeirmenricoertatotion
country, and being of opinion . the low rate
for duty by the acetometer,
of duty chargeable upon that article, that the scale referred
to ill their minute of the 22d of September, 1843, relative to
the partial examination at this port of goods entered to be
warehoused for foreign exportation only, might with ad-
vantage be made applicable to the number of casks of vine. gar
o;fl2e atcohlmB,a3rhp,alckpaagckesa;gen;
to 26.
,2oprae under,ka ges
• gla
r
to be tried, for ascertaining the strength thereof,
viz. :
6 everytol 15 ipnaccl uksaigvees,
4 packages; 27 to 35, 5 packages ' • 36 to 45, 6 packages ; 46
to 56, 7 packages ; 57 to 68, 8 packages
ages ; 82 to 95, 10 packages • 96
; 69 to 81, 9 pack-
, to 110,11 packages ; and at
the rate of one in ten of all above that number. It has been
resolved that the same be ad •
opted accordingly in all cases
where no material variation of strength shall be found to
exist ; but where such variation shall be considerable, the
whole of the casks bearing the same mark be tested, and the
particulars thereof recorded. And directions have been
given to the officers at this port, and the collectors and con-
trollers of the several outports of the kingdom, to govern
themselves in future accordingly.
PRINIITIVE DWELLINGS.—In a court, or " wynd,"
as it is locally termed, in Leonard-gate, within a hundred
yards of the spacious mansion of an ex-mayor, may be seen
a couple of curious tenements, one inhabited by a small coal-
dealer, and the other by a retail sandman. Both are con-
structed of " raddle and daub" (Anglice—sticks and mud),
and differ in no material respect from an Indian wigwam,
save that the coal-dealer's has a more aristocratic entrance.
the body of an old post-chaise doing duty as porch. The
upper part of the court is rented by these two men, and the
grotesque erections alluded to are the work of their own
hands. Each has a wife and family, and in this latter term
may be included the sandman's horse, who, Arab-fashion,
sleeps in the same apartment with the wife and children of
his master.—Lancaster Guardian.
THE MIDLAND RAILwAY.—
In consequence of the
late accident on this railway, we understand that several alterations.
t l yed b
de in the staff or ser, an s emp 0 y
and additions have been ma
nal porters have been engaged at the
the Company.
. ~T,7 "diti'lleeston the boy has been removed, and
and at
Nottingham 5,..-° • At Attenborough since the gates were
his place supplieu by a man. . . ,
vh
n .d by the London down tiain, the N% oman a o had the care of
smashed by
been discharged, and a man also appointed there. The
number of servants is therefore now precisely the tame as it was be..
fire the am algamati t7ll.—atilmfitant ktkraal,

14,1,
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