Star.
London, England, 1831-07-18 00:00:00

RESIGNATION OF BISHOPS.

op--
From a Pamphlet os " Cuenca Rerosml " Ike.
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Much has been eloquently and much argiemen -
tatively said upon the fatigues of the episcopal
office. Visitations, confirmations, parliamentary
duties, attendance upon various boards, societies,
and committees, in which the interests of religion
are deeply concerned, have all been enumerated to
prove the office of bishop no sinecure in these days ;
in other words, that the duties of a bishop, as they
are of the highest importance, so are they of the
most laborious nature.

Nothing, however, has been said upon the
means to relieve our prelates from the weight of
these irksome duties in their declining age, when
their minds and their bodies are perishing sway,
and they are hastening on to the end of all things.
It strikes me, then, that here is the peculiar hard-
ship on the episcopal order, that calls so loudly for
remedy. A judge, a minister of the crown, a na-
val or military commander, may resign their trusts
the moment their growing infirmities or decaying fa-
culties admonish them to retire from the world and
the world's business, into the bosom of their
families. But a bishop must die with " harness
on his back."

In the early periods, however, of English bis-
tory,—in by-gone ages,—the resignation of a
prelate appears to have been settled and ratified by
clear Parliamentary authority. It was not then
thought inconsistent with equity and wisdom that
bishops, after a long and laborious life, should be
permitted to vacate their sees, in order to enjoy for
a few remaining years the repose of private life.—
I will give the formula of Archbishop Grinders
resignation.
" In the name of GOD, Amen. Before you,
the public, and authentic persons and credible wit-
nesses here present, I, Edmund, by divine provi-
dence Archbishop of Canterbury, primate and me-
tropolitan of all England, in the first plarm;•..
deprived of the comfort and sight of the eyes,
and by divers other very acute diseases and infir-
mities coming upon me, nearly deprived of life,
and perceiving, because of weakness and old age,
the body so debilitated and infirm, that I am not
able longer to sustain usefully, fruitfully,
and with dignity,the office and very heavy burden
of this great archbishoprick, and desiring to lead a
more tranquil life, and from certain other just, rea-
sonable, and legitimate causes, specially moving
me and my mind in this behalf, wishing and de-
siring to be delivered and exonerated entirely from
the burden, care, solicitude, and rule of my said
archbishoprick of Canterbury, I resign the same
my archbishoprick of Canterbury, with all its
rights, honours, dignities, prerogatives, pre-emi-
. noes, and appurtenances, with a deliberate mind,
from certain knowledge, not led by force, fear, de-
ceit, or any other sinister means, purely, freely,
!simply, and absolutely into the hands 'of the most
excellent and most illustrious Princess and Lady
Elizabeth, by the grace of GOD Queen of England,
France, and Ireland, &c. by whose singular favour
and benignity I obtained the said archbisboprick.
And I remit void by matter and word, and the
right, title, and possession, had from my predeces-
sors, in the same archbishoprick, and hitherto in

any manner come to me, I renounce, yield up, the
same, by these writings, totally and expressly re-
deliver and abdicate in all things."
But when, at the commencement of George the
Third's reign, Bishop Pearce proposed to the then
official advisers of the Grown to resign the see of
Rochester, they urged their Sovereign to put a de-
cisive negative upon his offer, on the ground of its
danger, mischievousness, and illegality. The re-
sult of this curious transaction I will convey in the
words of Bishop Newton, as it may be new to many
of your readers: " It was in the year 1763, that
Bishop Pearce, being seventy-three years old,
and having held the bishoprick of Rochester
and deanry of Westminster seven years, pro-
posed to resign them both, in order to pass the re•
mainder of his days in privacy and retirement and to
dedicate himself wholly to study and devotion. It
was contrary, however, to the entreaties of his
wife, and to the opinion and advice of Lord Bath
and all his friends, that Bishop Pearce made this
attempt; but though he persisted in it, yet at
length he could not succeed in his application for,
leave to resign his bishoprick. His Majesty's con-
sent had been given, but upon further deliberation
was withdrawn, for doubts and difficulties were
raised by some of the ministers concerning the le-
gality and propriety of resigning a bishoprick, and
the bishops generally disapproving it.
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A Bill is to be read a 'Second time, to-night, in•
the House of Coanoos, with the following title : M &minder
of Noised aed•Mueteuhewssur."