The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-08-04 00:00:00

TO THE REV. CONNOP THIRLWALL, A.M., THE
INTENDED BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S.

REV. Sta,--Your name has appeared in the London Ga-
zette as the person recommended by her Majesty to .the
Precentor and Chapter of St. David's, to be by them elected
Bishop of that see ; but, before you accept the honour in-
tended for you in connexion with the principality of Wales,
permit me to submit to your serious consideration some of
the reasons for which you ought, as an honest man and a
Christian, to decline it. You are probably aware, that, ex-
cept in a small section of the county of Pembroke, the ver-
nacular language of the diocese of St. David is Welsh ;
and that the Bishop, in order to discharge the various duties
of his high and responsible office with efficiency, and to the
satisfaction of the inhabitants, must possess, in addition to
his other acquirements, a thorough knowledge of that lan-
guage. When the Great Head of the Christian Church
commissioned his apostles to " go into all the world, and
preach the Gospel to every creature," a difficulty presented
itself in the great variety of languages and dialects spoken
by different nations. This was not overlooked by the Sa-
viour, but a prompt and an adequate provision was made to
meet it. He commanded his apostles not to depart from
Jerusalem on the high behests of their commission, but wait
for the promise of the Father—the gift of the Spirit ; which
they received' on the day of Pentecost, " for they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." Thus endowed
with the gift of tongues, the apostles went forth preaching
the Gospel of God to every nation in its own vernacular lan-
guage. They began at Jerusalem, and gave a full proof of
their ability in this respect, in the hearing of strangers who
had come from distant countries to keep the feast, and who
" were confounded, because every man heard them speak in
his own language the wonderful works of God." It is con-
tended that the bishops of the present day are successors of
the apostles, but whether you concur in that opinion or not
is a matter of little importance; you must admit that it was
the will of God, of Christ, and of the Spirit, that the highest
order of ministers in the Christian church should officiate in
the language of the people—" in their own tongue wherein
they were born." And though most of our. British bishops
in modern times, to the great detriment of religion and
scandal of the church, have almost entirely laid aside this
part of the apostolic office—the preaching of the Gospel ;
and you, sir, probably intend to follow their baneful exam-
ple, with the view of coneealing as much as possible from
public notice the glaring inconsistency of your being the.
bishop and chief minister of a church the language of which
you do not understand ; yet, as Bishop of St. David's, the
following important duties will necessarily devolve upon you,
for the faithful disc4ro of which a thorough knowledge of
the Welsh language is indispensable :-
1. To decide as to the fitness of candidates for holy orders
to be entrusted with the cure of souls. The examination in
Greek and Latin, in the evidences of Christianity, and in
general biblical knowledge, through the medium of the Eng-
lish language, is soon gone through ; and if a chaplain be
employed to assist in it, you will be able to judge how
far that chaplain does ,hja duty, . and he, to consult you
in every case of difficulty ; lint the most important
qualification remains to be ascertained, viz., How far
these candidates are competent to discharge the duties of the
sacred office in the vernacular language of the parishes about
to be placed under their spiritual superintendence: for the
inhabitants of the Principality know the difference between
gibberish and pure Welsh, and when they cannot get the
latter in the churches, they leave the clergy to gibber away 1
to the empty forms, and go in a body to dissenting chapels,
where they seldom fail to hear their strong and beautiful him-
guage spoken in its purity, accompanied by some of the finest
specimens of Welsh eloquence. Finding yourself at this stage of
the proceeding, in rather an awkward and humiliating posi-
tion for a hi:hop, you will, I doubt not, resort to the old
practice of doing your work by proxy, and entrust the entire
management of the Welsh examination to a Welsh chaplain.
But of that Welsh chaplain's fitness to undertake the work
you can form no opinion, nor judge of his fidelity in conduct-
ing it. And when it is remembered that a chaplain neither
feels the responsibility of a bishop nor possesses his indepen-
dence, it is not to be expected that he should exercise the
same unbiassed discrimination amidst the pressing claims of
powerful and influential parties, as a bishop himself would do.
Experience declares that it cannot be done. But supposing
this irresponsible chaplain to be both able and disposed to do
his duty faithfully, will not the fact of his being employed in
that capacity involve the admission that your chaplain is bet-
ter qualified to fill the office of a bishop than yourself ? and
if so, I ask in the name of common sense, of justice, of equity,
and of Christian fairness, how comes it to pass, that in a free
country like this, you, the inadmissible, because incompetent
to discharge the duties of the office, 'should be invested with
it, and he who is in every respect qualified to sustain it with
dignity, efficiency, and devoted attachment to the inhabitants.
is for ever kept out of it? Does not this, Sir, appear to you
in the light of something worse than a mere political job—an
abuse of the gravest character in the administration of holy
things, where the spiritual interests of a whole nation are de-
liberately sacrificed to the promotion of a personal friend or
ministerial supporter? And need you be told, Sir, that the
practice conveys to the Welsh people, who feel the wrong
done to their church and their country, a lamentable proof
of the mercenary spirit of those English clergy who, under
such circumstances, consent to accept a bishopric in Wales ?
2. It will be your duty and privilege, as bishop, to give
away a large number of livings, and in so doing to decide on
the various merits of the respective candidates, but more
especially as to their proficiency in the native tongue ; and
also to inquire into the competency of all persons presented
to livings by the Crown to officiate in the same language.
And here the difficulties already enumerated will be increased
four fold. Curates, when found unable to do their duties
efficiently in Welsh, may be removed, and driven to seek
employment in the English parts of the British empire ; but
beneficed clergy become fixtures, and a mistake in the ap-
pointment, or collation, .is not easily remedied. Not to
say anything at present f Englishmen, persons highly con-
nected in the Principality, having received their education
principally in England, are found to have paid very little
attention to the cultivation of the Welsh language, and
though they may have entered the church in England,
yet they invariably become candidates for preferment in
Wales, in order to live near their friends, and often succeed
in obtaining some of the best crown livings. To see that no
person incapable of preaching the Word and administering
the sacraments in the language of the people be appointed to
a benefice, is the grave and solemn duty of the bishop, and
one of no ordinary difficulty ; but, from your utter ignorance
of that language yourself, you will be again obliged to act by
proxy, and call in the aid of your chaplain; and to expect a
*chaplain, on his own responsibility, to reject a successful
candidate, that can, after a few weeks study, contrive to
read a few Welsh sentences like a schoolboy, and wade in
any shape through a borrowed Welsh sermon, is unreasona-
ble: it would deprive the•eandidate of the living already
presented to him, and call forth the hatred and persecution
of his friends and connexions ; and this done in two or three
instances, the faithful chaplain would find it necessary to quit
the principality, if not for safety, certainly for peace, which
constitutes one of the most essential; ingredients of. human
happiness. This division of the duties of the episcopal office
in Wales ought never to be handed over to an individual,
who, though wishing to do right, has neither the autho-
rity nor the rank of a bishop to support him in the discharge
of his painful deliberations. The bishop alone can, in the
midst of so many embarrassing considerations, steer a true
and independent course ; and as there arc native clergy,
who, to their vast and varied acquirements in general lite-
rature and theology, add this distinguished qualification,
that they can compose, speak, and converse freely in the
native tongue, it is deeply to be regretted that not one of
these, but an alien in language, is destined to be the new
Bishop of St. David's. With a different appointment, due
attention would be paid to the spiritual interests of the
Welsh-speaking population ; the machinery of the Welsh
church would be repaired ; the working of it would be placed
in skilful hands ; and the country would hail these things as
the dawn of a glorious reform. That you, sir, who profess
reforming principles, should, by your acceptance of a Welsh
bishopric, contribute to perpetuate one of the grossest and
most deadly abuses that ever a country endured, is an event
which requires explanation : for that explanation the Welsh
people will continue to look, until, as it is to be hoped will
be the case, you fling back with high and dignified disdain
the poor bishopric of St. David, and demand a better in
England, where you may enjoy the emoluments of the see
without inflicting present and eternal injury on the inhabitants.
3. Another solemn duty of the episcopal office is the cele-
bration of the rite of confirmation. This rite will place you
in a dilemma from which you cannot escape by aid of a
proxy. With the exception of the introductory passage ex-
plaining the object of confirmation, the whole of the ser-
vice must be performed by the bishop, in accordence with
the precedent of the apostles, who alone laid hands on such
as believed and were baptized, without being introduced into
the ministerial office. Nine-tenths of the children or young
people presented for confirmation in the diocese of St. David
will know nothing of English beyond a few monosyllables,
occasionally employed in common conversation. "To the
end," therefore, " that confirmation may be ministered to
the more edifying of such as shall receive it, it is necessary
that it be ministered in the Welsh language ; " for he that
speaketh in an unknown tongue,.speaketh not unto men, but
unto God, for no man understandeth him." Now, sir, "if
you come to those children speaking in the (English) tongue,
what will you profit them ? Even things without life,
giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a
distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what
is piped or harped.? So likewise you, except you utter
by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it
be known what is spoken ? for you shall speak unto the
air." Therefore if the candidates for confirmation " know

not the meaning of the voice, they will be unto you that
speak barbarians, and you that speak, will be a barbarian
unto them." I have adopted the language of St. Paul in
reference to this point, with as few alterations as possible.
It shows in very explicit terms, not only the utter useless-
ness, but ridiculous absurdity of performing any religious
service in a language not understood by the congregation.
And the Welsh people who know more of the Bible than of
any other book, poor and illiterate as they are often repre-
sented to be, are shrewd enough to bring the practice of a
Christian bishop to the test of Holy Scripture, and point out
to merited scorn the glaring inconsistency : adding with
a snear and sarcasm most afflictive to the feelings of the
clergy,—" The rich dowry is he cause of all this." But
for the emoluments we should have bishops that could speak
to, pray for, and bless our children in their mother's
tongue ;" and they turn away in disgust from the church
which allows of such mockery in holy things. But the 24th
article of the church ought to prevent the farce. To it every
bishop has solemnly subscribed, thereby expressing his full
consent to, and approbation of the doctrine it contains, and
it declares that " it is a thing, plainly repugnant to the word
of God, and the custom of the primitive church, to have pub-
lic prayer in the church, or to minister the sacraments in a
tongue not understanded of the people." And you, sir, if
you accept the bishopric of St. David, will, in celebrating
the rite of confirmation, deliberately contradict in practice
your subscription to this article, and do in the church of God
a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God. Sir, these things
ought not to be. And the Welsh nation, roused at length to a
sense of the wrong, is beginning to declare in a voice of thunder
that it shall not be. Read the pages of the Carnarvon
Herald, the Carmarthen Journli, the Merthyr Guardian,
the Cambrian of Swansea, the Silurian of Brecon, thel Haul
of Llandovery, the Gwladgarwr of Chester, and then, sir,
consider well whether you ought to allow
yourself to be
thrust into the vacant see amidst the execrations of a brave
and loyal but long injured people. It will be the climax of
inconsistency if you do. But I PraY God to avert the evil
from my country.
I have the honour to be, sir,
your most obedient humble servant,
Liverpool, Aug. 3, 1840. :D. JAMES.

PROCESSION OF TIIE DRUIDS AND OTIIER SOCIETIES.-7
Yesterday, the several societi▪ es of ancient and modern druids
and others held their anniversary holyday. They attended
divine worship, and walked in procession through the prin-
cipal streets, in neat attire, with sashes and other handsome
decorations, and were attended by two good bands of music.
They looked remarkably well.
TuE SOCIALISTS AGAIN.—The unhappy victims to the
sensualities of Owenisin have advertised a grand gala and
ball to take place on Monday week, at their temple of
iniquity, in Lord Nelson-street. . Like needy tradesmen;
who always have an eye to " the main point," certain charges
of Is. Gd. and Is. are to be paid previous to admission ; and
those who cannot trip the light fantastic toe in the true
social style are requested to loin a class for that purpose,
the con-si-de-ra-tion for whi▪
ch is " very reasonable." The
money thus obtained is to be devoted .to the maintenance of
the preachers. of infidelity, who go about spreading false-
hoods in all directions, a circumstance of itself sufficient to
deter any sensible per Son from being a dupe to the artifice,
and towards paying the expenses of congregating the young
and thoughtless together upon this occasion. Were it not
for the excitement of these frequent displays, socialism
would soon expire.

LIVERPOOL INSOLVENT-DEBTORS' COURT.,

The court for the relief of insolvent debtors, within the
borough of Liverpool, commenced yesterday in the sessions
house, before J. G. Harris, Esq., commissioner. The list
contained the names of thirty-one parties seeking to take the
benefit of the act.

Thomas Walton, whose debts were inconsiderable, was
ordered to be discharged.
Richard Ortt, stied as Richard Hortt, was heard on his
petition. He was unopposed. He debts were of no great
amount ; the only feature of interest in the case related to
an assignment of the insolvent's property, under which a
dividend of 3s 5d had been paid. The commissioner said he
should require this assignment to be produced.
Mr. PLUMBE, the attorney for the insolvent, said he had
subpoenaed the party who had it, but he was not in court.
The COMMISSIONER inquired when the subpoena was
served ?

Mr. PLUMBE replied at nine o'clock this morning.
The CommissioNEn said it should have been served
earlier.
Mr. PLUM BE said this was the first court of the kind he
had practised in, and that must be his excuse.
_ _ _ _ _

The COMMIS TONER had no doubt Mr. Plumbe had been
in practice some years; he ought, therefore, to have known
that by act of parliament there was no difference between the
processes of this and other courts. The necessity of pro-
ducing the assignment was obvious. The creditors might
have taken 3s 5d in the pound, but he had frequently known
assignments made in which there was no release. If there
were none in this, every one of those creditors must appear
in the insolvent's schedule. He recommended Mr. Plumbe,
as a rule of practice, not to propound a schedule at all where
there was an assignment. without having a copy of the assign-
ment along with it. It never could be save. The case was
then postponed.
Bernard Murphy and Michael Riley were unopposed.
These parties had had dealings together in pigs, and their
debts were inconsiderable. A person in Blackburn was
named in Riley's schedule as owing him £5O for bacon, pigs,
&c., but on being questioned, the insolvent stated that this
person had written him a letter offering a composition of ss.
in the pound. _ . .

The.COMMISSIONER asked whtre this letter was. Had it
been filed with the schedule?

Mr. PLUMBE (the insolvent's attorney), said his clerk,
who could answer the question, was out of court serving a
subpoena, but he would be back presently.
The COMMISSIONER directed all Mr. Plumbe's cases to
stand over till Wednesday, morning.
JonaS Ainley, tailor, was opposed by Mr. JAMES, for
Messrs. Morris and Co. After a short hearing the insolvent
was declared entitled to his discharge.
_ _ _

Charles Hawkesworth was opposed by Mr. JAMES, and
supported- by Mr. VENABLES. The insolvents' debts
amounted to £lllB. It appeared that he had been engaged
in bUilding and other transactions, in the course of which
certain deeds were made relative to a houSe, furniture, and
other property at Seaforth. These deeds were mentioned in
the insolvent's achedule, but, in answer to the Commissioner,
Mr. Pr.rmsz stated that no one had been Subpoenaed -to
prove them except an accountant.
The COMMISSIONER ordered the insolvent to be committed
until the case could come properly before the court. Not a
single person had been subpamaed in a case where at least
three or four witnesses would be necessary.
Win. Ashton was opposed by Mr. VENABLES, on the part
of a number of creditors. The insolvent in this case was re-
manded for judgment for making away with property, unless
the £lOO should be paid into court, or the property given up.
—Mr. Hickson was appointed assignee.
The following were unopposed, and they were ordered to
be discharged :—Thomas Walton, Ebenezer Irwin, Richard
Wilding, Charles Nicholls, John Neale, John Wreford Hunt,'
James Downham, Win. John Scollay.
Edward Fox, who was opposed, was remanded till Wednes-
day morning, to produce Mrs. Kelly and the detaining cre-
ditor.—Joseph Salisbury was remanded till this morning
(Tuesday) to produce Mr. Ansdale.

The Commissioner having been taken unwell about one
o'clock, Mr. Venables presided for him from that hour. The
court adjourned about four o'clock.