The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-11-24 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STASTllkiiii;

CORRESPONDRIVCE.

TO TIER RDITOR OF TIM LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sin,—The Mercury, Of yesterdav, has copied from the Morninq
Chronicle an attack upon Sir R. Peel and the Lord Bishop of
London, relative to the appointment of the Rev. Thomas Dale
to the living of St. Bride's, Fleet-street, .now nearly twelve
Months since. •

With the disposition both these worthies have to vilify the
character of those who differ from them, and to abuse the church
of England, it is not a little strange that so lung a period should
have elapsed before this 't case of oppression ! was brought
before the public. It may be they are at a loss for mater►als in
their petty warfare. If so, I have no doubt the disappointed
expectants from the no►►fulfilment of Lord Brougham's pro-
mises will supply an ample store, especially if they cau prove it
to be the duty of his successors to satisfy them,' an office which,
from all accounts, would be no sinecure.
A fair statement and candid examination of the facts of the
case will, however, I conceive, reflect the greatest credit on the
Parties above alluded to.

Mr. Brougham, while attending the Temple Church in De-
cember, 1827, was struck with the abilities of Mr. Rowlett, the
reader.of the Temple, and finding his character alio well spoken
of, expressed in several quarters an anxiety for his promotion.
Not long after he became Lord Chancellor, and although
during the several years in which he held office, he had much
patronage to dispose of, still none fell to Mr. ltowlatt's lot. At
the close of last year, just previous to his lordship's retirement
horn office, the living of St. Bride's became vacant, and was
given by him to Mr. Rowlatt, although it appears the living was
net at the disposal of the Lord Chancellor.
Of Mr. It. I wish to speak with all respect, and sincerely re-
gret be should have met with any disappointment. Ile may be
a very good man, and still uut a suitable person to preside over
an extensive and populous London parish. Lord B. it is true
considered him quite adequate to undertake both charges, (St.
Bride's and the readership of the Temple ;) but as his lordship
made the mistake of presenting to a living when he had no right
to do so, it is not unreasonable to suppose he may also have
been mistaken as to Mr. efficiency. The expression, " aged
clergyman," applied to bins in the Mercury, strengthens this
supposition.
Sir It. Peel, on his accession to office, finding no legal ap-
pointment made to the living, of course undertakes to supply
• the vacancy,. Does he then appoint a relative, a friend, or a
person likely hoist his connexions to strengthen his ministry ?
No. Anxious in the best manner to fulfil his solemn trust, -he
requests, the bishop to recommend a minister capable of fulfilling
the arduous and responsible duties which would devolve on hitn.
And who is the person thus fixed upon ? A man in the prime
of life—zealous, active, talented, and pious—one of the ablest
preachers in London—and to show above all how suitad he was
to the situation, he had actually been connected with the parish,
as curate, for several years. hndeared to a people who knew,
and could best appreciate his character, acquainted with their
wants, their affectionate spiritual friend and adviser, the active
manager (and. I believe founder of several) of their charities,
cute would suppose no objections could possibly be made to an
appointment so eminently desirable. Such, however, is not the
case.' 'Tis trite the parishioners are gratified by having their
Vehived usinitterplactil- iu permanent• connexion with them.
"Pis tree the spiritual wants of a vast parish are attended to by
one who both feels the responsibility and is able to minister to
them. But—Lord Brougham is disappointed !
Truly a useful lesson may be derived from this by any candid
and unprejudiced mind.
Mr. It. may be an illtreated man, but most assuredly not by
the bishop.or Sir Robert Peel. He has I suspect found little
occasion to congratulate himself ou the judgment of his friends,
wlto have thus been the means of placing hint before the public.
The Mercury makes an absurd deduction from this, " that it
is evidently impossible for simple merit to rise to eminence in
the church of England !" 'l7he utter udnsense of this is only
equalled by its malevolence. Without referring to innumera-
ble instances daily occurring, this very case most strikingly
militates against his assertion. What else but merit raised
Mr. Dale ? But it is idle to waste time on such senseless twad-
dle, or to suppose that they who write to slander are capable of
being convinced.—Yours, &c.,
A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. OF ENGLAND.
Liverpool, Nov. 21,,1835.