The New York herald., 1851-10-21

or Engheh Besldes the common sense which die
tates such division Of duties we may add-sl
though Bishop Boone scarcely intimates the exist
ence OF any other reasons for is sdopton-that he Il
Practised Chinese scholar, and erefore eminentlJ
qualified for missionary work. Some time ago he
distinguished himself by mastery discussion Of q
very difficult question, lying at the very root Of
translation of the Scriptures, or Of any theological
work, into Chinese What are Bishop Smiths &C
quirements in the difficulties of the great monosylla
bic, and all but symbolical language, we are no.
informed; but, judging from his attainments in the
English tongue, We should not rate his Chinese
scholarship at high value.
To this proposition of the American preate,
Bishop Smith, of Victoria, returns no answer; but
he consults the Archbishop of Canterbury, and a
body with whose metropolitan jurisdiction we are
rot acquainted-the Chur,h missionary Society.
To DR.. Sumner sit appears that the proposal Of
Bishop Boone involves difficulty which makes it
impossible for you Bishop Smith) to acce ie to his
wishes" The Church Missionary Society enter
tains "a strong objection" Bishop Smith states
that in his own view of the matter sit is not desr
able to enter upon the proposed arrangement" I"
or stepmother-Church Of England. Yet the prin-
cipe on which Bishop Boone founded his proposal
was surely one that called for q most deliberate
consideration and most courteous reply. To use
his own words, his object was sincerely to suggest
that adhere to the old canoneal regulation, not
to have two bishops in one oity"
Now, we must first remark upon the gross incivi-
lity of this whole proceeding. If Bishop Boone's
proposition was SO monstrous as to involve s'di-
Guilty" which amounted to an "impossibility," 1t
would not have been disceurteous in the Prmate of
all England, or his sufragans, to have pointed it
out to their American brother. To give no ex-
PLANTATION, to offer no counter-project, is simple
Iudeness on the part of the English church. We
have practically shown Bishop Boone the door,
without any diplomatic circumlocution at all. As
regards the "dficulty," !since we are only left to
conjecture, it is not our fault if the Archbishop and
the secretaries Of the church Missionary Society
permit us to fall upon an incorrect solution Of what
otherwise looks inscrutably mysterious. In Lord
Palmerstons letter the residents at Shanghae were
warned not only against Bishop Smith, but against
"any other bishop" Could this "any other
bishop" be Bishop Boone2 1t seems SO. And
could Bishop Smith have come to an understanding
with the foreign Office Does Bishop Smith submit
to be snubbed himself, provided lhe can get the
Foreign Secretary to insult Bishop Boone at the
same time? Or is it that, after all, Lord Palmer
ston-sick of the whole affair, and disgusted at
Bishop Smith for lording it over Bishop Boone
thought it would shorten matters to set up his own
claims as paramount to those Of the discordant
bishops Has Bishop Smith insolence precipitated
Bishop Palmerston's tyranny? Is it the military
dictator settling conflict Of factions Anyhow,
not even polite enough to hand the shells to Victo-
ria and Shanghae respectively but filings them at
the bishops, not without an ugly grimace. Or,
again was i IN deierenSe to the pa%siso1 claims
vincble "im mpossibility Was a Dowsing street
rescript necessary before our preates could recog
Mise the existence of an American bishop! Or did
the missionary claims stand in the way? Is Lord
Falmerston, under the consular act, ordinary
tn partibus tnfdeltum as we'll as superintendent Of
British congregations!
Emerging, however, from this wide sea of con-
lecture as TO the political bearings of this matter
thing is very plain in its ecclesiastical relations
namely, that Archbishop Sumner and Bishop
Smith have passed grievous slight on the whole
American Church, its episcopate and its rights, in
the person of Bishop Boone. OF this, as placing
q H. .l.s Nk.r~n 10. Cal
strongly complain. Until contrary reasons are pro-
duced, we maintain that the American bishops
offer was fair and reasonable one-certainly one
rot to be dismissed with coptumely. On the other
hand, the position of the English bishops has
very Erastian look, as though we weretse dignifed
to treat with any dis established, other than Act
of Parliament, Church The incident has even q
more melancholy, because more serious impor-
communion" is matter Of mere words, and looks
very like sham. Bishop Boone Is fully empow-
cred by tho whole Anglo American Church-he
speaks our own language, and holds the doctrines of
our own Church. But we will not entrust our peo-
pie to him and his clergy; and, sooner than per-
NIT the Chinese to be converted by him, we prefer
setting up mission against mission, altar against
altar, Church against Church-and all for the sake
of showing that we are too proud, or too State
ridden. to recognise the existence Of Church
which is our own daughter. So long as intercom-
munion was matter Of paper and talk, Caater-
bury made civil, If a distant, bow to Washing
4
action, we shrink into insular-insolence shall
we call it, or imbecilityl We cannot think that
the American Church, which has a corporate and
synodcal existence, will permit this matter to pass
OF without serious and dgnifed remonstrance to
Lambeth.
The ConsciIs-0enersux OF France and the
Constitution.
From the London Times, Sept. IL
OF the eighty Eve ConSeiLs- Generdur which have
just completed their annual deliberations in the
departments Of France, seventy nine have, under
one form or another recorded their desire that the
present constitution of the republic sheuld be
revised and altered; two rejected proposition made
to them to the same effects three refused to enter
tain political questions not strictly within their
legal functions; only, that of Vaucluse, demand
ed that the constitution should be partially revised
with a view to the consolidation Of republican insti
tutions. On the other hand, in the deI srtment Of
the Loire lnferieure, aresoution was carried directly
favorable to the restoration Of hereditary and trad
tionai monarchy, and the gentlemen Of Brittany
thus took the lead once more in the most open deca-
ration Of fidelity to the crown and hostility to the re-
public IL these discussions to be regarded as
fair trial of strength and correct expression Of the
convictions and opinions now porvading the French
nation, they exhibit the most extraordinary state oil
affairs we ever remember to have witnessed. Here
is powerful, free, and enlightened country, living
under institutions entirely the result Of its own votes
and the work Of its representative and profess
ing 10 exercise, by universal suffrage, absolute
control its own destines In which, nevertheless,
upon consulting the whole nation IN tsprovncial as
sembes, not department can be fosnd distinctly
to express its confidence satisfaction In the exist
ing form Of government, and an immeps. majority
has not hesitated to affirm an absolutely opposite
principle. II may safely be inferred hat the Sc
venty nine departments which voted Tor wha.
Is termed the revision Of the constitution with no
qualification In Iayor Of republican government,
did in fact vote for something different from the
republic and although 1t might be difhcult or
impossible i'm most cases to define By an equally
large majority what that something Is, yet have
this undeniable fact-that the people Of France are
living under institutions which 16-17tbs Of them
condemn and repudiate as adverse to their public
interests and repugnant to their personal tastes.
IL s not easy to perceive what fair or practical reply
can be made by the organs and leaders Of the re-
publican party to this overwhelming demonstration
Of opinion for either the republic is the govern
ment Of public opinion or IL Is nothing, and It's very
existence must come to end when the fears II has
nspred or the delusions il has created slayed
or iourd out. II is impossible TO conceive that q
great nation will permanently submit TO be 60
yerps nv institutioDs which are thus as<ailed on