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coarse and vulgar, and rather spoil than improve the taste. The notes profess to be principally on subjects of geography, history, botany, &c., and in general are so, and seem to contain a good deal of information. But as the editor takes upon himself to decide very authoritatively on interpretations also, one would wish to know his

name.

MISCELLANEA.

AN ADDRESS TO CONGREGATIONS OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ON THE DEVOTIONAL USE OF THE CHURCH SERVICE.* It appears to be a fault in the character of the religion of our day, that too exclusive importance is attached to preaching, to the neglect of the other part of the DIVINE SERVICE. Yet, needful as it is that we should hear of Jesus Christ and his salvation from the pulpit, this is certainly not more needful than that we should have "communion with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ," in prayer and in the holy Eucharist. The congregational use of our highly-prized liturgy could not fail very much to promote such communion. Every one must feel the great difference of the church service when it is merely read over by the minister and the clerk in the hearing of the congregation, and when it is used in behalf of and with the congregation,-all feeling their interest in the prayers and praises, and all evincing that interest by cordially and audibly uniting in the responses.

If such were our practice, the service of our church would no longer be regarded as cold and formal, and the best answer would be furnished to those who may bring this accusation against it.

It is therefore earnestly to be desired that each worshipper would charge it upon himself, or herself, as an imperative duty, to promote, as far as pos

sible the devotional character of our service :

First. By diligently attending to the directions of the RUBRIC.

Secondly. By repeating all the responses, not omitting the "AMEN" at the end of each prayer, in an audible voice.

Thirdly. By joining in the SINGING, with the best endeavour to produce devotional harmony.

Let every one feel that this is not a trivial matter, but one which is worthy of the effort; that we may with one heart and with one mouth glorify God our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ROMANIST SUPPRESSION OF BOOKS IN THIS COUNTRY. ROMANISTS have, beyond all question, a very large share of the wisdom of the children of this generation. They know the weak parts of human character well, and take advantage of them all. For example, we take for granted that if a book is once published it can be of no use to buy up the copies, as some two or three at least will escape, and so the matter will come before the world. This will be true in one instance, while in ninety-nine others the indolence of mankind is such, that if the book is fairly out of their sight it will never be heard of again. The Romanists know this well, and if there is a really dan

The above Address has been circulated with good effect among the members of the author's congregation (Rev. W. Dodsworth's), and is now printed and sold at a cheap rate for distribution in the pews of churches and chapels. They may be had in any quantity at the publishers.

gerous book to their cause, they regularly but very quickly buy it up. Two instances have occurred within the writer's own observation. Mr. Mendham, to whom the world owes so much for many of his publications, republished a letter of one Watson, a Romanist priest, in Elizabeth's reign, in which he fairly avowed that for the first ten or twelve years of that reign no one had been persecuted for religion, and that till the Jesuits came and introduced all sorts of treasonable conspiracies, the government was quite tolerant. The facts stated both for Elizabeth's government, and against the Jesuits, are certainly very strong, and in consequence the book cannot be got.

Again, Berrington's Memoirs of Panzani, which was noticed in this Magazine, seven or eight months ago, at full length, and is a most curious account by a Romanist of Romanist proceedings in Charles the First's reign, has entirely disappeared now; whereas some years ago, when notice had not been called to it, it was a drug. Watson's letter, which is short, should again be republished. It is a most valuable historical document.

DOCUMENTS.

BIRMINGHAM.

SIR, I have to apologize to you and to your readers, for a blunder committed in my letter respecting Church Accommodation in Birmingham, which appeared in your last number. It is there stated, that the parliamentary returns give to the church of St. Philip accommodation for 3900 persons. Upon more accurate examination, I have discovered that the return is, for the parish of St. Philip, which includes 2000 seats in St. Peter's, according to the old arrangements before that church was burnt down; consequently, 2000 should be deducted from the 2170, the return given in St. Peter's. This error I was led into by St. Peter's not being mentioned by name in the parliamentary document. It, however, only tends to make my statement still stronger; for had I not committed this blunder, the statistical account would have been as follows:

Population of Birmingham, 1831
Increase of 19 per cent

Church Accommodation for

142,206

27,018

169,224

61,932

107,292

Leaving nearly two-thirds of the whole population unprovided for.
Your obedient servant, W. RILAND BEDFORD.*

INCORPORATED SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE ENLARGEMENT,
BUILDING, AND REPAIRING OF CHURCHES AND CHAPELS.
A Meeting of this Society was held at their chambers in St. Martin's Place,
on Monday, the 21st March; the Archbishop of Canterbury in the chair.
There were present the Archbishop of York, the Bishops of London, Win-
chester, Lincoln, Chester, Bangor, Exeter, Carlisle, Rochester, Gloucester, and
Bristol, S. and C. Bosanquet, Ñ. Connop, jun., G. Bramwell, H. J. Barchard,
Esqrs., Archdeacon Pott, J. Cocks, W. Cotton, W. Davies, Joshua Watson, J.
S. Salt, Esqrs., Rev. H. H. Norris, J. Lonsdale, Dr. Doyly, &c.

The rest of Mr. Bedford's letter shall be given in the next number.

Among other business transacted, grants were voted towards building galleries in the church at Odiham, in the county of Southampton; at Southwold, Suffolk, and Otley, Yorkshire; repewing the church at Hayes, Kent; Kilpeck, Hereford; Norbury, Derby; St. John, Brecon; increasing the accommodation in the church of Feering, in the county of Essex; building churches in Clarence-street, Regent's-park; and at Weston, Somerset; enlarging, by rebuilding the body of the church of St. Nicholas, Guildford, in the county of Surrey; building chapels at East Donyland, in the county of Essex; at Out Rawcliffe, in the parish of St. Michael-on-Wyre, in the county of Lancaster; at Dissington and Bells Close, in the parish of Newburn, county of Northumberland; at Copt Oak and Woodhouse Eaves, in Charnword Forest; at Broadheath, Hallow, Worcestershire; at Dacre, Rippon, Yorkshire.

SECOND REPORT OF THE CHURCH COMMISSIONERS. Second Report from his Majesty's Commissioners appointed to consider the state of the Established Church in England and Wales, with reference to Ecclesiastical Duties and Revenues.

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

WE, your Majesty's Commissioners, appointed by Commissions bearing date the 4th day of February and the 6th day of June 1835, to consider the state of the Established Church in England and Wales, with reference to Ecclesiastical duties and revenues; having pursued the inquiry thereby committed to us, humbly present to your Majesty this our second Report.

In the remarks which we are about to submit upon the mode of carrying into effect, with some modification, the measures already recommended by us, we shall follow the arrangement adopted in our first Report to your Majesty, bearing date the 17th day of March 1835, and class our observations under the heads of

Territory and Revenue.-On the subject of Episcopal PATRONAGE we have at present no additional remarks to offer. The question is one of considerable intricacy; and we propose to make it the subject of a distinct Report. Any general rule which we should attempt to lay down, would be liable to so many exceptions as to render it of little practical use. second part of this Report we shall have occasion to recommend some changes in the exercise of patronage belonging to deans and chapters.

In the

Territory.-Objections have been made to two of the propositions submitted by us to your Majesty under this head; viz. to the union of the dioceses of Llandaff and Bristol; and to the separation, from the diocese of Winchester, of those parishes in the county of Surrey which it is proposed to place under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London.

With respect to the former of these propositions; when the union of the sees of Llandaff and Bristol was recommended, we were not insensible to the inconveniences attending that union; and the representations which have since been made to us against it have operated so strongly on our minds, as to induce us, on reconsideration, to relinquish that plan. We now recommend that the city and suburbs of Bristol should be united to the diocese of Bath and Wells; and that the remaining part of the diocese of Bristol, situate in the county of Gloucester, should be added to the diocese of Gloucester.

If this recommendation is adopted, that part of the county of Glamorgan which is now in the diocese of St. David's may properly be added to that of Llandaff; as well as those parts of the counties of Monmouth and Brecon which are specified in our first Report.

With respect to the proposed transfer of certain parishes in the county of Surrey from the diocese of Winchester to that of London; the advantages which will result from placing the metropolis and the suburban parishes under one jurisdiction appear to us to outweigh any inconvenience which can be apprehended from this arrangement.

We are of opinion also, that the bishoprick of Sodor and Man may, without inconvenience, he united to that of Carlisle as the Isle of Man contains only eighteen parishes, over which the Archdeacon, who is resident, and has a respectable income, can exercise an effectual superintendence.

Minor objections have been made to other parts of the proposed territorial division of dioceses, which it is not necessary now to specify; for with regard to this, and indeed to most of the measures, which, in the discharge of our duty, we have recommended, or may have to recommend, to your Maj sty, it will be requisite, for the purpose of carrying them fully into effect, that permanent authority should be vested in some persons, to be named in any Act of Parliament which may be passed for sanctioning those measures; who may be capable of inquiring into details more fully than would be convenient for your Majesty in council, with whom, we apprehend, the ultimate sanction will rest.

The new division of dioceses will render necessary a corresponding change in the arrangement of archdeaconries. We have annexed a scheme, which supposes the erection of six

DOCUMENTS.

additional archdeaconries, and which will involve the necessity of a change in the territorial limits of some already existing. Jurisdiction should also be given to such of the archdeacons as are at present merely nominal officers.

We have said nothing respecting the future arrangement of rural deaneries, conceiving that it will be most advantageously settled by the Bishops of the several dioceses, power being given to them for that purpose: but it is proper to remark, that if the rural deans are to be efficient officers, as we think they ought to be, it will be desirable that they should receive some small annual payments, sufficient to defray the expenses incurred by them in their visitations.

With respect to the time at which the proposed territorial changes should take place, some may be effected immediately, with the consent of the Bishops concerned; others, as for instance those which relate to the formation of the two new dioceses, cannot be effected, except as particular vacancies shall occur, nor until the funds necessary for carrying them into execution shall become available. This brings us to the second head of the Report, viz.

Revenue. The tables of the episcopal incomes, already published, having been framed upon an average resulting from the receipts of the three years, ending with the year 1831, and from the statements of the respective Bishops as to the probable future receipts, we have thought it expedient to apply for returns of the actual incomes of the several sees, during each of the seven years, ending with the year 1835; for the purpose of enabling us to form a more correct estimate. At present our calculations are necessarily grounded upon the tables published in our first Report; according to which the average annual revenue of all the sees will be about 148,8751.; a sum sufficient to provide incomes for all the Bishops, including those of the two new sees, without the addition of any preferment in commendam; and thus to accomplish one of the objects recommended by your Majesty to our consideration.

But the peculiar manner of leasing the episcopal estates throws great difficulties in the way of carrying into effect the arrangement suggested in our first Report.

If the estates were let at rack rent, so that each Bishop might receive, every year, about that which is stated to be his average annual income, it would be easy, upon the occurrence of a vacancy in one of the richer sees, to require the future Bishop to pay a certain annual But the great variation, which occurs in sum towards the augmentation of the poorer sees. the episcopal incomes, from year to year, according as a greater or less amount of fines is received, presents an obvious difficulty.

One mode of rendering those incomes less uncertain would be, to allow the existing leases, both for lives and for terms of years, to expire. But any plan for accomplishing this object must involve the necessity of borrowing money upon the security of the episcopal estates, in order to compensate the Bishops for the loss of the fines which accrue to them under the present system, and which form an important part of their incomes. The practical result of such an operation would be, to transfer to the parties lending their money, that interest in the episcopal estates, which is now possessed by the lessees. We are not therefore prepared to recommend the adoption of any general measure, for allowing the leases for lives and terms of years to expire; although for the purpose of correcting, in some degree, the inconvenience now arising from the great variations in the annual amount of the episcopal incomes, we recommend that facilities should be afforded for the conversion of leases for lives into leases for terms of years.

In order to give a clearer view of the financial part of the subject, we subjoin a statement, shewing the present amount of the incomes of the larger sees, and the reduction which it is proposed to make in them.

Estimated
Income.
According to the

Future proposed
Income.

Excess.

First Report.

£.

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15,000

2,000

London

12,200

10.000

2,200

Durham

17,800

8,000

9,800

Winchester

10,700

7,000

3,700

Ely

11,000

5,500

5,500

Worcester

6,500

5,000

1,500

St. Asaph

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3,800

Bangor.

3,800

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This reduction, when carried into effect, will furnish annually a sum of 28,500l., to which is to be added the income of the See of Bristol, amounting to 2,300l. The total sum thus obtained, of 30,8001., being divided amongst the thirteen Bishopricks which require an addition to their present revenues, and the two new sees, will provide an income for each, varying from 4,000l. to 5,000l. per annum, according to the circumstances of the different sees. The sums to be apportioned to each, cannot be determined, till we shall have received the returns above referred to. In the sees of York, Bath and Wells, Norwich, and Salisbury, we do not propose to make any alteration.

We are also of opinion, looking to the variable nature of the episcopal incomes, that for the purpose of ensuring the regular payment of the sums which may be allotted to the poorer sees, it may be expedient to provide a fund, by allowing the sums, which are to be deducted from the incomes of the richer bishopricks, to accumulate for a certain time.

Before we quit the consideration of the financial part of the inquiry, we will briefly allude to another mode, by which something may be done towards diminishing the present uncertainty of the episcopal incomes.

Although we cannot recommend the adoption of any measure for the general sale of the reversions of the episcopal estates, yet there are estates, belonging to some sees, the reversions of which may, perhaps, be advantageously sold. Such sales can now be effected only under the authority of an Act of Parliament; we would therefore suggest, the expediency of giving power to effect them, under certain restrictions, and with the consent of the body to which we have already referred. The produce of such sales may constitute a fund, out of which the Bishop may receive compensation, either for foregoing a fine, in order to facilitate the conversion of a lease for lives into one for a term of years, or for waving his right of granting a concurrent lease, when a lessee will not renew.

With respect to the bishoprick of Durham, we have been informed by Viscount Melbourne, that your Majesty has been pleased to approve of a plan, for detaching from that see its palatine jurisdiction, and for placing the county of Durham on the same footing, as to secular affairs, with the other English counties. We beg leave respectfully to state our entire concurrence in the propriety of that arrangement, which we ourselves had intended to suggest in this Report.

Considering that the Bishop of Durham will thus be relieved from the expenses incident to the secular jurisdiction in question, we have proposed a larger reduction in the income of that see, than we should otherwise have been prepared to recommend. If this arrangement should be carried into effect, it may be desirable that the Bishop of Durham should be relieved from the heavy charge of maintaining and keeping in repair the castle at Durham, which building may conveniently be appropriated to the uses of the university, apartments being reserved for the Bishop.

It is probable that in consequence of these changes, the excess of income, above 8,000l. per annum, which has been proposed as the future income of the see of Durham, will be larger than has been stated in the foregoing table.

We beg leave further to recommend, that the temporal jurisdiction which the Archbishop of York possesses in various parts of the counties of York and Nottingham, and that which the Bishop of Ely possesses within the Isle of Ely, should be detached from those sees; and that the districts, comprised within those jurisdictions, should be merged in the counties in which they are respectively situate.

It will be necessary to provide residences for the Bishops of Manchester, Ripon, Lincoln, Llandaff, and Rochester. The mode of doing this should, in our opinion, be left to the determination of whatever body may be appointed to carry into effect the measures recommended in our reports. A suitable residence may probably be provided for the Bishop of Rochester, either in Essex or Hertfordshire, by the sale or exchange of his present residence.

Cathedral and Collegiate Churches. In further obedience to your Majesty's commands, we have diligently applied ourselves "to consider the state of the cathedral and collegiate churches, in England and Wales, with a view to the suggestion of such measures, as may render them conducive to the efficiency of the Established Church; and to devise the best mode of providing for the cure of souls, with special reference to the residence of the clergy on their respective benefices."

In approaching this branch of the inquiry, we think it important to explain the principles upon which we have proceeded. In order to give increased efficiency and usefulness to the Established Church, it is obviously necessary, that we should attempt the accomplishment of two objects, which are indispensable to the complete attainment of that end. One is, to improve the condition of those benefices, the population of which is of considerable amount, but which are now so scantily endowed as not to yield a competent maintenance for a clergyman; the other is, to add to the numbers of clergymen and churches, and so to make a more adequate provision for the religious instruction of a rapidly increased and increasing population. It appears, from the Report of the Ecclesiastical Revenues Commission, that there are no less than 3,528 benefices under 150l. per annum. Of this number 13 contain each a population of more than 10,000; 51 a population of from 5,000 to 10,000; 251 a population of between 2,000 and 5,000; and 1,125 have each a population of between 500 and 2,000. On every one of these benefices it is desirable that there should be a resident clergyman ; but unless their value be augmented, it will in many cases be impossible to secure this advantage. The necessity of such augmentation will be greatly increased by the changes, which we are about to recommend, in the laws relating to pluralities and residence. The means, which can be applied to effect the improvement, are very far short of the amount required. Even were no addition to be made to the income of benefices having a population below 500, it would take no less a sum than 235,000l. per annum, to raise all benefices, having a population of between 500 and 2,000, to the annual value of 2007.; those having a population of 2,000 and upwards, to 3007.; and those having 5,000 and upwards, to 4007. per annum. Of the

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