defences of the points to which dissenters object. It is published by Groombridge, and is useful enough.

THE Rev. E. C. Kemp's very useful series of small pamphlets, entitled "The Refutation of Nonconformity on its own professed Principle," (published by Grant, of Cambridge,) has reached the second part, which appears to conclude it. It goes through the subjects, and, where the writer of this notice has consulted it, seems to argue them well.

THE Rev. R. Trimmer's "Conversations on the Thirty-nine Articles," (also published by Grant,) have reached the fifth part, and appear to be plainly and sensibly written. With this work, the little pamphlet published at Preston, (and by Clarke, and Rivingtons, London,) by the Rev. Francis Whalley, ought to be mentioned. It is called "The Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England broken into Short Questions and Answers." The notes, though short, are well selected, and the scripture references useful.

MR. BELL'S "British Quadrupeds" is drawing nearer to a conclusion than those who admire his work as it deserves could wish. It will appear (for the few numbers which remain) once in two months.

THE "London Churches," No. III., gives us that most interesting of them all, St. Bartholomew's, in Smithfield, which has features of Norman architecture of the highest interest to the antiquary.

THE "Memorials of Oxford" are likewise going on with their accustomed beauty.

THE "Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith," published by Mr. Murray, and edited by James Prior, Esq., author of the excellent "Life of Goldsmith," lately published, will command attention from all lovers of our simple-hearted poet. The first volume is just out, and contains The Bee, his Essays, his Inquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning, and his Preface, Introductions, &c. All the points relative to the poet's history, illustrative of these essays, seem touched upon with the same felicity and research which distinguish the "Life of Goldsmith."

MISCELLANEA.

LORD BROUGHAM'S BILL ON EDUCATION AND CHARITIES. In the last number, attention was called to a bill presented by Lord Brougham to the House of Lords, for the purpose of submitting all the charitable and educational institutions of Great Britain to the tender mercies of seven commissioners, of whom the only acting persons will be three paid commissioners, appointed by the Crown! The rage for commissions appears an epidemic almost as prevalent in our legislative assemblies as the cholera or influenza

among our people; and far more fatal, because far more durable in its results. One would be tempted to believe that this disease was unknown in these realms, if the records of the seventeenth century did not inform us that England had once before been visited by the plague. But in the last notice, it was impossible, for want of time, to state precisely the symptoms of this new form of the complaint. One or two may be added on the present occasion. It is impossible to analyze in detail the series of monstrous outrages which this bill proposes to perpetrate against all the rights and privileges hitherto enjoyed by those who have been entrusted with the conduct of these institutions. This would be impossible, for clause after clause would have to pass in review before the mind's eye, and each to be dismissed as more unjust than the last; but it may be well just quietly to warn those whom it may concern of a few of the pleasures in store for them.

Of course commissioners can do nothing without two clerks and a secretary, who are accordingly to be appointed. These are the fingers of the body of commissioners, but they are to be furnished with eyes also. Ten inspectors of schools are to be appointed, removable at the will and pleasure of the commissioners, to travel about and examine all the schools concerning which these commissioners are entitled to inquire-and there seems, to say the truth, to be very little limit to their powers. If the masters of schools refuse to allow these inspectors to examine their schools, (for the education part of the commission is that which is here spoken of,) the commissioners are empowered to fine the recusants! Then they are entitled to make conditions with masters of schools on their appointment, and dismiss them for breaking those conditions. Again, in municipal towns the commissioners may receive from the council plans and estimates for the establishment of new schools, and for the support of those which already exist, and then authorize a rate to carry the recommendations into effect. Those persons who look with no eyes of respect on the present constitution of town councils, must feel themselves peculiarly happy in the prospect of beholding the education of large classes of our fellow countrymen subjected to plans conceived somewhat in the spirit of Dogberry and Verges, and carried into execution with the arbitrary power of a modern Cromwell.

It has, of old, been a scheme to which Lord Brougham's exertions and measures have tended, to lay deep hold on the education of the country; and it is for the nation at large to determine whether it can be safe to commit so tremendous a power to the hands of three paid commissioners, assisted by ten peripatetic subordinates. Can there be any hope from education unless religious principle be its basis; and is it likely, from the nature of commissions in general, that such a basis would be its real end and aim? And without any disrespect to existing commissioners, have we any right to hope, from what we see, that commissioners so appointed would be the fittest persons either to devise or execute such a scheme?

The "Charities" part of the bill may afford subject for remark another time.

NATIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THE Archbishop of Tuam has, in unison with the clergy of the united dioceses under his superintendence, viz., Tuam, Ardagh, Killala, and Achonry, prepared a petition to both houses of parliament, from which we take the following extract: We, the Archbishop of Tuam, and Clergy of the Archdiocese of Tuam, and Dioceses of Ardagh, Killala, and Achonry, approach your lordships' house, humbly shewing, that after experience of the progress of the National Board of Education in Ireland for five years, we unhesitatingly pronounce it in its main object (the uniting in one system children of different creeds) altogether a failure. The schools erected under that board, with very

few exceptions, are in point of fact exclusively under the control and management of the priests of the Roman-catholic church; scarcely can a Protestant child be found in any of them, and thus the funds provided by the state for the education of the Irish population are now universally employed in promoting the Roman-catholic religion.

*

For the accommodation of the Romish communion (the principle of which is totally at variance with that of the pupils reading the holy scriptures without note or comment, so peculiarly obnoxious to a church which denies even to adults the right of unaided private interpretation of the sacred volume with respect to articles of religious faith) the awful responsibility is incurred, of excluding the sacred word of God, written by his holy inspiration for the universal learning of his people, from these national schools. To this we cannot subscribe. We solemnly and conscientiously protest against any system of education which has not for its foundation the whole, unmutilated, scriptures of truth.”

DOCUMENTS.

THE MEMORIAL OF THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF WORCESTER,

TO HIS MAJESTY'S COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED TO CONSIDER THE STATE OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH WITH REGARD TO ECCLESIASTICAL DUTIES AND

REVENUES.

THE Dean and Chapter having maturely weighed the various propositions for reducing and remodelling cathedral establishments, contained in the Fourth Report of your honourable board, respectfully, yet most earnestly, solicit attention to the following considerations ::

That the Dean and Chapter of Worcester are an ecclesiastical corporation, founded and endowed by King Henry VIII. for the maintenance of true religion, and as the charter expresses it

"Ut, ubi Ignorantia et Superstitio regnabant, ibi sincerus Dei cultus vigeat, et sanctum Christi Evangelium assiduè et purè annuncietur, &c."

That the perpetuity of their number is strictly commanded by their royal founder :

"Imprimis statuimus et ordinamus ut sint perpetuo in dictâ Ecclesiâ unus Decanus, decem Canonici," &c.

And that, in obedience to their statutes, a solemn oath is administered to them on their admission, binding them to maintain, to the utmost of their power, the property, the privileges, and the statutes of their body :

"Tactis sacrosanctis Dei Evangeliis, juro quod pro virili meo terras, tenementa, redditus, possessiones, juraque et libertates atque privilegia, cæterasque res universas hujus Ecelesiæ servabo, et servari procurabo;-omniaque et singula statuta ac ordinationes Regis Henrici Octavi Fundatoris nostri custodiam," &c.

That the rights and privileges, and revenues and statutes, of the cathedral church of Worcester, and the integrity and perpetuity of the capitular body being thus solemnly established and guaranteed, such a violation of them as is now proposed would not be merely unjust in principle, but most fearful in its too probable consequences, being an obvious precedent for every future invasion of chartered rights, and threatening the security of all right and property whatsoever.

That the proposed measure would be also a manifest encroachment on the ecclesiastical constitution of the realm, by reducing the numbers of those in VOL. XI.-April, 1837.

3 M

whom is vested the election of bishops, and whose efficient exercise of this high privilege it would, in times like these, be presumptuous to say that the welfare of the church may not ere long imperatively demand.

That it would in a great degree withdraw the existing encouragements to theological learning, destroying, in the same proportion, those fair prospects of professional advancement which few of the parochial clergy would willingly exchange for that insignificant increase of present income which is the utmost that could be looked for from the plan proposed.

That not only would the cherished hopes of the rising generation of clergy be thus blighted, but the future inducements to incur the expense of an university education would be proportionably diminished, until the church should be reduced to seek her ministry from lower stations and inferior attainments, and religion herself should eventually decline with the respectability, the efficiency, and the influence, of the clerical profession.

The dean and chapter, independently of the strong, and, they trust, wellfounded, objections which they entertain to the measure in general, cannot but regard with particular dissatisfaction and alarm several of its specific provisions.

They would assuredly deprecate as peculiarly unjust and oppressive-First, any interference with the disposal of vacant prebendal houses; as indeed with their independent management of any part of their property ;

Next, the proposed transfer of a portion of their patronage to other hands; involving at once an infringement of a long established right, and an unfounded insinuation of abuse in the exercise of it ;

And, finally, the application of their funds to the benefit of distant parishes wholly unconnected with their body, a frequent result of which would be to improve the value of lay patronage at the expense of ecclesiastical property.

On the whole, the dean and chapter cannot but indulge the hope that your honourable board may become sensible of the injustice and inexpediency of violating the integrity of cathedral establishments, and be induced carefully to reconsider a measure which, in its present form, is fraught with evils, both immediate and prospective, far outweighing the very trifling advantages which are anticipated from its adoption.

Given under our common seal this fourteenth day of January, 1837.

AN ADDRESS FROM THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF BRISTOL, TO HIS GRACE THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.

MY LORD ARCHBISHOP,-We, the Dean and Chapter of Bristol, in chapter assembled, having been informed that his Majesty's Ecclesiastical Commissioners will shortly resume their duties, beg most respectfully to come before your Grace, and to address you on the subject of the said Commissioners' Fourth Report.

We approach your Grace with every feeling of respect both for your exalted station in the church and for your personal character; and shall experience very deep concern if we shall seem unnecessarily to interrupt the measures which have been brought forward under your Grace's sanction, or to add vexatiously to your Grace's cares and anxieties.

Impressed in the fullest manner with these sentiments, we should have been gladly spared the pain of offering any remark in opposition to the recommendations of the said Commissioners. Under the circumstances of the country, we hailed their appointment with satisfaction; and waiving for the time the right of the presbytery to be joined with the bishops in legislating for the church, we saw willingly our interests intrusted to their care; but, after mature reflection, we consider that we should incur a very grave responsibility,

and manifest a most culpable disregard of our duty, if we did not make known to your Grace the fears we entertain that the proposed measures, if carried into effect, will, both in their general character and in their particular provisions, operate very injuriously upon the church's welfare.

We take leave to bring the Commissioners' recommendations at one view under your Grace's notice.

They are the following :-
:-

That in all instances but those of London and Lincoln, the number of prebendal stalls shall be permanently reduced.

That one of them shall, in certain cases, be attached to an archdeaconry. That a part of the chapter property shall be disposed of as it may seem fit to a board of Commissioners.

That a portion of the chapter patronage shall be transferred to the bishops. That the discretion of the chapters shall be greatly restricted in the appointment of their vicars choral or minor canons, in the payment of these ministers, and in the provision for them by the means of livings.

That the powers of the visitors shall be increased.

That additional residence shall be required of both deans and prebendaries. And, That a commission shall be appointed to carry these recommendations into effect, which shall remodel statutes at pleasure, and in whose deliberations deans and chapters shall have no voice.

These are the measures proposed; and we desire to call your Grace's attention, in the first instance, to the remarkable fact, that they are all measures of curtailment and privation, as regards property; and of additional labour and expense, as relates to service and duty.

This is their general character; and we respectfully submit for your Grace's consideration, whether they will not consequently go forth to the world as a judgment of condemnation, and proclaim, as the deliberate opinion of the highest authorities both in church and state, that cathedral bodies are no longer deserving of the respect which has been hitherto assigned them.

We beg likewise to add, that we feel the severity of this sentence the more, because it has been passed without cause or reason having, so far as we are aware, been alleged, because in our own case we believe it to be unmerited, -and because it has fallen upon us, when looking upon the Commissioners as our natural guardians and friends, and placing in them an unreserved confidence, we had imposed upon ourselves a respectful silence, and abstained from intruding in any way on their deliberations.

But we beg, in the second place, to pass from general remarks to particulars; and here we deem it our duty to record and press our opinions.

First. That the disposal of chapter property in the manner contemplated is not only uncalled for by any dereliction on our part of the trust reposed in us, but that it will be a precedent to justify the same proceeding with regard to other church property. We conceive, likewise, that if it be determined on that the sale of such property shall take place, it will be more conducive to the good of the church to commit the management of it to the hands of those best acquainted with the localities of the several cathedrals, and most interested in their particular welfare.

Secondly. That the reduction of the numbers of the vicars choral or minor canons, and the mode recommended for their payment, are highly objectionable. It is our opinion that the confinement of a small number of these officials to an almost unremitted repetition of routine duty, will tend to diminish their de votional feelings, and in the same proportion mar the effect of their services. And we are fearful that by raising their salaries in the manner suggested, and insisting at the same time on their preferment, an inducement will be held out to nepotic and corrupt appointments, which, under the contemplated reduction of chapter patronage, it will be difficult to restrain..

Thirdly. That the increase of the power of the visitors, and the introduction