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tive benefices, to receive the interest of the proceeds arising from such sales respectively; and that power be given to the colleges themselves to purchase such advowsons.

49. That similar power be given with respect to the benefice annexed to the Regius Professorship of divinity in the University of Cambridge.

50. That wherever any benefice with cure of souls is held together with any sinecure preferment, in the patronage of any college in either of the universities, or of any private patron, the revenues of which latter preferment form a part of the income of the present incumbent of such benefice, power be given, with the consents of the respective patrons, permanently to annex such preferment to such benefice.

51. That in those parishes in which both the profits, and the spiritual charge, are divided between two or more incumbents, each having a mediety or portion of the benefice, power be given, with the consent of the patron, to sanction plans for constituting any of such portions separate benefices; or for consolidating two or more of such portions into one benefice to be held by one incumbent; or for making such other arrangements as may promote the efficient discharge of pastoral duties, in such parishes.

52. That with an especial view to the better care of populous parishes, power be given to sanction the exchange of advowsons, between bishops, colleges and other public bodies; and to sanction any arrangement for the purpose of improving the value, or making a better provision for the spiritual duties, of illendowed parishes or districts; by altering the exercise of patronage, or by apportioning the income of two benefices belonging to the same patron,-or the income of one benefice having more than one church or chapel,- between the incumbents, or ministers of such benefices, churches, or chapels; but that these latter powers be not exercised with respect to advowsons in lay patronage, without the consents of the respective patrons; nor, in any case, without the consent of the bishop of the diocese.

53. That none of these propositions respecting the division of corporate property, the severance of separate property, or the exercise of patronage in respect of separate property, affect any dean, archdeacon, canon, prebendary, dignitary, or officer (except the said Henry Hart Milman), who shall be in possession at the time of passing any Act of Parliament for carrying these propositions into effect; but that every such dean, archdeacon, canon, prebendary, dignitary and officer, thereafter appointed, be subject to such regulations as shall be made in pursuance of such act.

54. That the said commissioners, from time to time, as they shall think necessary, cause to be amended the valuation of the revenues of the bishopricks, cathedrals, collegiate churches, ecclesiastical corporations, aggregate and sole, and benefices, in England and Wales, which was made and estimated, according to the returns made to the commissioners appointed by your majesty to inquire into the revenues and patronage of the established church, in England and Wales, and specified in the report made by the said last-mentioned commissioners, bearing date the sixteenth day of June 1835; and that when the said amended valuation shall be completed, the same be printed by your majesty's printer, and be received as evidence of the value of every dignity, office, or benefice, therein mentioned.

55. That all monies received by the treasurer of the governors of the bounty of Queen Anne, under the act passed in the last session of parliament relating to preferments without cure of souls, be forthwith paid over to the proper officer to be appointed by the said commissioners for carrying into effect the former recommendations; and that no further sums be received by the said treasurer, under the said act.

56. That the property and revenues to be vested in and paid to the said commissioners under these propositions, be, after a due consideration of the wants and circumstances of the places in which they accrue, applied, except as herein specified, to the purpose of making additional provision for the cure of souls, in parishes where such assistance is most required; in such manner as shall be most conducive to the efficiency of the Established Church.

57. That the said commissioners be empowered to inquire into the state of those hospitals which were returned as promotions spiritual in the reign of King Henry the Eighth; and that in those cases in which they shall find the endowments of such hospitals to be capable, after satisfying the objects of the founder's

bounty, of affording a better provision for the cure of souls in the parishes with which they are connected, the commissioners do consider and report to your majesty in council, and that your majesty in council be empowered to sanction measures for effecting such provision.

58. That no person be hereafter capable of receiving the appointment of dean, precentor, archdeacon, or canon, until he shall have been six years complete in priest's orders.

All which we humbly submit to your Majesty's consideration.

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C. J. LONDON,
J. LINCOLN,

J. H. GLOUCester,

T. SPRING RICE,
H. HOBHOUSE,
HERBERT JENNER.

LONDON UNIVERSITY.-The following gentlemen have been appointed the Board of Examiners of the new Metropolitan University:-Dr. Maltby, Bishop of Durham; Henry Warburton, Esq. M.P.; Andrew Amos, Esq.; W. Empson, Esq.; Dr. Roget; J. Shaw Lefevre, Esq.; Rev. Dr. Arnold; Rev. R. Sheepshanks; Rev. Connop Thirlwall; G. B. Airey, Esq.; J. W. Lubbock, Esq.; Nassau Senior, Esq.; and Michael Faraday, Esq. F.R.S.

SOCIETY FOR BUILDING CHURCHES.-A Diocesan Society has been formed at Wells, for the building and enlarging of Churches in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. scriptions are already of a very liberal nature.

The sub

KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON.-The distribution of prizes to students in the senior and junior departments, took place on Wednesday, June 29, in the theatre of the College. The Archbishop of Canterbury was in the chair. The prizes were distributed in the following order :

Divinity.-Under the Principal-Students of the 1st year, Jones, Gell. — 2d year, Von Dadelsen, Fisher, Ridout.-3d year, Sheppard, Pitman.

Classical Literature. Professor Browne- 1st Class, Frere, Kitson.-2d Class, Jones.-3d Class, Cayley.- Honourable mention Walpole, Fincham, Gandell, Bramah, Rhenius, Hargreaves.

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Mathematics.-Professor Hall-Renny, Dumerque, Cayley, Hall, Clarke Kerry. English Literature. Professor Dale-Senior Class, Giraud, Pitman.- Junior Class, Cayley, Patteson.-1st Essay, not known.-2d Ditto, Musgreave. Hebrew.-1st Prize, Von Dadelsen-2d ditto, Gunning.

French Literature.-Cayley, Royde.

German Literature.-Ridout.

Associates, K. C.-Edward Cheere, Dennett, Walpole.

Junior Department.-Sixth_Class.-70 Boys-Manning, Spring, Chretien, Williams, æq. Lowder, ditto, Browne, ditto, Johnson, Bulwer, æq., Major, ditto, Rivers, Foggo, Bissill, Lewis, Metcalfe, Stocks.

Mathematics. Butterworth, Russell, Ribbans. Williams, Brown.

Certificates of Honour

Fifth Class.-65 Boys-Sim, Snell, Ramsden, Toombs. Certificates of Honour→→ Dunsterville, Beresford.

Proprietary Schools in Union.-Hackney, Robert Easun-St. Paul's, Pimlico, W. Parsey-Kensington, Henderson-Stockwell, J. D. Hodgson-Stepney, MilnerPhilological, Roberts-West Ham, Butler-Forest, J. Gorton. No youths were presented from the schools at Blackheath and Camberwell.

BRUTON FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. The annual examination of the boys educated at the Free Grammar School of King Edward VI, in Bruton, took place on Thursday, the 16th July, in the presence of the governors and several gentlemen of the neighbourhood. The books taken up for examination were, in Theology, the Gospels in Greek, and the Articles of the Church of England.

CLASSICS.-Greek.-The Acharnenses of Aristophanes-the Hecuba of Euripides -1st Book of Homer's Iliad-Greek Delectus and Grammar.

Latin.-The De Amicitia of Cicero-Virgil's Æneid Grammar.

Latin Delectus and

The senior boy delivered in specimens of original composition.

Mathematics. Hind's Trigonometry, 24 chapter-1st and 3d Books of EuclidSolution of Quadratic Equations, &c.

On the recommendation of the Examiner, W. G. Henderson, son of Capt. George Henderson, R. N. was elected an Exhibitioner; and the Classical Prizes awarded as follows:

1st Class to Henderson, sen. and Harris.

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2d
3d

Newman, jun.

Stockwell.

Lucas and Phelips.
Colby.

Gapper and Dampier, jun.
awarded to:-

Henderson, sen. and Strong.
Newman, sen.
Havergal.

were

The Examiners were, the Rev. H. Deane, the Rev. J. G. Copleston, and the Rev.
Phabyn.

UNIVERSITY EXHIBITIONS.-The Proprietors of Kensington School, in union with King's College, London, have lately made provision for granting to the best Scholars, of a prescribed age and standing in their School, who shall be found duly qualified to enter upon an academical career, an Exhibition of 50%. a-year, for three years, to either of the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge, or Trinity College, Dublin, on a plan which, it is hoped, will be permanent. The first endowment was made this year:-four candidates competed at an examination in classics and mathematics, conducted by Professors Browne and Hall, of King's College, London, when Eyre Burton Powell was declared entitled to the honourable prize. The successful scholar, it is understood, has chosen the University of Cambridge for the scene of his future studies.

KING'S LETTER FOR THE BUILDING OF CHURCHES AND CHAPELS.-A King's Letter has just been issued to the Clergy, commanding sermons to be preached, and collections to be inade, in all the parishes throughout the kingdom, in aid of the funds of the Society for Promoting the Building of Churches and Chapels.

MARBLE STATUE OF LOCKE.-A handsome marble statue of Locke has been recently erected in the vestibule of University College, London. The statue was executed by Westmacott, R. A. and was paid for by a subscription raised several years since among the admirers of the genius and virtues of the great philosopher of whom it is the effigy.

PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, DUBLIN.--The Chair of Political Economy in Dublin University (founded by the Archbishop of Dublin) has been filled by the election of Isaac Butt, Esq.

NEW ORGAN AT Alresford ChurCH.—A fine-toned organ has just been erected in New Alresford Church, and was opened by Mr. Patten, of Winchester, who ably displayed its varieties and powers. The organ was very handsomely presented to the parish by the bailiff and burgesses, Messrs. Hunt, Dunn, Hopkins, Houghton, &c. A superior instrument has also been recently placed in Longparish Church, near Andover.

VICARAGE OF LYNCOMBE.-We have been informed that one of the Rev. Charles Simeon's competitors at the late sale of the advowson of the Rectory of Bath and Vicarage of Lyncombe and Widcombe, was Dr. Baines, now Roman Catholic Bishop, resident at Bath!

INSTRUCTION OF THE IRISH PEASANTRY.-A meeting was held at St. John's House, when it was agreed to establish an Association at Winchester, in connexion with the Society in London, for instructing the peasantry in the remote parts of Ireland to read the Holy Scriptures in their native language.

CHURCH REFORM.-The proposal to transfer the patronage of Deans and Chapters to the Bishops, has excited strong feeling amongst the former body of Dignitaries, and the following powerful Petition has been signed as below:

"The Humble Petition of the undersigned Dignitaries and Ministers of the Established Church of England, to the Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled.

"This Petition humbly sheweth-That a recommendation has been made in the reports of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, that the patronage hitherto vested in the existing members of the cathedral churches should, after certain exceptions, be taken from them, and conferred upon the bishop of the diocese. Your petitioners were not aware that it was intended by the appointment of the Ecclesiastical Commission to destroy any ecclesiastical institution, and to reconstruct it upon a fresh plan, but merely to rectify existing abuses, and, in doing so, to apply the remedy only so far as the evil was found to extend. Your petitioners are not aware that any petitions have been presented to Parliament against the conduct of chapters in the exercise of their patronage, or that preferment in their hands has been given away upon principles less pure than those which have influenced the conduct of bishops. This transfer of patronage to bishops has been recommended by commissioners where all the ecclesiastics are bishops or archbishops, of which commission no parochial clergyman, or prebendary, or dean, has been constituted a member, and where, in consequence, only one species of ecclesiastical interest has been properly and, powerfully represented; and if it be supposed that the Bench of Bishops (looking only in their distribution of preferment to the good of the public) have hitherto neglected their own families and relations, your petitioners beg of you to observe whether or not at this moment most of the great preferments of the Church are not in the hands of clergymen nearly related to and connected with the various bishops who have filled the sees of this realm for the last thirty years: but if the interests of the bishops shall in this case be found to prevail over the right of the chapters, your petitioners may at least consider such provision, as far as it concerns those to whom such patronage now belongs, to be wholly unjust and untenable. Many existing members of chapters have taken their preferment from the fair expectation of exercising this patronage, and have been waiting for it for years; many have brought up their children to the profession of the Church, hoping that their characters and merits would fairly permit that such preferment might be conferred upon them. Your petitioners humbly represent that their interest in the patronage they now possess ought to be considered as much a vested interest as that which they have in their incomes during their lives. It would be considered as a very violent and unjustifiable proceeding to take away the patronage of the Crown or that of laymen, and to confer it upon the bishops; and the title of chapters to their patronage is older and more indubitable than that which any layman can possess. The whole pretence for meddling with ecclesiastical property is founded upon the argument that no one has any right to the succession,--an argument which applies, of course, to the future possessors, not to the present; and leaves an aggression of present rites a mere act of violence and spoliation. All the arguments which apply to the preservation of income to the present possessors, apply with equal force to the preservation of patronage. They are both valuable rights, which can only be claimed by the State when the possessor is dead, and there is no heir. To deprive present possessors of their patronage is the infringement of a principle which has always been holden sacred by the Legislature,-a principle which facilitates all future improvement, by removing present opposition, and gives a feeling of security to property, which is of infinitely greater consequence to society than any present convenience of accelerated reform. Taking the average lives of members of chapters at fifty-six, the probability is, that the present members of chapters would be extinguished in a very few years from this period; and, as it is only proposed that the redundant patronage not wanted personally for the members of each chapter, is to be conferred on the bishops of the diocese, your petitioners humbly suggest that it is not a sound policy to violate a received principle in legislation for an advantage so slight, nor to give to reform an air of violence and injustice, for objects which a little patience and deference to vested interests would so soon place within your power.

"In the 52d clause of the Fourth Report of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, your petitioners observe, with great surprise and alarm, that a power is recom

mended to be given to the commissioners of dividing livings, even during the lives of the present incumbents, and taking away from them any portion of the value, and this to be done without the consent of the patron, unless the patron be a layman or a bishop. A just and equitable protection is therefore granted to every species of patrons except deans and chapters; in fact, is granted to all those who are present in Parliament and can complain of injustice, and is denied where the injustice can be practised and the complaint be disregarded with impunity. Your petitioners would consider this recommendation of the commissioners, if carried into a law, as a very gross act of partiality and oppression. In the proposed reduction of prebends, your petitioners humbly request that it may be specially provided, that the houses of the vacant prebends within the precincts of the cathedral, may continue under the control of the deans and chapters, so that unfit and improper persons may be kept out of the precincts of the cathedral, and the same order and decency be preserved there which ought to characterise any place dedicated to the residence of ecclesiastical personages.

"Your petitioners observe with considerable alarm the following passage in the fourth Report of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners:- We have already pointed out the necessity of making some alteration in the statutes of the respective chapters, by which the times and periods of residence are regulated; we now recommend that the visitors of the respective chapters should make those alterations, as well as such other alterations as may be necessary in order to render the statutes and rules consistent with the altered constitution and duties of those bodies." The Archbishops and Bishops of the commission being themselves visitors of the greatest part of the chapters in England, the commissioners have in this paragraph recommended a very serious and important increase of the power of the Bishops, and which may, in many instances, be exercised to the great prejudice and injustice of your petitioners.

"Your petitioners therefore pray that the powers proposed to be given to the visitors, of altering and creating rules for the future government of cathedrals may be few, definite, and such only as change of circumstances may strictly require, and that the present members of chapters may not be harassed by new and vexatious regulations, but suffered to live under the rules to which they have been accustomed. There is in fact nothing by which your petitioners are more alarmed than the existence of a Central Board, sheltered by general and indefinite powers, armed with a public purse, and inflamed by a zeal for change. Such tribunals always fall under the absolute influence of some active individual, become a cloak for tyranny, and a source of endless vexation to the individuals who are subjected to their irresistible power. As a remedy against this evil, your petitioners humbly request that in any Bill which in your wisdom you may choose to enact for the constitution of such commissioners, you will give to them powers clearly and plainly defined, and nothing more than the necessity of the case requires. Your petitioners wish to live under the control of laws, and not under those ill-defined and general powers which, to the great alarm of your petitioners, are asked for on the present occasion.

"SYDNEY SMITH, Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's.
THOMAS SINGLETON, Archdeacon of Northumberland.
P. HUNT, Vice-Dean and Prebendary of Canterbury.
W. F. BAYLAY, Prebendary of Canterbury.

THOMAS HILL LOWE, Precentor and Canon of Exeter.
WILLIAM MACDONALD, Canon of Salisbury.

T. MANNERS SUTTON, Sub- Dean of Lincoln."

ABSTRACT OF THE BILL FOR REGISTERING BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES IN ENGLAND.

Section 1. Repeals former acts for registration of marriages.

2. General registry-office to be provided.

3. Poor Law Commissioners to have the care of register.

4. Registrar-general, inspectors, and clerks, to be appointed with salaries.

5 and 6. Regulations for conduct of officers, &c.

7. Guardians of unions to appoint registrars.

8. District register-offices to be provided.

9 to 17. Appointment of registrars and regulations as to the books.

VOL. XVIII. NO. VIII.

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