St. Paul's School by the senior scholars. Dr. Sleath, the head-master, and the assistant-masters, took their places. The master of the Mercers' Company, Mr. L. Wason, supported by Mr. Justice Parke, Sir Robert Inglis, Dr. Russell, the Rev. Mr. Lonsdale, and a very full attendance of clergymen and visitors, confronted the masters, leaving a space between them on the floor of the school room for the speakers. The rows of elevated seats on the sides of the room were occupied by ladies, and by the scholars of the establishment.

The order of the declamation and speeches was as follows:

Tate

In republicâ rectè constituendâ cedat Soloni
Lycurgus.

Stokes In republica rectè constituendâ cedat Ly

cargo Solon.

.Dido..........

Æneas.....

Virgil. Æn. II.

Hough ........De Corona.-Demosthenes.

Evanson ......Sat. 6, L. 1.-Horace.
Stokes........Timon........

Babington ....Flavius........ }Shakspeare.

The Latin compositions, read by the two first scholars, were good specimens of Latinity: they were well read, and excited considerable applause. Amongst the speakers, Messrs. Ridout, Tate, and Hough, were the most distinguished.-Times.

The secretary to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who holds a similar appointment under the Bishop of London, has written a letter to the editor of The Examiner, denying that his grace had refused to consecrate the new church at Herne Bay unless upon conditions to his own advantage. Neither of the above-named prelates has, to his certain knowledge, ever directly or indirectly demanded or received any fee or other benefit or advantage by reason of the consecration of any church, chapel, or burial-ground; which solemnity, instead of being a source of profit to either of them, obliges them, on the contrary, to incur, in almost every case, a considerable expense. -Morning Herald.

A congratulatory address on his recovery was presented to the Bishop of London on Dec. the 16th, bearing the signatures of upwards of five hundred clergymen resident in the archdeaconries of London, Middlesex, Essex, and St. Alban's. A numerous body of clergy were present on the occasion.

At a meeting of the Venerable the Archdeacons of England and Wales, and other ecclesiastical officers having archidiaconal jurisdiction, convened by a circular letter of the Archdeacons of the Diocese of London, and held in London, on Friday the 13th of January, 1837, for the purpose of

considering what steps it may be necessary for them, as the constituted guardians of the fabric of parochial churches and chapels, to take relative to church-rates; the Archdeacon of London in the chair; the chairman reported that, notwithstanding the shortness of the notice, and absence of some of the parties from the place of their address, returns had been made from more than four-fifths of the archdeacons of England, and the answers of the absent archdeacons having been read, it was unanimously resolved_

"That a national establishment of religion is the most effectual mode of conveying the blessings of the gospel to the people at large.

"That in the very notion of a national establishment is implied a provision by the community of whatever is necessary for the due worship of Almighty God.

"That the piety of ancient times having consecrated certain endowments to the support of the ministers of the church of England, and provision having been made from the earliest periods for the mainte nance of the churches, and whatever else is necessary for the proper performance of divine service by church-rates, nothing more is required than additional enactments for better raising or making the rate, and for securing the rate-payer every possible satisfaction as to the faithful ap plication of the money so raised.

"That, further, church-rates being a rent-charge upon property, older by centuries than the title to the property on which it falls, the payment of such rates in their present form cannot be justly considered as a burthen upon conscience, neither, on the other hand, could be transferred from that which is now, and bas been from time immemorial, legally rateable, to persons and property at present not liable, without violation of the sacred rights of property, and consequently not without violence to conscience rightly informed.

"That this meeting thereby earnestly deprecates all interference with the principle of church-rates, being persuaded that no other mode of attaining the same object, equally safe and permanent, can be devised.

"That. attempts having been long and perseveringly made, and of late with increased activity, to mislead and inflame the public mind on the subject, and to prepare the way for the total abolition of church-rates, it is become the duty of the

See Report of Commissioners on Ecclesiastical Law, 1832.

archdeacons, as the constituted guardians of the fabric of the parochial churches and chapels, to take immediate measures for the counteraction of the same.

"That a committee be therefore appointed to take the necessary steps for such purpose, and that it consist of the archdeacons of the diocese of London, and be open to all the archdeacons of England and Wales, and all other ecclesiastical officers having archidiaconal jurisdiction, with power to add to their numbers such persons as in their judgment may be likely to assist the object of the meeting.

"That a subscription be now entered into for these purposes, and that the Archdeacon of Essex be the treasurer."

J. H. POTT, Chairman.

N.B. Any communication may be addressed to the Rev. Henry Rose, Secretary to the Committee of Archdeacons, No. 4, St. Martin's-place, London.

That elegant fabric, St. Peter's church, Eaton-square, Pimlico, erected about seven years since, under the auspices of the Marquis of Westminster, upon whose ground it was situate, was, on Friday, Dec. 30th, totally destroyed by fire. The altar-piece, a painting by Hilton, representing the Crucifixion, and presented by the Marquis of Westminster, was preserved. The fire is supposed to have originated from some repairs which had been directed with regard to the clock. We hear that several liberal donations have been offered in aid of the insurances, towards reinstating this edifice, which an eminent builder has offered to complete in ten weeks. The committee of St. Peter's Grammar School have unanimously granted the use of the Institution for the purpose of divine worship, till the rebuilding of St. Peter's church. The Rev. Mr. Brett, with two other members of the managing committee, have been appointed to make the requisite arrangements with the Rev. Mr. Fuller for the performance of divine service. Accommodation for nearly 500 members of the congregation will be thus provided.-Daily Papers.

The pupils of St. Peter's Grammar School have presented an elegant coffee service of plate to the Rev. H. P. Cookesley, M. A., Trinity College, Cambridge, on the occasion of his retirement from the head-mastership of that institution.-Cambridge Chronicle.

On Thursday evening, Dec. 22, the late and present scholars of Mr. Walton's school, Old Kent-road, met there for the purpose of presenting the Rev. John Vane, M.A., chaplain of the House of Commons, with a time-piece, as a grateful acknow

ledgment of his zeal and anxiety for their welfare, and of his excellent and affectionate advice. The occasion selected was upon the annual distribution of the prizes.-Oxford Herald.

The parishioners of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster, are about to present the Rev. John Jennings, the rector, with a handsome silver epergne of the value of 200 guineas, as a testimony of their respect and gratitude for his unwearied zeal in the discharge of his ministerial duties during the five years he has been their rector.Times.

A meeting of the inhabitants of the united parishes of St. Matthew, Fridaystreet, and St. Peter, West Cheap, was held on the 18th of Jan., to consider how they could best testify their respect for their late venerable and much beloved rector, the Rev. George Hatch, when it was resolved unanimously, that they would close their shops and warehouses at twelve o'clock, and attend in the church at the time of the funeral.—Ibid.

THE CHARTERHOUSE DINNER. — (From the Correspondence of the Times. )-Monday, the 12th of December, being the founder's day, nearly 100 Carthusians (or gentlemen educated at the Charterhouse) met in the great hall of the once Carthusian Monastery, to celebrate their founder's day. After the oration, the company assembled in the library, and many, very many, were the heartfelt congratulations between"Fag" and "Master," some of whom had not seen each other for thirty years. The chair was taken at a quarter before seven o'clock by the Venerable and Rev. Dr. Fisher, the Master of the Charterhouse, who was a boy at this school nearly eighty years since! Among the company (nearly 100 were present) were the Rev. Dr. Russell, rector of Bishopsgate, late head master of the school, the Hon. Fox Maule, M.P., Alderman Thompson, M.P., Mr. Patterson, Governor of the Bank of England, Capt. Bagot, of the Fusileer Guards, &c., besides the officers of the establish

ment.

NEW UNIVERSITY CHARTER.-We know from good authority that more than one person, whose names were inserted without their authority, have insisted upon having them erased; others, who were intended to be of the number, have been omitted; while a third class have been misdescribed. The result, we hear, is, that the precious document either has been, or is to be, recalled, and a new and less blundering instrument is to be substituted in its place.-Morning Herald.

Lord Brougham has withdrawn his name from the new University.-Medical Gazette.

THE BALLOT, CHURCH RATES, &C.PATTERN FOR RADICAL DISSENTERS.-At the last annual election of common-councilmen of London, Mr. Deputy Blackett, in answer to questions put to him, said he did not approve of the ballot, and be thought no honest man could-(cheers.) He had always felt a pride in openly declaring for whom he was about to vote, a pride which he trusted filled the breast of every Englishman, and hoped he should never be forced to give a secret vote(cheers.) With respect to church reform, as it was called, he was not a member of the established church, and therefore did not consider that he had any right to interfere on that subject-(cheers and hisses.) He would repeat, that not being a member of that establishment, he had no right to interfere; and if any churchman was to attempt to interfere with the discipline of the religion of which he was a member, be would tell him at once to be off about his business (cheers.) He certainly should have no objection to the abolition of church rates; on principle he objected to them, but he could not complain of their being any great hardship. (hear.)-- Oxford Her.

NORFOLK.

Bishop Butler lately requested T. W. Coke, Esq. to give up part of the great tithes of Longford towards the erection and maintenance of a second church in that parish. Mr. Coke informed his lordship that he had presented the living to the Hon. E. Keppell, who, on being informed of the bishop's request, immediately gave up, with the consent of Mr. Coke, 500l. a-year to build and endow it. -Norfolk Chron.

A church-rate for the parish of Saint George's, Colegate, has been again refused.-Ibid.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

MUNIFICENCE OF THE VEN. ARCHDEACON BONNEY, D.D., OF KING'S CLIFFE. The week before Christmas, the ven. doctor gave away, indiscriminately, to churchmen and dissenters of every description, a whole bullock, and a sufficient quantity of good household bread. Last week he also gave to every poor person who chose to apply, a hundred weight of coals; in addition to which, Mr. Bonney has kindly distributed 100 yards of flannel-in the whole, we believe, to the amount of £100.-Northampton Herald.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

A meeting was held in the church of Belford, on Dec. 28, for the purpose of laying on a rate, when a resolution was proposed by Mr. Bolam, and seconded by

Mr. Younghusband, to the effect that the meeting should be adjourned for six months, which being carried, the meeting was dissolved.-Tyne Mercury. NEWCASTLE. CHURCH RATES. → On Monday, Dec. 9th, a public meeting, convened by a requisition to Mr. J. Lamb, mayor, signed by 532 individuals, was held in the Guildhall, Newcastle, to take into consideration the propriety of petitioning Parliament for the total abolition of church-rates. Resolutions against church-rates were then carried, and petition to Parliament agreed to. A letter from Mr. Hodgson, M. P. for Newcastle, was read, and occasioned some disapprobation, and it was moved, that "in conse. quence of the opinions expressed in Mr. Hodgson's letter, this meeting pledges itself to do everything in its power to oppose his return at the next election." The mayor refused to put the motion, as being irrelevant, but when he left the chair the motion was carried amidst much cheering. -Times.

Measures are in progress for the enlargement of Norham church; upwards of £550. having been contributed for the praiseworthy purpose, exclusive of leading and labour, which have been offered to considerable extent. There are several very handsome contributions in the list; for instance, Mr. Pudsey Dawson, 100 guineas; the Dean and Chapter of Durham, £100.; Dr. Gilly, £100., &c.-Newcastle Journal.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

The anti-church faction has been defeated, at Bridgewater, in their attempt to cut off the revenues of the church. At the vestry meeting held for the purpose of making a church-rate, a poll was demanded, at the close of which the numbers were as follow: for the rate 322, against it 231; majority 91. Be it remembered that this is the borough misrepresented, as is now clearly proved, by Mr. Leader.-Carlton Chron.

The Bath Chronicle states, that an individual of that city, whose innumerable and splendid acts of charity are the only index to his identity, has presented 100/. to the Bath and Wells Church-building Associa tion, and 100l. to the Diocesan Curates' Fund.

The church of St. Michael, at Bath, was consecrated, by the bishop, on the 4th of January.

STAFFORDSHIRE.

At a recent meeting of the parishioners of Handsworth, convened for the purpose of having a church-rate granted, a motion of adjournment for six months was carried.-Christian Advocate.

John Gough, Esq., of Parry Hall, bas recently increased the endowment of Barr Chapel (erected a few years since at his own expense) 1007. per annum.-Worces

ler Journal.

SURREY.

On the evening of the 13th of January, a meeting of the parishioners of Newington was held on the subject of church-rates. The result was, a petition to Parliament, praying for their repeal.-Times.

SUSSEX.

A meeting was held at Brighton, on the 20th December, for the purpose of forming an auxiliary to the Metropolitan Churchrate Abolition Society. It being evening, a large concourse of the lower orders assembled, and were successively addressed by various speakers; among others, Mr. Hume, who spoke for about twenty minutes. The chair was taken by Mr. Kemp, the radical member for Lewes, who, evidently aware of what shakey materials his party was composed, "exhorted" them to sink all minor differences, and unite together for the one object they all had in view. Various resolutions were passed, and a petition agreed to, which Mr. Hume promised to support, saying, that if Lord Melbourne tried any other scheme than a total abolition of church-rates, without any substitute but a new distribution of church property among the clergy, "away he must go."Times.

WARWICKSHIRE.

On Tuesday, January 2nd, a Quarterly Meeting of the General Committee of the Lichfield and Coventry Diocesan Church.. building Society was held, and was attended by the Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Lichfield, the Archdeacons of Coventry and Stafford, and by delegates from the different archdeaconries. A letter was read from the Bishop of the diocese, in which his lordship expressed, in the most feeling and affectionate terms, his deep sorrow that protracted indisposition prevented his attendance; and a resolution was passed by the meeting, of sincere regret for his lordship's absence, and for the cause, together with their thanks for the very kind communication with which they had been favoured. In the course of the proceedings several grants were made.Leamington Courier.

WILTSHIRE.

SALISBURY, Jan. 2.-It is in contemplation to present an address to the Ven. Liscombe Clarke, by the clergy over whom his archidiaconal jurisdiction extended, and to accompany the same with a substantial

testimonial of their respect for the worthy minister.

The Rev. Wm. Short, M. A., on removing from Chippenham to the parish of St. George the Martyr, London, has been presented, by twenty-two of his fellow labourers in the ministry, of the neighbourhood, with an address, expressive of their regard for his welfare and regret for his loss to them, and concluding with a fervent prayer for his welfare. Some time previous, on the same account, the inhabitants of Chippenham presented the reverend gentleman with a massive silver salver, on which was an inscription expressive of their affection for his unwearied exertions in promoting their spiritual and temporal welfare during a ministry of twelve years among them.Dorset Chron.

Mr. Gibson, the gentleman who, about three years and a half ago, seceded from the dissenters of the Independent denomination, and conformed to our established church, and whose publications in defence of the church of England we took occasion, as they appeared, to review and to recommend, was, on Sunday, Dec. 18th, admitted to holy orders, and ordained to the curacy of Melksham, Wilts, a town containing a population of about 5000 souls, at Wells Cathedral, by the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, by letters dimissory from the Lord Bishop of Salisbury. We understand that Mr. Gibson delivered his first sermon in the church of England to a most crowded audience, at St. Mary's, Redcliffe, Bristol, on the evening of the day of his ordination. -Western Luminary.

The Rev. Charles B. Pearson, M.A., of Oriel College, Prebendary of Fordingham, in the Cathedral of Salisbury, has recently augmented the vicarage of Fordingham to 3001. per annum, according to the provisions of archbishop's act, made for that purpose.-Salisbury Herald.

WORCESTERSHIRE.

A petition from the inhabitants of Worcester to the ecclesiastical commissioners is now in the course of signature, praying that the funds arising from the suppression of any dignities in that cathedral or diocese shall be directed only to the augmentation of the various livings in that county, not exceeding 120l. a year.-Worcester Herald.

The Vicar of Leeds, Mr. George Herst, and the Rev. W. H. Bathurst severally addressed the meeting in appropriate speeches.

Mr.Swinden, of Morley, said, that having undertaken to second one of the resolutions he would make a few observations regarding what had come under his own knowledge in the narrow circle in which he moved. Six years ago, in the populous village in which he resided, they had not one subscriber to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; six years ago, they had not in that township a church; and at that period, there could not be found three individuals in a population of between three and four thousand who avowed themselves to be members of the church of England, and he knew that there could not have been found twelve Praver Books in the entire district. That state of things was, of course, distressing to the very few individuals who were sincerely attached to our ecclesiastical establishment. An effort was made by them at that period to procure the erection of a church at Morley. The meeting would readily believe that many impediments presented themselves before they arrived at that south-west corner where most of those present on the previous day saw deposited the first stone of a new church. They were at that time met by the taunting remark of their neighbours" Why think about a church at Morley, when three individuals can't be found in it attached to her doctrines?" Frequently was that observation made, but the futility of it was in a very short time proved. In due time the church was built, and then came into play the advantage of knowing that the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge would support them. They made a call upon the society's funds, and they received large assistance. They were enabled to offer the Liturgy of the church of England to the candid and fair examination of those who had been accustomed to think of it with pain and disgust. They did so present it, and since that period there had been sold upwards of five hundred Prayer Books in that district. Could he mention a more convincing proof that the people were open to conviction if they gave them fair means of thinking and judging for themselves?

The Rev. James Fawcett read letters from Archdeacon Musgrave and John Hardy, Esq., M.P., stating that they were prevented, or they would have had pleasure in attending the meeting, and addressed the meeting briefly.

The first stone of St. George's Church was laid, the previous day, by the Lord Bishop of Ripon.

Mr. Henry Skelton, the treasurer, in seconding the resolution, reproved the friends of the established church for the apathy which they had manifested towards this society, there being within the limits of the Leeds district, which contained a population of between 200,000 and 300,000 souls, only 120 subscribers to a society which comprised among its supporters every dignitary of the church of England, and he should suppose ninetenths of its clergy. Of that 120, 32 were ladies, 33 were clergymen, and 55 were laymen. But upon looking more minutely into the list, and taking the numbers in the parish of Leeds only, which contained a population of about 150,000, the result was that there were only 62 subscribers to this society, of whom 18 were ladies, 15 clergymen and 29 laymen. The low rate at which the society's books were published caused a great loss. The amount of books procured last year was 2081., and he calculated that the loss to the society upon that amount was 132l.; the amount of subscriptions remitted from Leeds was 108., leaving a loss to the society of 241. from the wealthy and populous town of Leeds, instead of Leeds having helped the society with a handsome sum. This was a humiliating statement; but he trusted a new era had commenced under the sanction of the right rev. prelate in the chair, and that if permitted to live and hold the office which he then had the honour to fill, he should have a very different account to present at the next anniversary.

The Rev. Joseph Holmes, head master of the Grammar School, concluded an eloquent speech by moving-"That this meeting, in thanking the Lord Bishop of Ripon for his patronage and kindness in taking the chair on the present occasion, desires also to express the fervent wish and prayer that his life and health may long be preserved, and his labours blessed to the spiritual benefit of that portion of the church of Christ over which he has been called to preside.

Mr. Atkinson seconded the resolution.

The Lord Bishop of Ripon rose to return thanks, the clergy and all the rest of the company rising and standing during his address. He said, Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot but feel deeply affected by the manner in which the resolution just read has been proposed and seconded, and received by this meeting. The wishes which it conveys are most gratifying indeed; and the prayers which it states you to be desirous of offering for me, are a great encouragement to me in the discharge of those arduous duties which have lately devolved upon me. I can assure