any order on the application, on the ground that an agreement to consent was not equivalent to an actual consent; and that the defendants (the College) on farther application, or by the advice of their counsel, were at liberty to withhold such consent. The Vice-Chancellor considered that the application made to the Court in August last, with the concurrence of the College, respecting the approval of the leases by the agent of the College and the minister and churchwardens of Cheltenham, was fully warranted under the circumstances on the part of the parish; and the costs of all parties on that application were ordered to be costs in the cause. No order was made on the present application.Cheltenham Chronicle. Consistory Court of the Diocese of Gloucscester, April 10, 1834.-At the Court held this day, the Judge, (Edwin Maddy, Esq.) presented each of the proctors with a book entitled "A Digest of the Cases determined in respect of Inventory and Account, Defamation, Faculty, and Seats in Churches, and contained in the Ecclesiastical Reports: for the use of the Proctors practising in the Episcopal Consistory of the Diocese of Gloucester." Upon which Mr. Counsel, as senior proctor, on the behalf of himself and the other practitioners of the Court, begged leave to ex press his grateful acknowledgments to the Judge for having written so valuable a work, and also for having gratuitously furnished them with copies of it. This motion was seconded by Mr. Davis, who hoped the judge would extend his learned labours to the other branches of the ecclesiastical law, which would be not only rendering a most important service to the Court, but be very acceptable to the public at large. A sum of upwards of sixty pounds has been contributed by about one hundred and twenty members of the congregation of St. James' Church in Bristol, as a thankoffering to Almighty God, on the restoration of their beloved and valued Pastor to health. This will be expended for the benefit of some parochial charity, in such a way as to prove a lasting memorial of their affection and respect.- Bristol Mirror. The half-yearly meeting of the "Stroud District Societies, for promoting Christian Knowledge, and the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts." was held in the Market house, on Wednesday, 26th March, Many of the clergy and gentlemen of the neighbourhood attended. The subscriptions and donations amounted to 501. Petitions against Church Rates.-To the editor of the Bristol Journal.-Sir,- Passing Old Market-street yesterday, my attention was attracted on seeing an old table with some papers on it, surrounded by some half dozen of boys and girls. On noticing what it meant," I perceived that it was the dissenters' petition against the church rates. There lay a parchment sheet under "" HEREFORDSHIRE, Consistory Court, Hereford.-The Rev. Arthur Whalley, lecturer in the parish Church of Kington, appeared on Thursday, the 3rd of April, before the Consistory Court at Hereford, to receive sentence for having violated certain canons of the ecclesiastical law. The sentence was as follows: "That he, Mr. Whalley, be suspended for the term of three years from the exercise of all his ecclesiastical functions, and from the receipts of any emoluments attached to or arising from them; that at the expiration of the three years he shall appear in that court, producing a certificate signed by three clergymen of the esta blished church, attesting that during the period of his suspension he has been of good behaviour and conducted himself with morality, and also that he shall, at such time of his appearing before that court, conform in every respect to the spirit and words of the canons which he has at present transgressed, or, failing in either of these demands, the suspension shall still remain in force and continue so to do, until they be complied with; the reverend gentleman to pay all costs in this proceeding, and the sentence to be publicly proclaimed in the parish church of Kington, on the 6th day of the present month, or on the 13th, without fail." After the sentence was concluded, the Chancellor said-I think it but fair to tell you, Mr. Whalley, that it is customary, on the passing of a sentence, for the party sentenced to give notice that he intends appealing from the decision of this court to a higher one. KENT. Gravesend Proprietary Chapel. — This building proceeds very rapidly, the walls being within a foot or two of their intended height. The style is of the simplest gothic. There are light buttresses between every window, of which there are seven on each side. The area of the chapel is rectangular, being about eighty feet long and fifty three feet wide. The internal decorations are to be of a very elegant description, and the fittings-up will be appropriate.-Dover Telegraph. The Lord Bishop of Rochester presided at a monthly meeting of the Blackheath District Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, held in the vestry-room, Greenwich, on Tuesday, 25th March, when the Rev. B. S. Finch, B. A., the new rector of St. Paul's, Deptford, was unanimously elected a vice-president.Kentish Observer. Admission of Dissenters to the Universities. -Pursuant to a requisition most respectably signed, a meeting of the gentlemen who have been members of the Universities was held at the Fountain Hotel, Canterbury, on Friday the 18th inst., to petition both Houses of Parliament, against the repeal of those tests of conformity to the established church which are at present required by the statutes and regulations of Oxford and Cambridge. Notwithstanding the short notice which had been given, a numerous body of the clergy and laity, from the several deaneries were assembled by 12 o'clock. W. O. Hammond, Esq. upon the motion of the Venerable the Archdeacon Croft, was called to the chair, and addressed the meeting, as did G. Gipps, Esq., the Rev. G. Moore, and several other gentlemen. The petition was put and carried unanimously. It received nearly 100 signatures in the room, and was forwarded the same evening to the county members, and to Earl Winchelsea, for presentation to the House of Lords.-Kentish Observer. LANCASHIRE. Liverpool.-At the Annual Vestry held in the Old Church, on Easter Tuesday, the churchwardens having proposed a churchrate of one penny in the pound, Mr. Amos moved as an amendment, that the consideration of the rate be postponed for six months; which being seconded and a shew of hands being taken, the rector decided that the decision was in favour of the rate : on which Mr. Amos demanded a poll. The usual expedients of party-coloured placards were distributed liberally upon the walls, calling upon the dissenters to assert their rights, but they would not answer the call; and out of a population of 165,000, only 193 persons could be found to oppose the rate. At the close of the poll, the numbers were 547 Radicalism at a Discount.-We extract the following from the Manchester Courier of Saturday; it clearly shews the description of persons holding radical opinions in the populous town of Manchester, at the same time that it exhibits their trouble. some and dissatisfied spirit: "Election of Churchwardens.-Notwithstanding repeated attempts to induce the radical faction to abandon a contest which exhibited nothing on their part but a disposition to annoy their more respectable opponents, the poll was kept open by these worthies until the end of the seventh day, when the result was declared to be as follows: FOR THE ORIGINAL MOTION. Votes Persons Persons Votes 7,8891. ...... 520 In other words, the majority is to the minority as 25 to 10 in persons; in voteš more than 6 to 1; and in assessments more than 14 to 1! The assessments, of the majority average 891. 2s. each; those of the minority, 15l. 16s. With this statement before us, it is unnecessary to ask on which side the respectable portion of the parishioners recorded their votes; and the result shows the true dimensions of the importance of those worthies who created such a disgraceful uproar at the parish table. We are happy to add, that in Liverpool, not only the original lists of parochial officers, but the church-rate for the present year, were carried, after two days' polling, by large majorities." Northampton Herald, April 19. Eloquence.-At a meeting of Dissenters, held a few days since at Manchester, a speaker described the proposed Marriage Bill as "the first half-inch of the shank end of a leg of mutton, which had neither meat, sinews, nor marrow about it, and which was hardly fit to throw to a cur dog." To what class of persons is oratory like this adapted?-Bath Herald. New Church at Lytham.-The first stone of a new church in this improving wateringplace was laid on Thursday, 27th March, by Thomas Clifton, Esq., of Lytham Hall, in the presence of a large number of spectators, and with the usual ceremonies. The new edifice, which will be a beautiful gothic structure, is designed to accommo date 700; and 270 sittings in the galleries have been set apart for the free use of the poor. At first, it was merely intended to enlarge the church, Mr. Clifton having munificently offered to make the alteration at his own expense, but several of the neighbouring residents having liberally come forward-one benevolent lady alone subscribing 3001.-it was resolved that the church should be rebuilt altogether. Mr. Clifton subscribed 5001; and fourteen farm53 ers, in addition to their subscriptions, hand For the rate, 477 persons, 1718 votes. Against, 193 leaving a majority of 284 persons, and 1171 votes in favour of the rate. In the adjoining parishes of Walton and Childwall, there was no opposition to the rate at all. In the township of West Derby, an opposition was made, and a poll demanded; and the numbers were for the rate Against 60 7 somely came forward and gave the free use of their carts for a certain number of days; and what is more pleasing still, thirteen labourers, whose subsistence depends upon their labour, have sacrificed the whole of their living for a certain number of days, to promote the object in view. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.-A Special General Meeting of this Society will be held at the Society's House, in Lincoln's-inn-fields, on Friday, the 2nd of May, at one o'clock, for the purpose of taking into consideration the appointment of a Book and Tract Committee, to consist of seven members of the society, with three of the bishops as referees; and to which committee all questions relating to books and tracts shall be referred. A handsome building, intended as the residence for the rector of St. Dunstan's church, Fleet-street, has just been completed on the west side of the church. The front and east side are ornamented with semicircular oriel windows; they are faced with stone, and are divided by perpendicular and cross mullions into eight compartments. A neat stone cornice, surmounted by a dwarf mounted balustrade, terminates the building. Lord Bexley has accepted the office of President of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in the room of the late Lord Teignmouth. A meeting of representatives of the "Dissenting Body" from different parts of the kingdom, will take place in the metropolis in the early part of the month of May next. At a meeting of the deputies, held on Wednesday, the subject of the marriage contract was brought forward; and, after a long discussion, the following resolution was agreed to: "Resolved-That, in the opinion of this deputation, marriage ought to be considered as a civil contract. That, after due publicity, the act of registration in the presence of, and with the assent of the parties, before competent witnesses, by an official responsible registrar, should constitute the legal act. As to the religious part of the ceremony, it should be left to the parties to adopt such modes as they think proper."-The Patriot. The congregation of St. John's church, Bethnal-green, have unanimously voted a piece of plate to the Rev. John Parry, rector of St. John, Wapping, their late minister, in testimony of the zeal with which he discharged the duties of his sacred office. The Rev. Mr. Weight, assistant to the late Rev. Rowland Hill, is about to resign his connexion with the dissenting interest, and to take orders in the Church of England.-Standard. A deputation from the university of Oxford, with the Duke of Wellington, as Chancellor, at their head, presented a petition to the King, at St. James's Palace, Royal Musical Festival, 1834.-The order of the performances in Westminster Abbey will be as follows: Tuesday, June 24. - Haydn's Oratorio, "The Creation," and a Selection from Handel's Oratorio, " Judas Maccabeus." Thursday, June 26.-A Selection from the Works of Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Leo, Beethoven, and other Composers; and Handel's Oratorio, "Israel in Egypt." Saturday, June 28.-Selection from Handel's Oratorio, "Sampson," and from the Works of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Purcell, Pergolesi, Cimarosa, and other eminent Composers. Tuesday, July 1.-Handel's Sacred Oratorio, "The Messiah," by command of her Majesty. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. The parish of Middleton Cheney have introduced the plan of paying the labourers employed on the parish roads. The visitation of the Rev. the Archdeacon of Northampton is appointed to be holden at the following times and places :At Towcester, May 12; Northampton, May 13; Kettering, May 14; Oundle, May 15; Stamford, May 16. NORTHUMBERLAND. On Tuesday, the 1st instant, at the Easter meeting for the parish of Tynemouth, after the accounts of the churchwardens had been audited, a church-rate of 2d. in the pound, on the half rental, for the ensuing year, was proposed; but, on a show of hands being taken, there appeared a majority against the rate. poll was then demanded, which was appointed for the 2nd and 3rd instant; and at the close of the poll there appearedFor the rate, 388; against it, 162; majority, 226.—Newcastle Chronicle. OXFORDSHIRE. A Oxford Grand Musical Festival, at the Installation of his Grace the Duke of Wellington Chancellor of the University. There will be four concerts in the theatre at Oxford, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of June next. The first performance will be Dr. Crotch's new Oratorio, "The Captivity of Judah." The most eminent vocal and instrumental performers will be engaged. Leader, Mr. F. Cramer; Conductor, Dr. Crotch, professor of music in the University of Oxford. On Thursday, 10th inst., at a council, held by W. Thorp, Esq., Mayor, it was unanimously resolved that the sum of 501. should be subscribed in aid of the erection of a district church in the parish of St. Thomas, in this city. At the same council, it was unanimously resolved, that the sum of five guineas should annually be subscribed to the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum. -Orford Herald. The Wellington Scholarship.-It is intended by the University of Oxford to found a scholarship to commemorate the election of the Duke of Wellington as the Chancellor, which will be presented to the successful candidate for the Newdigate prize this year. The successful competitor for the honour will be required to write an English composition on some subject hereafter to be named. This is as it should be: it will form a fit pendant to the Pitt scholarship, at Cambridge; and the Eldon scholarship, at Oxford.-Northampton Herald. Banbury. The annual meeting of the inhabitants of this parish was held at the church, on Friday, April 4th, for the choice of churchwardens and examining the accounts. The Rev. Mr. Rushton was called to the chair; and the business of the day commenced by reading the items of expenditure from the year 1832, (which, from an irregularity in the last year's proceedings, the passing of the accounts had been considered illegal;) they were now passed unanimously. Mr. Francillon's next objection was to the charge for sacramental wine, alleging that those who partook of it ought to pay; but his amendment to strike this item out was not seconded. There were some other objections raised in regard to the payment of the singers, but eventually the accounts were passed without further opposition. A rate of four pence in the pound was then proposed, being two pence for last year, and the same for the present, on which Mr. Francillon moved an amendment that the grant be postponed for six weeks, for the churchwardens to endeavour to raise the amount necessary by voluntary subscription, but it was negatived; and, upon the original motion being put, another amendment was proposed-viz. that the rate be reduced to three pence in the pound; this was also negatived, and the original motion was carried by a great majority. The business of the day concluded by the thanks of the meeting being voted to the Reverend Chairman for his impartial conduct on this occasion.Northampton Herald. SOMERSETSHIRE. Charterhouse-Hinton Allotments.-Thursday last being the day fixed for receiving the half-yearly rents of the tenants holding land let out according to the Allotment System, a most excellent dinner was given to them at the Dolphin inn, in that parish, by Mrs. Symonds and Miss Humphreys, of Hinton Abbey, the proprietors of the land; twenty-six labouring men sitting down to a plentiful dinner of roast beef, three roast and boiled legs of mutton, with abundant supply of vegetables, cheese, and beer. Harold Brooke, Esq., of Hinton Abbey, and the Rev. T. Spencer, the minister of the parish, were present; and had the pleasure of witnessing the hilarity with which these deserving persons partook of the provisions which the liberality of their kind landlords had provided. The rents, it is scarcely necessary to add, were paid with the greatest punctuality. Quarter Sessions.-A bill for preventing the interference of the Spring Assizes with the April Quarter Sessions, brought in by Mr. Sandford, M.P. for West Somerset, and Mr. Miles, M.P. for East Somerset, has recently been printed. The preamble states that, by an Act of the first William IV., it is directed that the justices of the peace in every county, riding, or division, shall hold their General Quarter Sessions in the first week after the 28th of December, and in the first week after the 31st of March. The bill then states that, in some counties, the time fixed for holding the Spring Assizes interferes with the due holding of the last-mentioned Quarter Sessions, and that general Sessions held at other times of the year are not Quarter Sessions, within the intent of various Acts of Parliament which give jurisdiction to justices of the peace; it is, ther efore, proposed to be enacted that, in every county, the Justices at the Epiphany Sessions may name two magistrates, who shall be empowered, as soon may be after the time for holding the Spring Assizes shall be appointed, to fix the day for holding the next General Quarter Sessions for such county, so as such time shall not be earlier than the 15th of March, nor later than the 15th of April, and give notice of the day so fixed by an advertisement in the newspapers; and in every such case it shall not be necessary to hold any Sessions in the week next after the 31st of March. But when no other day shall be fixed by the justices as aforesaid, the General Quarter Sessions shall be holden in the week next after the 31st of March, as by the Act 1 William IV. they are required. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and the National Society for the Education of the Poor.-The Twenty-first Annual Meeting of the Bath and Bedminster Committees of the above excellent Societies was held, April 2nd, at the Assembly Rooms, the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells in the chair. The sermon at the Abbey, in the morning, was preached by the Rev. H. Mogg, from 2 Tim. i. 15. The children taught at the Society's Schools in Bath, amounting to upwards of 2000, were present, and formed a very interesting feature of the morning's celebration. In the year 1820, the amount of issues from the Bath district were 10,705, whereas, in 1833, the issues were 36,615; so that, in nearly the same period, whilst the Parent Society has nearly doubled its issues, the issues of the Bath district, which are an integral portion of the Society's aggregate issues, have increased between three and four fold. The fifth resolution was moved by William Jeffs, Esq.: "That the best thanks of this Committee are especially due to Joshua Watson, Esq., for his long, valuable, and liberal services as treasurer of the Parent Society;" and he stated that few there are who belong to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge who had not heard of Mr. Watson's zealous services in its support, whose anxiety to promote the cause of the church of England, of the national schools of England, and of this society, had been great indeed; to mention every instance of it would be impossible, but some cases there were which ought to be mentioned. First, he gave up a very lucrative business, in order that he might devote himself exclusively and gratuitously to the welfare of this society; secondly, by the report of the Incorporated Society for the Building of Churches and Chapels, it appeared that he presented three several donations of 100 guineas each; and again, at his own private cost, he purchased the chapel which formerly belonged to the residence of the Bishops of Ely, in Elyplace, Holborn, which he fitted up at a total expense of nearly 3000l.; and this further endowed, for the accommodation of 1000 children belonging to the Central National Schools of London. He had retired, but to the infinite regret of all who knew and could appreciate his high worth; and, accompanied by the earnest prayers of this Society that amended health might await him on this side of the grave; and that, when he should be called to a final rest from his earthly labours, his spirit, through the sacrifice of Him in whom he trusted, may be wafted to a blessed immortality. Mr. Jeffs then begged his Lordship's indulgence and that of the meeting, while he passed from a contemplation of the character of him who had shewn himself so ardent a friend to the National Schools of England, to the more immediate subject of the National Schools of Bath; and he here referred to the loss one of their oldest friends, in the person of the late Rev. Stafford Smith, who, for the protracted period of no less than fifty-four years, had been the steady supporter of that venerable society. Mr. Smith, it should also be mentioned, had bequeathed the sum of 100l. to the National Schools of this place. Mr. Jeffs concluded by earnestly requesting subscriptions at Messrs. Hobhouse's bank, and the attendance of those present at the examination, fancy sale, and dinner, VOL. V.-May, 1834. which will be at Weymouth House this day at 12, and to-morrow, at 2 o'clock. (Applause.) W. M. Pinder, Esq., seconded the resolution. Thanks were voted to the Rev. H. Mogg for his sermon at the Abbey. On the motion of Colonel Daubeney, seconded by the Mayor, the thanks of the meeting were voted by acclamation to the Right Reverend Chairman for his kindness in presiding on the present occasion. The meeting then separated. The collection at the Rooms amounted to 131. 1s. 2d., and that at the Abbey, in the morning, to 24l. 18s.7d. SOMERSETSHIRE. At a vestry meeting of the parish of St. Peter and St. Paul, held on Monday, the Rev. the Rector of Bath presiding, the pa→ rishioners present determined, by a large majority, that the yearly allowance of 150l. to the curate should continue to be paid from the same sources as heretofore. Mr. Skrine was re-elected to the office of sexton for the year ensuing; and a resolution was almost unanimously passed, that the usual sum be granted from the church funds for the support of the choir. Mr. Lee was re-elected churchwarden; and Mr. John Stokes was appointed the other churchwarden, in the room of Mr. Charles Hunt, retired. A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the Rev. the Rector for his courteous and impartial conduct in the chair. The vestry was most respectably attended.-Bath Chronicle, April 3. The Bishop of Bath and Wells.-Amongst the daily acts of benevolence and charity performed by this venerable prelate, his Lordship last week granted new leases for three lives (without taking any fine or heriot), to fifteen cottagers within the manor of Banwell. To further his Lordship's good intentions, his steward also liberally remitted the whole of his fees on the leases, thereby conferring a lasting benefaction to those deserving men and their numerous families, who had been recommended to his Lordship's notice, for their great industry and sobriety, by a gentleman interested in their welfare.- Bath Herald. Abbey Church, Bath.-It is in contemplation to erect a new organ in the Abbey Church, on a scale similar to the one lately put up in York Minster; the present instrument being out of character with the building, and not sufficiently powerful for so large a church, added to which, it is in a bad state of repair.-Buth Paper. The important question as to whether the dissenters may expect co-operation from the Wesleyan Methodists in their present attempt to sever the church establishment from the state, has been set at rest by an official declaration on the part of that large and powerful body, that their feelings are friendly to the establishment. The Methodists are favourably circum 4 N |