Mr. Leatham's speech was a very good one. He enforced
with great power on the friends of Disestablishment the duty of improving so far as they can the condition of the National Church, of which they are trustees so long as the Establish- ment remains, and was very severe on those who, from the fear of postponing the date of Disestablishment, are indifferent to the sweeping away of clear abuses. Mr. Childers also made an excellent speech, very much in the same direction as that after- wards taken by Lord Lymington. He pointed out that the right of selling livings interfered as much with the legislative improvement of the Church, as the right of selling commissions had interfered with the legislative improvement of the Army ; and though he assented to the second reading of the Dill, it was obvious that he would have wished, with Lord Lymington, to abolish the sale not only of next presentations, but of advowsons altogether. The tone of the House of Commons on the whole subject was manifestly very much improved.
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