CHURCH REFORM.
TOPICS OF THE DAY.
A CORRESPONDENT in OUT 30th Number laid down a plan for settling the Catholic question ; the peculiar feature of which w as the restoration of the Convocation with all its rights and privileges. When that plan was propounded, neither our correspondent nor ourselves were at all aware of the settlement which was meditated, and which is now finally carried. Lord WINCHILSEA, for whom we entertain a sincere respect and regard—perhaps because he is most opposite in all things to ourselves, his Lordship being the most bold and dashing of peers, and we the most reserved and un- obtrusive of commoners—has broached a scheme of reform similar in its leading points, but of a much more sweeping character than that of our correspondent. The gallant Earl (we do not see why that epithet should be restricted to those who have fought with no- body but Frenchmen) proposes not only to turn the Bishops out of Parliament, but to equalize their incomes, and —a most unnecessary addition,by the way—toput an end to alltranslations from bishoprick tobishoprick. This is a reform with a vengeance—enough to make the hairs of Lord LYNDHURST'S wig stand OD end! Wa rejoice at the declared intention of its proposer to quit the House as soon as the Relief Bill is passed : had he remained, he might have been tempted to reduce such atrocities, the bare contemplation of which will make every true Man tremble, into the form of a substantive motion ; and what midt have been the issue, Heaven only knows ! The discussion might ffli.ve furnished us with other debates as long as those on the Catholic question—have called forth other peti- tions from other thousands—have sent other HALCOMBS and GRANTS to new Windsors, " Altera erit turn Tiphys, et altera gum vehat Argo
Deleetos heroes ;"
and filled other SPECTATORS with controversies which nobody would attend to, and fewer understand :
" Erunt etiam altera hells !"
But his Lordship quits the House; the Bishops remain ; their Lordships' tongues 'and their auditors' ears w ill rest alike ; gie:s and glass-coaches will preserve their accustomed rounds ; and we shall be allowed to pursue our onward path in peace and quietness.
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