11 SEPTEMBER 1869, Page 3

The Bishops unequal to their work are really beginning to

Tesign. Not only is it understood that the Bishop of Winchester resigns early next month, but he will not even accept, it is said, the full retiring pension to which he is entitled. The Bishop of Bath and Wells has already resigned. It is too much to expect that the Bishop of Exeter, who is but 91, and has only held the see for S8 years, should give up possession before he can count his hundred years ; but the younger generation, as we may say, of Bishops is really setting a fair example of disinterestedness. Few men with comparatively light work to do are willing to admit that they are past doing that light work, and this is generally the bishops' cases. The proper exercise of the divine right of abdica- tion really requires a remarkable balance of true humility and proper self-confidence, and we can't expect bishops to be excep- tionally gifted with such a balance of characteristics as that.