CLOSED CATHEDRALS.
pro THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR,"] SIR,—I have sufficient assurance to think that I need not apologise for having addressed my letter of the 12th December, 1888, to you, because its contents have moved the Very Rev. the Dean of Lincoln to divulge the important information that the "competent Lincoln verger" has now received directions to allow visitors who appear to him to be trustworthy, to examine all parts of the cathedral without guidance. This regula- tion, provided it be made public, would, in my opinion, meet any objection which could be reasonably raised to the pay- ment of a small fee per head; but if the verger is allowed to retain his power of selection in petto, and is constituted by authority the sole judge of a visitor's trustworthiness, then I think the practice is very inconvenient, and requires to be amended. I regret to say that I do not understand what the Dean means by "placing his experience against my a priori reasoning," and I am afraid that I cannot at this season of the year undertake a pilgrimage to Lincoln to wait upon him and receive his explanation ; but if, when he next comes to London, he would be pleased to visit Westminster Abbey and acquire a knowledge of the system in operation there, he would, as I have ventured to suggest in my previous letter, learn something which might be to the advantage of his church.—I am, Sir, &c.,
GEORGE CAVENDISH BENTINCK.
Poole, Dorset, January 8th.
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