POSTSCRIPT. SATtrIGYAY.
The chief business in both Houses of Parliament last night was of a diseussional and not a legislative character; and the topics of discussion were the government of the Church, the promotion of Education by new or existing means, and the promotion of taste. In the House of Peers, Lord REDFSDALE brought the subject of re- viving the synodical action of the Church under notice, in a speech most praiseworthy for its temperate, untheological, and statesmanlike tone. Moving formally for a copy of the petitions presented by the clergy and laity of the province of Canterbury to both Houses of Convocation on the 6th of February last, he reviewed tlie objections to renewing- the synodical ac- tion of the Church, and portrayed the evils which arise from the absence of Convocation. It is legal, and has only fallen into disuse. Fatal disputes are feared : but they did not arise when Convocation existed, and do not arise in the governing bodies of other religious denominations,—as in the case of the Church of Scotland, and the communities of Dissenters. Peace
does not exist at present; but only the violent obtain prominence and control. So that the Church is either. paralyzed, or represented by unau- thorized persons. The stream of opinion in favour of granting the Church her old liberty of synodical action is flowing so fast that at last it will be im- possible to withstand it. These views were opposed by the Archbishop of CANTERBURY' with the usual arguments against reviving the synodical action of the Church.
If the assembling of Convocation were to end in reconciling some con- flicting rubrics, or in supplying the deficiencies of others, or in the change of a few obsolete words or questionable phrases, the result would be little worth the cost. Thus far you would disappoint; go further and you would excite. Where we have now a smothered fire, hotter perhaps than is agree- able, but still manageable, we should raise a conflagration which it would require all her Majesty's prerogative to extinguish. In spite of divisions, and notwithstanding its want of independent action, the Church of England enjoys the best of all privileges—the means of extensive usefulness. Lord LYTrILrorr desired the revival of Convocation, as promising, by further discussion and explanation, to smooth the way to peace : but if we could not have peace without sacrificing life and freedom, let us have war. He explained, that he meant by Convocation, "a representative body including the laity as well as the clergy." The Archbishop of Demme referred to his views as expressed long ago in print : the govern- ment of the Church by the clergy exclusively could not and would not be tolerated in these days. The Duke of ARGYLL remarked that great con- fusion exists as to the nature of the old English Convocation ; which was
a purely clerical body, convened not to regulate ecclesiastical affairs, but to assent to taxes. The difficulty of forming a new tribunal is, that there
is no traditionary skeleton on which to fashion it. Earl NELSON believed
that the greatest danger now threatened is, that the Government should neglect the question. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, called forth, by allu-
sions of previous speakers to the silence of Ministers, declared that he has not sufficient confidence in Convocation to be party to any scheme which should not give the power to "govern its proceedings, or say in what ways of controversy it might be directed." The Bishop of LONDON declared his opinion, that unless some representative body, combining the representation of all classes of the Church, should be permitted to assemble and deliberate, the time is not very far distant when the Govern- ment and heads of dioceses will not know which way to turn.
The Bishop of OXFORD dealt with the question from a more warmly re- ligious point of view, but still not without a reference to its political as- pects.
He was desirous of going back to that which was established when the Apostles said that they met together to consult for the welfare of the Church, and that because they did so consult they spoke such words as seemed good' to the Holy Ghost for the general good. That which he desired to see granted to the Church of England was no priestly domination—no episcopal tyranny. There was no remedy for the evils that had crept in by reason of the recent operations in the Church, and no power for that necessary self- expansion, if the Church of England did her duty, unless power for her own internal regulation were given to her ; a power which should bring to- gether her discordant elements, and blend them in one harmonious operation. It was not and never had been the condition of the Church of Christ to have perfect unity of opinion. It could not be. He believed that the constitu- tion of men's minds made it impossible. Some must incline to Cal- vinism, and others to Arminianism. The office of the Church of Christ was not to extinguish all those differences of opinion ; but it was, nevertheless, possible that Christians should coexist together in harmonious cooperation, according as it had been arranged by the Divine Founder of the Christian religion. H, however, the Legislature would handle the living body which was dwelling amongst them as some mere instrument of human device—if they would attempt by their external legislation to make it speak a language which it had not derived from its Author, and to do acts which it could not justify by its precepts—then, where they promised peace they would find death ; where they promised success they would find failure ; and they would finally be left as incompetent as ever any unchristian nation had been to deal with the corruptions and unnumbered evils of a church which, as a body politic, they bad to administer. The motion was agreed to.
The discussions referring to education were in the House of Commons. In Committee of Supply, on the vote of 150,0001. for public education, Lord join/ Rrsszu, stated that there is a balance in hand of 99,586/. ; and out of this balance it is intended to apply such a portion that the ex- penditure for this year will be 186,3811. A new principle is in action— that of giving stipends to pupil-teachers, of augmenting the salaries of masters and mistresses, &c., and generally of improving the quality of the education given ; and the effects are such that the schools are daily increasing in popularity and usefulness. In the debate which followed, Lord John stated that he still looks forward to the establishment of a more extended system of national education, and thinks all our efforts are making progress in that direction.
Mr. Mowarr mooted the subject of the application of those funds of the Church which were devoted by our ancestors to education purposes, by moving for an address to the Crown for a Commission on the educa- tional trusts confided to the Cathedral establishments of the kingdom. The motion being illustrated especially by the case of Mr. Whiston at Rochester, it was resisted by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL, on the ground that the Rochester case is "lis pendens." Mr. Bearrai and some other Members gravely urged that the general question should be taken up,. or it will involve new assaults on the Church.—Motion negatived without The question of the Crystal Palace and its fixture was rainetrhy Lord Bnottortair, in presenting a petition from Mr. Paxton. The petition em- bodied-the view set forth in Mr. Parton's pamphlet, and prayed that the building might not be removed without the fullest consideration of the plan for converting it into a winter garden. Lord Brougham abstained from discussing his own original objection to the site selected ; compli- mented Mr. Paxton; "the European usefulness " of the Expo_ sition ; and heartily supported the prayer for fell consideration of the subject. Lord Comma. totally objected to the idea of retaining the structure : public faith, he argued, was pledged to its removal; it was not constructed for permanency, and if it were retained, so much of the imperfect part would have to be supplied that it would be virtually re- built ; and the expense both of reconstruction and maintenance would be enormous—say 100,0001. and 20,0001. a year. Earl GEA.NVILLE, pre- senting a petition like the other, from Ashford, admitted the pledge imposed on the Commissioners to remove the building ; had no doubt of its sta- bility ; believed that a winter garden would be a great luxury to many of the inhabitants of London ; but reserved all opinion as to the expediency of retaining it —Petitions ordered to lie on the table.
The other matters were of a miscellaneous character. Lord Year/ RUSSELL. stated that he will take Supply next Monday and Thursday ; and if the Supply votes be then got through, he will on Friday take the Customs Bill, on which Mr. Berries is to move his amendment. To Sir Javes GRAHAM he replied, that it is meant to push on the Registration of Assurances Bill ; and it is hoped to pass it. On Monday he will state what is intended with reference to a bill to supersede the Commission of Sewers.
In reply to Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, Sir JAMES GRAHAM stated, that he is afraid that the labours of the Committee of which he is Chairman on the Metropolis Water Supply, will be " coextensive with the ordinary dura- tion of the session."
In reply to questions by Mr. URQTJHART, Lord PALMERSTON stated that the claim of Don Pacifico for the destruction of documents had been referred to Commissioners : those Commissioners found that the originals or duplicates of all the documents are still to be found in the archives at Lisbon, so that the destruction of documents will not injure Don Pacifico. But 1501. was awarded him for "inconvenience and ex- pense" ; and has been paid.
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