Lord Arthur Hervey, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, died
very unexpectedly this day week ; for though he was in his eighty-sixth year, he had been in fairly good health and spirits till within a very few days of his death. He was a man of some learning, especially in Hebrew, and was one of the committee which revised the version of the Old Testament put forth a few years ago. In theology he leaned to the Evangelical school, and was probably the best repre- sentative of that school on the Episcopal Bench. He was essen- tially a moderate man, though in our opinion too much prepos- sessed against what is called the "higher criticism " of Hebrew literature, and inclined to reconcile by rather questionable expedients the apparent historical inconsistencies of the Scrip- ture narratives. Men of all schools admired his serene piety, and felt the deepest respect for his judgment on all general concerns ; nor was he wanting in the kind of insight into the wants of the people which makes an interesting preacher and a popular lecturer. It will not be easy to fill his place, and we shall feel some interest in watching Lord Rosebery's first use of the Prime Minister's privilege of recommending a new Bishop to the Queen.
