Lord John Russell has addressed a letter to the Bishop
of Exeter in explanation of his statement that the Bishops were opposed to the plans of the late Ministers for the commutation of tithes. Lord John's statement seems to have been substantially, though not formally correct. The following are the principal passages in the letter.
" It appears from the inquiries I have made, that early in 1833, and before the introduction into the House of Commons of the Tithe Commutation Bill by Lord Althorp, a conference took place between the First Minister of the Crown, assisted by two of his colleagues, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, on the subject of tithes. In that conference, the Archbishop expressed his own indivi- dual opinion that the outline of the plan proposed to him was open to peat objections. Other communications took place, altogether confined to the Primate personally, and not imparted to any other of the Bishops. When I made my speech at Totnes, I was under the impression that these communications between his Majesty's servants and the Archbishop of Canterbury were on the part of the latter in a more formal and representative character, arid were more deter- mined in opposing sentiments than according to my recent inquires and present conviction they really were."
For the formal inaccuracy Lord John apologizes ; and the Bishop is delighted.
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