23 JANUARY 1875, Page 3

It is stated—we do not know whether authoritatively or not—

that Lord Lyttelton's Bill for an increase of the Episcopate will receive the support of Government. Some of the dioceses, par- ticularly Exeter and London, are utterly overgrown, but we hope if any increase is made, it will be on the principle of making bishoprics conterminous with counties. Of course, that cannot be quite universal, but excepting in Wales and one or two Eng- lish counties, one county is enough for one man. There is no need to pay them all alike, or give them all cathedrals, but the principle should be County Bishoprics. The opportunity should be taken, too, to abolish that shameful congi d'elire, to vest the appointments directly in the Crown, and to allow the removal of a Bishop on address from both Houses.