The Archbishop of York was in a very contentious mood
last week. The Standing Orders of the York Convocation direct that when the Archbishop sends down a message to the Lower House asking them to take any subject into consideration, such business ought to have precedence of all other subjects. On Tuesday week the Archbishop sent down a Bill for reforming the law of patronage with such a message. The scheme was an elaborate one, and many Members of the Lower House had no acquaintance with it at all. They therefore voted nein. con. that it should be taken into consideration as the first business on Wednesday in last week,—that being the earliest moment at which they could hope to discuss it with intelligence. Dr. Thomson, however, held that they were guilty of disrespect and irregularity in not either discussing it at once, unintelligently, or asking leave of his Grace to delay it till the next day. And accordingly he summoned the Prolocutor and his Assessors before the Upper House, and reprimanded them, as representing the Lower House, for irregularity. But though you may exact an outward observance, you cannot exact true deference; and Arch- bishop Thomson's exactingness is sure to diminish the deference felt, and probably even the deference expressed, to his authority.
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