CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE CLERGY OF RIPON AND THE MARQUIS OF

LONDONDERRY.

Tun CLERGY TO THE MARQUIS.

We, the undersigned clergy of Ripon, Thirsk, and the neighbourhood, as we would address your Lordship with every feeling and expression of respect be- &nig your exalted rank and station, so would we entreat you to receive this oar representation with that deference which is due to the God and Saviour whose word we minister, and whose authority we assert.

We cannot forbear thus to state our sincere and deep regret, that by the part winch your Lordship, in compliance with the unchristian usages of the upper classes of society, took in a duel with Mr. II. Grattan, you should have given the sanction of your high rank and station to a practice which so grievously violates the laws of God and the spirit of Christianity, no less titan the inter- ests of the community.

We are fully sensible that, even in this Christian land, however anomalous it be, if any one shall insist upon the word of God as paramount to the sanc- tion of public opinion, or upon the spirit of Christianity as more worthy of our regard and deference than the spirit of the age, he must expose himself both to obloquy and to treatment winch nothing less than the highest degree of Christian courage, and a sincere attachment to the Divine word can enable bun alike with meekness and with constancy to bear; and we readily, thought with much sorrow, admit upon one in your Lordship's high station that ob- loquy and treatment would bear with its utmost power ; but we would, at the same time, beg your Lordship to consider how, in the same degree, the example would have been influential for good instead of evil, and the benefit great to society at large, and how it would have contributed to the, ascendancy of Christian principles, if your Lordship, instead of bowing to the evil re- quirements of a worldly code, had simply, but courageou4y asserted, from the high 'vantage ground which your exulted station gives you, those Christian principles which ought to regulate the conduct or every rank ; and if your Lordship had availed yourself of the late occasion, both as a Christian senator and nobleman, of applying those principles to social and public life, and of sub- stituting them for that pernicious rule by which society, and especially its upper classes, bath hitherto been governed. We would humbly submit that we are compelled to view this transaction in connexion with that Chinch tbr whose excellences and privileges your Lord- ship is a strenuous advocate, and to exhibit it us detrimental to the spread of spiritual influence, without which religion i but an empty- name, a thing un- sanctioned and unblessed by God, and us eolculat ,a to draw down the wrath of God no less upon an acquiescing church and people, than on the actual offenders.

We cannot but express mu Imps that this our humble representation, which a regardfor society, your Lordship, and our holy calling forbids us to withhold, may be received. with your wonted candwir; and we lay it before your Lordship with the earnest prayer " that you may be endued with the grace, wisdom, and understanding, which shall enalde yila to see and to repair your error ; and that it (their said Scriptural exposition) may be so blessed by God, that it may be sul■::ervicut to your Lordship's good. and through your instrumentality

to that of society, ail to the ascendancy of holy and blessed principles which your -F,orilship ha-, been corn-dle.1 so farthlly to violate, and by which alone as a Christian people we ouglit to be guidel and governed."

We have the honour to subscribe ourselves your Lordship's most humble and faithful servants,

Drscom BE, Fteetor of Kirby Sigston. \UTI.F.V, OrStaVOley. Bel<4;E,,,, Vicar of (16undherly. ii !•:`, ‘,..N,1111!111111)...1:t 14111g:I Harrogate. J. W. STE:: 1.E, Inetimbent of llarlsey. T. Si \'t rue of lipap.dhwaite. II. II. CAll it, Curate or Northalivrt IV. hi:No, Car ■• liarroaata. lam;n4,s, lacumheat ; Ayton. 11.,,e,11,ent of Low Harrogate. J. W.i.posseN, ned,:w. of 11,,rattAbrido. J. li.o.r,TrAn. Canny a Danl.; c,,r of Marton Leonard. 3. \Vt..._at.a, Dean of .1. B. Curate of Thornton.

It. nfTliirsk.

J. r'n Alma. livetnr Copranyc. E. Curate iii Fylid:irk.

I I, WHEN. Ark..11,1,110. D. A. IL.% r,o,r. Cia-a!e ef Saudhutton.

J. NV. WHITE:a or Trinity R. 31,:r1:. Rei;or Rjohmona, J. B. Mar Incamhent or Holy J. A.1:arr, Curate of Trinitv Ciduch,Rirm. Triuily, Richmond. PLers, Clir.tle G. A r!ii 1,1 Gradon.

A. lta,Str, Vicar of Knaresborough. T. lt,e:sos, Car:t:e of Idic;n'e11r C. lloorr, Curate of KnareA•orough.

THE MARQUIS 'XO THE CLERGY.

Sir—I have received with beeonine.eratitade, and with the respect to which it is entitled, your letter of yesterday's d.,:e, acomipm.ied by a representation to me of the clergy of Ripen, Thirsk, and thoh: mi:ehlnierlioods, for my un. Christian proceeding in violating the laws el' Cud, by accepting a challenge and fighting a duel with Mr. 11. Grattan. That any :union of mine should so far interest the great body of clergy111,11 \ VI, t five signed the document, must be to rile a flattering circumstance, inasnnielt as it is not called tior any connexion between the parties and the individual, as was the case, if my memory serves me, in Beth, upon it similar renent-tritoce made IT the clergy, Sze. of that city, to Lord Powerseourt, their Member. Your e:,:oAlium, therefore, to myself must be the more flattering; while if von, nii,1 the °OLT clergymen who are signing parties to the representation, hail ever read Lord Powers:a:art.'s answer on the occasion 1 have alluded to, I am sore you will all have admitted nothing of reasoning or logic mule be ;tailed to the irrelragable facts that are there laid down so truly and so admirably by so young a emu, and that man not in my profi•ssion of arms.

Yon call upon me, as a Christian senator and na'.ileman, in-teal of bowing to the evil requirements of a worldly code, to have suledituted exalted station and religious principles. But yen forget that this ceeirse might, in all pro- bability, have entailed personal chastisement and insult. Allow me to observe, Sir, to your cloth, this may rags over. Civil action taa:e redros. Bat to ours, this can never be risked.

Did the clergy of any part of Pe, covi, remora irate with the hero of one intared lights, when be met Lora in a duel From whence, then, may I ask, arises the extreme aax'.cty ae- t iii= inotneet, Open. a far huinbler and

less important matter ? The e,,emstrating seam to wish for publicity, and your letter informs one my re:dy may hive le influence on society. But I shou1d lose the degree of character I. have (I hope) ohtained through life, for candour and straightforwardaess, ;t'l dial not at oime dad we that while you, as clergymen, are compelled. to view this transaction as ureeneeioned. and unau- thorized by God, we as soldiers am bound to tight to upheld tile altar and throne

when attacked, and for this duty our gacinen ts ming be tee.ullied as yours, and while you in the due exercise of yoar high ceiling ae. boom; to preach the gospel and administer consoletioa to the le le:eta:it F;,111,T, you. nmet leave to

Wyoyard Park, August 1G.

VANIll LONDONDERRY.