In Thurday'a Times Sir William Harcourt contributes a long letter
on "The Position of the Bishops." Though the words are apparently as strong as ever, it is pretty clear that reflection has shown the leader of the Opposition that there is not so much to be got out of the " Romanising " agitation as he at first supposed. Like Robin Hood in the ballad, Sir William exclaims- " Those Bishops and those Archbishops Ye shall them beat and bind," but there is no suggestion in his last letter of any fresh and stricter Act of Uniformity with new Tribunals and new penalties. Apart from the belabouring of the Bishops, the general effect of the letter is well represented by the last sen- tences :—" The Duke of Argyll has pointed out the difficulty of creating new organisations for enforcing discipline or changing the doctrine and services of the Church. That is not what is required. The great body of the laity of the Church desire no change. What they demand is that the clergy should obey the law and that the Bishops should not assist them in breaking it." This is a very distinct improvement upon Sir William's earlier contributions to the controversy.
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