day above mentioned the committee closed its
proceedings by agreeing in a report to the house, that
Mr. Bell had been duly elected; that, owing to their
utter inability to procure the attendance of witnesses,
they were wholly unable to investigate the case with
the closeness it demanded; that the committee had
reason to believe that a system of gross bribery and
corruption has prevailed at the late and preceding
elections for St. Alban's, and they therefore recommended
the issue of a Royal Commission to inquire into the
bribery and corruption alleged. On the same evening
the report was received and entered on the journals of
the house.

A great meeting of the Manchester Financial and
Parliamentary Reform Association was held in the
Free Trade Hall on the 16th, when Mr. Milner Gibson
and Mr. Bright, the two members for Manchester,
delivered their sentiments on the present state of public
affairs, and on the principles which governed their own
parliamentary conduct. Their speeches were most
cordially received; a resolution of thanks was adopted, for
the zeal, talent, and faithfulness which they had on all
occasions shown; and the meeting pledged itself to use
all legal and proper measures for their return at the
next election.

An address has been issued to the clergy of the
provinces of Canterbury and York, on the subject of Ritual
Observances. It is signed by the Primate, the
Archbishop of York, and twenty-two of the bishops, the names
of four of the episcopal body, viz. the Bishops of Exeter,
Bath, and Wells, Hereford, and Manchester, not being
appended to the document. The address, which is of a
persuasive character, rather than one enjoining
obedience, places before the clergy the following
considerations, in treating of Ritual Observances:

"First, that any change of usages with which the
religious feelings of a congregation have become
associated is in itself so likely to do harm, that it is not to be
introduced without the greatest caution; secondly, that
beyond this, any change which makes it difficult for the
congregation at large to join in the service is still more to be
avoided; thirdly, that any change which suggests the fear
of still further alteration is most injurious; and, fourthly,
that according to the rule laid down in the Book of Common
Prayer, where anything is doubted or diversely taken
concerning the manner how to understand, do, and
execute the things contained in that book, the parties that
so doubt or diversely take anything shall always resort
to the bishop of the diocese, who by his discretion shall
take order for the quieting and appeasing of the same,
so that the same order be not contrary to anything
contained in that book."

The bishops signing the address believe that the fair
application of these principles would solve most of the
difficulties which have arisen, and they urge upon their
rev. brethren the adoption of this rule of conduct. But
they say, beyond mere attempts to restore an unequal
strictness of ritual observance, they have to deal with a
serious evil.

"A principle has of late been avowed and acted on,
which, if admitted, would justify far greater and more
uncertain changes. It is this—that as the Church of
England is the ancient Catholic Church, settled in this
land before the Reformation, and was then reformed
only by the casting away of certain strictly defined
corruptions; therefore, whatever form or usage existed in
the church before its reformation may now be freely
introduced and observed, unless there can be alleged
against it the distinct letter of some formal prohibition."

Against this inference the bishops protest, believing
that at the Reformation the English Church not only
rejected certain corruptions, but also, without in any
degree severing her connexion with the ancient Catholic
Church, intended to establish one uniform ritual,
according to which her public services should be
conducted. They, therefore, beseech any who may have
proposed to themselves the restoration of what, under
sanction of this principle, they deemed a lawful system,
to consider the dangers which it involves; whilst with
equal earnestness they beseech others who, either by
intentional omission, or by neglect and laxity, may have
disturbed the uniformity and weakened the authority of
the prescribed ritual, to strengthen the side of order by
avoiding all unnecessary deviations from the Church's
rule. Such harmony of action, they are persuaded,
would go far towards restoring the peace of the Church.
—This address, it appears, originated in a letter from
the Home Secretary to the Archbishop of Canterbury,
transmitting, by the Queen's commands, an address
received by Her Majesty from 230,000 lay-members of the
Church of England. In this letter, which is dated the
1st of April, Sir G. Grey says:

"Her Majesty places full confidence in your Grace's
desire to use such means as are within your power to
maintain the purity of the doctrines taught by the clergy
of the Established Church, and to discourage and
prevent innovations in the modes of conducting the services
of the Church not sanctioned by law or general usage,
and calculated to create dissatisfaction and alarm among
a numerous body of its members. I am therefore
commanded to place this address in your Grace's hands, and
to request that it may be communicated to the
Archbishop of York and to the Suffragan Bishops in
England and Wales, who, Her Majesty does not doubt,
will concur with your Grace in the endeavour, by a
judicious exercise of their authority and influence, to
uphold the purity and simplicity of the faith and worship
of our Reformed Church, and to reconcile differences
among its members injurious to its peace and usefulness."

The Bishop of Exeter has published a Pastoral
Letter to the clergy of his diocese, in which, after
maintaining with his usual vehemence the extreme High-
church doctrines to which he is known to hold, he
announces his intention to hold a Diocesan Synod.
Immediately after the close of his visitation, the clergy
are to meet him "in a Diocesan Synod at the cathedral
city," and "express or refuse their concurrence " with
him in a "declaration" that they adhere faithfully and
at every hazard to the article of the Creed, "I acknowledge
one baptism for the remission of sins," which was
virtually denied when the Queen decided as she did in
the Gorham case. He wishes further to obtain their
counsel on other matters affecting the Church and
the diocese. Anticipating legal objections, he has
obtained the very highest legal authority, that as the
Synod would not attempt, or indeed wish to make
canons, binding even on themselves, there will be "no
doubt of the entire lawfulness of such an assembly:"
and this entire legality will not be imperiled by the
fact that "the Synod will be representatives elected by
the clergy of the different deaneries"—for that point
was brought under the special notice of his legal
advisers. In explaining the nature and functions of this
Convocation, he says: "As the Synod is in the nature
of a Council of the Bishop, it is plain that no Resolution
can be deemed an Act of the Synod which has not
his concurrence."

The Rev. Mr. BLEW, Minister of the Church of St.
John, at Gravesend, has been suspended for six months
by the Bishop of Rochester, for having subscribed an
address to Dr. Wiseman, got up by certain clergymen
of the High Church party, in which those whose names
are attached regret the manner in which he has been
received in England; address him as "Your Eminence,"
express respect for his person and office as a "bishop of
the Church of God;" and state that the "clamour of
the many" in his case "is not to be regarded as the
unequivocal voice of religion and of the Church of
England."

NARRATIVE OF LAW AND CRIME.

The case of Miss Augusta Talbot was disposed of by the
Lord Chancellor, on the 18th inst., when his Lordship
gave judgment on the two petitions of the Rev. Dr. Doyle
and Mr. Craven Berkeley. [See Household Narrative
for last month, p. 64.] Dr. Doyle's petition prayed that
Miss Talbot might be allowed, during the absence of
the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury abroad, to remain
under the charge of some proper person, to be approved
of by the court during the approaching season of 1851;
that an additional allowance of £1500 might be made
for her maintenance; and, if necessary, that it be referred
to the Master to approve of a scheme as to her residence.