ioners as they think fit, subject only to the control of the Ordinary, if they should exercise their power indiscreetly.

Upon the decease of the husband of the lady above alluded to, the gallery was covered with black cloth, at the expense of her late husband's representatives, and the same, after remaining therein for a certain space of time, was removed by the direction of the Minister of the said parish, and taken by him and converted to his own use and benefit.

It is submitted, that this proceeding was incorrect, and that the cloth is, in such case, either the property of the executors, or personal representatives of the deceased, and removable and applicable by them; or, otherwise, at the disposal of the churchwardens, virtute officii, for the use of the parish.

You are therefore requested to advise as to the law upon this subject.

OPINION. As to the cloth, I am of opinion, that the legal title to it being originally in the representatives of the deceased, could only be conveyed to another by their act or consent; unless they have either expressly or by implication parted with it, it must still belong to them. If nothing passed on the occasion, I apprehend that a Court would be strongly inclined to infer, that it was intended the Minister should have it, after the original purpose was answered, and would so decide, unless the contrary appeared; I do not think that there is any presumption in favour of a claim made by the churchwardens.'

STEPHEN LUSHINGTON.

Feb. 11th, 1822.

S. P. G.-NORWICH.

AT a meeting of the Norwich Diocesan Association of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, the LORD LIEUTENANT of NORFOLK in the Chair; the following admirable Resolutions were unanimously adopted, after several able addresses by the Worshipful the Mayor, the Very Rev. the Dean, Alderman Booth, Archdeacon Oldershaw, and several of the most active Clergy.

1. That this meeting acknowledges with increasing conviction the imperative and solemn obligation of a Christian people to encourage, by the employment of competent Missionaries and Catechists, the Propagation of the Gospel among Foreign Nations.

2. That the success which has hitherto attended the labours of the Missionaries of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel amongst the various Foreign Dependencies of Great Britain, and the testimony which has been borne by persons of exalted station and high religious character, to their piety and zeal, entitle the Society

to the utmost support of the Christian public generally, and especially of the Members of the Established Church.

3. That the approaching total discontinuance of the Parliamentary Grants which this Society has for many years dispensed—and that at a period, when, on account of the increased extent of the British dominions, and their immense population, the most energetic exertions are required-renders it imperative on the friends of true religion, by all the means in their power, to augment the funds of the Society, and thus to enlarge the sphere of its operations.

4. That a subscription for the benefit of the Society be immediately opened; and that, under the approbation of our Venerable Diocesan, a circular letter be addressed, in the name of this meeting, to the Clergy of this diocese, most earnestly entreating them, by preaching and congregational collections, by increasing the number of subscribers, by encouraging the private collection of donations, however small, by their parishioners of both sexes, by forming District Committees in their respective

neighbourhoods, and by all other means that may appear to them most advisable, to promote the important objects in which the Society is engaged.

5. That the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of the diocese be respectfully requested to accept the cordial thanks of this meeting, for his liberal donation, and for the valuable sanction he has afforded to all the objects which it has in view.

JOHN WODEHOUSE, Chairman. We have pleasure in subjoining the following list of the Stations of Missionaries and Catechists employed by the Society:

At Bishop's College, Calcutta, are a Principal, two Professors, six Missionaries, six Catechists, a Superintendent of the College Press, &c.

We are happy to add, that on this occasion, the Venerable Diocesan not only extended his patronage, but also afforded every personal facility to the furtherance of the laudable objects of the meeting.

S. P. C. K.-NEWPORT PAGNEL.

THE annual meeting of the Newport Pagnel District Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, was held at the Saracen's Head Inn, Lieut.-Col. CHESTER, of Chicheley Hall, in the chair. It appeared from the report presented, that 152 Bibles, 127 Testaments, 283 Common Prayers, 406 bound tracts, and 722 unbound ditto, were sold and distributed gratis by the Society during the past year,

S. P. G.-BOLTON.

A PUBLIC meeting was lately held at the parish church Sunday School, for the purpose of forming amongst the friends of missions, in connexion with the Established Church in this

town and neighbourhood, an association in aid of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, &c. The LORD BISHOP of the diocese was in the chair. The meeting was addressed at considerable length by his Lordship, the Rev. J. Slade, Mr. Hulton, Mr. Bolling, and other speakers, and resolutions in support of the objects of the meeting were unanimously adopted.

S. P. G. WARWICK.

more

A PUBLIC meeting, in aid of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, has been held at the Court House, Warwick, under the sanction of the Lord Bishop of the diocese. The meeting was called to recommend the Society to general notice, and to consider what measures were rendered necessary by the immediate reduction and approaching discontinuance of the government grants. The chair was taken by SIR JOHN MORDAUNT, the High Sheriff. The object of the meeting was ably advocated by many of the gentlemen and Clergy, and very handsome and liberal donations and subscriptions were entered into.

S. P. G.-REPORT RESPECTING THE

NEGROES ON THE CODRINGTON
ESTATES.

WE have received a copy of this Report, to which we have great pleasure in referring our readers, as it contains interesting matter respecting the College and Grammar-shool maintained out of the Codrington fund. It may be procured at Messrs Rivingtons'.

DURHAM.

WE learn, from a report recently published, that the Durham Diocesan Committee in aid of the Incorporated Society for the Enlargement and Building of Churches and Chapels, have, during the last year, remitted to the Incorporated Society 60l. 18s., and also made the following grants, viz. 100l. to South Shields new Church; 100l. to North Shields new Church (additional to a former grant of the same amount), and 100l. to Shildon new Church.

N.B. This may be expressed briefly, and in very general terms.

2. A reference to the correspondence held with the NATIONAL SOCIETY, for all particulars relative to the subject of the memorial.

N.B. It will be advisable that the memorial should NOT enter into any details.

3. A declaration that the applicants are ready to submit to any audit of their accounts which the Lords of the Treasury may direct, and to make such periodical reports respecting the state of their Schools and the number of Scholars educated as may be called for.

4. A declaration that there are not any charitable funds, or public and private endowments in the place, which might render any further grants for promoting education inexpedient or unnecessary; or if such funds and endowments exist, a short explanation of their nature, manner of appropriation, &c., with the reason why they do not supersede the preceding petition for pecuniary assistance.

Dated and signed by the several promoters of the School.

OBJECT OF THE GRANTS.

The grants are made for "the erection of new School houses," to accommodate Sunday and Daily, Sunday, or Infant Schools. When the last-named institutions are to be established, it is expected that the rooms will (if possible) be used for the instruction of older children upon the Lord's day.

In case of building new School

VOL. XVI. NO. II.

houses for existing Schools, it is desirable to shew clearly whether any and what increase will be made in the number of children to be instructed.

Although a preference will be given by the Lords of II. M. Treasury to such applications as come from large cities and towns, yet it is by no means the intention of their Lordships to exclude the parishes and districts which possess a more limited population, from the benefits of the parliamentary grant for the encouragement of education.

SITE FOR THE SCHOOL-HOUSE.

A secure legal tenure will be indispensable: and a certificate will be required, before the grant is claimed, that a site of this description has been obtained, and has been vested in the hands of proper trustees, &c.

It is not, however, necessary that such a site should have been obtained when the application and memorial are presented; it will suffice that the applicant should certify what tenure he expects he shall be able to obtain ; and, when a grant is appropriated, upon a statement of this nature, time will be allowed for the fulfilment of his reasonable expectations in this respect.

ESTIMATE OF THE WORK, Including purchase of site, building Schoolhouse, and fittings-up.

Difficulties in procuring an estimate are easily removed. The form of a common barn furnishes no bad model for a school-room. The neighbouring villages may probably supply some specimens of a more finished kind, and the exact cost of these may be ascertained; or, a very rough estimate, from a respectable builder, will suffice for the basis upon which the memorial is framed.

R

The National Society's suggestions on building may always be procured;and the only object of material importance, in the first instance, is the securing of not less than six square feet upon the floor to each child, and of a sufficient height to the roof.

The erection of a dwelling-house for the master or mistress (an object of great importance) is not contemplated in the grants of H. M. Treasury, nor in those of the National Society. If therefore such a building is to be raised, in addition to the Schoolhouse, the estimates of the two works must be kept entirely distinct.

THE MEANS TO MEET THE ESTIMATE, And to qualify the case for consideration by the Lords of H. M. Treasury. Their Lordships, in important cases, are prepared to grant one-half of the estimated cost of the work; -- and where peculiar difficulties exist, the National Society will make up a portion of the first moiety, previously to transmitting the memorial. Still it is

needful, in every case, that some local contributions should be made, either in money, materials, labour, &c. &c. It is not, however, requisite that the contributions should have been collected from persons interested in the undertaking but residing at a distance. The probable amount of their donations may be specified; and when the result of the greatest possible exertions is calculated, and communicated to the National Society, with the other requisite particulars, the Committee will use their best exertions to secure the success of the undertaking. Only it is to be observed, that the amount of private subscriptions of kind every must, of necessity, have been “ received, expended, and accounted for," before the grant from H. M. Treasury can be claimed.

or

When subscriptions are made for a dwelling-house for the master mistress, as well as for a School-house, the proportion of the total sum raised, or expected, as applicable to each object, must be distinctly explained.

The excise, (the gin and beer department,) alone is flourishing. Even the Post-Office, on the last quarter, exhibits a strange falling off. But the most startling subject is the Customs. If the duties upon imports and exports exhibit a defalcation of six hundred and twelve thousand eight hundred and ninety four pounds sterling!!! the actual loss to the merchant and manufacturer is little short of SIX MILLIONS per annum !!!

Besides this, five millions additional exchequer bills are about to be issued, to meet the charge on the consolidated fund. And the stock belonging to the Saving Banks is about to be sold to meet the compensation demand of the West India proprietors. The Assessed Taxes must, moreover, positively go, which makes the attack upon the Savings Banks the more unjustifiable. For what is the actual state of the case?-The revenue is decreasing ;– the indisposition to pay taxes is increasing; public confidence is shaken; -the demands upon the government are enormous; and at this period ministers choose to appropriate the hard-earned savings of the poor to carry into effect their wild and undigested theories. We hope parliament, which is on the eve of assembling, will look to this, and that before next month our domestic intelligence will be of a more cheerful character.

The Church Reform Bill is progressing; and we regret to say his Majesty has yielded far too much to the pertinacious clamour of ill advisers.

"Separate registration is to be granted to Dissenters."-" Residence to be peremptorily enjoined upon the Clergy."-"All fees and offerings to the Clergy to be abolished."—" Unions of Canonries and Deaneries to be severed."-And the amiable Dissenters are further insisting upon the abolition of Church Rates.

Nor is this all; the Bishops are to be excluded from their legitimate place in the Lords; and the idea of a Convocation at the same time is scouted. We hope this grasping and unchristian display of feeling on the part of the schismatics, will arouse the Church to a sense of her real posi

tion, and no longer allow any delicate scruples to deter the Clergy of the Establishment from doing their duty.

The State, we regret to say, fares little better than the Church. The nobility are openly reviled; and their wealth, their honour, and their patriotism are looked upon as a crime by the ruffians who have none of these qualifications. The Bankrupt and Insolvent Courts at the same time dis-, tinctly prove the prosperity of the mercantile and manufacturing world; whilst the "progresses" of Swing, the son of Rock, the son of a Papist, in the agricultural districts, bear ample testimony to the fine feelings of "The bold peasantry, their country's pride!!"

SPAIN.-M. Zea Bermudez has been removed from the ministry, and the immediate result must be, that the quasi Queen will become a mere tool in the hands of the revolutionary party, who have already defied her power. Catalonia, indeed, has thrown off all allegiance; and General Quesada has followed the example of General Llander, and addressed an exposition to her Majesty, in which, after recapitulating his private wrongs, real or imaginary, he demands a remodelling of the Constitution! The whigs and radicals are the same everywhere;-the same want of principle and thirst for revolution characterises all their movements. This clashing of interests, however, is favourable to the King, who, if his friends are true and watchful, cannot fail to get possession of the oyster, whilst the hungry and unprincipled combatants are fighting for the shells.

PORTUGAL. The rival factions continue in statu quo, but rumours are abroad that the Pedroites have been compelled to retreat from Santarem ; should this prove true, the King's cause may be considered safe, and the princess of Gran Para be left to finish her education at Laleham.

FRANCE. The volcano is beginning to smoke.

GREECE.—In this glorious country plots and conspiracies are of daily occurrence; and little King Otho's cradle is likely to prove any thing but a bed of roses.