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and the sheriff depute in Scotland, of any county where such person may reside, to receive the declaration following:

"I, A. B. do sincerely believe that the taking of any oath is contrary to the law of God."

And such clerk of the peace or sheriff depute, being so required at any convenient time at his usual place of business, is hereby required to receive such declaration, and to permit the party making it to sign the same, and shall enter the date of making it in a book to be kept by him for that purpose on receiving a fee of

2. And be it further enacted, that any person having made the said declaration, who may appear as a juror, witness, or deponent, in any proceeding, civil or criminal, in any court or other place, in any case where an oath is now by law required, shall be permitted to affirm instead of swearing, which solemn affirmation shall be adjudged and taken, and is hereby enacted and declared to be of the same force and effect, to all intents and purposes, in all courts and other places where by law an oath is now required as if such person had been sworn in the usual form.

3. And be it enacted, that if any person making such solemn affirmation shall be lawfully convicted wilfully, falsely, and corruptly to have affirmed any matter or thing which if the same had been in the usual form would have amounted to wilful and corrupt perjury, every person so offending shall incur the same penalties and forfeitures as by the laws and statutes of this realm are enacted against persons convicted of wilful and corrupt perjury.

4. And be it enacted, that any person claiming to be admitted by virtue of this act to affirm instead of making oath shall first state (if required) the time and place of his making and entering the declaration above set forth; and in case of any false statement herein shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and liable, on conviction, to fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court where such conviction shall take place.

5. And be it enacted, that every clerk of the peace and sheriff depute shall permit the book containing such entries to be searched at any convenient time, at the usual place of business, by any person paying the fee of

PETITION OF THE CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF CANTERBURY AGAINST MR. SHAW LEFEVRE'S BILL.

Ar a Meeting of the Clergy of the Diocese of Canterbury, holden at the National Schools, Canterbury, on Friday, the 13th July, 1838, the Venerable the Archdeacon in the chair; it was moved by the Rev. Wyndham Knatchbull, D.D., seconded by the Rev. W. F. Baylay, and unanimously resolved, that the following Petition be presented to the House of Commons, and one to similar effect to the House of Lords :

TO THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.

The humble Petition of the Archdeacon and Clergy of the Diocese of Canterbury,

Sheweth,-That on the 13th of August, 1836, the royal assent was given to an Act for the Commutation of Tithes in England and Wales, by the 69th clause of which it was enacted "That every rent-charge payable as aforesaid, instead of tithes, shall be subject to all parliamentary, parochial, and county and other rates, charges, and assessments, in like manner as the tithes commuted for such rent-charge have heretofore been subject."

That this clause was regarded as a solemn covenant between the legislature and the tithe-owners, both lay and ecclesiastical, that the principles according

to which tithes were then by law assessable to parochial and other rates should not be violated.

That on the 19th of August, 1836, the royal assent was given to an Act to "regulate Parochial Assessments," by which, amongst other things, it was provided, in conformity with the aforesaid clause of the Tithes Commutation Act, "That nothing herein contained shall be construed to alter or affect the principles or different relative liabilities (if any) according to which different kinds of hereditaments are now by law rateable."

That a bill is now pending in your honourable house, intituled, "a Bill to declare the effect of an Act of the 6th and 7th years of King William the Fourth, to regulate Parochial Assessments," which, under the plea of removing doubts, not attaching, as your petitioners allege, to the said proviso of the "Parochial Assessments Act," whose sole and manifest purport was to maintain and not to define the existing law, would in effect repeal the said proviso, as well as the 69th clause of the Tithes Commutation Act, and all the statutes and judgments for whose preservation they were respectively enacted.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that these solemn pledges of the legislature to maintain the principles according to which different kinds of hereditaments are now by law rateable, may be faithfully observed, and that the said bill may not receive the further sanction of your honourable house. And your petitioners, &c.

It was moved by the Rev. C. J. Burton, seconded by the Rev. F. A. Glover, and unanimously resolved:

That his grace the Archbishop of Canterbury be requested to present the petition to the house of Lords, and the Right Hon. Henry Goulburn, and Sir Robert Inglis, bart., that to the house of Commons.

It was moved by the Rev. John Hodson, and carried by acclamation:That the respectful thanks of the clergy be offered to his grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, for his introduction of the proviso at the end of the first clause of the bill to regulate parochial assessments, by which the just rights of the tithe-owners and others have been hitherto protected, and to request that he will be pleased to take council with the Archbishop of York, and other bishops of England and Wales, to maintain it in its full integrity.

It was moved by the Rev. I. E. N. Molesworth, D.D., seconded by the Rev. G. Randolph, and unanimously resolved :

That this meeting begs to call the attention of all tithe-owners, both lay and ecclesiastical, and of persons interested in mines, canals, railroads, and houses, to the attempt now in progress to destroy, by a mere act of legislative authority, for the benefit of the promoters of that act, the immunities resting upon the statutes of the realm, and guaranteed to them by the solemn adjudications of its highest courts.

It was proposed by the Rev. J. Poore, D.D., seconded by the Rev. J. Manley, and unanimously resolved :

That these resolutions be advertised in the Kentish Gazette, the Kentish Observer, the Maidstone Journal, the Times, Morning Herald, Standard, and St. James's Chronicle newspapers, and the Ecclesiastical Gazette.

JAMES CROFT, Archdeacon.

The archdeacon having left the chair, it was moved by the Rev. Wyndham Knatchbull, D.D., and carried by acclamation

That the thanks of the meeting be given to the archdeacon for his readiness in calling the meeting, and his unceasing attention to the interests of the clergy.

PETITION OF THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF ELY AGAINST THE

PLURALITIES BILL.

TO THE RIGHT HON. THE LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.

The humble Petition of the Dean and Chapter of Ely,

SHEWETH, That your petitioners have carefully perused the bill now before your right honourable house, entitled, "A Bill to abridge the holding of Benefices in Plurality, and to make better provision for the residence of the Clergy."

Your petitioners humbly submit, that certain clauses of that bill require careful scrutiny and amendment, as being framed on principles incompatible with the established constitution of the church of England.

Your petitioners perceive, that by the twelfth and seven following clauses of the said bill, it is provided, that all recommendations from the right reverend the bishops, with respect to the uniting and disuniting of benefices, and other ecclesiastical arrangements, shall be made to the "Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England," who shall afterwards, if they be satisfied with the proposed measures, certify the same to her Majesty in council. Your petitioners respectfully observe, that this mode of proceeding is incompatible with the dignity of the episcopal office, and with the bishops' right of chief ecclesiastical jurisdiction within their respective dioceses. By the clauses above mentioned, a body, hitherto unrecognised in the church, is interposed between the sovereign and the diocesans, and even the presentation of the bishop's recommendations to the crown is made to depend upon the determination of the “ Ecclesiastical Commissioners."

Your petitioners respectfully submit to your right honourable house, that the provisions of the eleventh and twelfth clauses are a direct infringement of the rightful authority of the bishops; inasmuch as, both by the common law and by the statutes of the realm, the bishops have hitherto possessed the power, under certain restrictions, of uniting benefices for ecclesiastical purposes. Your petitioners beg, with all deference, to recal the attention of your right honourable house to the acts of parliament which relate to the "Commissioners for Building Churches," by which it is expressly provided, that “Nothing contained in those acts shall extend to invalidate or avoid any ecclesiastical law or constitution of the church of England, or to destroy any of the rights or powers belonging to any bishop of any diocese." (58 Geo. III. c. 45, § 84; and 3 Geo. IV. c. 72, § 36.)

Your petitioners are at a loss to discover any reason why the ecclesiastical laws, which have subsisted from time immemorial, should now be invalidated, and the rights and powers of every bishop in every diocese in England and Wales so injuriously invaded.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray your right honourable house not to concur in any measures which tend to place the right reverend the Bishops of England and Wales in subordination to the" Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England," but to preserve to the diocesans the full possession and enjoyment of all the powers and dignities which appertain to their sacred spiritual office. And your petitioners shall ever pray, &c. Given under our common seal, this fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.*

The Bishop of Ely, in presenting this petition, took occasion to observe, that it was entitled to the particular attention of their lordships, from the consideration which the chapter had given to the subject, as evidenced by documents before the public, which not only entered into the general question, but had reference also to the statutes of the cathedral, and shewed how carefully the subject of this petition had been considered before it had been put into the form presented to their lordships.

ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION.-ADDRESS OF THE CLERGY OF THE ARCHDEACONRY OF STAFFORD.

TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

WE, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the archdeacon and undersigned clergy of the archdeaconry of Stafford, or of the peculiars situated within the limits thereof, being assembled at the annual visitations held by the said archdeacon, and by the dean and chapter of the cathedral church of Lichfield respectively, beg leave humbly to approach your Majesty, as defender of the faith, and supreme governor of the church within these your dominions, with the expression of our devoted attachment to your Majesty's sacred person and authority, and praying your Majesty to be pleased to take into your royal consideration this our humble petition and address.

We beg most dutifully to represent to your Majesty, that the ancient laws of this kingdom, pursuant, as we humbly conceive, to the tenour of holy scripture, have ever left the internal arrangements of the church to her own proper authorities, and deemed her concurrence needful to any organic changes in her constitution.

We humbly submit that an adherence to this principle—a principle interwoven into the very framework of our ecclesiastical polity, and pervading the whole system of our national legislation-a principle recognised and confirmed by ancient charters, guaranteed by express enactments, and further protected by the oaths imposed on the sovereign and on the members of both houses of parliament, is rendered more than ever essential to the integrity of the church and the independence of her clergy, since the admission into our national councils of those who are not in communion with her.

Influenced by these considerations, and deeply feeling that the maintenance of our venerable church in all her constitutional rights and privileges is essential to the due honour of God, to the stability of your Majesty's throne, and to the welfare of your dominions, we your Majesty's humble petitioners have viewed, with unfeigned alarm and apprehension, the erection of a permanent tribunal, under the name of "the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England,” invested with powers hitherto deemed inherent in the church herself, and tending to remodel the whole ecclesiastical state of this kingdom.

We therefore humbly, but most earnestly, implore your Majesty not to sanction any further alterations in the constitution, discipline, or services of our church, till an opportunity shall have been afforded her, through her legitimate organs, of deliberating and expressing her mind respecting the meditated changes.

And we, your Majesty's petitioners, will ever pray, &c.

BRITISH IDOLATRY IN INDIA.

THE following is the protest, with the signatures attached, which Mr. Poynder presented at the meeting of the East India Proprietors on Wednesday, June 20:

"TO THE HONOURABLE THE COURT OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST INDIA

COMPANY.

"We, the undersigned proprietors of East India Stock, having considered the following resolution, proposed by the Court of Directors at the last General Quarterly Court, holden on March 22, 1838, and then passed in the affirmative, namely

"Resolved, That this court deem the continued public discussion of questions affecting the religious feelings of the natives of India to be fraught with danger, and that the settlement of such questions may be most safely and properly left with a responsible executive;' do hereby protest against our

rights and privileges as proprietors being precluded by the above-mentioned resolution, inasmuch as we consider the same to be neither in accordance with the charter or by-laws under which the East India Company is governed, nor to be consistent with the policy or interests of the said company, As witness our hands, the 2nd day of April, 1838 :

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A BILL TO ABOLISH COMPOSITIONS FOR TITHES IN IRELAND, AND TO SUBSTITUTE RENT-CHARGES IN LIEU THEreof.

1. Compositions for tithes abolished.

2. But without prejudice to the provisions of 3 and 4 William IV. c. 100. 3. All lands subject to the payment of tithe-compositions charged with an annual sum by way of rent-charge, equal to seven-tenths of such compositions, to be payable by the party having the first estate of inheritance &c. in such lands.

4. What shall be deemed equivalent to an estate of inheritance or perpetual estate.

5. If leases under the laws now in force be free of tithes, the estate held thereunder shall not be liable to rent-charge. On determination of any estate chargeable with rent-charge, the next estate shall become chargeable.

6. If any person, who would have been liable to tithe-composition hold mediately or immediately under the person liable to such rent-charge, the amount of such rent-charge may be recovered as rent from the next tenant, and so downwards to the person primarily liable.

7. Such leases &c. of tithes as have now the effect of suspending compositions shall determine, and none other.

8. Where leases at rack-rent have been made, after the establishment of any composition, in pursuance of 4 George IV., c. 99, the rents shall be reduced in pursuance of the difference between such composition and the rentcharge payable under this act.

9. And whereas it is just and expedient, with a view to a final and satisfactory settlement of the amount of the said compositions for tithes and the rent-charges payable in lieu thereof, that the calculations on which such compositions have been established should be subjected to revision where a proper prima facie case for revision may be made out; be it therefore enacted, that it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons in any parish, who would have been, in case this act had not been made, individually or collectively, liable to the payment of more than one-half of the amount of the whole composition established in and for such parish, whether the several

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