THE BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER AND THE REV. MR. A CORRESPONDENCE has lately been published between the Bishop of Gloucester and the Rev. Mr. Townsend, Rector of Bishop-Cleve, in consequence of his Lordship having issued a commission to enquire into the manner in which the duties of Bishop-Cleve were performed. The result appears to have been on the whole satisfactory; but in communicating this result, the Bishop requires that two full services should be performed every Sunday at Bishop-Cleve; that no strange preacher should be employed in any part of the parish without his Lordship's being previously apprised; and that the Rector should take steps to provide a chapel in a neglected hamlet in the parish. To this letter Mr. T. replies that his Lordship's suggestions should receive his (Mr. T.'s) best consideration. On which his Lordship by return of post intimates that his requirements were directions to be obeyed, not suggestions to be considered. This authoritative strain is much to be regretted, especially as the courts have decided that an incumbent may employ occasional helps without a diocesan's previous licence; and we are not aware of any enactment which empowers a Bishop to enjoin an incumbent to take steps for the erection of an additional chapel, however adviseable it may be that the Bishop should recommend it. Every assumption of power beyond what the Legislature has conceded, is in the present day of most injurious tendency. Sir John Nicholl in the case of Gates v. Chambers, said,*-' That occasional assistance is punishable as an ecclesiastical offence, merely because the minister so assistant, has not been licensed as curate by the bishop of the Diocese, is more than without farther information, and other reasons being adduced, I am prepared to lay down as a rule of law. Such a rule would be highly inconvenient to the clergy; and might not unfrequently occasion parishioners to be deprived altogether of the Church service.' *See Adams' Reports, ii. 191. STATISTICS OF THE PROTESTANT CHURCHES IN FRANCE. JANUARY, 1839. (From the Archives des Christianisme, Jan. 12, 1839.) Register of Events. THE Session of Parliament was opened on Tuesday, February 5, by her Majesty in person. The speech from the Throne stated, that assurances were received from foreign powers, of their desire to maintain friendly relations, that treaties of commerce had been concluded with Austria and Turkey, and that a treaty of peace had been proposed by her Majesty, in concert with Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia, between Holland and Belgium. The speech then stated the retirement of the British Minister from the court of Persia, and announced that steps had consequently been taken by the Governor-General of India, for protecting the British interests in the east. It then alluded to the reform of the Irish Municipal Corporations, and the importance of completing the measures recommended by the Ecclesiastical commissioners, for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the Established Church, and of confirming its use in the respect and affection of the people. The speech then refers to the completion of Negro Emancipation in the West Indies, and the late outbreak in Canada; and after referring to some other points, her Majesty closes by declaring, I confidently commit all these great interests to your wisdom, and IMPLORE ALMIGHTY GOD TO ASSIST AND PROSPER YOUR COUNSELS. Some surprise has been expressed, that no allusion was made in her Majesty's speech to the subject of the Corn Laws. These have however been the subject of discussion in both houses. The feeling seems to be, that while a free trade in corn would, in the first instance, lower the price of bread, and thus benefit the poor, it would also enable the manufacturers so to lower the wages of their labourers, as eventually to occasion extreme distress. It seems therefore for the interest both of the manufacturing and the agricultural labourers, that some system of corn law duties should exist; and in this view the leading persons of all parties appear to coincide. Lord Durham having presented a report to her Majesty on the affairs of Canada, the Times Newspaper contrived to obtain and publish a copy, before it had been presented to the House. This has occasioned some surprise, and is not exactly to be commended. The document is very long, and the publication of some parts of it may probably be of injurious tendency; the immediate effect is to compel the publication of some other correspondence and documents which were intended to have been concealed. The report conveys a melancholy view of the state of Canada, contends that it has been grossly mismanaged, and recommends a Representative Government to be adopted, embracing all our North-American possessions; but recommends the disposing of the clergy reserves, and the introduction of systems of education and religious instruction more consonant to the Popish and liberal views which so extensively prevail. The report is said to be chiefly from the pen of Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who acquired a few years since some unpleasant notoriety, by carrying off a heiress, for which he suffered imprisonment. This gentleman, and a Mr. Turton, formerly convicted of adultery under circumstances which induced parliament to allow a bill of divorce, enabling his injured wife to marry again, and whose appointment his lordship has recently avowed and defended as his sole act, appear to have been his lordship's most confidential advisers. It is most disgraceful, that the civil and religious interests of the Canadians should be in any way influenced by such persons; what can be expected from men who are not only devoid of religious principle, but deficient in common decency. The report loses sight of our national sin, in neglecting to provide sound religious instruction for our colonial possessions. The government plan with respect to Canada, is to appear before the Easter recess. Lord John Russell has announced that it is the intention of Government to propose the establishment of a central board, for considering and arranging the subject of education, to consist of five Privy Counsellors with the President of the Council at their head. Their first duty is to be the esta blishing of a Normal School to educate masters for other schools; they are also to appropriate portions of the Government Grant to local schools already in existence, and to assist in establishing infant schools for children from the age of three to seven. His Lordship's plan does not however appear to be definitively arranged, though as Sir R. H. Inglis observed, we are happy to find that it is less mischievous than had been supposed. It is obvious, however, that the Parliamentary proceedings on this topic should be carefully observed. The proceedings of Dissenters on the subject of Education deserve attention, especially as from the mode in which the late returns on this subject have been made up, the number of Dissenting schools and scholars appears very far beyond their real numbers. In some cases the same children have been returned as day scholars, and also as Sunday scholars, and as all schools not in connection with the National Society, are presumed in the return to belong to Dissenters, the numbers appear very disproportionately large. Lord Glenelg has resigned the office of Colonial Secretary. He is to be succeeded by Lord Normanby, the present Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; much as we disapproved of Lord Glenelg's policy, the change is, we conceive, unquestionably for the worse; it is clear that Jesuitical influence will yet more extensively prevail in our colonial councils; and we cannot but fear that India, as well as our North American possessions, may soon evince similar scenes of turbulence to those which now disgrace Ireland. The leading persons at Oxford have determined to erect a church in that city as a memorial of the Martyrs who suffered there in the Marian persecution. A special public meeting has recently been held in London in aid of the funds of the London Hibernian Society. The claims of this valuable Institution was ably advocated by clergymen and gentlemen of the highest respectability, and we trust the liberality of a Christian public will not be appealed to in vain. Sixty applications for schools are now waiting for funds. Every where, Romanists as well as Protestants are seeking for scriptural education. The Archives du Christianisme state that there was lately held at Aix, a meeting of Romish Archbishops and Bishops, in order to concert measures for opposing the progress of Protestantism, that is, of the Gospel. The Pope is stated to be at present occupied with the introduction of four new saints, and one female saint into heaven and into the Romish calendar. They are to be canonized in the course of the present year. The authenticity of the miracles, which they are said to have wrought, has lately been acknowledged by the Pope and Cardinals in a secret consistory. Notices and Acknowledgments. RECEIVED, W. C. S.-A Constant Reader.--Artemas. It is quite clear that there must be some grand mistake in the sum said to be saved by the new Bookselling plan of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; and we can easily conceive this to arise, as our Correspondent intimates, from those who made up the accounts, overlooking the interest of the capital sunk in building, &c., the reduction in the builders' contracts, the expence of management, &c.; but we conceive the discussion of these points not exactly adapted to our publication, how. ever deserving it may be of the attention of the members of the Society. CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN AND Church of England Magazine. APRIL 1839. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. HENRY GAUNTLETT. THE Rev. Henry Gauntlett, late Vicar of Olney, Bucks, was born at Market Lavington, Wilts, March 16, 1762. He was the eldest of eleven children, who were carefully trained up more especially by the pious care of an excellent mother in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, the catechism and other authorised services of our church, and a regular attention to private prayer and public ordinances. The religious advantages of Lavington were at that period very few, but the divine blessing accompanied these exertions of Mrs. Gauntlett, and both in her own case, and that of many of her children, she experienced a gracious fulfilment of the declaration; "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine." Young Gauntlett was placed at an early age at the Grammar School of West Lavington, then under the superintendance of Mr. Marks, who laboured diligently and successfully for the instruction of his pupils, several of whom exhibited in future life eminent talents and attainments. On leaving school, Mr. Gauntlett resided for some time in the family of a gentleman near Lavington, without any definite object in view, and wasting much of his time in fieldsports and similar amusements. He was, however, at length advised to enter the church, and was ntroduced to the Rev. Dr. (afterAPRIL 1839. R wards Sir James) Stonehouse, who gave him such salutary instruction, as induced him to determine, by divine grace, to live and act as a Christian. Dr. Stonehouse encouraged his young friend to apply to the Hon. and Right Rev. Shute Barrington, then Bishop of Salisbury, by whom, after a suitable probation and examination, he was approved and admitted into deacon's orders, Sept. 24, 1786, and appointed to the curacies of Tilshead and Imber within a short distance of Lavington, where he continued for some time to reside. Here he very soon after received the following gratifying communication from the bishop. 'Palace, Salisbury, Oct. 15, 1786. . REV. SIR, As much inconvenience and some expense may be occasioned by your attending my ordination at Mungewell, I am desirous of preventing the one, and saving the other, by ordaining you here, either on Sunday next the 22nd instant, or the following Sunday the 29th. You must bring the same credentials as when you were ordained deacon; and be with me by six o'clock in the evening on the preceding Saturday. You owe this indulgence to your own good conduct and diligence. 'I am, your sincere friend, Mr. G. was in consequence ordained priest on Sunday, October 22, just one month after his admission to deacon's orders. From the commencement of his ministry, he preached the doctrines of godliness in accordance with scriptural truth; and the recollection of this circumstance in after-life afforded him pleasure, and an occasion of gratitude. His sermons contained statements of man's apostacy, and of the atonement made for sin by the Redeemer; yet during the first four or five years, those statements were presented without the animating feeling of reality which subsequently characterized his preaching. The form of sound words was deficient in life and power. Though doubtless called to the work of the ministry, according to the will of Christ, and set apart to it by the Holy Spirit, that calling was not fully understood or obeyed in all its awakening energies and glorious designs. However clearly the doctrines of the gospel may be explained by a preacher, yet unless they have been cordially received into his own bosom, little effect is produced upon his hearers. Attention to the forms of religion may be evinced, and conformity to its outward observances maintained; but this external service is too frequently unaccompanied by that spirituality of mind, which denotes the conversion of the heart to God. When, however, by the influence of the Holy Spirit, the messenger of divine grace has himself proved that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world, set forth by God as the propitiation for sin, the good news of salvation is no longer coldly announced; the Redeemer's promise, "Lo! I am with you," is verified; the Spirit's witness is bestowed; and, though the treasure is still in "earthen vessels, "the excellency of the power " is seen, and felt to be of God. . Such was the change now wrought in the subject of our memoir, and such its corresponding effects. Correct as might hitherto have been his perception of truth, and irreproachable as was his moral conduct in the judgment of the world, yet one thing was wanting -a living faith in the doctrine of the cross, producing holiness of life on a new principle, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."' During this period, although strictly moral, he had not acquired that holy sensitiveness, which shrinks from the touch of an ensnaring world, and owing to his long intimacy with some of the neighbouring gentry, was occasionally induced to join in pursuits and amusements not entirely consistent with the ministerial character. But after a short time, Mr. G. became acquainted with some eminently pious clergymen, who frequently met for the discussion of religious subjects, and this association produced the most beneficial effect on his mind. The deep feeling, which appears to have been previously awakened, by some awful and alarming events at Lavington, was by this means cherished, and his views of divine truth were expanded. He now saw the character and attributes of the Divine Being, the depravity of our fallen nature, and the wondrous scheme of redemption by Christ, in the light of heavenly illumination; and the discovery he thus made of the grace and holiness of Jehovah, and of his own unworthiness and guilt, overwhelmed his spirit with shame and sorrow. Like one in ancient time, he could say, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” 'He at length found peace where only it can be obtained; and to the same source, during nearly half a century, he unweariedly directed others, that they might be partakers of the benefit," through |