future incumbent. It was, indeed, to be considered as a leading principle, founded in the strictest justice, that the existing incumbent should, in every case, be indemnited from the effects of any change: but, in the case in question, it is intended, that every future incumbent of the mother Church shall preserve the tithes and endowments of his benefice entire, although the spiritual functions of a division (which, for the sake of distinction, may be called a district parish) may have been separated from it.

One or other of the arrangements he had described, might be applied to those parishes, which either from their extent or population, or both, it might be thought inexpedient to leave under the care of a single minister. There was, however, another class of parishes, some of them of considerable population, in which the pastoral duties might be thought to be most satisfactorily discharged by a superintending minister, with proper assistants, and with the addition of the requisite proportion of places of worship. In cases such as these, the Commissioners might direct the building of Parochial Chapels, to be served by curates nominated by the incumbent, but so far locally attached to the Chapels, in which they were to officiate, as not to be removable from them, even to a different district within the parish, without the consent of the Bishop. Thus, each Chapel would become a sort of minor benefice within a larger one, subject to the general directions of the incumbent of the parish at large, while that connexion and acquaintance would be kept up between the officiating minister and his congregation, which is so instrumental in giving full effect to parochial in

struction.

The modes, therefore, by which the Commissioners would effect the purposes of the Act, were threefold :

First, by the complete ecclesiastical division of parishes; secondly, by the district division of parishes, not affecting the endowments of the present benefice; and thirdly, by the building of Parochial Chapels. In one or other of these modes he hoped the requisite relief would gradually be obtained: but it would be obvious to any one who examined the returns on the table, that the greatest exertion of parochial funds and of private liberality, co-operating with the munificence of Parliamen, would be necessary to attain the object. He had already referred to the case of twenty-seven parishes, in each of which the excess of the population, above the accommodation of the Churches, was above 20,000 souls.' It might be estimated, that in these parishes alone, one hundred and fourteen additional Churches, of dimensions sufficient to contain nearly 2000 persons each, would be required to afford such moderate accommodation as

1 Vide Appendix, No. II.

to allow one-third of the inhabitants to attend divine worship at the same time. Looking to these and the other cases which appeared in the Parliamentary returns, he apprehended that the Commissioners would not be able to afford assistance to parishes containing less than 10,000 souls ;-not that they would be precluded by any law or regulation from doing so; but that he feared such might be the effect of the insufficiency of their grant, large as it might appear at first sight. It was true, that in these estimates he had made an allowance for those members of the community who did not belong to the Established Church;-for, without meaning the least disparagement to the Dissenters, or the slightest infringement of the liberty of conscience they so happily enjoyed, he thought that the Church, which existed for the benefit of all, and derived support from all, was bound to afford accommodation for • all : and he believed that a very large proportion of those who did not now attend the worship of the Established Church, had not voluntarily forsaken the Church ;-but that the Church, from an unfortunate train of circumstances, which could not be too soon remedied, had shut her doors upon them. To give to all such an opportunity of returning, must be the most anxious wish of every true friend of the Church; and it was with great pleasure that he turned the attention of the Committee to the assistance which might be derived in the furtherance of this great object, from the operations of a most excellent society lately formed, and which already comprised a large proportion of whatever was most respectable and dignified in Church and State. In cases in which parishes, requiring assistance, might not come within the rules established by the Commissioners, in enabling other parishes to bring themselves within the scope of those regulations, this Society would lend its beneficial aid.

It would naturally be asked, from what fund the ministers, serving these new Churches and Chapels, were to derive their support? For this purpose, and also to assist in the repairs of the buildings, it was proposed that a moderate rent should be required from those persons who had the accommodation; and it was sufficiently proved by the example of the-proprietary Chapels in various parts of the kingdom, and especially in London, that from this source a very considerable income might be derived. It was, however, by no means intended that the Parliamentary Churches should be allotted principally with a view to the profit of pew rents; but that, on the contrary, a large proportion of the space in each of them should be reserved as free seats, for the accommodation of the poorer inhabitants.

With respect to another part of the subject, on which the Committee would certainly expect some explanation,-he meant the

patronage of the intended Churches, he should next state what was intended. The same principle of respect to private rights, which guided the other parts of the arrangement, would be applied to this. Whether, therefore, a parish should be divided wholly or partially, according to the arrangements he had before explained; the presentation of the new parish, or of the district Church, would be vested in the patron of the original Church. In the case of Parochial Chapels, the appointment would rest (as it now does by law) in the incumbent of the parish, who is spiritually answerable for the conduct of the whole. He believed that this arrangement would leave the general proportions of ecclesiastical patronage very much as they now exist. For instance, of the twenty-seven parishes already alluded to,' he believed the patronage of four was in the Crown; of two, in the Archbishop of Canterbury; of three, in the Bishop of London; of one, in the Archdeacon of London; of six, in colleges; of two, in Chapters or lay Corporations; in one, the incumbent was elected by parishioners; and the remaining eight belonged to private patrons. These twenty-seven parishes would, therefore, afford a tolerably fair specimen of every species of parochial patronage.

He desired just to touch upon a subject, distinct indeed from the present, but naturally suggested by it, he meant the situation of the Church of Scotland. It might be observed, that this Church was also a part of our national ecclesiastical establishment, that it equally stood in need of assistance, and was equally intitled to Parliamentary support, and ought to be included in the same measure of relief. He admitted that the Church of Scotland had, in proportion to its wants, equal claims to national support; and he believed Parliament would feel equal readiness to come to its assistance but the forms of Church government in Scotland were so different from those of England, that to attempt to embody in the same Act of Parliament, the provisions applicable to each, could only lead to embarrassment and confusion. The case of Scotland had not, however, been overlooked by the Government, and he hoped shortly to bring before the House a proposition upon this subject.

He concluded by observing, that he considered the question he was about to propose, as one on which no party feelings could arise, but which must be interesting to every friend of virtue and religion.

It was a pleasing circumstance, and honorable to the character of the House, that such cases should arise in which they could all unite their efforts for a common object. He remembered an occa

* Vide Appendix, No. II.

sion, (not, indeed, in the House, but at one of those meetings for a religious purpose, which so honorably characterise and distinguish the present age,) in which he sat with his noble friend (Lord Castlereagh) between two gentlemen, whom the House has since lost, of the most opposite political sentiments, but both of them eminently zealous in exertions of beneficence, the late Mr. Rose and the late Mr. Whitbread. They had all addressed the assembly in succession, in a manner undoubtedly tinged with the peculiar character and sentiments of each individual, but in which no feeling of former differences could be discerned, nor any view but that of most effectually supporting the general object of the meeting. Such, he trusted, would be the feeling of the House upon the present occasion; and that whatever shades of opinion might appear, when the details of the measure came to be discussed, only one sentiment would prevail with respect to its principle: and that all would cordially unite in giving the National Church that assistance which was necessary to enable it to provide effectually for the instruction and edification of the people.

He then moved the following Resolution :—

"THAT His Majesty be enabled to direct Exchequer Bills, to an "amount not exceeding One Million, to be issued to Commis❝sioners, to be by them advanced, under certain regulations "and restrictions, towards Building, and promoting the "Building of additional Churches and Chapels in England.”

SA