duty and right are in this age called in question) is better reserved as an argument against those who do not see the consequences of their reasoning against church rates, or who affect not to see them. I read the report in the Merlin with the liveliest pleasure, especially the speeches of yourself and of Mr. Williams of Lanvapley. It was most gratifying to me also to perceive the total absence of all party and local politics, of which you gave a most edifying example. By this time you must have read Sir R. Peel's speech, in the latter part of which he throws out hints for overcoming the difficulties inherent in this question. One of these is the same as your own, that of charging the rate on the owner, not the occupier of the land. But the difficulty mainly, nay, almost solely, lies with the rate on houses. Now, it always appeared to me somewhat of a grievance that houses should be rated, the occupiers of which had no admission into the church even when desirous of it. Might not an exemption in such cases be allowed? And might not the Dissenter, if rated, have the power of transferring his right of admission to another who would pay the rate. This mode has not yet been suggested that I know of, and yet it seems to me the most equitable and the most practicable way of overcoming the main difficulty. I shall mention it to some member of the House of Commons, where the subject will, of course, be first settled. I own I do not believe the statement put forth by many Dissenters, and repeated by Lord Has the sense of two millions of the inhabitants of this country, that they have conscientious objections to a payment out of the consolidated fund, or any the national revenues. Let it be once done, and nothing would be thought about it. No local excitement could be caused when no actual payment was felt. It would, I believe, put a quietus to all the declamation we have lately heard. Yet I do not wish for this plan. I should greatly

of

prefer the continuance of the old liability, modified in some

way like that above suggested.

I remain, dear Sir,

With great regard, your very faithful and

obedient servant,

E. LLANDAFF.

The year 1839 was marked to the bishop by an event in his own family which he thus tenderly notices in his diary, and in the letter that I give below. Reverential affection for his parents, I have before observed, formed a beautiful and instructive part of the bishop's moral constitution.

'January 3, 1839. My dear and honoured mother expired this morning between four and five. She died without pain, and had passed several days in a state of dozing-pious and affectionate to the last-but the intellectual powers quite decayed. She was in her 92nd year, having been born in July, 1747.'

My dear Tyler,*

Offwell, January 14th, 1839.

You say well, that the late death in my family is not an occasion of condolence but of sympathy. It is most gratifying to me to have that sympathy voluntarily and kindly expressed by yourself. The thanks which I return are those not of myself only. My dear mother's intellectual faculties, especially her memory, had for the last three or four years been much weakened, but her piety, her benevolence, her domestic affections, were all fresh, habitual, and even increasing as the end of life approached, and that without any loss of cheerfulness. She thought little or nothing of herself, except as to her future state, but for those around her she was continually expressing

*Formerly fellow and tutor of Oriel College, canon of St. Paul's.

love and gratitude, and a desire to please or to benefit them. She was in her 92nd year, and had she lived to July would have entered on her 93rd. You know, I believe, that her father and the poet Gay were brothers' sons. It was always remarked that the name Gay was very appropriate to this family. There was a constitutional cheerfulness and good humour, of which she also had her share. It is delightful to think that this innocent playfulness and light-heartedness was not disturbed, even in extreme old age; there was no fretfulness, no pain, no fear or anxiety about quitting this world. Most sincerely do I breathe the well-known prayer, 'May my latter end be like hers!' She seemed quietly to sleep away. I have now many letters to write and much to do. Accept the thanks and cordial good wishes of your sincere and constant friend, E. LLANDAFF.

The first of the four letters, which I now add in their chronological order, will give a vivid idea of that free spirit and comprehensive wisdom with which the bishop administered the affairs of his diocese.

My dear Chancellor,*

Deanery, St. Paul's, March 21, 1839.

Whether I shall get through the load of business which lies before me, and appals me, as necessary to be dispatched before night, I have great doubts; but I will begin with you, to make sure of not failing in the most important part, and towards one who has the strongest claims upon me. First, then, I rejoice in the favourable report you make of the first two candidates. They will strengthen our clerical establishment. As to Mr. of whom, as well as of the others, you give me a graphic description

* Bruce Knight, afterwards dean of Llandaff.

(which is not only interesting but useful), I am upon the whole decidedly of opinion that he ought to be received. Not only the full evidence we have of his character, his knowledge of the Bible, his orthodox opinions, his talents for preaching, and the reputation he has long enjoyed among those best qualified to appreciate his merits, incline me to this opinion, but I take into account, also, the field of duty in which he is to be employed the foul and neglected part of the vineyard on which his labours are wanted, and the little chance there is of procuring men of more refined education and manners to devote themselves to that service. Besides which, the very defects you notice will not appear to be defects there. He is a Galilæan, about to preach in Galilee, where his speech will not bewray him; and although the Greek of St. Matthew's Gospel may be a terra incognita to him, so it probably was to St. Peter, and so I suspect it would be to many a divine now esteemed a learned and regularly-bred minister of our church. blot,' they say, 'is no blot till it is hit,' and who is to hit this blot at?' Away, then, with these scruples' Go, thou, into the vineyard,' let us say to him, and whatever is just, that shalt thou receive.' I have little doubt but that at the day of reckoning he will be found as well entitled to his wages as the rest. I have printed a sermon, with an appendix; a copy is in my hands for you.

Ever, my dear Chancellor,

A

Sincerely yours,

E. LLANDAFF.

My dear Chancellor,

Deanery, St. Paul's, August 7, 1839.

I am glad I did not hear of your illness until after you began to recover. When I get to Hardwick, I shall be disappointed if I don't hear that you are quite well again. You have been kind and considerate in not letting

me know your ailing at a time when, I fear, business must have been burdensome and vexatious.

Last night I went to hear Brougham's attack (a powerful one of three hours) on Lord Normanby, with a magnificent peroration of ten minutes, and Lord Normanby's feeble answer. When Lord Melbourne got up, I found it necessary to come away. The House sat till near four. As a proof of the peculiar talents of that extraordinary man, Brougham-after his speech, during a flat part of Lord Normanby's answer, he came into the tea-room where I was for a little refreshment. Instantly he began with me, in the most eager manner, on the subject of some letters I had put in his hands of Lord Dudley's. He had read them that day, and was going into the topics of one of them in the minutest detail, just as if he had been doing nothing else, and had nothing upon his mind. I gave him another parcel, and we went back to the House together. He, I perceive by the papers this morning, not only sat to the end, but made a sharp and effective reply at the close.'

My dear Berens,

Hardwick House, Oct. 1, 1839.

Having now finished my visitation, and that most satisfactorily, I hope to have the pleasure of receiving my friends in the course of this month and the beginning of November, and I write to you thus early that you may take your choice of the time before my rooms are engaged. The most gratifying improvement which I have witnessed is in some of the towns of my diocese, especially Newport-a few years ago the most ill-conditioned place in the county. A bishop was almost insulted in the streets. Since the new church was built, there has been a progressive improvement. I made it my head-quarters five days during my visitation. I

*Archdeacon of Berks.