half the pleasure I have received from it. It is well worth coming to London on purpose. My delight was not a little heightened, by seeing my horned countrymen of North Devon among the 'prizers' Some, however, of these enormous animals reminded me of Proteus' herd of phocæ -apparently blubber and nothing else. It is also matter of doubt whether unquestionable good points in the shape of animals may not, by the art of breeding, be carried to excess, so as to constitute deformity e. g., a small head, or short legs, or a short neck. I should much enjoy another visit in company with you. Believe me, my dear friend, My dear Provost, Ever truly yours, E. LLANDAFF. Offwell, Honiton, May 2, 1843. It is very kind of you to give me so circum I rejoice in the stantial an account of the Oriel election. result, as affording hope of better things. is in a critical state. This election may have turned the scale in favour of good sense, of just and honourable views. That defect which I always saw and lamented, and in vain endeavoured to remedy, still, it seems, not only exists but increases the quackery of the schools. Every election to a fellowship which tends to discourage the narrow and almost technical routine of public examinations, I consider as an important triumph. You remember Newman himself was an example. He was not even a good classical scholar, yet in mind and powers of composition, and in taste and knowledge, he was decidedly superior to some competitors who were a class above him in the schools. Alas! how little did we anticipate the fatal consequences: I am enjoying a fortnight's escape from the smoke of London in a large domestic party, and the weather being fine, and many out-door occupations going on in my own ground, the recreation is delightful. Next Monday I return to St. Paul's. My family party join me in remembrance and good wishes to all your household. Ever yours sincerely, E. LLANDAFF. They were nearly all 'July 28, 1844. Preached at Chepstow. Return of the Irvingites to the church. Job xvi. 7: Doctrine of the Comforter.' No special reference to the errors of this sect (for in my conference with their leader, a day or two before, I found they would not acknowledge that they had been in error); but the sermon made, as I learnt, a very favourable impression on them. present (forty or fifty); their leader, a Rev. Jasper Peck, from Bath, told me they thought much of the sin of schism -that their separation from the church was from a conviction that the church had departed from its primitive constitution, in not having apostles, prophets, &c. That they now returned in consequence of a revelation from the spirit; that they sincerely believed all the doctrines of the church, and would abide strictly by its discipline. Upon this, I told him they would be cordially welcomed, and I hoped all religious differences would cease. Mr. Peck told me that although the Chepstow congregation had included many of various sects, yet he believed they would now, with only one exception, join the church. They disclaimed the appellation of Irvingites.' 'Sept. 25. Having visited and examined the school at Merthyr Tuesday evening, drove the next morning to Rhymney: the confirmation there most gratifying-473 of all ages. Last year the church was consecrated; all this the fruit of one year's ministration by the Rev. Lodowick Edwardes. The Rhymney Iron Company have set a noble example to the iron-masters.' 'Oct. 2. Confirmation at Monmouth. The mayor and other chief burgesses conducted me in procession from the vicarage to the church-this being my first visit since the annexation of Monmouth to my diocese. An excellent church spirit manifested here.' 'Oct. 3. Confirmation at Raglan. Dined and slept at Bryngwyn. The two archdeacons set an excellent example in repairing, improving, and adorning in the best style their respective churches. This taste is spreading through the country.' 'Dec. 31. The whole of this year, with the exception of May and June, has been blest with good health, and consequently good spirits. The infirmities of age, however, are rapidly increasing; the slightest exercise fatigues me, and I have left off riding. My favourite horse, too, which I have rode more than eleven years (a beautiful, spirited, yet gentle creature), died in the spring, aged eighteen years, and was buried in the park at Hardwick. I shall never mount another. Being now nearly sixty-nine, I cannot expect an increase of vigour, and must be content, for the remainder of my life, to give up the pleasure of bodily exercise, in walking as well as riding. To me this is a greater loss than to most men, yet I am thankful for the continuance of much real happiness.' The letter which I give below must be one of the very latest that the bishop ever addressed to his dear friend, Dean Bruce Knight, who died within four months from the date of it. It gives the bishop's views upon a subject which the dean had much at heart-the restoration of his cathedral, and reminds us of the agreeable fact, that the palace at Llandaff is no longer a nonentity.' My dear Dean, Deanery, St. Paul's, March 29, 1845. This morning I had a conference with Wyatt, on the proposed plan for restoring the cathedral. I could not but suggest certain cautions in the proceeding, which he took a note of, and seemed to approve, as coinciding with his own general views.' [Having expressed his wishes on several particular points, he continues]:-'We shall thus improve the exterior of the fabric as viewed in approaching it, and we shall fit up in a handsome style the interior of the choir for divine service, which is all that is ever likely to be used, and which I certainly long to see assume a characteristic form. Recollect, I pray, that Llandaff is a village, and the palace a nonentity. As soon as ever our parish churches are put in a decent condition, i. e. not only restored, but improved in true architectural style, becoming the house of God—with dignity and elegance proportionate to the importance of the parish in which they stand, we may think of renewing the vast pile in its full dimensions. What a disgrace to the age, that for the last two centuries such a wonderful improvement should have taken place in all secular edifices, which, even down to our cottages, far surpass the corresponding edifices of a century ago, and yet the old parish churches should hardly have been kept up, much less brought on in unison with the general improvement of all the rest! to say nothing of the urgent demands for new churches to meet the wants of an annually increasing population. Ever yours most sincerely, E. LLANDAFF. 'June 16. Spoke against the third reading of the May nooth Bill, and moved its rejection.' 'June 17. Entered a protest against the measure.' Edwardes. The Rhymney Iron Company have set a noble example to the iron-masters.' 'Oct. 2. Confirmation at Monmouth. The mayor and other chief burgesses conducted me in procession from the vicarage to the church-this being my first visit since the annexation of Monmouth to my diocese. An excellent church spirit manifested here.' 'Oct. 3. Confirmation at Raglan. Dined and slept at Bryngwyn. The two archdeacons set an excellent example in repairing, improving, and adorning in the best style their respective churches. This taste is spreading through the country.' 'Dec. 31. The whole of this year, with the exception of May and June, has been blest with good health, and consequently good spirits. The infirmities of age, however, are rapidly increasing; the slightest exercise fatigues me, and I have left off riding. My favourite horse, too, which I have rode more than eleven years (a beautiful, spirited, yet gentle creature), died in the spring, aged eighteen years, and was buried in the park at Hardwick. I shall never mount another. Being now nearly sixty-nine, I cannot expect an increase of vigour, and must be content, for the remainder of my life, to give up the pleasure of bodily exercise, in walking as well as riding. To me this is a greater loss than to most men, yet I am thankful for the continuance of much real happiness.' The letter which I give below must be one of the very latest that the bishop ever addressed to his dear friend, Dean Bruce Knight, who died within four months from the date of it. It gives the bishop's views upon a subject which the dean had much at heart-the restoration of his cathedral, and reminds us of the agreeable fact, that the palace at Llandaff is no longer a nonentity.' |