convinced of its propriety. The house and the debate were accordingly adjourned to the 2nd of June. The circumstances, to which lord Althorp alluded, and which had been communicated to him only while the discussion was going on, was the resignation of those ministers who would not consent to the principle which Mr. Ward's motion involved. The majority of the cabinet had been greatly perplexed how to deal with that motion. They would not meet it with a direct negative, partly because they dreaded becoming unpopular with that spirit of change and encroachment of which they were themselves the parents, and which they had nurtured by their yielding policy; partly because they had no great dislike to it in itself, and had both uttered sentiments, and propounded measures, in which the same character could be traced, though not so openly and substantively as in the proposition of the member for St. Alban's. To put it aside by the previous question would be assuming a position still more difficult to defend than a direct negative, for that is a position the occupant of which necessarily ties himself up from using, what may be the better part of his means of resistance. To accede to the motion, on the other hand, was to cut off from the cabinet a very important section of its respecta bility, and of its oratorical and business talent. A middle course, therefore, was adopted-the appointment of a commission to inquire into the state of the Irish church, and report on the relation which the supply of and demand for Protestant spiritual food, bore to each other, as well as on the cost of its production. It was

hoped that this expedient would either induce the mover to withdraw the motion, or enable ministers to carry the previous question

not as a mere formal manner of getting rid of a disagreeable topic,

but on the substantial ground that government was itself occupied with an inquiry into this very subject. Such a commission, however, necessarily implied that, if facts turned out in a particular way, there would be no longer any opposition to the application of Mr. Ward's principles. The consequence was, that Mr. Stanley the colonial secretary, and sir James Graham the first lord of the admiralty resigned. Their example was immediately followed by the duke of Richmond, postmaster general, and the earl of Ripon, lord privy seal.

Lord Althorp afterwards stated, that he was not aware of the fact of these resignations till after he had entered the house on the 27th ; and the adjournment probably arose from its being doubtful whether the retirement of these ministers, and more especially of Mr. Stanley, whose place in the house of Commons could not be supplied, would not bring along with it the dissolution of the ministry. Lord Ebrington got up an address to earl Grey, signed by a great number of the ministerial adherents in the lower house, entreating his lordship to retain his place, and expressing their unaltered confidence in him as the only minister on whom the country could safely repose. Earl Grey, in his answer, announced his intention of making every personal sacrifice that might be required of him in support of the principles of the administration, but he was forced to admit the embarrassment

and mischief produced by the reckless desire of innovation. "In pursuing," said he, "a course of salutary improvement, I feel it indispensable that we shall be allowed to proceed with deliberation and caution; and above all, that we should not be urged by a constant and active pressure from without to the adoption of any measures, the necessity of which has not been fully proved, and which are not strictly regulated by a careful attention to the settled institutions of the country, both in church and state. On no other principle can this, or any other administration, be conducted with advantage or safety."

The vacant offices were soon filled up. The marquis of Conyngham became post-master general in place of the duke of Richmond; the privy seal, which had been held by the earl of Ripon, was given to the earl of Carlisle; sir James Graham was succeeded as first lord of the Admiralty by lord Auckland, and Mr. Stanley was succeeded at the colonial office by Mr. Spring Rice, who likewise carried his re-election for Cambridge by a majority of twenty-five votes over sir Edward Sugden. Mr. Abercromby and Mr. Cutlar Fergusson, who had not previously held office, were appointed, the former master of the mint, the latter judge advocate; Mr. R. Grant was sent to India as governor of Bombay; and Mr. Poulett Thomson became president, instead of vice-president, of the board of trade.

While the ministry was thus shaken by internal dissensions, publicity was given to a declaration of the king which seemed to announce that their royal master would regard their designs against the church with no more favourable eye than did the minority among

themselves. On the 28th of May, the day which is observed as the anniversary of his majesty's birth, the Irish bishops, headed by the archbishop of Armagh, presented to the king an address against hasty innovations in the church, to which were said to be appended upwards of 1400 clerical names, including seventeen out of the twenty prelates of Ireland. After expressing their conscientious belief in the purity and christian authority of the doctrine, the liturgy, and government of the united church of England and Ireland, they deprecated the introduction of undefined changes and experiments in a church so pure in doctrine and apostolical information, whose religious services were endeared by long usage to the devotional feelings of its members, and whose polity harmonized with the institutions of the state, to which it had ever proved itself a faithful and judicious ally. They professed their readiness to co-operate in removing any real abuses which might be found to exist; but they trusted that no alteration would be made in the discipline and services of the church, except with the sanction and by the recommendation of its spiritual guardians. They deemed it reasonable that such alterations as should at any time be made should be shown to be, in the words of the preface to the book of Common Prayer "necessary and expedient ;" and they did not apprehend this to have been done in respect of the changes which various persons, widely differing among themselves, were understood to have in contemplation. To this address his majesty did not return the common formal answer; but, after a short conversation with the prelates, he spoke to them thus, "I

When the house met again on the 2nd of June, lord Althorp stated that ministers had been perfectly aware that the members of the government, who had now resigned, differed from their colleagues in opinion as to the principles on which church property should be dealt with. The existence of this difference, however, had not previously been considered a sufcient reason for breaking up the ministry, because they were agreed on all other points, and there was no necessity for coming to a decision on this question, until the property of the Irish church had been applied to such purposes as were already known and desirable. But the motion now before the house had compelled them to take up the question; and the resigning ministers, with the best possible feeling, had relieved the cabinet from the difficulty in which it was placed. He now informed the house, that his majesty had appointed a commission of inquiry into the state of church property and church affairs generally in Ireland. It was to be a lay commission. It was to visit the different parishes and districts throughout Ireland; to inquire on the spot into the number of Protestants in each parish; whether that number was stationary, increasing, or declining; whether it was a benefice, or if a parish forming part of a union; the distance, and number of churches and chapels; the situation of the clergyman, how paid, and whether resident or non-resident; the times which divine service was or had been performed; the number of Protestants attending such service, and whether that attendance was stationary, on the increase, or declining. Like inquiries were to

be made in each parish and district with respect to Roman Catholics and to Dissenters of all descriptions; also as to the number of schools in each parish; the different religious persuasions of those who attended them; how they were supported, and whether the numbers of the persons attending them were stationary, on the decline, or increasing, distinguishing the numbers and different religions in each case. The commissioners were to make the minutest inquiries in all parishes touching these other matters connected with or bearing upon the Irish church or church property, particularly pointing out the proportion of Protestants, Catholics, and Dissenters of all denominations in the different parishes and districts throughout the country, and report thereupon.* port thereupon.* No ministers

The commissioners were, the lord chancellor, the home secretary, the secretary for Ireland, and Thomas D'Oyley, serjeant-at-law; Thomas N. Lister, John Wrottesley, George Barrett Lennard, Edward Carleton Tufnell, Daniel Maude, George Cornwall Lewis, William Henry Curran, William Tighe Hamilton, Acheson Lyle, and William Newport, Esqrs., barristers-atIt directed them, "or, any two or more" of them" to visit every parish in that part of our said United Kingdom called Ireland, and to ascertain on the spot, by the best evidence which you can procure bers of, or persons in communion with, the united church of England and Ireland in each benefice or parish, distinguishing in the cases of such benefices as comprise more than one parish the number belonging to each parish separately, and to the union collectively, and also to state the distances of the parishes in each union from each other respectively; to state the number and rank of the ministers belonging to or officiating within each benefice, whether rector, vicar, or

law. Some others were afterwards added.

there or elsewhere, the number of mem

curate, and whether resident or nonresident, and whether there is a church

would have advised the crown to adopt such a course, without being not only prepared but determined

or glebe-house thereon; to state the periods at which divine service is performed in each parish-church or chapel, and the average number of persons usually attending the service in each, and to state generally whether those numbers have been for the last five years increasing, stationary, or diminishing; to ascertain the number of the several other places of worship belonging to Roman Catholics or Presbyterians, and other Protestant Dissenters, and the number of ministers officiating in each, the proportion of the population of each parish belonging to each of such persuasions respectively, the periods at which divine service is performed in each of their chapels, and the average number of persons usually attending the service in each, and to state generally

whether those numbers have been for the last five years increasing, stationary, or diminishing; to ascertain the state of each parish, with reference to the means of education, the number and description of schools, the kind of instruction afforded therein, the average attendance at each, and the sources from which they are supported, and to state generally whether the numbers attending the same have for the last five years been increasing, stationary, or diminishing; to inquire generally whether adequate provision is now made for the religious instruction and for the general education of the people of Ireland; and to report such other circumstances connected with the moral and political relations of the church establishment and the religious institutions of other denominations dissenting from the established church as may bring clearly into view their bearings on the general condition of the people of that part of our said United Kingdom called Ireland: and for the better discovery of the truth in the premises, we do by these presents give and grant to you, or any two or more of you, full power and authority to call before you, or any two or more of you, such persons as you shall judge necessary, by whom you may be better informed of the truth in the premises, and to inquire of the premises, and every part thereof, by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever; and we do hereby give and

to act upon that report when it was made, as occasion and cicumstances should point out, and as

grant unto you, or any two or more of you, full power and authority, when the same shall appear to be requisite, to administer an oath or oaths to any person or persons whatsoever to be examined before you, or any two or more of you, touching or concerning the premises : and we do also give and grant unto you, or any two or more of you, full power and authority to cause all and singular the ministers and others attached to or connected with the said parishes or benefices, having in their custody any rolls, records, orders, books, papers, or other writings relating thereto, to bring and produce the same upon oath before you or any two or more of you; and our further will and pleasure is, that you or any two or more of you, upon due examination of the premises, do and shall, as often as you or any two or more of you shall finish inquiring of any parish, report to us, under your hands and seals respectively, what you shall find touching or concerning the premises upon such inquiry as aforesaid; and we further will and command, and by these presents ordain, that this our commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that your commissioners, or any two or more of you, shall and may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment; and we do hereby direct and appoint that you, or any two or more of you, may have liberty to report to us your several proceedings from time to time as the same shall be respectively completed and perfected. And we hereby command all and singular our justices of the peace, sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, constables, officers, ministers, and all others our loving subjects whatsoever, as well within liberties as without, that they be assistant to you and each of you in the execution of these presents." The commission appointed a secretary, and was dated the 4th of June, two days after lord Althorp made the statement in the text. Several of the commissioners were barristers, without experience or standing at the bar, and whose only qualifications were, that they were without employment.