On Wednesday evening, Nov. 1st, an interesting and very unusual occurrence took place at Hinckley; no other than the laying the foundation-stone of a convent of the Dominican order, dedicated to our

lady of the Rosary. The stone was laid by Ambrose Lisle Phillips, Esq., and his lady, of Grace Dieu Manor. The officiating priest was the Very Rev. Samuel Proctor, of Hinckley, Provincial of the order of St. Dominic, in England, who delivered a most appropriate discourse from-"Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus." The whole of the services were conducted in the open air, and the utmost order and good feeling pervaded the numerous and respectable assembly.-Leicester Mercury.

[Is the "Leicester Mercury" conducted or influenced by Romanists? Grace Dieu is the scene of the famous miracle of a year or two ago.-ED. B. M.]

On the 15th of November, a vestry was held at Kegworth to lay a church-rate. The principal inhabitants attended, and the rector of the parish took the chair; after a long discussion the rate was unanimously carried.-Leicester Telegraph.

MIDDLESEX.

CONVOCATION.-On Thursday, Nov. 16, bis Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, with the rest of the prelates and clergy of the province of Canterbury, assembled in convocation at the chapterhouse of the cathedral church of St. Paul, in pursuance of the writ of her Majesty, whence they proceeded to the cathedral, where a sermon was preached in Latin by the Rev. W. R. Lyall, M.A., Archdeacon of Colchester. After the election of a Prolocutor, the meeting was adjourned till Thursday, Nov. 23.-Čamb. Chron.

The Convocation of the Province of Canterbury met on Thursday, Nov. 23, at 11 o'clock, at the Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster. There were present in the upper house-His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Bishops of London, Lincoln, Salisbury, and Hereford; and of the lower house, about forty members. After the Litany had been read in Latin by the Lord Bishop of Hereford, the Prolocutor, Dr. Goodenough, Dean of Wells, was presented to the Archbishop by Dr. Barnes, Canon of Christ Church, Oxford. The address, in Latin, having been made as usual by the Prolocutor, the lower house retired into the outer chamber. After a short time, the address to her Majesty was brought by the Prolocutor from the upper house. Its tenour was chiefly to express the loyalty and affection of the clergy of the province of Canterbury to Her Most Gracious Majesty. In these expressions there prevailed a most hearty and sincere unanimity. A large number of the members of the Lower House of Convocation, deeply feeling the responsibility resting upon them at this first meeting of the constitutional representatives of the clergy, since the establishment of the perpetual Ecclesiastical Commission, were anxions humbly to propose to the upper house that a clause should be inserted in the address, praying that henceforth the deliberation and sanction of the whole

body of prelates might be required as a condition to any changes in the institutions and administration of the church. Two amendments were proposed respecting the commission, but were ultimately suffered to drop. On the first many of the members present did not divide. The second was put, and rejected by the consent of the mover and many of the supporters.Times.

Her Majesty the Queen has been graci ously pleased to continue the grant of 501annually (lately given by his Majesty William the Fourth, and formerly by George the Fourth), to the London Episcopal Floating Church; and her Majesty has likewise kindly given her royal patronage to the society.

An anonymous donation of 1000l. has been made to the "Society for the Employment of Additional Curates in Populous Places."

On Thursday, Nov. 2, in the Arches Court, Frederick Thomas Pratt, D.C.L., of St. John's College, and John Downey Harding, D.C.L., of Oriel College, were introduced and presented by the Queen's Advocate and Dr. Burnaby in the customary form, having been admitted of the

College of Advocates by rescripts from his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury; and, after taking the usual oaths, were admitted by the Dean of the Arches (Sir H. Jenner) of the number of advocates of this court.

THE NEW MARRIAGE ACT.-The number of dissenting places of worship in England and Wales, registered for solemnization of marriage, under the provision of the New Marriage Act, 6 and 7 William IV., c. 85, to Oct. 19, 1837, is 704; of which there are in London, Westminster, and Southwark, 47; Liverpool, 18; Manchester, 13; Preston (Union), 11; Leeds, 10; Bristol, 9; Nottingham, 8; Ashton-under-Lyne, 7; Bath, 7; Northampton, 7; Portsmouth, 7; Stroud, 7; Bradford, 6; Brighton, 6; Birmingham, 5; Blackburn, 5; Bolton (Lancashire) 5 ; Halifax, 5; Newcastle-on-Tyne, 5; Norwich, 5; Plymouth, 5; Salford, 5; Stokeon-Trent, 5; Coventry, 4; Sunderland, 4; Wolverhampton, 4;

IMPORTANT TO CLERGYMEN AND TITHE. OWNERS.-The following is an extract from a circular from the Poor Law Commissioners to the Guardians of Unions and Parishes in England and Wales, as to the relative proportion in which lands and tithes are to be rated :-"As respects the relative proportion in which lands and tithes are to be rated, it is to be observed that this question has, previously to the Parochial Assessments Act, been frequently the subject of legal controversy, and it is understood that the proviso at the end of the first section of the Parochial Assessments Act is intended to preserve to the tithe-owner the benefit of the decision in the case of the King v. Jodrell, (1, B. & A. 403.) That case decides that any profit accruing to the occupiers of land, after payment of rent and necessary outgoings, beyond that which would repay the expense of cultivating lands, and which would compensate for the farmer's trouble, and labour, and superintendence, ought to be included in the assessment; and that when (as might be done before the passing of the Assessments Act), a profit so accruing to the occupier was omitted in the rate, a proportionate remission should be made to the tithe-owner in rating the tithes. The Parochial Assessments Act, however, which prescribes the rent which might reasonably be expected to be obtained, to be the criterion for estimating rateable hereditaments generally, appears generally to exclude, in the making of the estimate, the consideration of such an occupier's profit as is referred to in the case. But if, after the estimate is made

VOL. XII.-Dec. 1837.

of rateable hereditaments, (including the tithe according to the Parochial Assessments Act,) there should appear to be a profit accruing to the occupier, of the kind described in the case, as that profit will not be rated under the Parochial Assessments Act, the tithe-owner would appear to be entitled to a deduction proportionate to that profit."

CHURCH-RATES. Notwithstanding all the influence which the leader of the voluntary-principle party (the Member for Ashburton) was able to use in the parish of Edgeware, in which he resides, the friends of the church carried the question for a church-rate, on the closing of the poll on the 27th of October, by a large majority, the numbers being 52 against 32.

On Sunday, Nov. 19, at Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishops of Lichfield and Salisbury, consecrated the Rev. Dr. Carr and the Rev. Dr. Spencer, respectively, Bishops of Bombay and Madras. The sermon was preached by the Rev. W. Jowett, M. A., (formerly of Malta,) from 1 Tim. iii. 16. The sermon, it is understood, will be printed.

It is announced, we see, by public advertisement, that it has become "unavoidably necessary that the relics should be disinterred, and the tombstones removed from the chapel and burial-ground of dissenters in Rose-lane, Commercial-road, in consequence of the expiration of the lease;" and the Cemetery Company have, in an equally novel announcement, offered to take the whole upon the cheapest terms. -Morning Herald.

It is not usual now, in this Magazine, to insert a separate notice of testimonials of esteem bestowed on clergy by their parishioners, but an instance has occurred in which a deviation from that course may be permitted. A very magnificent present of plate has been made to the Rev. J. Jennings, M.A., Rector of St. John's, Westminster. The committee for conducting the subscriptions have printed an account of the inscription on the plate, the sums subscribed, with the rector's reply to their address. It is gratifying to see the number of small sums subscribed, and encouraging to see how, in so apparently unpromising a locality as the poorer por tions of Westminster, pastoral exertions are appreciated and prized.

NORFOLK.

On Sunday week an adult Israelite and bis two children, were baptized in the parish church of St. Swithen, Norwich; on which interesting occasion, his wife, 4 Z

who from Christianity bad lapsed into Judaism, was also received into the church. -Norfolk Chron.

The total numbers confirmed by the Lord Bishop of Norwich during his late circuit have been 3354 males, and 6919 females.

NORTHUMBERLAND.

The Bishop of Durham consecrated the new chapel at Bell's-close, on Tuesday October 17th, and on the following day that at Newburn, both in the parish of Newburn.

OXFORDSHIRE.

Two chapels of ease are about to be erected for the benefit of the hamlets of Aston and Lew, in the Parish of Bampton, in the diocese of Oxon. The late Rev. Dr. Richards, who held the living of St. Martin's in the Fields, and who was formerly one of the three vicars of Bampton, gave during his lifetime the munificent sum of 5004., which he deposited with the Society for the Repairing, Building, and Enlargement of Churches and Chapels, towards the desirable object. The incumbents have engaged, in addition to their present duties at the mother church and another chapel, to take upon themselves the charge of the services which will be required in the new edifices, so that there is no difficulty in respect of endowment and provision for the duty. Oxford

Journal.

SHROPSHIRE.

NEW CHURCH AT OLDBURY.-A highly respectable meeting was held in the National School Room, Oldbury, on Tuesday, October 17th, (the Rev. R. B. Hone, Vicar of Hales Owen, in the chair,) when it was unanimously resolved that a new church should be erected in that place. A subscription was entered into, and about 700l. was subscribed at the meeting. Staffordshire Advertiser.

SOMERSETSHIRE.

Charles Lewis Phipps, Esq., of Wans House, has generously offered to give

land, and a donation of 50l., towards the erection of an episcopal chapel in the tithing of Chittoe. This hamlet is annexed to the living of Bishop's Cannings, Somersetshire, but is distant upwards of seven miles from the parish church.

Bristol Mirror.

TRINITY CHURCH, TAUNTON.-A numerous and respectable meeting of the subscribers and friends to this undertaking was held at the Market House, in Taunton, on the 18th of October, to adopt measures for carrying the proposal into effect. It appeared that it was intended to erect a

church calculated to contain 1,000 persons on a site in the parish of Taunton, St. Mary Magdalen, presented by James Billet, Esq.; and that the patronage was to be vested in five trustees under the act of 1 and 2 William IV. The sum required was about 4,000l., including the endow. ment, of which about 2,000l. bad already been subscribed. The deficiency of church-room and accommodation appeared to be very great, the existing churches of the town containing only about 2,500, and having no free sittings, whilst the population exceeds 12,500, The adoption of the report and other resolutions were moved and carried unanimously.- Bath Herald.

A church-rate of 6d. in the pound has been carried in Wincanton, by a very overwhelming majority, in one of the largest vestries we ever remember to have seen assembled. The proposal to have a rate declared was met by a very warm opposition on the part of the Independent minister residing here, and a party of his congregation, who proposed that the question be deferred for one year, but the result of the vestry proved that their resistance was quite useless.-Dorset Chron.

The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells requires that in all cases where an officiating minister has the charge of only one church, double duty shall be done in that church on Sundays.

STAFFORDSHIRE.

The ceremony of laying the corner-stone of a new church, at Stafford, by the Earl of Harrowby, took place on Wednesday, the 25th of Oct. A procession, consisting of the mayor, magistrates, and council, the rector of Stafford, clergy of the town and neighourhood, and a considerable number of the respectable inhabitants, was formed, and proceeded from the Shire Hall to the site of the intended building. The Earl was accompanied by William and Thomas Ryder, Esqrs., sons of the late venerated bishop of that diocese. The church is to be erected from a design of Mr. G. E. Hamilton, and will be built of brick, ornamented with stone, in the shape of a cross, with nave and transepts.-Wolverhampton Chron.

SURREY.

CLERICAL PROPOSAL TO SUSPEND THE PAYMENT OF CHURCH-RATES.-On the 26th of October, a vestry was held at St. Giles's church, Camberwell, at which the Rev. J. Storey, the vicar, proposed a plan for the suspension of church-rates, by raising a fund for the repairs of the church, and for the more effectually providing church

he built was great, for, said he,' Great is our God above all gods.' (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I trust we shall be animated with a desire that when the children of

our people go forth to distant parts of the land-when they go to foreign countriesthey may sometimes cast a lingering, longing thought to their native town, and speak of their holy, their beautiful house, where their fathers worshipped. (Cheers.) I trust that we shall all be influenced by the spirit of Him-of that blessed Being, of whom, when he was incarnate and died for our sins, it was said, 'The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and I trust it is under the influence of His holy spirit that I now say to you, in the words of the prophet, Go up the mountains, and fetch wood, and build the house of the Lord, and the Lord will have pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord."" (The rev. doctor resumed his seat amidst loud and prolonged cheering.)

Mr. B. GorT moved the first of a series of resolutions tending to carry into effect the suggestions of the requisitionists.

Mr. C. BECKETT seconded the resolution. No person who was in the habit of attending at that place of worship could be blind to the great want of accommodation which existed, in consequence of the immense number of people who wished to attend there. (Hear, hear.) That increase in the attendance at their church had evidently arisen, and had gradually progressed, since they had had the happiness of seeing their worthy vicar among them, propounding the doctrines of the Church of England with an ability, with so much eloquence, and with an impressiveness of manner, which they had seldom bad the good fortune to listen to, but which it was now their honour to hear. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)

The Rev. CHAIRMAN read the resolution, and put it to the meeting. It was adopted unanimously, as were the subsequent ones, proposed and seconded by Mr. Henry Hall, Mr. William Wells, Mr. George Banks, and Mr. William Hey.

The Rev. CHAIRMAN said the subscription list was proceeding most auspiciously. There was Mr. Benjamin Gott, 2001. (Cheers.)

Mr. GOTT.-I must beg to interrupt the chairman. It is necessary to say, that at the head of that list stands the name of the vicar for 2001. (Great cheering.)

The CHAIRMAN proceeded to read the remainder of the subscriptions received previously to the commencement of the meeting, amounting altogether to 2,4001.

The proceedings of this interesting and

harmonious meeting were now concluded, and the assemblage dispersed at half-past one o'clock.

The following is a statement of the unhappy event at Bradford, a very prejudiced and unfair statement of which was last month copied from a radical paper :

From a Correspondent.-A circumstance occurred in Christ Church, in Bradford, on Tuesday evening, Sept. 24th, which surprised and called for the pity of the respectable congregation of that church. The Rev. William Haughton had been appointed assistant curate to the Rev. William Morgan, the incumbent, under the sanction of the bishop, and by the kind aid of the Church Pastoral-Aid SoSociety; and he had been indefatigable in visiting the poorer classes in that popu lous town for several weeks. Being frequently exposed to wet weather, and to the confined air of sick rooms, he took a violent cold, which, unfortunately, notwithstanding the repeated advice of his friends, he neglected. Whilst the incumbent was absent on the above-mentioned Sunday, assisting a clerical friend, Mr. H., in the performance of the service, manifested great aberration of mind, interpolating sentences, and reading portions of the prayer-book, which in the evening service should not be read. A few of the more influential members of the congregation, observing Mr. H.'s paleness, and convinced that his conduct was the effect of disease, consulted what should be done. One of them was directed to go up to the desk and beg Mr. H. to give up the rest of the service. This he would not do. When he had come to a pause, the singers proceeded with a psalm. As Mr. H. afterwards still went on in the same irregular manner, and would not accede to the wishes of the gentlemen who interfered, the congregation left the church, and the gas-lamps were extinguished. Mr. H. walked home, and was confined to his bed for some days under the medical care of two gentlemen of the town, whe paid him every attention. He is now removed to his friends at Brighton, and is gradually improving in health and spirits. No person whatever that knew the cir cumstances of the case, blamed Mr. H., all shewed the kindest sympathy and respect for him. His character has been most excellent, and his whole conduct most exemplary. We therefore trust that he will soon be restored to his health and to his important duties.

CHURCH-RATES.-Earl Fitzwilliam, at a vestry meeting lately held at Rotherham, urged the parishioners to levy a