DR. HAMPDEN.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 1, 25 April 1848, Page 4

DR. HAMPDEN.

Protest of the Bishops. The following important correspondence has take place in reference to the appointment of Dr. Hampden to the See of Hereford:"My Lord,—We, the undersigned Bishops of the Church of England, feel it our duty to represent to yourLordihip, as head of Her Majesty's Government, the apprehension aud alarm which have been excited in the minds of the clergy by the rumoured nomination to the See of Hereford of Dr. Hampden, in thespundne» of whose dbctritieMhe University of Oxford has affirmed, by a solemn decree, its want of confidence. " We are persuaded that your Lordship does no* know how deep and general a feeling prevails on this ■abject, and we consider ourselves to he acting only in the discharge of ourbounden duty both to the Crown and to the Church, when we respectfully bat earnestly express to your Lordship our conviction that if this appointment bs completed, there is the greatest danger both of the interruption of the peace Sftho Church, and of the disturbance of the confidence -which it is most desirable tbat the clergy and laity of the Church should feel in every exercise of the Royal supremacy, especially as regards tbat *ery delicate and important particular, the nomination to vacant sees. " We have the honor to be, my Lord, " Your Lordship's obedient and faithful servants, " C. J. London *' C. WINTON " J. Lincoln " Chr. Bangor, ** Hugh Carlisle *' G. Rochester •* Rich. Bath AM/Wr.Lw *' J. H. Glocbstbr and Bristol " E. Sarom " A. T. CHICHESTEB # " J. Ely •* Saml. Oxon. " To the Right Hon. the Lord John Russell, &c."

" Chesham-place, Dec. 8, 1847. 4< My Lords, —I have had the honour to receive a representation signed by your Lordships on the subject of the nomination of Dr. Hampden to the See of Hereford. 11 1 observe that your Lordships do not state any want of confidence on your part in the soundness of Dr. Hampden's doctrine. Your Lordships refer me to a degree of the University of Oxford, pasßed eleven years ago, and founded upon lectures delivered 'ifteen years ago. 41 Since the date of that decree Dr. Hampden hasacted as. RepUß Professor of Divinity. The Univeraie ty of Oxford, and many Bishops, as I am told, havs required certificates of attendance on bis leet&rt before they proceeded to ordaia candidates who had received their education at Oxford. He has likewise preached sermons, for which he has been honoured with the approbation of several prelates of our Church. ** Several months before I named Dr Hampdtn to the Qu?en for the See of Hereford.l signified my inte ition to the Archbishop of Canturbery, and did notreI ceive from him any discouragement. | ** In these circumstances, it appears to me that ; should I withdraw my recommendation of Dr. Hamp- : den, which has been sanctioned by the Queen, I ! should virtually assent to the doctrine that a decree of the University of Oxford is a perpetual ban of exclusion against e clergyman of eminent learning and irreproach able life, and that, in fact, the supremacy which is now by law vested in the Crown is to be transferred to a majority of the members of one of our Universities. " Nor should it be forgotten, that many of the most prominent among the majority have since joined the Communion of the Church of Rome. '• 1 deeply regret the feeling that is s*id so be common among the clergy on this subject. But 1 cannot sacrafice the reputation of Dr. Hampden* the .rights of the Crown, and what I believe to be the true interests of ths Church, to a feeling which I believe to be founded on misapprehension and fomented by pre- 1 judice. ( ** At the same time 1 thank your Lordships for an interposition which X believe to be intended for the public benefit. " 1 have, fcc, '* J. RUSSELL. " To the Rig&J- Rev. the Bishop of LVmdon Winchester, Lincoln, &c."