Reviews. ing that, not in the least degree from a wish to be harsh to Dr. Williams, I shall abstain from supporting it, because it appears to me that in the way in which it is put it is nothing but a reflection upon ourselves. Dr. Williams petitioned to be heard before we came to a judgment: you declined to hear him then, and you cannot undo what you have done. ARCHDEACON THORP-The impression with me was that we did not take Dr. Williams's petition into consideration because the probability was that the men would be dealt with by law, and we had only to consider how far the book was objectionable. We refused to hear, because we were not going to try, him. There was that distinction, otherwise I am sure the house would unanimously have given attention to the petition. I would recommend now that we should take no further notice of it. Negatived. CANON SELWYN-I now move that the petition of Dr. Rowland Williams be read to this house. CANON BLAKESLEY-I beg to second that motion. MESSAGE TO THE UPPER HOUSE. The PROLOCUTOR proceeded to the Upper House, accompanied by his assessors, to present to their lordships the gravamen of Sir. H. Thompson and others, the petition of the Archdeacon of Berks and others, and the names of the members of this house nominated to serve upon the joint committee to communicate with the joint committee of the Convocation of York, the gravamen of Mr. Bramston, and the resolution of this house respecting the printing of the reports of the committee of the Upper House on lay readers and on the volume entitled Essays and Reviews. On his return the PROLOCUTOR stated that his Grace the President had signified his approval of the printing of the reports of their lordships' committee on lay readers, and had desired him to communicate to this house the following resolution of the Upper House: That his Grace the President be requested to direct the Prolocutor of the Lower House to appoint a committee of that house to meet a committee appointed by this house on the Expenses of Convocation. That the following members of this house be appointed on such committee:— Bishop of London The following members of the Lower House were nominated by the PROLOCUTOR to serve upon this committee: The Prolocutor Dean of Ely Archdeacon of London Lord A. Compton The minutes of the present session having been read and confirmed, and ordered to be reduced into acts according to the ancient practice of Convocation, the PROLOCUTOR announced that he had received the directions of his Grace the President to continue and prorogue the present sitting of this Convocation to and until Thursday the 18th of August next ensuing. Canons. S SESSION LXXXVI.—Tuesday, June 27, 1865. THE BOARD-ROOM, Situate in the Bounty Office, Dean's Yard, Westminster. The Convocation was continued and prorogued by his Grace the President to and until Wednesday, 28th inst., to a certain Upper Chamber called the Bounty Office, as aforesaid. SESSION LXXXVII.— Wednesday, June 28, 1865. UPPER HOUSE. The house met at eleven o'clock. HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP presided. Prayers were read. THE NEW CANONS. At the request of the PRESIDENT, MR. DYKE, the Registrar-General, read the Royal Licence for altering the 36th, 37th, 38th, and 40th Canons, as follows: Victoria, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, and so forth,-To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas in and by one Act of Parliament made at Westminster in the fiveand-twentieth year of the reign of King Henry the Eighth, reciting that wherever the King's humble and obedient subjects the clergy of the realm of England had not only acknowledged according to the truth that the Convocation of the same clergy were always, had been, and ought to be assembled, only by the King's writ, but also submitting themselves unto the King's Majesty had promised in verbo sacerdotii that they would never from thenceforth presume to attempt, allege, claim, or put in use, or enact, promulge, or execute any new canons, constitutions, ordinances, provincial or other, or by whatsoever name they should be called, in the Convocation, unless the said King's most royal assent and license might to them be had, to make, promulge, and execute the same; and that the said King did give his most royal assent and authority in that behalf: it was therefore enacted by the authority of the said Parliament according to the said submission and petition of the said clergy, amongst other things, that they nor any of them from thenceforth should enact, promulge, or execute any such canons, constitutions, or ordinances provincial, by whatsoever name they might be called in their Convocations in time coming, which always should be assembled by authority of the King's writ, unless the same clergy might have the King's most royal assent and license to make, promulge, and execute such canons, constitutions, and ordinances provincial or synodal, upon pain of every one of the said clergy doing contrary to the said act, and being therefore convict to suffer imprisonment and make fine at the King's will; and further, by the said act it is provided that no canons, constitutions, or ordinances should be made or put in execution within this realm, by authority of the Convocation of the Clergy, which shall be contrariant or repugnant to the King's prerogative royal, or the customs, laws, or statutes of this realm, anything in B |