JB/109/151/001

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destroyed the hopes of an individual, who might,
after all, turn out to be innocent of the charge. He
had done more; he had stated what he should have
thought that no public functionary would have
dared to stated in this country, that he held a discretion
affecting the character and hopes of individuals,
and the rights and properties of patrons which he
was impowered to exercise without assigning any reason.
To that statement he would (without meaning
any personal disrespect to the Right Rev. Prelate) give
the broadest and most unqualified contradiction. While
he had a seat in that House he would assert the
contrary. The Right Revd. Prelate had said, that he
did not proceed without inquiry. But how did he inquire?
Among those he knew among his own friends
and neighbours, though he was aware that the words
imputed arose out of a subject upon which the minds
of men, and upon which his own neighbours were as
liable to be influenced as others. The Petitioner had witnesses
upon his side. Did the Right Rev. Prelate examine
them? Did he judge from a comparison of evidence? –
No; he proceeded like an Inquisition to take evidence
in the dark, and by his own selection, and refused
even a hearing to the accused (hear, hear). The
House ought, both with reference to the Clergy and
Patrons, to inquire into the Law, and perhaps to pass
some measure with a view to limit or regulate the
discretion under which both were likely to suffer. It
had been stated that the three attesting clergymen were
willing to withdraw their testimonial, but it was after
the Right Revd. Prelate had refuse to sign, and that these
Clergymen had intimated their intention. As to the
damnatory clauses of the Athanasian Creed, he had not
heard even the Right Revd. Bishop himself say that
he approved of them. If he did approve of them, tho'
perhaps he might think himself a good member of
the Church of England, he would say that he was
not a Christian (hear!). His Lordship next quoted a
passage from the writings of the Bishop of Lincoln, in
which he regrets that such clauses should be found
in any human composition. Yet this poor man
was to be ruined for having expressed the same
sentiment in different language, even supposing
the charge to be proved.

The Marquess of Lansdown said, that after
what had taken place that night, and the little disposition
that was shewn to defend the conduct
of the Right Reverend Prelate, he could not abstain

Identifier: | JB/109/151/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 109.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	109	Main Headings
Folio number	151	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	Collectanea	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	C6
Penner		Watermarks	C WILMOTT 1819
Marginals		Paper Producer	Andreas Louriottis
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1819
Notes public		ID Number	35806
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