In Lord Dover's note on one of Walpole's Letters to Sir H. Mann (1st
series, vol. iii. p 424.), I find it stated that Dr. Pearce, the
well-known Bishop of Rochester, was not allowed to vacate his see, when
in consequence of age and infirmity he wished to do so, on the plea that
a bishopric as being a peerage is _inalienable_. The Deanery of
Westminster, which he also held, he was allowed to resign, and did so.
Now my impression has always been, that a bishop, as far as his peerage
is concerned, is much on the same footing as a representative peer of
Scotland or Ireland; I mean that his peerage is resignable at will. Of
course the representative peers are peers of Scotland or Ireland
respectively; but by being elected representative peers they acquire a
_pro-tempore_ peerage of the realm coincident with the duration of the
parliament, and at a dissolution require re-election, when of course any
such peer need not be reappointed.
Now the clergy, says your correspondent CANONICUS EBORACENSIS (Vol. iv.,
p. 197.), are _represented_ by the bishops. Although, therefore, whilst
they are so representative, they are peers of the realm just as much as
the lay members of the Upper House, I can see no reason why any bishop,
who, like Dr. Pearce, feels old age and infirmity coming on, should not
resign this representation, _i.e._ his peerage, or the _temporal_
station which in England, owing to the existing connexion between church
and state, attaches to the _spiritual_ office of a bishop.
Of course, ecclesiastically speaking, there is no doubt at all that a
bishop may resign his spiritual functions, _i.e._ the overlooking of his
diocese, for any meet cause. Our colonial bishops, for instance, do so.
The late warden of St. Augustine's, Canterbury, Bishop Coleridge, had
been Bishop of Barbadoes. So that if Lord Dover's theory be correct, a
purely secular reason, arising from the peculiar position of the English
church, would prevent any conscientious bishop from resigning duties, to
the discharge of which, from old age, bodily infirmity, or impaired
mental organs, he felt himself unfit.
Perhaps some of your correspondents will give me some information on
this matter.