To the Judicial Committee of Privy Council to hear Judgment delivered in
the great GORHAM Case, the Reverend Mr. GORHAM against the BISHOP of
EXETER for refusing to institute him to the Living of Bramford Speke,
which the Bishop refuse because Mr. GORHAM deny Baptismal Regeneration.
The Court of Arches gave sentence for the BISHOP, and GORHAM then appeal
to the Privy Council. A great Commotion among the Clergy, and not a
little among the People also. The High Church hold, with the BISHOP of
EXETER, the same Opinion of Baptism as the Catholiques, and the Low do
side with GORHAM and the Baptists and most other Dissenters. To the
Council Chamber betimes, and did get a good Place and hear very well.
The Chamber all the public Part of it crammed with as many People as
could well get in. Lack, to see what Numbers of the Clergy here, both
High Church and Low, and distinguish them by their Looks, and their
Dress, and particularly by their Ties and Waistcoats. Also present many
Dissenters and Roman Catholiques, and among the Catholiques I did note
Bishop WISEMAN the Catholique Bishop of Melipotamus, and Vicar
Apostolique of the London District in the front Row next my Lord the
President's Chair, pricking up his Ears. By and by in come the Lords of
the Council and take their places, mighty Grave, yet as they sit do seem
to take it easy. They sit at a Table in the midst of the Chamber, where,
among them, Lords Brougham and Campbell look mighty ill-favoured and
droll. Behind, towards the Bookshelves, the Lay Lords, but with them a
Bishop in his Knee Breeches and Apron, and a Shovel Hat in his Hand.
Among the Lay Lords the EARL of CARLISLE, a Great Nobleman, and do look
noble, and very much like LISTON the Player. Hush, and Silence, even the
Ladies, of whom some present in the Crowd, when my Lord LANGDALE rise to
deliver Judgment, which he did mighty clever, and lay down the Law, but
no theological Argument, which I expected to hear, but did not. For he
said the Committee have no Authority to determine Points of Doctrine,
and whether Baptismal Regeneration were true or false, but only whether
the Clergy were bound to hold it, or free to deny it, by the Thirty-nine
Articles. And by that Rule he gave Judgment for GORHAM against the
BISHOP, and I see not how he could have done otherwise, nor why the High
Church should be so aghast and angry, nor WISEMAN smile and look so
merry and scornful as he did, and seem so mightily diverted. So the
BISHOP will have to submit, and institute GORHAM, or else resign his
Bishoprick, which I dare swear he will not. Nor do I much fear that many
of the High Church Clergy will leave the Church, as some prophesy, and
turn Catholiques, and relinquish the Loaves and Fishes. Methinks it is a
mighty good Thing that both High Church Clergy and Low are bound only by
the Articles as interpreted by the Law Lords in the Judicial Committee,
and not by themselves on either one Side or the other, for of all Men
methinks the Clergy of every Sect have less than any of a Judicial
Mind.
[Illustration: _A JUVENILE PARTYE._