onsist of Honorary Canons, longing for more substantial
preferment. It would indeed require a very bold flight of fancy
to imagine those worthy and comfortable men exposing themselves to
the "loss of civil rights, the forfeiture of goods and chattels,
and imprisonment during the King's pleasure," for a scruple of
conscience about the orthodoxy of a divine recommended by the Crown.
Truly in a capitular election, if anywhere, the better part of
valour is discretion, and the Dean and Chapter of Hereford have
realized this saving truth. But my view is wholly independent of
local or personal issues, and is best expressed by these words of
Arthur Stanton, true Catholic and true Liberal: "I am strongly
in favour of Disestablishment, and always have been. The connexion
between Church and State has done harm to both--more, however,
to the Church. Take our plan of electing Bishops. In the early
centuries they were elected by the people--as they ought to be.
Now they are chosen, sometimes by a Tory, sometimes by a Radical
Government. The Dean and Chapter meet and ask the guidance of the
Holy Ghost to enable them to choose, knowing all the while they have
the 'Letter Missive' in their pockets. To me this comes perilously
near blasphemy."

But let us suppose an extreme case. Let us imagine a Dean and Chapter
so deeply impressed by the unsuitableness of the Crown's nominee
that they refuse to elect him. Here, again, the law dodges us.
Except as a protest their refusal would have not the slightest
effect. The Crown has nothing to do but issue Letters Patent in
favour of its nominee, and he would be as secure of his bishopric as
if the Chapter had chosen him with one consent of heart and voice.
True, he would not yet be a Bishop; for the episcopal character can
only be conferred by consecration, and at this point the Archbishop
becomes responsible. To him the King signifies the fact that Dr.
Proudie has been elected to the See of Barchester, requiring him to
"confirm, invest, and consecrate" that divine. Should the Archbishop
refuse compliance with this command, he exposes himself to exactly
the same penalties as would be inflicted on a recalcitrant Chapter,
only with this aggravation--that he has more to lose. When my good
friend the Bishop of Oxford addressed the Archbishop of Canterbury,
imploring him to withhold consecration from Dr. Henson, he made a
valiant and faithful protest against what he holds to be a flagitious
action on