:

would be subject to heavy penalties; but it was their Lordships' business not to attend to any thing but to the subject proposed for their consideration how could they with propriety pronounce against the law, to avoid the consequences of an illegal act? When his Lordship looked to the cases in the books which were advanced in support of this judgment, he should say they were not well considered. One of them said, that a bond of resignation might be made in favour of a -brother; another said, in favour of a cousin or a near relation. But his Lordship would ask, what had the condition or relationship of the person in whose favour the bond was made to do with the question? That ought to be left out of consideration. Could a patron take a bond in favour of himself? If not, he could not make it in favour of any man on account of relationship, for no man is more nearly related to a patron than himself; and, if he could make such a bond, it would in construction of law be the same as a general bond of resignation, for it was evident he could present whom he pleased after. But, again, it was said, that it could not be held simoniacal, unless it appeared that some benefit could be derived from it. Might not such a bond be made covertly in consideration of money in this manner: when the time for resignation arrived, the patron might say to the clergyman, "If you pay me a certain sum of money, I will allow you to hold your living longer?" could not such a thing be easily effected? His Lordship had no doubt but that this decision would come by surprise, and bear harshly on many patrons and clergymen; but he was not one of those who would hesitate to indemnify those who had hitherto committed themselves by such bonds, whether patrons or incumbents, provided that were done without touching on the general principles of the ecclesiastical laws of the country, some of which, it should be admitted, were too severe. On the grounds before mentioned, his Lordship did not see how he could do otherwise than adjudge this a simoniacal contract; and after the most profound consideration, he would move their Lordships, that the judgment in the court below be reversed.

The Archbishop of Canterbury entirely concurred in the opinion of the Lord Chancellor, which was agreeable to that of the majority of the Judges; but he had to implore their Lordships' attention to this circumstance, that a large number, both of patrons and incumbents, had exposed themselves to severe penalties. But his Grace trusted, that, however erroneously they had thus committed themselves, that House would afford them protection. A patron was liable to a penalty of double the value of the living, and the forfeiture of the patronage for that time; and the incumbent was liable to double the value of the living, and to be disqualified from holding it. Such were the severe penalties they were innocently exposed to, if not protected by that House. He held in his hand a bill containing such restrictions as would protect bonds of this nature heretofore made, and exempt the parties from the penalties above alluded to. With their Lordships' permission he would move that it should be now read pro forma, and on the second reading he would explain its provisions.

The Lord Chancellor put the question, and the bill was accordingly read a first time.

This bill, which is entitled "for the relief of certain spiritual persons, and patrons of ecclesiastical preferments, from certain penalties, and rendering valid certain bonds, covenants, or other assurances for the resignation of ecclesiastical preferments," enacts,

1. That no presentation to a benefice, made before 1827, shall be void on account of any agreement to resign when another person, or one of two persons, specially named, shall become qualified to take the same.

2. That persons making any such agreement, not to be subject to any penalty on account thereof.

3. That agreements made before

in law.

1827, be valid and effectual

4. Is a proviso for agreements not made with the intent that some person specially named should be presented.

5. That if the person so specially named be not presented to such benefice within six months, the resignation shall be void.

6. Concluding proviso, that nothing in this Act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to the case of any promise, agreement, grant, bond, covenant, or other assurance, upon or with respect to which any action, suit, bill, plaint, or information hath been brought, sued out, or commenced and prosecuted.

Sale of the celebrated Breviarium Romanum of IsabeLLA OF SPAIN.-The celebrated Missal which was presented by Francisco de Roias to Isabella, Queen of Spain, wife of Ferdinand, and the munificent patroness of Columbus, was lately sold to Mr. Hurd, of the Temple, for 360 guineas. This was one of the most interesting and important articles in the very splendid library of the late John Dent, Esq. F.R.S. and F.S.A. It was purchased by Mr. Dent at 300 guineas. This magnificent MS. upon vellum, is illuminated by Flemish painters, in Spain, about the close of the fifteenth century, containing 523 leaves, interspersed with a variety of beautiful miniature paintings. The portraits of De Roias and the Queen of Spain are introduced in the miniatures. De Roias is supposed to have been of the noble family of Roccas; the name being written indifferently Roias, Rojas, and Roccas, in Spain. The Rev. Dr. Dibdin has given, in his Bibliographical Decameron, an elaborate and admirable description of this splendid Breviary, which contains some specimens of art of a higher character than are to be found even in the beautiful Bedford Missal.

CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION.-Lord Lorton is said to have addressed the subjoined letter to his Irish tenantry :—

“Having observed, for some time past, the very strenuous efforts that are making to pervert your understandings, and, finally, to lead you into acts that must end in your own destruction, as well as that of your families, I should feel myself quite inexcusable, as your landlord,

and deficient in my duty, if I did not warn you in the most solemn manner (but in few and plain words) against the artifices of wicked and designing men, whose object is to make you their tools, to forward their own designs against the government of the country. The first method they adopt, is that of setting you against your landlord—and, for that purpose, they bring forward the charge of his being hostile to what is called (most erroneously) Catholic emancipation. Now, my friends, I have voted against this measure from knowing that it would give power to the most bitter enemies of the most free and tolerant constitution in the world; and, also, from being well aware, that not one poor man in Ireland would in any respect whatever be improved in his condition, if Parliament granted the demands which have been made. Some few then, might, indeed, gain lucrative situations; but, depend upon it, your burthens would be increased ten-fold, as the exactions, which are levied upon you now, and which you can ill bear, would have no limits. The next charge against your landlord is, that he is an enemy to your religion. Now, the only way those persons make any endeavour to prove this assertion is, that he has established schools in which the word of God is read, and that he belongs to Bible Societies. This is, indeed, most strange, and strongly marks the degraded state of this unfortunate country, when the people are taught to believe, that it is a sin to spread that learning, which had at one period raised Ireland to the highest station in the civilized world, and which she might have continued to enjoy, if England had not succeeded in establishing the dominion of the Pope in our fertile and (by nature) highly-favoured island; from which time she has sunk into wretchedness, poverty, and misery, beyond what can be met with in any other nation, with the exception of parts of Italy, Spain, and Portugal, where superstition and ignorance still afflict mankind.

"Now, my friends, I would call upon you to consider (and make use of the understanding with which the Almighty has endowed you) why you are prevented from reading the Bible. The reason may not be plain to you; however, I can tell you in a few words: you would in the Holy Scriptures very soon find that the Roman-Catholic religion is not accordant with the precepts they contain; and that by the perusal of them you might be led to ask questions, which could not be conveniently answered; for, indeed, if they were with truth and sincerity, you would find that the religion of the Pope is altogether different from that which was taught by the Apostles, and which was the old religion of Ireland."