Upon the principle of respect to existing rights, we propose also to modify our recommendation, for vesting in the Bishop the direct appointment of residentiaries, wherever they have heretofore been elected by the Chapter, out of the existing prebendaries nominated by the Bishop, by deferring the operation of the measure so long as any one of the present members of the Chapter shall remain, or until there shall be a failure of persons qualified to be so elected.

We propose, also, that wherever, according to our former proposition, it may be deemed expedient to divide any benefice in the patronage of a Chapter, the apportionment of the income shall not take place without the consent of the Chapter, so long as any one of the present members thereof shall remain.

Objections have been made to our proposition, respecting the alteration of the statutes of the several Chapters in certain particulars, on the ground that we have not required that the consent of the Chapter should in every case be first given.

It will be observed, that our proposition extended only to cases in which some alteration will be indispensably necessary, in order to render the statutes consistent with the altered constitution and duties of the Chapters. It was moreover provided, that the new statutes should not take effect until they should have been submitted to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and should have received the sanction of your Majesty in Council. We certainly did not intend that the proposed power, guarded as it was, should ever be exercised except upon communication with each Chapter respecting its own case; indeed, we thought it probable that in every instance the first motion for an alteration would proceed from the Chapter itself, when it should, from the gradual decrease in the number of its body, feel the inapplicability of the existing statutes. We have, however, no difficulty in altering our recommendation, so as to remove this ground of complaint.

Another point upon which anxiety has been expressed, is the disposal of such residence houses, in the precincts of the respective Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, as may no longer be required, and the distribution and appropriation of those which may be retained.

The situation and circumstances of these houses in the several cities and towns, differ so greatly from each other, that it is very difficult to prescribe any rule which will be applicable to all cases. We conceive that a discretionary power might be safely confided, in such a matter, to your Majesty in Council, on the recommendation of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. It could scarcely be anticipated, that such power would be exercised to sanction the disposal or appropriation of any house within a college or cathedral precinct, in any mode which would be offensive to the remaining members of the body. We are, however, prepared to recommend that these houses should be disposed of, according to a plan to be proposed by the Chapter to which they belong, and approved of by their visitor and by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

It was stated, or rather assumed, in our Second Report, that the Dean and the individual prebendaries of Durham possessed estates separate from those belonging to the Chapter collectively. Upon further investigation, it appears that this supposition was incorrect, and that certain lands and tithes, which are popularly known as the separate estates of the dean and the respective prebendaries, really belong to the corporate body, but are assigned, by virtue of certain statutes, respectively to individual members, and enjoyed by each of them, in severalty, during his incumbency. The income arising from each of these estates is considerable, but their relative values greatly differ; from whence arises great inequality in the value of the several stalls. In conformity with the principle adopted by us with reference to the separate estates of dignitaries in other cathedrals, we recommend that the statutes of the cathedral church of Durham," De stipendio Decani et Canonicorum," and "De Terris Decano et Canonicis ad augmentum residentiarum suarum assignatis," be repealed, as to all deans, prebendaries or canons, to be hereafter appointed. The effect of this will be, that such of the proceeds of these estates as belong to the suppressed canonries will fall into the general fund for the improvement of small livings; and that the residue will, as vacancies shall occur among the remaining canonries, be available towards carrying into effect our recommendation respecting the University

of Durham.

We are also informed, that in the Chapter of St. Paul's, in London, an ancient usage prevails, whereby the Dean, independently of his share of the corporate

revenues, enjoys the whole of the rents and profits arising from a manor and rectory in Hertfordshire, and from certain houses in London, although the estates themselves continue part of the corporate property of the Chapter. We recommend that this practice be discontinued in the case of future deans; and that the same rule be extended to every Chapter in which any similar usage may prevail ; except in a few cases, in which individual members are allowed to enjoy a small portion of land adjacent to their respective houses for their domestic accommodation.

As it appears that the prebend in the Cathedral Church of Exeter, which in our Third Report we assumed to be annexed to the bishopric, is, in point of fact, residentiary, and is held in commendam, (having been so held by the successive bishops for more than a century,) we think it most consistent with our general arrangements that this prebend should be suppressed, on the expiration of the present commendam, which will be the effect of one of our propositions; and that the deficiency of income, thereby occasioned, should be made good to future bishops out of the fund which will be in the hands of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, arising from the better endowed sees.

Some objections have been raised to our proposition for dissolving the colleges of minor canons, priest-vicars or vicars-choral; but coupled as this measure is with a recommendation for securing to the present holders a provision fully equal to what they now possess, and to all hereafter appointed an adequate and certain income, we are satisfied, upon full consideration, that its adoption will be decidedly for the benefit of this useful class of cathedral officers, as well as conducive to the better ordering of the choral service. As it is difficult at once to determine at what time this measure can be effected with justice to the existing members of the respective bodies, we are of opinion that a discretion should be left with your Majesty in Council, upon the recommendation of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, as to the time when the dissolution shall take place in each case. We also recommend that provision should be made for any lay clerks who may be members of these corporations. We further propose that the number of minor canons shall hereafter be not more than six nor less than two.

In order to prevent misapprehension, it may be proper to notice, that the duties which are performed in other cathedral churches by minor canons are, in that of Christchurch, in Oxford, performed by chaplains, differing in many material respects, both as to the tenure and duties of their office, from minor canons elsewhere. None of our recommendations, therefore, with regard to minor canons, are to be considered as extending to these officers.

As the propositions appended to our last Report require alteration in the respects above mentioned, and in a few others arising out of intervening events, we think it right to submit the whole to your Majesty in their altered form.

PROPOSITIONS.

1. That the Chapter of each cathedral church in England, except Christchurch, in Oxford, of the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster, and of your Majesty's Royal Free Chapel of St. George, in Windsor,-consist hereafter of a dean and four canons only.

2. That the Chapter of Christchurch, in Oxford, consist hereafter of a dean and six canons only.

3. That in the said Chapter of Christchurch, the canonry which shall first become vacant, not being one of the two canonries which are respectively annexed to Regius Professorships in the University of Oxford, be permanently annexed to the Lady Margaret's professorship of Divinity in that University; and that the two next canonries which shall become vacant, not being either of the three canonries already specified, be suppressed.

4. That upon the Lady Margaret's Professor succeeding to such canonry of Christchurch, the canonry of Worcester, now annexed to his professorship, be

come vacant.

5. That the rectory of the parish of St. Margaret in the city of Westminster, and one of the prebendal houses belonging to the Chapter of the said Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster, be permanently annexed to the prebend in the said collegiate church, now held by Henry Hart Milman, Clerk, Master of Arts; and that such house be the house of residence belonging to the benefice; and that the said rectory be in the patronage of your Majesty.

6. That the share of the revenues of the said Chapter which would be payable to the holder of such prebend be subdivided into 12 equal parts; that seven of such parts be paid to the prebendary or canon, and that the other five parts be applied towards providing a house or houses of residence for the minister or ministers of one or more district churches in the said parish, and for endowing such minister or ministers, and the minister of Broadway Chapel, in the said parish, in such proportions as the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England shall recommend, and your Majesty in Council shall approve.

7. That the rectory of the parish of St. John, in the same city, be permanently annexed to the prebend in the said last-mentioned collegiate church, now held by John Jennings, Clerk, Master of Arts; and that the same rectory be in the patronage of your Majesty.

8. That the share of the revenues of the said Chapter which would be payable to the holder of such last-mentioned prebend be subdivided into 12 equal parts; that seven of such parts be paid to the prebendary or canon, and that the other five parts be applied towards providing a house or houses of residence for the minister or ministers of one or more district churches in the said parish of St. John, and for endowing such minister or ministers, in such proportions as the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England shall recommend, and your Majesty in Council shall approve.

9. That the said parishes of St. Margaret and St. John become a part of the province of Canterbury, of the diocese of London, and of the archdeaconry of Middlesex; and that the said parishes, and the rectors and other ministers and officers thereof respectively, be subject, in ecclesiastical matters, to the jurisdiction of the Archdeacon of Middlesex, the Bishop of London, and the Archbishop of Canterbury respectively, in the same manner as other parishes in the said archdeaconry, diocese, and province are respectively subject thereto; and that all other ecclesiastical jurisdiction hitherto exercised in the said parishes, or either of them, entirely cease and determine.

10. That in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury, the prebend which is now vacant, and the prebend or canonry which shall next become vacant, be suppressed; that the then next vacancy be filled up; that the two prebends or canonries which shall next thereafter become vacant be suppressed, and the then next succeeding vacancy filled up, and so on, in like manner, until there shall be four canons only; that the first appointment under this rule be made by your Majesty, and the second by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and that thereafter the said Archbishop appoint a canon upon the occurrence of every fourth vacancy which is to be filled up.

11. That in the Cathedral Churches of Durham, Ely, Exeter, Winchester and Worcester, respectively, the two prebends, or canonries, which shall first become vacant, be suppressed, and the next vacancy which shall occur, filled up; and that this rule be acted upon, until there shall be four canons only; but that in the Cathedral Church of Durham, notwithstanding this rule as to the order in which the number of canons is to be reduced, Henry Jenkyns, Clerk, Professor of Greek in the University of Durham, be appointed to the prebend or canonry designed for him by the late William Bishop of Durham, and now held by Richard Prosser, Doctor of Divinity, when it shall become vacant; and whenever a vacancy shall occur in the prebend or canonry, which is, by Act of Parliament, annexed for the future to the archdeaconry of Durham, such vacancy be filled up.

12. That in the said Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster, the two prebends or canonries, which are now vacant, be suppressed; that the next vacancy which shall occur be filled up, the two prebends or canonries which shall then next become vacant suppressed, and the then next succeeding vacancy filled up; and so on, in like manner, until there shall be four canons only.

13. That in your Majesty's said Royal Free Chapel of St. George, in Windsor, the canonry which is now vacant, and the canonry which shall next become vacant, be suppressed; that the then next vacancy be filled up; that the two canonries which shall next thereafter become vacant, be suppressed, and the then next succeeding vacancy filled up; and so on, in like manner, until there shall be four canons only.

14. That in the Cathedral Churches of Bristol, Chester, Gloucester, Norwich, Rochester, Salisbury, Wells and Ripon, the canonry or residentiary prebend which shall first become vacant be suppressed; that the next vacancy be filled up, and that the canonry or residentiary prebend which shall then next become vacant be

suppressed; and that the sub-deanery of Ripon be also suppressed when it shall become vacant.

15. That in the Cathedral Church of Peterborough, the prebend which is now vacant be suppressed; that the then next vacancy which shall occur be filled up; and that the prebend or canonry which shall then next become vacant be suppressed.

16. That in the Cathedral Church of Hereford, the present lecturer succeed to the first vacant canonry or residentiary prebend, unless it happen to be the Bishop's prebend, and in that case to the next vaeant canonry or residentiary prebend; and that the first canonry or residentiary prebend which shall afterwards become vacant be suppressed.

17. That in the Cathedral Church of Lichfield, the residentiaryship now held by the rector of St. Philip's Church, in Birmingham, be suppressed upon the first vacancy thereof, and that the first of the other residentiaryships which shall become vacant be also suppressed.

18. That the rule herein contained respecting the order in which the number of canonries is, in each case, to be reduced, shall not affect or apply to either of the prebends or canonries in the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster, to which the rectories of St. Margaret and St. John, Westminster, are to be respectively annexed; or the prebend or canonry in the Cathedral Church of Gloucester, which is annexed to the mastership of Pembroke College, in Oxford; or either of the prebends or canonries in the Cathedral Church of Rochester, which are respectively annexed to the Provostship of Oriel College, in Oxford, and to the archdeaconry of Rochester; or the prebend or canonry in the Cathedral Church of Norwich, which is annexed to the mastership of Catherine Hall, in Cambridge; or any canonry, in any cathedral or collegiate church, which shall hereafter be permanently annexed to any archdeaconry, or united with any parochial charge.

19. That in all Cathedral or Collegiate Churches, in which the deans have heretofore been elected by the Chapter, all the deaneries be, in future, in the direct patronage of your Majesty; and that the three existing canonries in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, in London, be also in the direct patronage of your Majesty.

20. That in the Cathedral Church of York, so soon as a vacancy shall occur in the deanery, and that in the Cathedral Churches of Chichester, Exeter, Salisbury and Wells, so soon as every person who was a member of the Chapter on the 13th day of August, 1836, shall cease to be a member, or (if it shall first happen) so soon as there shall be a failure of persons eligible to canonries or residentiaryships in the said respective Chapters according to the laws and customs then in force, all the canonries be in the direct patronage.of the bishops of the respective sees; and that the same rule be in force in the Cathedral Church of Hereford so soon as either of the said events shall happen, and the person last elected lecturer in the said Chapter shall have succeeded to a canonry.

21. That in the Cathedral Church of Ripon the canons be appointed by the Bishop of Ripon for the time being, and not by the Archbishop of York, and without any nomination by the Dean and Chapter; and that the Bishop of Ripon for the time being be visitor of the said Dean and Chapter, instead of the said Archbishop.

22. That in the Cathedral Churches of St. Paul, in London, and of Lincoln respectively, a fourth canonry be founded, and that such new canonries be annexed to archdeaconries in the dioceses of London and Lincoln respectively, as hereinafter provided.

23. That in all Chapters wherein there exist any statutes or customs for assigning to the dean, or to the canons or prebendaries, certain houses, lands, tithes, and hereditaments, in addition to their shares of the corporate revenues, or for appropriating separately to any of them during their incumbency the proceeds of certain houses, lands, tithes, and hereditaments, part of the corporate property of the Chapter, all such statutes and customs be, as to all future deans and canons, repealed and annulled; excepting as to any small portion of land adjacent to any residentiary house, and enjoyed by the canon in possession of such house for his domestic accommodation.

24. That the incomes, from whatever source arising, belonging to all suppressed canonries or residentiary prebends, be, except as herein specified, immediately

upon such suppression, paid, and continue thereafter to be paid, to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England.

25. That in the Cathedral Churches of Chester, Lichfield, and Ripon, the shares of the corporate revenues belonging to the suppressed canonries and residentiary prebends respectively fall into the divisible corporate revenues of the respective Chapters.

26. That, subject to the reservation of existing rights hereinafter specified, all lands, tithes, or other endowments belonging to, or now or heretofore possessed or enjoyed by, deans and canons, or residentiary prebendaries, separately from and in addition to their shares of the corporate revenues of the respective Chapters, excepting any such small portion of land so enjoyed as aforesaid, be vested in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England.

27. That such part of the separate endowments of the Dean and Canons of the Cathedral Churches of York and Lichfield as may be determined upon be vested in the respective Chapters, and become part of the corporate property. 28. That each of the deans hereafter to be appointed, of the cathedral churches on the old foundation, the Dean of Ripon, and the Dean of your Majesty's Royal Free Chapel of St. George, in Windsor, shall, so soon as may be consistent with the existing rights, receive a double share of the divisible corporate revenues; and that, until the time when the several Chapters shall be entirely composed of Deans and Canons appointed subject to these recommendations, such revenues be so apportioned as to afford just shares thereof to the new members of each Chapter respectively.

29. That upon the first vacancy in the Deanery of Windsor, the Rectory of Haseley be severed from the Deanery, and revert to the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Windsor.

30. That in the Cathedral Church of St. Asaph, the Chapter consist hereafter of a Dean and two Canons, and that the said Canons have the cure of souls within the parish of St. Asaph; that upon the first vacancy in the Deanery of the said church, so much of the separate estates and endowments thereof as shall be determined on, be applied to make a competent provision for the Vicarage of Henllan ; that the remainder thereof continue annexed to the Deanery; and that the whole of the divisible corporate revenues of the Chapter be equally shared by the two Canons. 31. That in the Cathedral Church of Bangor, the Chapter consist hereafter of a Dean and two Canons, and that the Canons perform the same duties, both in the said church and in the parish of Bangor, as are now performed by the Priest Vicars of the said church; that the endowments belonging to the Prebend of Penmynydd be annexed to the Deanery of Bangor; and that such portion of the tithes now belonging to the said Deanery as shall be determined upon be applied to the augmentation of the vicarages or perpetual curacies of parishes in which they respectively accrue, and that the remainder thereof continue annexed to the Deanery.

32. That the Deaneries of St. Asaph and Bangor be united to the Archdeaconries of St. Asaph and Bangor respectively; and that the Archdeaconry of Merioneth be endowed with the property belonging to one of the Prebends in the Cathedral Church of Bangor, hereafter to be fixed upon.

33. That in the Cathedral Church of St. David, the Chapter consist hereafter of a precentor and two canons, and that the canons be charged with the cure of souls in the parish of St. David; that the divisible corporate revenues be divided into twenty-four parts; that ten of such parts be assigned to the precentor, and five to each canon; and that the remaining four parts be paid as an endowment to the Archdeacon of Cardigan.

34. That in the Cathedral Church of Llandaff, the Chapter consist hereafter of an archdeacon and two canons, and that the canons be charged with the cure of souls in the parishes of Llandaff and Whitchurch respectively; and that, after paying to the Bishop of Llandaff one-seventh part (being his present share) of the divisible corporate revenues, the remainder thereof be divided among the three members of the Chapter, in the proportions of one-half to the archdeacon, and one-quarter to each of the canons.

35. That until the Chapters of the several cathedral and collegiate churches shall be reduced to their proposed future number of members respectively, every canonry or residentiary prebend which shall become vacant be suppressed, except as herein before specified.

36. That the whole of the endowments belonging to one of the prebends in the Collegiate Church of Brecon, hereafter to be fixed upon, be, upon the vacancy of such prebend, annexed to the Archdeaconry of Brecon.