§ MR. HORSMANrose to put a question to the noble Lord (Lord J. Russell), of which he had already given notice, and he begged to say that he did so for the purpose only of eliciting information on the subject of the mode in which the patronage of the Lord Bishop of Durham had been exercised in a recent case. It had been generally understood that when the Rectory of Bishop Wearmouth, in the diocese of Durham, should become vacant, some new arrangement was to be effected in the distribution of the revenues of that wealthy rectory. He now begged to ask the noble Lord whether he was able to inform the House what that new arrangement was, more particularly whether any portion of the revenues was to be appropriated to other clergymen and chapelries of the district?
§ LORD J. RUSSELLsaid, that, on receiving notice of the hon. Member's (Mr. Horsman's) intention, he had written to the Lord Bishop of Durham on the subject, stating at the same time that it was quite optional whether he chose to give any information on the subject or not. The bishop, had, in reply, stated that he did not recognise any right of questioning him on the subject, unless there was some general inquiry instituted; but that he did not object to give such information as was requisite to him (Lord J. Russell). When the vacancy occurred in the rectory of Bishop Wearmouth, by the death of Dr. Wellesley, a correspondence took place, which was succeeded by a deputation from the ancient select vestry of Bishop Wearmouth, accompanied by the mayor of Sunderland, who waited on the bishop. The deputation stated to his lordship their wishes with respect to the new division and distribution of the revenues of the rectory of Bishop Wearmouth. Those revenues consisted of tithes, the rents and 498 profits of glebe lands, surplice fees, rents of staiths and wayleaves, and rents of coals. The deputation proposed that the tithes, the glebe rents, and the surplice fees should go to the rector of Bishop Wearmouth, but that the rents of staiths and wayleaves, and of coals, should be vested in trustees, in order to constitute a fund out of which an increase should be made to the incomes of the four other incumbents of the parish of Bishop Wearmouth. The bishop took the proposal into his consideration, and having consulted with some eminent authorities on the subject, he made an arrangement which corresponded almost with the letter of the terms proposed by the deputation—namely, the tithes, glebe, and surplice fees, were henceforward to go to the rector of Bishop Wearmouth; and the other portions of the revenue, arising from staiths, wayleaves, and coal rents, were to be vested in trustees, to form a fund to be apportioned amongst the four incumbents of St. Thomas, Deptford, Ryhope, and Hylton. It appeared that the whole value of the rectory of Bishop Wearmouth was 3,828l., out of which the late rector paid 1,605l., leaving 2,223l. for himself. Under the new division about 1,200l. would form the rector's income, and the remainder would be divided between his curates and the four incumbents, which latter would have about 1,600l. divided amongst them. The correspondence had ended on the part of the deputation by their sending the following letter to the Lord Bishop, signed on their behalf by the chairman, Mr. John Scott:—
Bishop Wearmouth, Nov. 30.My Lord—I had the pleasure of submitting your lordship's letter of the 27th instant to a meeting of the ancient select vestry, held this morning, when it was unanimously resolved, that, as the chairman of that meeting, I should convey to your lordship our warmest thanks for the kind manner in which your lordship has received the suggestions we ventured to make, and for the great anxiety and care your lordship has shown towards the spiritual welfare of this great and populous parish. The appointments and arrangements your lordship has made appear most excellent, and, under the blessing of Providence, we confidently trust will be productive of the greatest good to every class of the inhabitants.—I have the honour to be, &c. "JOHN SCOTT.
§ MR. HORSMANasked whether the four incumbents were to have the 1,600l. divided amongst them at once?
§ LORD J. RUSSELLsaid, that from the 30th of May the staith and wayleave rents and coal rents were to be paid to trustees for their benefit.