HC Deb 07 June 1850 vol 111 cc899-903

On the Question that the House, at its rising, should adjourn to Monday,

MR. HORSMAN

said: I rise to give notice that I will next week address some questions to the noble Lord at the head of the Government respecting the Bishop of Llandaff. A memorial has been published, signed by the resident members of the Senate of the University of Cambridge, on the subject of the Royal Commission which the First Lord of the Treasury has announced that it is the intention of Her Majesty to issue for the purpose of inquiring into the state of the Universities. The first signature attached to this memorial, to which my attention has recently been drawn by the admirable reply given to it by the illustrious Person who fills the office of Chancellor to one of the Universities, is that of the Bishop of Llandaff. As this memorial professes to be signed only by resident members of the Senate, I, of course, conceived, when I saw the Bishop of Llandaff's name, that it was a mistake—that the right rev. Prelate's attention was so thoroughly engrossed by the episcopal duties of his diocese, that he had not had time to read the memorial; and that, perhaps, in a moment of impatience at having his attention diverted from spiritual concerns, he signed the paper without reflecting on the truth of the statement made at its outset. On inquiry, however, I find that although the bishop was appointed to his diocese last year, he is not resident in Wales; that he never has resided there; and that at this moment he is, as I am informed, a resident of the University of Cambridge. The first question I shall have to ask of the noble Lord next week is, whether it is a fact that the Bishop of Llandaff has never been resident in Wales; and, if so, what reasons the noble Lord can give in justification of such a deporture from ecclesiastical usage and the obligations of episcopal duties? At the time of the bishop's appointment the noble Lord received praise for having taken especial pains to select for the office a prelate who was familiar with the language of Wales. Now, I find that last week the foundation-stone of a church was laid in Wales, on which occasion an address composed in the Welsh language was presented to the Bishop of Llandaff, who was present; to which that right rev. Prelate replied in English, stating that he was unable to speak Welsh. It is true that the bishop had previously gone through the form or task of preaching a Welsh sermon; but at the close of the proceedings he apologised for being perfectly unable to converse in that language. As the public was led to believe that the noble Lord was desirous of selecting a prelate to fill the see of Llandaff who was well acquainted with the Welsh language, the second question I intend to ask is, whether the supposed familiarity of the present bishop with it was one of the reasons for his being selected, and, since a grave deception appears to have been practised on the noble Lord, whether he will state by whom that deception was practised? I will ask those questions on Thursday next.

LORD J. RUSSELL

Sir, the hon. Member might have taken one of two courses with reference to this matter. He might now have given notice of his intention to ask some questions with respect to the Bishop of Llandaff, and there have ended, or, having given me notice privately that he meant to ask these questions, he might have made the attack on the Bishop of Llandaff of which he has just delivered himself; but, for the hon. Member to come forward and give a notice, and to avail himself of that opportunity to make an attack on a right rev. Prelate, is not quite in accordance with the fairness the House has a right to expect from one of its Members. I certainly am unable, at this moment, to give an answer applicable to all the particulars to which the hon. Member has adverted. All I can say is, if it be necessary to explain the reasons which induced me to recommend Dr. Oliphant to the Crown for the see of Llandaff, is that having heard—in common with the rest of the world—that many complaints were made in Wales, that when bishoprics in Wales became vacant, persons unacquainted with the Welsh language were appointed to fill them (a charge directed, not against any particular Government, but against successive Governments), when the see of Llandaff fell vacant, I made inquiry, not of one or two, but of many persons who, I thought, were able to give me the information I desired, whether they were acquainted with any divine who, with eminent learning, and those other qualifications which are generally sought for in a person filling the office of bishop, combined a knowledge of the Welsh language? I deemed myself fortunate in the result of that inquiry, because I found that Dr. Oliphant had been the head of a college in Wales, and that for several years during which he filled the office of principal of that college, he had given satisfaction to the inhabitants of the diocese in which the college was placed. I found, likewise, that he had acted as parish priest in a benefice in Wales, and in that manner had become acquainted with the language and habits of the people of the principality. I found, too, that to this special fitness for a see in Wales, Dr. Oliphant joined eminent learning. Upon making inquiry of two high authorities—namely, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishop of Winchester—I ascertained that Dr. Oliphant was known to the Primate generally, and to the Bishop of Winchester particularly, from the circumstance of his having resided for a considerable time in Winchester; and from both those right rev. Prelates I received the highest testimonials as to Dr. Oliphant's qualifications. I heard from the Archbishop and the Bishop of Winchester, as well as others who knew Dr. Oliphant, and who thought that they were in fairness bound to acquaint me with the circumstance, that he had never been known to hold the political opinions to which I am attached; but I felt that if I could obtain for Wales the benefit of a bishop possessed of the eminent qualifications which belonged to Dr. Oliphant, I ought to waive any consideration of that kind, and, therefore, I recommended him for the appointment to the Crown. I had never seen Dr. Oliphant before, and I have not had much personal communication with him since; but all the communications which have passed between us have been directed to the object of obtaining for him a residence in his diocese. Some difficulty may have existed on that point with which I am not acquainted, but I shall, perhaps, be better able to explain it in answering the hon. Member's question on Thursday. I must state, however, that there is no reason for doubting that it is the intention of the Bishop of Llandaff to reside permanently in his diocese, and that all the expectations which influenced me in recommending him to the Crown will be realised. The hon. Member has referred to what I, as well as he, saw in a newspaper respecting the bishop's answer to an address presented to him in Wales. I observe that the bishop, having preached a sermon in the Welsh language, an address in the same language was subsequently presented to him, whereupon he said that he was not sufficiently master of the Welsh language to make an impromptu reply to a formal address of congratulation and kindness. I think that is very likely to be the case with a person who is not a native of Wales, and therefore cannot be expected to speak the language with the ease and fluency of a native. Notwithstanding all the hon. Member has said, I have not the least reason to believe that I have been deceived in the information I received respecting Dr. Oliphant. I have no reason to repent of the advice I gave the Crown to place Dr. Oliphant in the see of Llandaff, and I believe that he will prove an ornament to the bench of bishops, and likewise be of the greatest service as a spiritual instructor of the people.

MR. GWYN

begged to express his thanks and those of the clergy and inhabitants of the diocese of Llandaff for the appointment of Dr. Oliphant, A more excellent appointment it was not possible to make. He was a prelate of the greatest piety, and was acquainted with the Welsh language. Having been present on an occasion when Dr. Oliphant, on laying the foundation-stone of a school, preached a sermon in Welsh, "he (Mr. Gwyn) could state that it was a sermon which every one understood, and that the country people went away expressing their admiration. It was no fault of Dr. Oliphant's that he was not resident at present; a house had been bought for him, and was in course of preparation; and it was his intention to go into residence as soon as he possibly could.

MR. HORSMAN

had said nothing of the personal qualifications of the Bishop of Llandaff, but had asked, first, whether since his appointment he was not resident; and, secondly, whether he was acquainted with the Welsh language or not? On these points he should feel it necessary to repeat his questions to the noble Lord on Thursday next.

Subject dropped.