The Bishop of Exeterhad several petitions to present to their Lordships, on a subject which had excited much painful interest—he alluded to the subject of Church discipline. It was his misfortune to be opposed on that subject to the opinions of those whose judgment he revered, and whose characters he respected and esteemed; but, in presenting those petitions, he was authorised to state, that communications had taken place between the bishops, and he was rejoiced to say that, without a sacrifice of principle being made by any one, they were able to agree together, and to produce and promote, both before their Lordships and the other House of Parliament, such a measure as would, it was hoped, be satisfactory to the Church at large, and to their Lordships. It was not his intention to go into particulars, but he might be allowed to say, that already, steps had been taken to effect their common object, which he trusted would be attended with success. The right rev. Prelate then presented petitions from the clergy of the deanery of Chester, of Barnstaple, of Penrith, and several other places, praying that in any measure which might be introduced 800 for the improvement of Church discipline, care should be taken to preserve the ancient jurisdiction of the bishops in their respective diocese.
The Bishop of Londonconfirmed the statement of the right rev. Prelate, that a measure was in progress for the improvement of Church discipline. The only difficulty in the case had reference to certain legal points, on which the advice and assistance of the legal authorities in the House would be required.