the Church authorities are bound to act in concurrence, & in subordination to the Civil power in all matters affected. Where such dependence exists at home; but if no such relation exists, I submit that there is no valid objection to the Bishop inviting "the congregation of St John's Cathedral" "to attend at Public service on the day apart as one of Fast..."
If the latter view should prevail, Sir John Bowring's conduct in refusing without instructions to proclaim a public fast should be afforded... he might be told that H. M. Govt have no desire that the Ecclesiastical authorities of the Ch of England or any other persuasion should be debarred from inviting their respective congregations to attendance at Church or to other religious observances on such days as they may think proper.
"but it should be understood by all persons in the public service that in respect to the permission to absent themselves from attendance for ordinary duty, they are to be guided exclusively by the instructions which they may receive from their official superiors."
It will rest with the Governor in his discretion to consider how far the indulgence of religious feelings in the port can be properly reconciled with the demands of the public service.
On the former assumption, the doctrine of the special dependence of an established Church upon the concurrence of the Civil power in acts of this nature...
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