CO885-(10-11) — Page 229

4962.

No. 184.

(ANTIGUA.)

MY LORD DUKE,

QUEEN'S ADVOCATE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Doctors' Commons, May 21, 1863.

I AM honoured with your Grace's commands signified in Sir F. Rogers' letter of the 6th May instant, stating that he was directed to transmit to me for my considera- tion the copy of an Act passed by the Legislature of Antigua in the month of October last, entitled No. 768, "An Act for enforcing Church Discipline."

In obedience to your Grace's commands, I have taken this Act into consideration, and have the honour to

||||||||||||||||

Report

That upon the general question of the local Acts of these islands in the diocese of Antigua, for the enforcement of Church Discipline, I beg leave to refer your Grace to my former Report on the Act passed by the Legislature of Nevis and Virgin Islands. I cannot help regretting that this Act of the Antigua Legislature copies the bad as well as the good portions of the English Clergy Discipline Statute.

The clauses respecting the preliminary inquiry have not been found to work well in this country. Nevertheless, as this is a matter which I must presume that the Bishop and the Legislature have well considered, I see no sufficient reason upon this ground for advising your Grace that the Act should not receive the Royal Assent.

It is my duty, however, to point out that the Act gives an appeal (s. 15) to the Archbishop of Canterbury only, and is silent as to any further appeal to Her Majesty in Council; but then this silence is in accordance with the Letters Patent of Her Majesty to the Bishop of Antigua, which provide that the appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury shall be final. Upon this point, I would also beg leave to refer to my former Report.

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G.,

&c.

&c.

&c.

I have, &c. (Signed) ROBERT PHILLIMORE.

5

0

16278.-194.

25.-2/86.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference

6

885

10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO