CO885-(11-13) — Page 33

11952.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

י

Reference :-

LLC.O. 885

MY LORD,

No. 739.

(ANTIGUA.)

QUEEN'S ADVOCATE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Temple, December 5, 1871. I AM honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Holland's letter of the 2nd instant, stating that he was directed to inform me that, in view of the changes which have already taken place, and of those which are contemplated in the relation of the Church and State in several of Her Majesty's Colonies, it appears to your Lordship expedient that the power of presentation to vacant benefices and cures of souls, hitherto delegated to the Governors of Colonies by Royal Instructions under the Sign Manual, and Signet, should be withdrawn from the Governors, and that the sole responsibility of appointing proper persons to such benefices and cures shorld vest with the bishop for the time being of the diocese in which the vacancies occur.

That in accordance with this view the usual clause (a copy of which was enclosed), by which a Governor is empowered upon the recommendation of the bishop to present to benefices, has been omitted in the instructions recently issued to Sir B. Pine as Governor of the Leeward Islands. But that a question arises whether under these circumstances any, and, if any, what form of delegation should be given to the Bishop of Antigua, so as to enable him, in the absence of any formal presentation by the Governor, to admit and institute to benefices within his diocese such clerks, being in communion with the Church of England and not being legally disqualified, as he may think fit? Mr. Holland was also pleased to enclose a draft form of commission which has been suggested for this purpose, and which it would be observed has been framed upon the instructions heretofore given to the Governor; and also a copy of the Letters Patent creating the Diocese of Antigua; and also a copy of so much of the Letters Patent of 14th May 1860, by which the present Bishop of Antigua was appointed, as bear upon this question. That your Lordship desired to be furnished with my opinion whether it is necessary to invest the bishop with the powers of presentation heretofore vested in the Governor, and, if so, whether the proposed commission, with or without alterations, would be sufficient to meet the case? That your Lordship requests that I would make such alterations in the draft commission, or furnish your Lordship with such other document, as may in my judgment be necessary and proper to effect the desired object.

In obedience to your Lordship's commands I have the honour to

Report

That I have made a slight alteration in the proposed commission by introducing the words" collate and" before the word “admit in the draft title of the commission, and the words "collated and" before the word "admitted in the second page, and the words "collate and" before the word "admit" in the third page of the draft. Subject to these alterations, I am of opinion that the form of commission will be proper for the purpose which your Lordship has in view, and that the investing the bishop with the authority to collate implies the transfer to him of the powers hitherto vested in the Governor. I take the liberty of suggesting to your Lordship that it may be convenient for the commission to provide for the case of vacant archdeaconries, unless the Bishop of Antigua has already legal authority to collate to them, when

I have, &c. (Signed)

vacant.

The Right Hon, the Earl Kimberley, K.P.,

&c.

&c.

&c.

TRAVERS TWISS.

0 16278.-299.

25.-5/86.

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—–NOT TO