or possibility, I believe, of living. Sir Omicron Pie
is here, or will be very shortly, but all that even Sir
Omicron can do is to ratify the sentence of his less
distinguished brethren that nothing can be done. Poor
Dr. Trefoil's race on this side the grave is run. I do
not know whether you knew him. He was a good, quiet,
charitable man, of the old school, of course, as any
clergyman over seventy years of age must necessarily be.

But I do not write merely with the object of sending you
such news as this: doubtless someone of your Mercuries
will have seen and heard and reported so much; I write, as
you usually do yourself, rather with a view to the future
than to the past.

Rumour is already rife here as to Dr. Trefoil's successor,
and among those named as possible future deans your humble
servant is, I believe, not the least frequently spoken
of; in short, I am looking for the preferment. You may
probably know that since Bishop Proudie came to the
diocese I have exerted myself here a good deal and, I may
certainly say, not without some success. He and I are
nearly always of the same opinion on points of doctrine
as well as church discipline, and therefore I have had,
as his confidential chaplain, very much in my own hands;
but I confess to you that I have a higher ambition than to
remain the chaplain of any bishop.

There are no positions in which more energy is now needed
than those of our deans. The whole of our enormous
cathedral establishments have been allowed to go to
sleep--nay, they are all but dead and ready for the
sepulchre! And yet of what prodigious moment they might be
made if, as was intended, they were so managed as to lead
the way and show an example for all our parochial clergy!

The bishop here is most anxious for my success; indeed, he
goes to-morrow to press the matter on the archbishop. I
believe also I may count on the support of at least one
most effective member of the government. But I confess
that the support of "The Jupiter," if I be thought worthy
of it, would be more gratifying to me than any other;
more gratifying if by it I should be successful, and more
gratifying also if, although so supported, I should be
unsuccessful.

The time has, in fact, come in which no government can
venture to fill up the high places of the Church in
defiance of the