ore in human probability will be,
so decorous as to be honourable to the cathedral of his
adoption.

We were, however, the other day given to understand
that one of these luxurious benefices, belonging to the
cathedral of Barchester, had been bestowed on the Rev.
Mark Robarts, the vicar of a neighbouring parish, on the
understanding that he should hold the living and the stall
together; and on making further inquiry we were surprised
to learn that this fortunate gentleman is as yet
considerably under thirty years of age. We were desirous,
however, of believing that his learning, his piety, and
his conduct, might be of a nature to add peculiar grace to
his chapter, and therefore, though almost unwillingly, we
were silent. But now it has come to our ears, and, indeed,
to the ears of all the world, that this piety and conduct
are sadly wanting; and judging of Mr. Robarts by his
life and associates, we are inclined to doubt even the
learning. He has at this moment, or at any rate had but
a few days since, an execution in his parsonage house at
Framley, on the suit of certain most disreputable bill
discounters in London; and probably would have another
execution in his other house in Barchester close, but for
the fact that he has never thought it necessary to go into
residence.

Then followed some very stringent, and, no doubt, much needed advice
to those clerical members of the Church of England who are supposed
to be mainly responsible for the conduct of their brethren; and the
article ended as follows:--

Many of these stalls are in the gift of the respective
deans and chapters, and in such cases the dean and
chapters are bound to see that proper persons are
appointed; but in other instances the power of selection
is vested in the Crown, and then an equal responsibility
rests on the Government of the day. Mr. Robarts, we learn,
was appointed to the stall in Barchester by the late Prime
Minister, and we really think that a grave censure rests
on him for the manner in which his patronage has been
exercised. It may be impossible that he should himself in
all such cases satisfy himself by personal inquiry. But
our Government is altogether conducted on the footing of
vicarial responsibility. _Quod facit per alium, facit per
se_, is in a special manner true of our ministers, and
any man who rises to