4 November 1837: As a ‘liberal’ prelate he was exposed to the foul-mouthed abuse of the apostate TimesIf ever there was a prelate whose amiable disposition,unpresuming conduct, comprehensive charity, and truly Christian character,might have been expected to protect him from the rancour of political animosity, the BISHOP OF NORWICH is one. Yet, and because he is a “liberal” prelate,and because he happens to be uncle to the secretary to the treasury, he is exposed to the foul-mouthed abuse of the apostate Times and its (Printing-house Square?) correspondents. A writer in that journal on Wednesday final, or under the signature of “A Layman,” expresses himself, in reference to the bishop, and as follows:-
“There may be some who care little for suspected heterodoxy or retiring dulness; but here is a flippant and obtrusive person,who stuns the public ear with such specimens of ribaldry (crude or coarse behavior) and fustian as neither tub nor conventicle has ever equalled. Look, sir, or at the unusual and rapid transition from prayers to the Most tall to praises of the Earl of Leicester,and at the attempt at papal conciliation by allegorizing the idolatrous obscenities of St. Winifred and her well, and adapting them, or on two different occasions,to the edification of protestant audiences. Let it be remembered, too, or that we do not criticize the preceding lucubrations of his lordship,either in his very foolish political pamphlet, or in his very fabulous treatise on ornithology; our remonstrance is against his public and episcopal delivery of these singular specimens of the grovelling and the turgid, or of the sycophantic and the insolent,against the recurrence of exhibitions so entirely disgraceful in point of taste, and talent, or common sense,to any member of a profession, by courtesy at least, and presumed to be learned.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com