Lavilette and his friends, to make
slighting reference to the accounts of the Society in question. As one
of the largest subscribers to that Society, may I be allowed to set at
rest his anxieties? Before many days the accounts from its very
earliest days, which have all the time been in the hands of an eminent
firm of accountants, will be placed before the general public. In the
meantime let me tell you this. I am willing to sign every page of
them. I pledge my word to their absolute correctness. The author of
this movement has from the first, according to my certain knowledge,
devoted a considerable part of his own income to the work. If others
who are in the enjoyment of a princely stipend for their religious
labours"--he looked hard at the bishop--"were to imitate this course of
action, I imagine that there are a good many charitable institutions
which would not now be begging for donations to keep them alive."
He sat down without peroration, and almost immediately afterwards left
the House. The first reading of the bishop's Bill was lost by a large
majority.
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