5. Bishop Patteson.

A few words, before I conclude, with regard to the part taken in this unhappy business by him, whom you speak of as "the holy martyr of Melanesia." You say (page 19), "It is an unspeakable satisfaction to know that he vigorously strove against the counsel and deed of those who sought to ignore my status, as Bishop of Dunedin." It is no pleasure to me, my Lord, to rob you of this satisfaction, but truth compels me to affirm that whoever gave you the information upon which you base this statement was grievously mistaken. Bishop Patteson was a member of the Select Committee, elected by ballot by the General Synod of 1868 to consider the question of the page 30 Bishopric of Dunedin. I was also a member, and acted as secretary to that Select Committee. I am able therefore to affirm, on personal knowledge, what I do affirm, which is this :—1. The Report of the Select Committee, consisting of several Resolutions, terminating in this decisive and practical one, which was recommended for adoption by the Synod, "That the appointment of Bishop Jenner to the See of Dunedin be not confirmed by the Synod"—was adopted by the Select Committee without a dissentient voice, Bishop Patteson being present. 2. One, if not more, of the Resolutions, adopted by the Select Committee, and leading up to this final one, was drafted by Bishop Patteson himself. I have somewhere among my papers, though, owing to a removal from one house to another, I cannot at present lay my hand upon them, the original memoranda of that Select Committee, and amongst them, as I distinctly remember, the draft of one or more of those Resolutions in pencil, in the handwriting of the martyred Bishop. 3. The Resolution which the Synod finally adopted, after prolonged discussion—"That whereas the General Synod is of opinion that it is better for the peace of the Church that Bishop Jenner should not take charge of the Bishopric of Dunedin, this Synod hereby requests him to withdraw his claim to that position—though moved by Archdeacon Harper, and seconded by myself, was in reality suggested and recommended to the Synod by a speech from the lips of Bishop Patteson, who urged, in very loving and gentle language, that, if the wish of the Synod were expressed in such terms as these, it could hardly fail to have effect. I may add that Sir William Martin, who was also a member of that Select Committee, is now in England, and will be willing, I have no doubt, to bear testimony to the correctness of my statements, as to these and other particulars.