The Lord Bishop of Norwich, &c, &c, Athenaeum Club.

—In consequence of a letter received this morning from Mr. John Hutt, I lose no time in submitting to you an account of Mr. Wynter's standing in this neighbourhood. He has a parish almost without parishioners (the little church of Gratton being almost filled by Lord Warwick's family,) a good house, and a comfortable private income. Having so little to do in his own parish, he is very active elsewhere, both as a Poor-law guardian and a magistrate. I don't know how it is, but he seems to rule the neighbourhood; but if it is ruling, the kind is very gentle; for he accomplishes his objects by a persuasion that none can resist. The secret of his influence both on clergy and laity, which people wonder at, consists, I believe, in a combination of singular goodness, with a sound judgment, and perfect earnestness and frankness. Everybody, high and low (not excepting Quakers, and some bitterish dissenters of the Independent connexion), speaks well of him. If you ask whether he is a Puseyite, or Low Churchman, or High Churchman, or what not, the catechist looks puzzled, and says—"he does'nt know; he never heard." And yet he is a very zealous clergyman, whom the most religious families respect and love. He does a favour to the neighbouring clergy by preaching for them; and people go for miles to his little church. He has kept up his Oxford learning, and deals in racy English as well as Greek. He is very winning, by means of kindliness and openness. Mrs. Wynter is a very superior person; a thorough gentlewoman, with solid accomplishments and nice manners; a good companion for men of sense. She is the oldest daughter of Mr. Lyall, late M.P. for London, and a niece of the Dean of page 217Canterbury. Her uncle is a resolute objector to the proposal of a foreign appointment. She offers to give up her objection if Mr. Wynter insists upon going; but this is just the way to prevent him from insisting: and so they are both very unhappy; he because he cannot realize his earnest wish; she because her dislike is the only obstacle. Nothing, I fear, but a pressure from without, that would overcome them both, can prevent a permanent diminution of their happiness in consequence of what has passed.

I may add in confidence, that I have seen a letter from the Bishop of-Oxford, who was Wynter's Archdeacon, in which he says that if the latter should be the Canterbury Bishop, he hopes to have the pleasure of consecrating him.

Rintoul is slightly acquainted with Mr. Wynter, and likes him much: my brother-in-law Torlesse has a very high opinion of him.

Believe me to remain, my dear Lord,