Tae meeting of subscribers to Trinity Outhedral on Friday afternoon appears to Lave given satisfaction to all parties, ion which took place was and after everything id on all sides of the question the songo of the meeting was clearly shown to be strongly in favour of the return of Dean Butcher to Shanghai. Th is therefore no longer any doubt as to the general, "if not universal, wish of the congregation; and it is to be hoped that no impediments will be put in way of Mr; Bell, Mr, Krauss, and Mr. Catmpbell in carrying that wish into execution, here, are only theo points to which we may without impropriety refer, aud'a consideration of which may assist the Trustees in arri factory conclusion of the whole matter. In the first place, the resigna-the Dean's resignation was in point of fact no resignation at all, Or to apeak more correctly, the manner in which the Trastees nected upon this conditional resignation was such as to. render their acceptance of it invalid, and this being so, Dr. Butcher, who was gazetted Dean of Trinity Cathedral, Shanghai, in the London Gazette, may occupy a stronger legal position than hitherto been credited to him. In the second place, it is incontrovertible that when Mr. Smith was appointed to the incumbency, the question of the Dean's return was atill a moot point. Thi proved by-the fact that he wrote an official letter to the Trastee: asking what his position would be if t event should actually come about; which shows that even after he had entered upon the daties of his post the possibility of such an occurrence was present to his mind. In the third place, it appears that no reply was sent to Mr. Smith by the Trustees; and on this score he certainly had occasion to feel-aggrieved. It la to be regretted that questions upon this point were not put at the Cathedral meeting, and a ite explanation demanded. The by Mr. Ward of ever having soon such a letter may probably be plained by the fact that he was absent from China at th Apart, however, from these considerations, there can be no doubt that the mooting did good, and will probably be productive of the results that are so strong! wished for, It is difficult to believe that any clergyman of amiability and devotion to his cause would do anything to retard that which is the form. ally expressed wish of the congregation to which he m tors, or stand in the ious work ug about single-lauded, which is nevertheless sv great 9 necessity in our midst. It is needless to add more to what we have already written, or to what others have publicly said. The congregation desire Dean Batcher's retarn; the Trustees, who represent them,. desire it too; the Bishop and the Archdeacon have both expressed themselves strongly in favour of it, provided that Mr. Smith's just rights be reserve the Dean responds heartily to all. This of itself should be sufficient to settle the question, and override. any minor and less worthy lorations.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.