The Archbishop of Canterbury's attempt to put back a century
the date from which the " private " endowments were to accrue to the disestablished Church, —namely, from 1660 to 1560,—was met by Lord Granville by an offer of half a million down in com- mutation for the whole private endowments. Mr. Gladstone had estimated them at this sum even counting from 1660, though the Church itself only estimates that it will get half a million by going back as far as 1560. The Ministry, therefore, proposes to pay down its own estimate in cash for the private endowments, and to realize them at its leisure for itself. The Archbishop was a little coy about striking a money-bargain, and murmured that he had fought for the earlier date for reasons much more sacred than any pecuniary consideration ; but he all but intimated, a grateful acceptance at the time, and it is now quite well understood that the Government tender for private endowments has been closed with. It is not a bad little nest-egg, to start afresh with.
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