Lord John Russell, it need hardly be said, obstinately refused to cancel Hampden’s nomination. After the Queen had sanctioned his appointment, to annul it would have virtually transferred to the Universities the supreme authority of the Crown over the Episcopate. Preparations were made to resist the confirmation of Dr. Hampden at Bow Church. The only question admitted to argument there was whether the Court was competent to hear objectors summoned by its own apparitor to state their objections before it. On the 11th of January the Vicar-General of Canterbury, Dr. Burnaby, with Sir John Dodson and Dr. Lushington as assessors, decided against the competence of the Court. An application for a _mandamus_ to compel the Archbishop to hear objectors was refused by the Queen’s Bench--the judges being equally divided. On the 15th, in the House of Lords, Lord Denman defended the decision, and declared that “it was not to be supposed for a moment that the Crown would nominate to the high position of a Bishop an unfit person; and that the law would certainly be in a strange state if it should require an archbishop, before he proceeded to confirm or consecrate a party nominated by the Crown, to call upon all the world to throw scandal upon the nominee.” He further said that “the form in the proclamation was a mere form which was never used; that, if used, the prerogative of the Crown would be most seriously interfered with;” and he warned the House against “the fatal consequences of allowing objections to be made to the nominees of the Crown,” for “by checking every attempt at such interference the Church was protected from great danger and mischief.” CHAPTER XVII. THE COURT AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Lord George Bentinck’s Imprudence--French Intrigues in Portugal--England and the Junta--A Vulgar Suspicion--The Duke of Wellington and National Defences--The Duke’s Threatened Resignation--The Queen Soothes Him--Famine in the Queen’s Kitchen--Royal Hospitalities--The Queen’s Country Dance--A German Impostor--Discovery of Chloroform--The Royal Visit to Cambridge--Prince Albert’s Installation as Chancellor of the University--Awkward Dons--Anecdotes of the Queen at Cambridge--Royalty and Heraldry--The Visit to Scotland--Highland Loyalty--A Desolate Retreat--Politics and Sport at Ardverikie--A New Departure in Foreign Policy--Lord Minto’s Mission--The Queen’s Views--Prince Albert’s Caution to Lord John Russell--The Queen’s Amusements at Ardverikie--A Regretful Adieu--Home Again