The installation of the Right Rev. Dr. Perry, as Bishop of Melbourne, which was appointed to take place on Friday last, did not come off on that day, in consequence of the Bishop not being able to lay his hands upon the Royal Letters Patent, which had been stowed away in some portion of his luggage not yet landed from the "Stag." The meeting, however, having been summoned, Divine service was celebrated, and the address of the members of the Church of England congratulating the Bishop on his arrival was presented by the Rev. Adam Compton Thomson. The following is the address:

"We, the undersigned Members of the United Church of England and Ireland, resident in and around Melbourne, desire to express the cordial satisfaction with which we hail the arrival of one of its Bishops to these distant shores of the British Empire."

"Under the Providence of God which has safely conducted you through the perils incident to a long voyage, and established you in the scene of your future labours, we feel assured that the best interests of this community are now on the point of realization. We recognise the paramount importance of religion to the happiness of man and we believe that in the Church of England its Holy Truths are most clearly demonstrated and most effectually cherished. We may add that we have not been unobservant spectators of the great disadvantage under which our Church has hitherto laboured in this District, more especially from the paucity of Clergy. With these impressions we gratefully acknowledge an event so admirably adapted to give an impulse to true religion, to concentrate the efforts of all good men, and to diffuse peace, and order, and good will, throughout your Diocese."

"Permit us to offer to you, and to the Clergy associated with you, our congratulations on your safe arrival, - to express our veneration for your sacred office, the regard we have for your person, and the respect we entertain for your talents, and to assure you of our general desire to co-operate with you in all those beneficent designs to which you have consecrated your life, and your great endowments; and may the Lord of the Vineyard, who alone can command success, guide you in all your deliberations, prosper you in all your undertakings, and bless you with health and length of days."

"SIR, - I beg to return my sincere thanks to yourself, His Honor the Superintendent, the Mayor of Melbourne, and the other gentlemen present, for the kind address which you have presented to me; and for the cordial welcome with which I and my clerical brethren have been received."

"GENTLEMEN, - I can enter into the feeling with which you hail the arrival of a Bishop, and a band of Clergy of our Church; and I heartily pray that your expectations of the benefits which will accrue from their arrival to this City and Colony, may be fully realized. For myself, it is my encouragement to believe that I can plainly discern the hand of God in my appointment to my present office, and in all the events which occurred to me since that appointment. I thank Him, that He has associated with me a band of fellow-labourers, as I trust, of one heart and one mind in Christ Jesus; that he has preserved us from all the danger of the sea, has granted unto us to enjoy so many comforts and privileges during our voyage, and at last brought us hither in safety. The experience of His past goodness gives me confidence for the future: I trust that he will be with us still; will enable us to serve Him with a singleness of purpose, and a simplicity of faith; and make us instruments in this land for carrying on His purposes of mercy towards His people here."

"I need not say that I cordially concur in the sentiment expressed in your address, that religion is a matter of paramount importance to the happiness of man, and I would add, to the real prosperity and well-being of every community. I am well assured that no one can enjoy any real peace until he is reconciled unto God; and that he can be reconciled only by repentance towards God, and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ. I am well assured that no man can be happy until he is made holy; and that no man can be made holy except by the indwelling Spirit given unto him, through our blessed Lord and Saviour."

"I cordially concur with you also in the opinion, that the truths of our holy religion are most clearly set forth and most effectually taught in the Church of England. I thank God that I was brought up in communion with this Church; and yet more that I have been ordained to the office of the ministry in it. I thank God for the true wisdom and moderation, as well as the sound faith and fervent piety, which characterised our English Reformers. I heartily thank Him for our scriptural articles, and Liturgy; and for our Episcopal Government, which I believe to be derived from the Apostles. But, while I thankfully rejoice in the privileges of my position, I would not judge those who are without the pale of our Communion. I do not doubt, that many ministers and Churches of Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, and Methodists, hold the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel; and that many individual members of those Churches are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. I would say, therefore, with the Apostle, 'Grace be with all those that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity;' and I would endeavour, in respect to them, to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. I lament that I cannot co-operate with them in all things; but in whatever I concientiously can, I shall do so heartily and cheerfully. My desire is to contend earnestly for the faith, which was once committed to the Saints; but in matters of subordinate importance, to obey the Apostolical exhortation, not to judge another, and not to despise another."

"This is not the time for entering into the details of my future plans; but I desire to take this opportunity of stating the principles by which I purpose to regulate my conduct; and there is one other particular, which, with this view, I would now mention. When I entered upon my late parochial charge in England, I determined to know no party, and to interfere in no political matters; but to fulfil towards all my people alike the office of a Minister of Christ in simplicity and faithfulness. The experience of five years confirmed me in the wisdom of this determination; and I trust that all of you, gentlemen, will approve of my purpose to adopt the same rule of conduct here. I do not know anything of the parties which may exist in this City and Diocese: I do not know what seeds of disunion and discord may have been sown amongst you; nor what amount of bitter fruit they may have produced; and, God helping me, I shall endeavour to know as little of them as possible. I wish to recognise no distinction of persons except that which the Word of God requires of me; and I shall shun no man's society except he be known to be profane, or immoral, or to teach doctrines which I believe to be subversive of the Gospel of Christ. This is my purpose; and I pray God, that I may have grace and strength to act it out; and that I may see the same beneficial results from it, which I was permitted to see in England."

"In conclusion, I would beg of you to pray for me, and for those who are associated with me in my work; for I am assured, that if God pour out upon a people the spirit of prayer on behalf of their ministers, He will bestow a blessing upon their ministry. I would beg you also to bear with our infirmities, remembering that we are men of like passions with yourselves; to put the most favourable interpretation on our conduct and motives; and, as you have so kindly promised in your Address, to co-operate with us heartily in all our labours of love."

"Gentlemen, I again return my sincere thanks to you all for the cordial welcome which you have given us; and I would for myself, and my Christian brethren assure you of our earnest desire to consecrate all the strength of body and of mind, which the Lord shall give us to His service, and to the well being of this our adopted country, or rather, I should say, the country wherein He has fixed our habitation. May He, even the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, direct, uphold, and bless us all, according to the riches of His mercy, for His own great name's sake."