§ Sir R. Peelsaid, he had to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend that part of the Church Endowment Act of last Session, which related to fees on the appointment of clergymen. It would be remembered that 600,000l. was the sum to be applied to providing clergymen for new districts, the maximum of their allowance being 150l. The sole object of the present Bill was to relieve such clergymen from the usual fees. The House would be perhaps desirous to know what was the effect of the Act of last year. There were 246 applications to the Commissioners; there were thirty-four new appointments, and engagements were entered into with 100 more—in all 134. In the first class the population amounted to 130,000, in the last to 344,000. So that provision had been made for the spiritual attendance of nearly 500,000 under this provision. The passing of that Act had given a great impetus to improvement of the Church through voluntary exertion; and if the effect had been such as he had stated during the short period the Act was in operation, he thought he was not too sanguine in hoping that still greater benefit would be derived from it when further progress was made in its operation.
§ Leave given.