MR. SIDNEY HERBETsaid, he hoped his hon. Friend the Member for Wigtonshire (Sir Andrew Agnew) would not press the Motion of which he had given notice relative to saluting religious processions. He made this appeal with the more confidence because with reference to the salutes at Malta, of which complaint had been made, and in regard to which some acrimonious debates had taken place in that House, a very great change had been made during the present year, which it was hoped would remove objections. At the same time a feeling of irritation prevailed in the Ionian Islands, and there had been some small indications of irritable feeling between the population of Malta and the garrison. He should be sorry to see such a feeling augmented, and fresh fuel added to it by anything that might be said in that House. Since the arrangement made between Lord Hill and Lord Derby (when the noble Lord was Secretary for the Colonies), an alteration had been made. The late Secretary of State for the Colonies submitted a despatch to the hon. and gallant Gentleman (General Peel), which was approved by him, directing the troops not to turn out or take part in any religious ceremonies. Orders were accordingly sent out that the troops were to pay the usual marks of respect to any persons engaged in a procession of a religious character, but they were not to turn out the guard to them or salute them. At present the Archbishop of Malta was saluted in his capacity as a civil dignitary of the island, and if he were taking part in any religious procession no distinction was made in consequence of his being there. He trusted that under the circumstances his hon. Friend would not press his Motion.
SIR ANDREW ANGNEWsaid, that after the appeal made to him by the right 1057 hon. Gentleman he would not press the Motion that stood in his name. He might, however, take an opportunity of alluding to the subject again in Committee of Supply. He did not concur in the idea that the concessions made would conciliate the populations of Malta and the Ionian Islands. He would, however, in considerations of the appeal made to him, postpone his Motion for a fortnight.