§ MR. KINNAIRDsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any information has been received respecting the alleged prohibition of Protestant Worship, conducted by a Clergyman of the Church of England in the British Vice Consul's House at Seville; and whether any and what measures have been taken to secure for British subjects in Spain the free exercise of their religion?
§ MR. LAYARDregretted to say that information had been received by the Government that owing to the interference of the Spanish authorities at Seville the English Vice Consul had been compelled to suspend the celebration of Protestant worship in the Consular premises, which had been conducted by a Clergyman of the Church of England in accordance, it was believed, with the spirit of the treaties existing between the two countries. As soon as the British Minister at Madrid was made acquainted with the fact by the Vice Consul, he remonstrated with the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, who at once stated that he would direct inquiries to be made. The hon. Member was doubtless aware that according to international usage Consuls were allowed to hold Protestant worship 1040 on the Consular premises; and upon Her Majesty's Government becoming acquainted that an interference with that right had taken place, they also wrote to the British Minister at Madrid, directing him to obtain full information on the subject and report to them the result of his inquiries.