§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a bye-law has been just passed by the Calcutta Municipality, at the instigation of its Chairman, Sir Henry Harrison, prohibiting preaching in the open squares of Calcutta; whether he is aware that a similar attempt was made nine years ago and failed, being then declared a violation of Common Law; that Hindoos, Brahmists, as well as Christians, have long been in the habit of preaching in the open air, without let or hindrance; and that perfect quiet and order has prevailed at their assemblies; whether this prohibition, if not repealed, may be extended all over India, and would virtually prohibit the preaching of Christianity over a great part of the country, as much of the work is done in the open air; and whether he will call the attention of the Government of India to the subject?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamThe Secretary of State has no official information on this subject, which is one of Local Government, but he understands that the bye-law in question is now under the consideration of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, with whom the allowance or disallowance in the first instance rests.