The Marquess of Westmeathsaid, he wished to call the attention of the noble Viscount opposite to the present state of Lay Patronage, with reference to certain Church livings in Ireland. Under the 6th of Anne, those Church livings, in consequence of the non-conformity of Roman Catholics, to whom the patronage originally belonged, were supposed to be preserved and protected for the Crown. Now, within a few days, a curious case had occurred, which 307 induced him to call the attention of the noble Viscount to the subject. A noble Friend of his, a Member of that House, was placed in this situation:—his father had been a Roman Catholic, but had conformed to the Established religion. Having done so, he asserted his claim to the patronage of certain livings in the diocese of Westmeath, and he convinced the Government that his claim was a good and valid one. A few days since one of those livings became vacant, and the Lord-lieutenant, on the part of the Crown, presented to it. He thought, that a just and equitable arrangement ought to be made, and that the subject should be properly inquired into. He was perfectly certain, that it was only necessary to mention the matter to the noble Viscount to have it fully investigated; for the trust thus vested in the Crown must be considered as a very tender matter—as a matter of honour indeed. In his opinion, the son, in this case, ought to inherit the right which his father had claimed. His object was to request the noble Viscount to ascertain the facts of the case. The Crown was bound by the Act of Parliament to which he had referred to protect the rights of individuals, and not to usurp them. He conceived, that some inquiry should be instituted, and if his noble Friend were entitled to these livings, the united livings of Dunsany and Killeen, that his claim should be at once acknowledged.
§ Viscount Melbournesaid, that the subject should be inquired into.
§ Subject dropped.