HL Deb 22 July 1847 vol 94 cc681-2
The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNE

moved that their Lordships agree to the Commons' Amendments.

The BISHOP of ST. ASAPH

said, that as regarded the subject of a seat in their Lordships' House, the arrangement was altogether founded on a compromise. The right by which he sat in that House was the oldest right, he believed, in the world, certainly it was older than the right by which any of their Lordships held their seats; but the right by which his successor would hold his seat would be dated from 1847, a circumstance which he thought constituted a real objection to the arrangement. He thought, however, it was wise to waive all subsidiary objections, in order that real good might be obtained. He believed it to be absolutely necessary that the number of bishops should be increased, and largely increased, because from practical experience he had known the advantages and blessings of a bishop being enabled to look after his diocese. He hoped also that the dioceses would be so divided as to assist in the furtherance of the great object of superintendence. He should regret exceedingly if any obstacles were thrown in the way of an increase taking place in the number of bishops.

LORD STANLEY

said, that the arrangement by which a bishopric of Manchester was to be created now, and three other bishoprics subsequently, without the appendage of seats in the House of Lords, had been assented to by the rev. Bench in preference to that of having only a Bishop of Manchester with a seat in their Lordships' House. From what had fallen, however, from noble Lords who had addressed their Lordships, there was reason to anticipate that difficulty of a certain kind would be felt in carrying out the arragement which had met the sanction of the right rev. Prelates; and he wished, therefore, to have a distinct pledge from Her Majesty's Ministers that they would not fail to adhere to the arrangement gone into relative to the appointment at a fitting time of three more bishops.

The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNE

said, that he considered the position of Her Majesty's Government to be the same now as it was previous to the alteration which had taken place, relative to the subsequent appointment of three new bishops.

Commons' Amendments agreed to.