§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
THE DUKE OFRICHMOND AND GORDON,in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, it was a very important Bill, affecting a considerable portion of the western part of the diocese of Exeter. Their Lordships would not have forgotten the statement which the right rev. Prelate the Bishop of that diocese made at an earlier part of the Session as to the enormous amount of duty which devolved upon him and the impossibility of properly discharging it. The right rev. Prelate had shown in an unmistakeable and a liberal manner that he was prepared to assist in carrying into effect the alteration of his diocese. The circumstance of Lady Rolle having set apart £1,200 per annum for the purpose of forming a new Bishopric of Truro was the reason why this Bill had been introduced. That sum, together with the amount which the Bishop of Exeter had consented to give out of his revenues, would enable the Bishopric to be formed. He thought there could be no objection to carrying into effect the 670 liberal ideas manifested by Lady Rolle, and, therefore, he now moved the second reading of the Bill.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord President.)
THE BISHOP OF EXETERdesired to express his gratitude to the Government for having brought in the Bill. As the measure was not to come into operation until a sufficient endowment was provided, he hoped nolong period would elapse before sufficient provision was made for the purpose. He could assure their Lordships that a division of the diocese was necessary for the due discharge of the duties of it. Those duties were far too large to be satisfactorily performed by the same person.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.