Mr. Lockhartmoved for leave to bring in a bill to suspend the act of the 35th of the king, so far as it relates to the voidance of Benefices held by clergymen, who may have subsequently accepted curacies augmented from queen Anne's bounty. The ground on which he rested his motion was, that many clergymen, not aware of the clause in that bill, which rendered benefices void in case the incumbents accepted augmented cures, had by accepting such curacies subjected themselves inadvertently and ignorantly to the penalty of that act. The consequence was, that the patrons of the benefices were threatening them with new presentations, and that they held such benefices wholly at the mercy of such patrons. His bill was 1068 not intended to alter the law or decide the right, but merely to suspend the operation of the act till next session, in order that the legislature might have an opportunity of considering whether clergymen under such circumstances ought to be left to hold their benefices at the mercy of the patrons, or to be deprived of them altogether.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerwould have great doubt of the propriety of the bill proposed by the hon. member, if it was to alter the law as it now stood, or to divest rights already vested by law. But as the bill was only to suspend the operation of the law now in force, till the subject might be more fully considered next session, he was not aware of any material objection to it.—Leave was then given.