Mr. Humerose to submit to the attention of the House a subject of which he had given notice. It was one of considerable importance, and he had, therefore, felt himself called upon to bring it under consideration this day. He had already more than once postponed the subject, and he should not have brought it forward—so unwilling was he to do any thing that might for an instant tend to delay the progress of the Reform Bill—but that circumstances had occurred which rendered him unable any longer to postpone his Motion. What he should afterwards do, would, however, depend upon the answer he obtained to the following question: He wished to know, what was the intention of the Government as regarded the filling up of the vacant bishoprick of Derry?
§ Lord Althorphad no hesitation to give an answer to the question of the hon. Member. The Motion of which the hon. Member had given notice related to the revenues of the see of Derry. It was his opinion, that this was a question well worthy of the consideration of the Government, and he was ready to state, that the Government had taken into their consideration the question to which the hon. Member had alluded. It appeared to him, that although it would be improper to turn the revenues appropriated to the support of the Established Church to any other purposes but those of the Protestant Church Establishment, still the question would be different, if, by an alteration in the distribution of these revenues, the poorer clergy might be assisted in a better manner than at present, without diminishing, in any improper way, the support required for the maintenance of the rank and station of the superior clergy. That was the view which the Government had taken of the subject; but when the question was looked at in that view, it appeared more proper, that if any steps of the kind were taken, they should be taken with reference to the question generally, and that the change, if any, ought not to be made applicable to one individual instance. The Government, therefore, had not taken any steps with regard to the see of Derry in particular; but whoever should be appointed to that bishoprick would be so appointed, 1194 upon the understanding that no rights he might acquire by that appointment would be allowed to interfere with such an arrangement, if, at any time, any such arrangement should take effect. This was the state in which the question now stood; and having made this statement, he trusted that the hon. member for Middlesex would feel it to be sufficient, and would not think it necessary to proceed further with his Motion.
Mr. Humesaid, he had no hesitation in saving, that he was perfectly satisfied with the statement just made by the noble Lord opposite. It now appeared, that, the Government intended to act upon a general principle; and if they did so, it would bring the whole question fairly under consideration. Under these circumstances, he should be sorry to press the question further at present, lest it should turn to harm instead of good.
§ Motion withdrawn.