§ Mr. Langdalewished to ask two questions of the noble Secretary-at-War—first, whether or not the children of soldiers were forced to attend the regimental schools, and to be educated solely in the religion of the Established Church? And, secondly, whether there was any intention of relaxing the rule which had hitherto been acted upon, and which had the effect of depriving the children of Roman Catholics, as well as Presbyterians and Protestant Dissenters generally, of the benefit of the Asylum School at Chelsea, unless they were educated in the doctrines of the Established Church?
§ Viscount Howickanswered, that no change whatever had been introduced into the practice of the army by the late order on the subject. In the regimental schools, no children were required to be educated in any religion of which their parents disapproved. With respect to the education of children in the Asylum School at Chelsea, the education of the children there was wholly in the doctrines of the Church of England. He had some time ago seriously deliberated upon this subject, in concert with the commissioners, and after a very full consideration they had been compelled to come to the conclusion that it was impossible in that institution, as it was constituted, that the children who are there, and who are entirely provided for within the institution, could be educated, under any practicable arrangement, in any religion but that of the Established Church.