§ Mr. Hawesbegged to ask the right hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel) whether he was prepared to make the statement which he promised, on a former evening, relative to the subject of Church Extension.
§ Sir R. Peel:I recollect the hon. Gentleman saying that he should put a question to me on the subject, and if he does so, I am prepared to answer it; but I had certainly no intention of making a voluntary statement on the subject.
§ Mr. HawesThe right hon. Baronet partly answered the question on Thursday, and promised to give some further information to-day. However, I beg now to ask hint what are the intentions of Government with reference to Church Extension?
§ Sir R. PeelI wish only to preserve that order in our proceedings which is for the general convenience of Members. The motion of which my hon. Friend the Member for the University of Oxford has given notice on this subject, is submitted to the House, not in concert with the Government, and in the exercise of his right as an independent Member of Parliament. If my hon. Friend proceeds with his motion I shall take the course which I did last year. The motion last year was brought forward without consulting me, and I voted in favour of it, that is, in favour of the House resolving itself into a committee to consider the subject of spiritual destitution, and to determine on the terms in which an address to the Crown might be drawn up. I told my hon. Friend it was impossible for me to resist the consideration of such a subject, at the same time reserving to myself a discretion as to the terms of which an address should be composed. I shall pursue the same course at present, if my hon. Friend should persevere. At the same time I must say that, independent of such an engagement as that pledge would imply, her Majesty's Government is deeply impressed with the policy and necessity of taking this question into consideration, so far as several most populous districts are concerned; and I shall be perfectly prepared to consider the subject during the recess, binding myself in no way whatever as to the particular mode of fulfilling the object, but being prepared at a very early period next Session to state the view which the Government may take on the question. If my hon. Friend thinks at this advanced period of the Session, and when so many measures are to be disposed of, he can advance the cause he 'has at heart by pressing the discussion, he will, of course, do so. I have now given an answer to the hon. Gentleman's question. I should, perhaps, state that when I voted for my 243 hon. Friend's motion last year, I left to the Executive to provide for the result of the resolution of the House; but if the abstract proposition were now affirmed, shield not feel justified, at this period of the Session, in submitting any vote for the purpose. So, that, in a practical point of view, the question would remain where it is, whether my hon. Friend's motion were agreed to or negatived.
§ Sir R. Inglishoped the House would allow him, though it was irregular, to make a few observations. He was fully sensible of the disadvantage under which he laboured in bringing forward this emotion at present. But the delay was inevitable. When it was stated by his right hon. Friend that he would take the subject into his consideration, coupling that announcement with the fact that he promised the same support as he had, formerly given, he could not but think that he shield best consult the interest of the great question which he had undertaken if he left it where it now was—in the hands of her Majesty's Government.