Mr. O'Connelldid not wish to detain the House on the subject, of which he had given notice—religious instruction in the navy and army; but it was of vital importance connected with the subject of voting 60 the sums necessary for supply of the navy and army, that some effective inquiry should be made as to the religious instruction of those in the service of the Queen. They ought to remember, that a considerable portion of these troops were of the Roman Catholic religion. The portion of them employed in the navy was not so great as in the army. Ireland, however, supplied them with one class, for whom the late Lord Collingwood felt particularly interested. Ireland did not supply as many seamen as England; but there were a great number of boys procured from Ireland, who were found to be amongst the very best employed in that service. It being certain, that a considerable number of seamen were Roman Catholics, it must be admitted as a fact, that no provision was made for religious worship, or for any instruction in their religion. Not one single shilling was allocated for that purpose in the navy. The seamen had no communication with clergymen of their own persuasion, and they had no religious instruction. This fact was undoubted, and he submitted that something ought to be done to remedy the destitution. Not only were they left with out religious instruction, but from communications he had received, he found that in some—not all—but comparatively in many of the vessels, the seamen were compelled to attend a religious worship in which they could not conscientiously coincide. That was an evil that ought to be remedied. Then, with relation to the coast guard in Ireland, he had to observe, that several of the coast guard in that country took an active part in controversies in that country. There was one portion of the Achill island which had been much subjected to discussions of this description. This unhappy spirit of dissension had been attributed to some of the officers of the coast guard, who alleged as their excuse an order from the Admiralty, which compelled the reading of prayers to the men by the officer commanding at the station. If such an instruction existed, it ought to be produced; if it were denied, then it must be known how unjustifiable was the conduct referred to. He wanted to know whether such instructions had been given, and if they had, what objection there could be to their being produced? He now contented himself with merely calling notice to the utter destitution of religious instruction 61 for Roman Catholics in the naval service by clergymen of their own persuasion. The hon. Member concluded, by moving for a copy of the instructions given to the water guard in Ireland respecting Divine service, and the reading of prayers to the men.
§ Sir R. Peelhad not, he said, made an inquiry as to whether there were such instructions; but if there were he had no objection to their production. As to the other matters to which his attention was called, he considered the subject of too much importance to enter upon it when not fully prepared to discuss it. To the motion, he begged to say, that he made no objection.
§ Motion agreed to. Question again put.