§ Sir R. H. Ingliswished to ask the hon. Member (Mr. Baring) two questions. The first was as to the course adopted by the Indian Government to carry out a Minute made by the President of the Council in Bengal, in the absence of the Governor-General, for effectually separating the Indian Government from all connexion with the idolatrous worship of the natives, and for withdrawing the annual payment of 60,000 rupees to the temple of Juggernaut, and, in lieu of it, restoring lands which had belonged to the temple, with the view to their being managed wholly by Hindoos? The second question was, what progress had been made by the Government of Madras in separating the pagoda lands intended for the promotion of Hindoo worship from all connexion with, or interference in, the appropriation or management of those lands by the Government of that Presidency.
Mr. Baringsaid, that the Government did not possess any further information as to what had been done in Madras on the subject beyond what the hon. Baronet was already aware of; but with respect to the proceedings in Bengal, be could state that a considerable estate, which had belonged to the temple of Juggernaut, had been restored to it, by which the annual sum of 60,000 rupees, heretofore paid to the temple, would be reduced to 36,000. Further steps would also be taken to prevent all connexion of the Indian Government with the management of any sums of money or estates set apart for the promotion of Hindoo worship, and he had no doubt that the orders transmitted from home on the subject would be fully carried out.