HC Deb 14 February 1848 vol 96 cc542-3
LORD J. RUSSELL

On Friday evening the hon. Member for Cockermouth gave notice of his intention to ask me this evening whether the Government would undertake to inform the person who may be appointed to the vacant see of Canterbury that he must accept it subject to any alteration which Parliament might make relative to the mode of fixing the income of the see. The hon. Member stated that a similar course had been followed in the case of the Bishop of Durham; and he might have referred to other instances in which a notice of that kind was given. I am of opinion that the present mode of fixing the income is not satisfactory; and I think that Parliament may make a better arrangement with respect both to the payment by the Commissioners to the Archbishops and Bishops, and to the payment of those right rev. Prelates back to the Commissioners; and, therefore, I think it perfectly right that any person who may be appointed Archbishop of Canterbury should be informed that he must accept the appointment subject to any new arrangement which Parliament may make. To prevent any misconception I may state, that it is not the intention of the Government to propose any alteration with respect to the amount of the Archbishop of Canterbury's income, which is fixed at 15,000l