§ SIR B. HALLwished to ask the right hon. Home Secretary a question in reference to the ecclesiastical courts, and the returns which were ordered by the House a month ago. He was informed that a young lady of interesting appearance and prepossessing manners, had the honour of holding the office of registrar of one of the ecclesiastical courts in this country. He did not wish to impugn the morality of the dignitary who appointed that young lady; indeed, she had held the office ever since she was five years of age; but having heard that very few, if any, of the returns so ordered had been sent in, he begged to inquire whether it was likely that the returns would soon be ready to be laid on the table, in order that it might be seen whether there were any more female officials in the ecclesiastical courts?
§ SIR G. GREYhad had no notice with regard to this statement, and was totally uninformed with respect to it. The hon. Member wished to know whether there were "any more female officials" in these courts; he (Sir G. Grey) was not aware that there was one. As to the returns, he would repeat what he had stated on the previous night, that the collection of the particulars required from the several dioceses must take time; he was not aware whether any of the returns had come in, but would inquire.