§ SIR B. HALLstated that, during last Session, he had alluded to an appointment made by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the reversion of a sinecure in the Prerogative Court worth 10,000l. a year; and he had also made allusion to the circumstance of another dignitary having appointed a child six years old to a similar office. He wished to know whether it was the intention of the Government during the present Session to introduce a measure to remedy these abuses, and, generally, the abuses which existed in the ecclesiastical courts? He wished, also, to know, whether it was intended to bring in a Bill for the purpose of dividing populous parishes into ecclesiastical districts?
§ SIR G. GREYreplied, that it was the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill with respect, to the first part of the subject to which the hon. Member referred. With respect to the ecclesiastical courts generally, that was a subject which had been very much considered; communications had taken place with ecclesiastical lawyers on the subject; but he could not pledge himself to bring in a Bill, unless he could assure the House that he should be able to introduce it in sufficient time to permit its discussion. With respect to the division of populous parishes, the Government did intend to propose a Bill.