§ MR. OTWAYsaid, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman (Sir B. Hall), in the absence of the noble Lord at the head of the Government, whether it was the fact that the performance of the military bands in the parks on Sundays had been prohibited by the order of the Government; if so, at whose solicitation; and further, whether the prohibition was to extend to other places besides the metropolis?
§ SIR BENJAMIN HALLsaid, that he had received a letter from the noble Lord 326 at the head of the Government desiring him to discontinue the music. That was all he knew about the matter.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONhaving entered the House, Mr. OTWAY repeated his question.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, I received last week a letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury, stating on his own part, and on behalf of his episcopal brethren, reasons why he conceived that in deference to the religious feelings of a large portion of the community it would be desirable that the bands should not continue to play on Sunday evenings in Kensington Gardens and the parks. I wrote in reply to the Archbishop that I concurred in the arrangement by which the bands were to play in Kensington Gardens and the parks on Sunday afternoons; that my opinion had been, and still was, and that I had heard nothing to alter my view of the matter, that the arrangements afforded innocent recreation, combined with fresh air and healthful exercise; but I stated that having regard to the feelings which had been expressed by himself as head of the Church, and having also heard representations that that feeling was partaken by various other persons, I was naturally led, under these circumstances, to ask myself this question—whether the advantage which would arise from a continuance of that arrangment would compensate for the evil that must arise from running counter to the religious feelings of a large part of the community? I said there could be but one answer to that question, and I should therefore take steps to discontinue the playing of the bands. Of course that applies to the metropolis only.
§ MR. OTWAYsaid, he should then give notice that on the first occasion on which it was moved to go into Committee of Supply, he should move that the correspondence which had taken place between the noble Lord and the Archbishop of Canterbury be laid on the table.