§ MR. SPOONERsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for War, is the Garden of the Soul issued to any soldiers in the British Army by authority of the Secretary of State for War; and is that book purchased and distributed at the cost of the State?
GENERAL PEELsaid, he believed that the Garden of the Soul was the Prayer-book in use among the Roman Catholics. A certain number of copies were therefore distributed to the Roman Catholic soldiers, and it followed that a portion of this work was purchased and distributed at the cost of the State. He had made no alteration whatever in the practice of the War Office on this subject. The sum of £2,000 was voted every year for the distribution of religious books to the army, and a certain proportion of this grant was devoted to the Roman Catholic soldiers. The Vote in question appeared in the Estimates, and the hon. Gentleman could object to it when the Army Estimates were before the House, if he thought proper.