MAJOR STUART KNOXsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the 812 Colonies whether he has any objection to lay on the table of the House a copy of any orders that have been sent to the authorities at Malta relative to the Garrison Orders in force in that fortress; also, what instructions the Government propose to issue in regard to soldiers being called upon to salute the Host, or any religious personage or procession, either in that island or any other part of Her Majesty's Colonial possessions.
SIR EDWARD BULWER LYTTONsaid, he would answer the second part of the hon. and gallant Member's question first. As he had stated on a former occasion, the circular of Lord Hill did not require that any honours should be paid to the Host at the time of its passing in procession. But he believed there was some old garrison order in the island by which the Host, nevertheless, had been saluted. To put an end to that practice he had sent out instructions to the Governor that he should strictly adhere to the circular of Lord Hill, so that the Host would not in future be saluted in Malta. He had heard no complaint from any other colony. With regard to the former part of his hon. and gallant Friend's question, he had to remind him that the Archbishop of Malta was not only a religious person, but that in the eyes of the Maltese he represented the chivalry of the Knights of Malta, and the glorious history of their island, and therefore it had always been the custom to give him the honours of a military chief—the honours, in fact, that were due to a brigadier general. He had precedence in the island next to the representative of royalty. He believed that it would be dangerous, and that it would create a considerable amount of disaffection in Malta, at all events during the life of the present archbishop, if these honours were dispensed with, especially as the archbishop had always shown a warm attachment to the British Crown, and a readiness to recommend obedience to the laws. At the same time as he thought that Protestants might have good grounds to complain if these honours were paid to him at the moment he was bearing the Host, so that it might appear that the most itself was saluted. He had given instructions that such honours should only be paid to the archbishop in his civil capacity, and that when he was accompanying the procession of the Host, they should be suspended, and only Lord Hill's circular should then be enforced. He had no objection to lay the papers on this subject 813 upon the table, if the hon. Gentleman liked to move for them.