MR. DANBY SEYMOURsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Why the Ecclesiastical Returns, and the Return of the attendances of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, ordered by this House last July, had not yet been laid upon the Table of this House?
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, he had made inquiries at the Office of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and the information furnished to him was that the Returns ordered in July last were made in August, at the end of the Session. It should be recollected that an Order of that House for Returns was valid only for the Session, and that unless it was renewed in the following Session it was no longer operative.
MR. DANBY SEYMOURstated that when, not long ago, he inquired at the Library of the House, the Returns had not then been received.