§ MR. HENRY SEYMOURwished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been directed to an Injunction, published in The Times of August 1, from the Bishop of Oxford, as Ordinary, to the Archdeacons of his Diocese, requesting them to communicate to the Clergy of their respective Archdeaconries an official command to use a prayer at the conclusion of the Nicene Creed with regard to the war in America? And whether such a proceeding is not a violation of the Act of Uniformity by adding to the prayers contained in the Prayer Book; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government are prepared to take any steps to prevent a violation of the Law?
§ MR. CLIVEsaid, in the absence of his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, who was in attendance on Her Majesty, he had, in reply to the question of the hon. Gentleman, to say, that he had read the letter to which he had referred. As far, however, as he understood the matter, there did not appear to have been any violation of the Act of Uniformity. There had been some alteration made with regard to certain special services; but as no new prayer had been introduced, it could not be said that the matter came within the cognizance of the Act of Uniformity. He would, however, suggest that the hon. Gentleman should repeat the Question on Thursday.