§ MR. WHALLEYsaid, that with refe- 501 rence to an Order issued by the Major General Commanding at Montreal, dated 21st of June, 1862, commanding all soldiers to pay attention and respect to a Roman Catholic ceremony, called the Procession of the Host, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for War, Whether the Major General, in issuing such Order, acted in accordance with the views of Her Majesty's Government and within the limits of His authority?
SIR GEORGE LEWISIn reply to the question of the hon. Gentleman, I can only say that the War Department has received no information upon the subject, and therefore I am unable to give him any answer.
§ Afterwards,
§ MR. WHALLEYcomplained of the unsatisfactory answer which had been given to the Question which he had put with respect to this subject by the Secretary for War. The subject was one which created considerable excitement in Canada, and ought not to have been evaded, as he contended it had been, by the right hon. Gentleman.
GENERAL LINDSAYsaid, that the Order of which the hon. Gentleman complained was no new thing. The observance which it enforced had been the practice for twenty-five years. Whether it was desirable that it should be continued or not was a question for the consideration of the Government.
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, that nothing was further from his intention than to be guilty of the slightest disrespect either to the hon. Gentleman behind him, or to the House. The answer which he had given him was, he thought, both direct and complete.