§ MR. HADFIELDsaid, that as it seemed to be understood that the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House was not likely to be in his place again before Christmas, he begged to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who was perfectly competent to answer the Question, Whether, as there were two Bills before the House on the subject of Church Rates, and two others were promised, the Government intended themselves to intro- 507 duce a measure for settling this most vexatious question?
LORD STANLEYsaid, that the hon. Member had not given notice of his intention to put the Question. Till a very short time ago he had fully expected that his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer would have been in his place that evening. In the absence of his right hon. Friend, he (Lord Stanley) was not prepared to answer Questions with regard to the business of the House.