§ MR. GOLDNEY, in the absence of his hon. Friend (Mr. Bentinck), said, he would beg to ask the Judge Advocate General, Whether the Law Officers of the Crown have declined to sanction the scheme for the transfer of the Estates of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster to the Ecclesiastical Commission, and what course the Ecclesiastical Commission propose to take in consequence?
§ MR. MOWBRAY, in reply, said, the case was not exactly as had been stated by his hon. Friend. What had taken place was this. In the scheme for the commutation of the estates of the Chapter of Norwich, doubts were entertained by the Law Officers of the Crown as to some points. The same objections were also applicable to a similar scheme in reference to the commutation of the estates of the Chapter of Westminster, and it was therefore determined to refer both schemes to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. They were so referred accordingly, and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners had taken steps for the consideration of the questions raised at the earliest moment. He hoped, however, that early in next year the decision of the Judicial Committee would be given.