§ MR. W E. FORSTERsaid, he would now beg to ask the Under Secretary of Slate for the Colonies, If he can inform the House whether Sir J. P. Grant, the Governor of Jamaica, has acted in accordance with his Despatch to the Earl of Carnarvon of the 24th November 1866 (Parliamentary Paper, Affairs of Jamaica, July, 1867), in which he states that he has proposed to the Bishop of Kingston to fill up no vacancies occurring in the Ecclesiastical Establishment of Jamaica between the date of such Despatch and the close of the year 1869, when the Colonial Statutes affecting such Establishment expire; and, whether there has been and Correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Governor of Jamaica respecting the course to be taken upon the expiration of the Jamaica Clergy Acts; and, if so, whether he will lay such Correspondence upon the Table of the House?
§ MR. ADDERLEYsaid, in reply, that Sir J. P. Grant had acted in accordance with the views of the Home Government, that the Ecclesiastical Establishment of Jamaica should be reduced on account of its being considered excessive; and that consequently no vacancies would be filled up at present. Several vacancies had occurred since the Despatch alluded to had been received, but arrangements had been made to have the duties of these clergymen temporarily discharged in view of the revision of the whole system, which would take place in December 1869, when the 1923 present Jamaica Clergy Act expires. With regard to the latter part of the Question of the hon. Gentleman, he had to say that the Governor of Jamaica had expressed his belief that it was premature to advise at present what course should be taken upon the expiration of the Jamaica Clergy Acts, and the Colonial Office would wait for further communications before taking any step in the matter.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, he wished to know, If the total abolition of the Ecclesiastical Establishments of Jamaica will be proposed if it should be thought expedient?
§ MR. ADDERLEYsaid, the total abolition of the Church Establishment in Jamaica was by no means contemplated either by the Governor of that Island or by Her Majesty's Government; but that nothing which had been done would preclude such a proposition as that being made if such a thing could ever be thought desirable by those concerned.