§ MR. MACEVOYsaid, he would beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Lancashire, Whether, in the event of Parliament being dissolved, and an appeal made to the present Constituencies, he would in the new Parliament propose the disestablishment of the Irish Church, and the settlement of that question?
MR. GLADSTONESir, I am rather unfortunate in being the object during the present Session of several Questions which raise very great scruple in my mind as to how far I am conforming to the general practice and rules of the House in replying. My own opinion is that it would not be consistent with Parliamentary decorum for any Member of this House to state what course he would take hi a future Parliament, and I am absolutely precluded from so doing. I will only, therefore, say in general, by way of reply to the hon. Gentleman, that my intention is, in any situation or circumstances in which I may be placed, to adopt any and every measure of a legitimate character which may appear calculated to forward the great purpose which I have taken in hand with respect to the disestablishment of the Irish Church.