§ SIR LAWRENCE PALKsaid, he wished to preface the Question he had to ask by a short explanation. There were many thousands of acres of land in Ireland which had been leased out to persons who had held them in their family for two or three generations, and who treated them as freeholds. He therefore would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, If he intends to make any provision for the renewal of Leases in Ireland, granted by Bishops or the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, having more than ten years to run?
MR. GLADSTONEreplied that he was not able at that moment to give a definite answer on the part of the Government; but, probably, at a future period, when the Irish Church Bill had made some further progress, he would be able to give on answer.