COLONEL STUART KNOXsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, When he will fulfil the promise given on his behalf by the Prime Minister on the 7th of May, to bring in a Bill this Session to lighten very greatly the burden on the nonconforming congregations for debts contracted by them in the erection of churches and meetinghouses?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE, in reply, said, this Question referred to one point only, which would naturally interest the hon. and gallant Gentleman, in the proposed measure for loans to be made to religious bodies in Ireland for the purpose of providing their ministers, upon easy terms, with places of resi- 154 dence. The opinion of the Government on that subject was in no way changed; but in the present state of Public Business it was quite in vain, and was unreasonable, to call upon Parliament to consider that subject during the remainder of the present Session.