§ SIR FREDERICK W. HEYGATEsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the Bill about to be brought in for taking the Census in 1871 will contain a provision for ascertaining the number of persons professing to belong to the various religious denominations existing in England, Scotland, and Ireland?
MR. BRUCEsaid, in reply, that in Ireland there would be what was called a religious Census. As to Scotland, there was great opposition in 1860 to a proposed religious Census; but it appeared that now there was a general desire that there should be such a 1357 Census in Scotland, and it would therefore be taken. In England he regretted to say there was the same opposition which was exhibited by various religious bodies in 1860; and, as Her Majesty's Government was of opinion that no such Census could be carried to a successful result without the willing cooperation of all the persons engaged, it was not proposed to attempt it.