§ MR. CONOLLYSir, seeing the right hon. Gentleman the Member for 628 Buckinghamshire in his place, I wish to put to him a Question of some importance, particularly as affecting the character of an eminent dignitary in Ireland. My Question has reference to the words used by him in his speech the other night, bearing on the position of the venerated Archbishop of Dublin, by which it would seem that that most reverend Prelate had been excommunicated by the Protestants of Ireland. I want to know whether the right hon. Gentleman is willing to qualify this expression, so as not to produce a painful impression among the Protestants of Ireland, and more particularly among the Synod now sitting in Dublin, where the most reverend Prelate is deeply and universally respected?
§ MR. DISRAELISir, I should always be willing to qualify any expression which I may have used, I will not say in the heat, but in the flow of debate, which may be shown to be erroneous, or even exaggerated. But the appeal which has been made to me by my hon. Friend is somewhat vague, and he scarcely alleges with all the precision I could desire, the expressions to which he particularly refers. With respect to the word "excommunicated," I certainly was not under the impression that any Gentleman in this House would have supposed that by using that word I meant that the offices of the Church had been denied to the much-respected Archbishop of Dublin. I used the word in a figurative sense; but, at the same time, I may remind the House that it is a figurative sense of so ordinary and practical a character as to be admitted not only into literature but into conversation. What I did say the other night on this subject, or at least what I intended to say, was, that since the dissolution of the connection between Church and State in Ireland, I had witnessed with a feeling of some dismay that that section of the Church of Ireland advocating what I think I may describe as contracted and exclusively Protestant views had not treated the Archbishop of Dublin in that manner which his friends, I think, would have expected or desired; but, on the contrary, that they had censured his conduct, and, so far as words were concerned, had repudiated his authority. I made that statement on the strength of public documents, and on what I believe to be authentic reports of proceedings in Ireland. 629 I beg to state that my expression did not refer to the great body of the Irish Church, and especially not to the Synod. I sympathize with that Synod in their arduous labours. They have shown great ability and much discretion. The time of the Synod is extremely valuable, and I trust that in future they will not waste any of it in passing precipitate resolutions.