MR. GLADSTONESir, I have to ask the indulgence of the House while I make a short statement with reference to the Resolutions of which I have given Notice on the Public Worship Regulation Bill, and I think it may be for the convenience of the House that I should now make it. Since I gave Notice of those Resolutions the House has passed the Second Reading of that measure. Various important Notices of a hostile character have been given; but, notwithstanding those Notices, and, indeed, with the acquiescence and concurrence of the Members who had given them, the House has thought fit to read the Bill a second time without a Division. I cannot in fairness do otherwise than accept that decision as an expression of the desire of the House that we should proceed to the consideration of the Bill in Committee without raising any of those broad questions relating to the grounds and proper limits of legislation on ecclesiastical subjects which undoubtedly are raised in the Resolutions of which I have given Notice. I have also to consider that Notice has been given of important Amendments, which would, in my view, tend greatly to the improvement of this Bill, but which are of a character such as I think need not arouse any angry controversy. On the contrary, it is possible that they will meet with general favour from the House. I think that the discussion of those Amendments would be seriously prejudiced if we were to en- 119 gage in a hostile controversy, before going into Committee, with reference to Resolutions which would be interpreted, and have already been interpreted, as opposed to legislation generally on the subject of the Bill. Under these circumstances, as my desire is that the provisions of the Bill should receive the very best form of which they are capable, I do not intend to move the Resolutions of which I have given Notice.
Afterwards—
§ MR. HORSMANsaid, he wished to put a Question to the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister upon the subject of the Public Worship Regulation Bill, of which he had given him private Notice. The right hon. Gentleman had said yesterday that it was highly desirable the Bill should pass into Law during the present Session; and therefore he wished to ask, whether the right hon. Gentleman had made any arrangements on the part of the Government with the learned Recorder so as to give assistance and facilities for the passing of the Bill, as to which there were nearly 100 Amendments on the Paper? He wished also to ask—if the right hon. Gentleman had sufficiently considered the matter—whether the Bill would after to-morrow be proceeded with early and continuously? It would be very convenient to many hon. Members to know what course it was intended to take, as it would enable them to make their arrangements accordingly.
§ MR. DISRAELISir, the right hon. Gentleman must feel that, in attempting to arrange the course of Public Business, the circumstances with which we have to deal vary, and vary very quickly. We have already had a very important announcement made to the House to-night which must considerably affect my answer. I have every desire to give the learned Recorder all possible opportunities of proceeding with the Bill, but of course that must be considered relatively to other matters. Probably to-morrow at 7 o'clock, I shall be able to answer the right hon. Gentleman more explicitly.