§ MR. NEWDEGATEsaid, he put a Question that day to the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs relating to Monastic and Conventual Institutions, and, not being satisfied with the hon. Gentleman's answer, he would now repeat his Question. It was, "Whether Her Majesty's Government would consent to furnish in continuation the 220 information supplied to this House on the 27th of July, 1874, relating to the Laws and Ordinances affecting Monastic and Conventual Institutions abroad?" The Foreign Office had certainly taken their time in furnishing the information. The first information furnished was on the 1st of March, the next on the 29th of April, the next on the 4th of May, and the last on the 7th of July. [Mr. SULLIVAN: I rise to call the hon. Member to Order.] The hon. Member for Louth was trying to set up a jurisdiction over this House. The question before them was one relating to Monastic and Conventual Institutions; but the information only came down to the 7th of July. There had been changes in the laws of Hungary, changes in the laws of Prussia, and changes in the laws of the Confederated States of Switzerland relating to these institutions, and it was desirable, considering the state of Europe, that this House should be furnished with further information respecting them. He therefore asked the hon. Gentleman whether he was able to furnish any further information in continuation on the subject?
§ MR. BOURKEsaid, he had taken a great deal of trouble to supply to the House information in compliance with the Address of July last. If the hon. Gentleman would give him the names of the countries from which he desired that information should be obtained on this subject, he would endeavour to supply it. He would take that opportunity of protesting against the language of the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Butter-John stone) in respect to his reply on the Motion which had been just negatived, that he must have been either asleep or in a brown study during the speech of the hon. Member for East Gloucestershire (Mr. Yorke). That language was neither courteous or such as ought to be applied to him.
§ MR. BUTLER-JOHNSTONEsaid, that as the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs had in his speech observed that nothing had been said about British interests in the course of the debate, whereas the hon. Member for East Gloucestershire had, during a long speech, spoken upon that question, he could come to no other conclusion than that either the hon. Gentleman must have spoken in a very low tone, or else that the Under Secretary must 221 either have been asleep or in a brown study.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Committee deferred till Monday next.