§ MR. ALDERMAN M'ARTHURasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any reply has been sent to the Memorial to the Queen from inhabitants of Ceylon, and transmitted by Sir W. H. Gregory on the 9th Janu- 251 ary 1877, praying that all Votes for Ecclesiastical purposes from the revenues of the island might cease; and, whether Lord Carnarvon has, in conformity with the statements in his Despatch of the 10th March 1877, communicated on the subject with Sir William Gregory since his arrival in this country?
§ MR. J. LOWTHER,in reply, said: Lord Carnarvon has communicated personally with Sir William Gregory on this and other subjects connected with Ceylon since his arrival in this country. Her Majesty's Government, however, are unable to advise the Queen to sanction any discontinuance of the extremely moderate sums now paid for the maintenance of religion in Ceylon.
§ MR. ALDERMAN M'ARTHURgave Notice that on an early day he would call the attention of the House to the subject.