HC Deb 19 August 1881 vol 265 c497

(23.) £2,922, to complete the sum for Pauper Lunatics, Ireland.

(24.) £9,058, to complete the sum for Hospitals and Infirmaries, Ireland.

(25.) £2,485, to complete the sum for Miscellaneous, Charitable, and other Allowances, Ireland.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

said, he should be glad to receive some information from the noble Lord the Secretary to the Treasury as to the nature of the Concordation Fund, and the way in which it was distributed, and also as to whether there was any single member of what he (Mr. A. O'Connor) believed to be the imaginary French congregation? Was there any Huguenot pastor who taught a French congregation in French? For his own part, he had serious doubt of the existence of any such congregation.

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

pointed out that the fund referred to by the hon. Member for Queen's County was established in the reign of Charles I. He assured the hon. Member that the charges in question were of a justifiable nature.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

asked whether the Public Accounts Committee had not twice declared their opinion that the payment for the clergyman was illegal?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

said, that the charge, as it was formerly upon the Votes, was illegal; but it was so no longer.

Vote agreed to.