§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Earl of Aberdeen, now discharging the office of Lord High Commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, did immediately before the opening of the Assembly cause to be circulated among the Clergy a letter, signed by himself and five others, deploring the recent decision of the House of Commons on the Affirmation Bill, and recommending a perusal of the Prime Minister's speech on the second reading thereof; and, whether he was acting under the advice or approval of Her Majesty's Government in so doing?
MR. GLADSTONEI confess, Sir, I have some difficulty in answering this Question, which, although quite within the Rules of the House, appears to me to be a Question of a peculiar Character. I have not thought it my duty to address any inquiry to Lord Aberdeen on the subject, because it appeared to me that, 1332 however wrong Lord Aberdeen might be in thinking a speech delivered by me to be worth perusing, it is not an offence of which this House could well take notice. The Question seems to me to proceed upon the supposition that, by becoming the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, a Peer of the Realm renounces the performance of any other duties which he may think to appertain to him in the latter capacity. Now, Sir, I could not give any countenance, so far as I am concerned, to any such supposition, because I do not understand that any such consequence is entailed by the acceptance of that high Office. Undoubtedly it is not the fact that Lord Aberdeen was acting under the advice or approval of Her Majesty's Government, who knew nothing of the fact of the signing of the Circular; and it would have been, on my part, an act of impertinence to have pronounced either approval or disapproval of it. But it may be of some comfort to the mind of the hon. Baronet, who appears to think that political disability follows the acceptance of the Office of Lord High Commissioner, if I acquaint him that Lord Aberdeen, at the time when he signed this Circular, was not Lord High Commissioner. He was made Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on the 10th of May, 1883, and he signed the Circular on the 8th of May, 1883.
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLThe tenour of the right hon. Gentleman's reply is such that I regret to say that I must ask the indulgence of the House—["Oh, oh!"]—while I make a few remarks for the purpose of explaining what has been regarded as a very serious matter indeed. ["Order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Baronet is entitled to put a Question to the right hon. Gentleman, arising out of his Answer, if he thinks proper.
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLIt is my intention to ask leave to make a few remarks. ["No, no!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Baronet will not be in Order, at the present stage, in making any remarks.
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLI understand the proper course for me to take is to proceed by Motion for the Adjournment of the House after the Questions have been disposed of,
§ Afterwards,
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLsaid: I beg, Sir, to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, viz. the recent conduct of the Lord High Commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in circulating a letter among the Clergy deploring the recent decision of the House of Commons on the Affirmation Bill.
§ MR. SPEAKERasked whether it was the pleasure of the House that the hon. Member should be heard? [Cries of "No!" and "Aye!"] Was the hon. Baronet supported by 40 Members?
§ MR. SPEAKERcalled on those hon. Members who supported the Motion to rise in their places, and less than forty Members rose in their places.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORMr. Speaker, you did not count me.
§ MR. SPEAKERI assure the hon. Member that I counted every Member who was standing up.
§ The House proceeded to the Orders of the Day.