§ MR. BYRON REED (Bradford E.)asked the Under Secretary for the Colonies whether he had seen the account published in a Malta newspaper, to the effect that on a recent occasion the Roman Archbishop of Rhodes and Bishop of Malta arrived at that place on board H.M.S. Landrail, and was received with a salute of nine guns from the flagship Hibernia, and also from the saluting battery, and upon landing was escorted to the episcopal palace by the Governor; and upon what principle or precedent were these distinctions accorded to him by the representatives of the Sovereign and people of the Protestant Nation?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, ToxtethSince the establishment of British rule in Malta it has been the practice to continue to pay to the Bishop on his assumption of the office those marks of honour which the people desire that he should receive, and to withhold which at the present time would give much unnecessary pain to a loyal community.
§ MR. BYRON REEDMay I ask another question arising out of the reply of the hon. Gentleman—namely whether the same distinction would be accorded to the Archbishop of Canter bury?
§ *BARON H. DE WORMSI am not in a position to answer the question authoritatively, but speaking from memory, I think the custom of saluting the Bishop is in pursuance of an arrange dating from 1802.