§ MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire,) EifionI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, seeing that the Dean and Chapter of St. David's have deferred and delayed their election of a bishop of that see beyond the period permitted by Law, after receiving the usual licence from Her Majesty to proceed to an election, Her Majesty will be advised to nominate and present by Letters Patent, under the Act 25 Henry 8, c. 20, a person able and convenient for the bishopric, or what other course will be taken in view of the Chapter being in default?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYThe election was fixed to take place on a date within the period named by the Act referred to, but the Dean having died before that date, it became impossible for the Chapter to proceed, and no default, therefore, has occurred entailing the consequence suggested in the Question.
§ MR. BRYN ROBERTSasked, was the right hon. Gentleman aware that no such officer as a Dean existed in St. David's until 1840?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI am afraid I do not understand ecclesiastical law. I can, therefore, only give the hon. Gentleman the answer I have given him already—namely, that the election was made impossible by the death of the Dean before the date appointed.