HL Deb 27 January 1808 vol 10 c149

The Bishop of Oxford wished to call their lordships' attention to an act, that passed the legislature, at the close of the last session, in his opinion with too great hurry and precipi- tation. The act to which he alluded was the one which suspended the 36th of Geo. III. By the law, as it previously stood, augmented cures, under queen Anne's bounty, were considered as benefices, and therefore subject to the same restrictions, The act of the last session went to repeal this clause. Much inconvenience and injury to the rights and dignity of the church had followed. Many persons continued to possess themselves of the emoluments of those benefices, who were legally ousted; whilst others, properly presented and duly inducted, were prevented from the exercise of their professional functions, and deprived of those profits to which they were entitled in right of their appointment. The right reverend prelate, then moved, That a bill for the repeal of the Curates' Suspension bill be then read a first time.

The Lord Chancellor

observed, that it was not his intention to oppose the principle of the bill proposed by the right rev. prelate. He wished to remind him of the peculiar way in which the house stood, with respect to this act of Suspension. At the close of the last session it was sent up from the house of commons, merely as a measure of temporary relief to the persons supposed to be aggrieved. It was then recommended to pass the present act, confining its operation to 40 days after the commencement of the next session of parliament. In that situation the house stood, as to the present bill, and he was only anxious to ascertain, whether the principle of the measure, and of the relief sought, would better be discussed upon the second reading of the bill, proposed by the right rev. prelate, or upon any new question to be brought forward on the expiration of the 40 days?

The Earl of Lauderdale

thought it highly proper that the fullest time should be given to the persons standing in the unfortunate predicament which the act of the last session went to relieve.

The Duke of Norfolk

expressed his inclination rather to support a farther suspension for 40 days, than that the persons seeking relief should be surprised by any premature hurrying of the present bill.—The bill was then read a first time.