§ Earl Greypresented a Petition from the inhabitants of Birmingham, complaining of a clause in the Birmingham Free School Bill, altering the principles on which the School was governed, which before was open to Dissenters; and which prevented Dissenters from being governors of this School. This was most unadvised, he thought, in the present temper of mankind.
The Bishop of Lichfield and Coventryonly had to request, that noble Lords would suspend their judgment till the whole case was before them; of the gentlemen who had promoted the Bill, he could assure their Lordships there was a complete justification.
§ The Earl of Eldonexplained, that the clause in question formed part of the scheme for the government of the School, submitted to the Lord Chancellor, by whom it was referred to the Master, and afterwards confirmed by the Court. He did not advocate the continuance of the clause; but he was afraid that it could not be altered without affronting the first law authority. He would beg leave to suggest to the Lord Chancellor, to withdraw the committee, by which the difficulty he felt on the subject would be obviated.
The Lord Chancellorsaid, that he had 1132 no doubt that when he came to consider the Bill, he should adopt the suggestion of the noble Lord. That noble Lord had correctly explained the origin of the clause, and he had confirmed the Master's report as a matter of course.
Lord Hollandexpressed his satisfaction at perceiving a general inclination to alter the clause complained of.
Lord Calthorpesaid, that the Dissenters had done no more than assert their just rights on the present occasion. An attempt had been made to take advantage of the feeling excited on the subject, to turn it to party purposes, which was effectually resisted by the Dissenters.