The Marquess of Westminsterpresented a Petition from Welchmen resident in London, for the removal of the abuses in the Church Establishment of Wales. He considered that those who wished for the removal of lite abuses of the Establishment were its best friends. The present petitioners particularly desired, that all the ministers of religion resident in Wales should understand the Welch language. They also hoped that all Magistrates and Judges, who had to administer the law, would be compelled to obtain the same knowledge; and they therefore prayed, to attain this end, that a professorship of the Welch language might be instituted in each university. While he was on the subject, he would take the liberty of saying, that he thought the attack which a right reverend Prelate had, on a former evening, made on the author of a work relative to the causes of dissent in Wales had been most ably answered. He took it for granted, that the reverend Prelate had read the letter which, on this subject, had been addressed to one of the morning papers.
§ Lord Wynfordexpressed his surprise, that the noble Marquess could speak in terms of commendation of Mr. Johnes's letter. A grosser breach of privilege than the publication of that letter had never been committed; for the writer of it avowed that he had been present at the debate, that he had heard certain expressions used in it, and that he was compelled to make such and such comments upon it. He was certain that the noble Lord could not have looked at all carefully at that letter; for if he had, he never would have said one word in commendation of a man who had so grossly violated the privileges of the House.
The Marquess of Westminstersaid, the attack was made on Mr. Johnes, where he could not defend himself, and he might think himself justified in what he had done.
Lord Kingregretted the absence of one of the rev. Prelates who had taken so active a part in the debate on this subject on Friday last; for if that rev. Prelate had been present, he should have given the 1292 right rev. Prelate an opportunity of retracting certain sentiments which he had then expressed. The rev. Prelate had charged the writer of a book which he (Lord King) had quoted with having given circulation to the grossest falsehoods, and he was prepared to show that that charge was a matter of pure invention.
The Duke of Buckinghamwas surprised that the noble Lord should have used such language respecting a right rev. Prelate in his absence; he might at least have waited till the right rev. Prelate was present. He would retort upon the noble Lord in his presence, that which the noble Lord had said of the rev. Prelate in his absence.
Lord Kingwas now ready with the book in his hand to prove the incorrectness of the right rev. Prelate's assertion. He would give notice that to-morrow night he would show how incorrect the statement of the rev. Prelate was.
The Bishop of Bristolsaid, that the noble Baron had not stated the circumstances of this case fairly. The right rev. Prelate had stated that the book in question contained many instances of gross falsehood, but that he would only produce two instances of it. He then produced them, and said; "Ex uno disce omnes." He was quite sure that his rev, brother would to-morrow substantiate the correctness of what he had said on Friday. It was harsh in the extreme for the noble Lord to attack in so violent a manner a right rev. Prelate, who had enjoyed all his life long the highest character for probity and integrity. The noble Baron was in the habit of bringing forward charges of this description. It was of no use to overturn the noble Baron's statements. The noble Baron fell, indeed, to the ground, but then he rose from each fall with renovated strength. The noble Baron reminded him of an old officer who used to be elected annually in one of our universities to bring the most ridiculous charges against men of high character. This officer was styled terrœ flius. He wished the noble Baron would be a candidate for that office in that House, and then all their Lordships might profit from his mode of performing its duties.
§ Petition laid on the Table.