The Archbishop of Canterburymoved the Order of the Day for the committal of the Benefices Plurality Bill. He said, he should not detain their Lordships, for the number of amendments and corrections was so great, that they could hardly be discussed with any advantage till the bill had been reprinted. He should, therefore, wish to go into Committee, put in his amendments—any other noble Lord might move for leave to do so—and that the bill then be printed.
Their Lordships went into Committee.
The Bishop of Rochesterobjected to the third clause, as bearing rather hard on the clergy without any corresponding advantage, and moved that it be struck out.
The Bishop of Glocestersaid, this was a bill for limiting pluralities, and encouraging residence, and therefore promoting the more efficient discharge of their spiritual duties; but this clause would tend to neither one nor the other. It was not to prevent the holding of cathedral preferment, but that it should not exceed a certain sum; if the cathedral benefice or preferment amounted to 1,000l., the holder must not take any preferment above 500l. He could not think what reason there was for such a proposition, and believed, that those who introduced the bill into the other House could hardly have taken the whole of the matters connected with this subject into consideration.
Clause struck out. A number of amendments having been introduced, the 11 House resumed. Bill reported, and ordered to be reprinted.