§ Viscount Melbournemoved the Order of the Day for the second reading of the Dean of Exeter Appointment Bill. He observed, that the amendments made by the Commons in a bill the title of which was the Ecclesiastical Appointments Suspension Act in Part Repeal Bill, were of a nature such as would make it more consonant with their Lordships' practice to have a new bill introduced than that they should pass the measure then on their Table in the form in which it at present stood. The House was aware that before any person could be eligible to the office of Dean of any cathedral, he must either have been a prebendary or a canon residentiary, or in some places both. It could not be the intention of the House to interfere with the appointment to the deanery of Exeter, although there was an Act to suspend, under certain circumstances, the appointment of other canons residentiary. The dean was an officer of great honour and dignity in the church, and of great utility and importance. It was desirable, it was even necessary to the business of the chapter, that the place should not remain vacant. The object of the present bill was to enable the dean to be appointed, and for that purpose it became necessary to authorize the appointment, as a canon residentiary and prebendary, of the individual on whom it was intended to bestow the office of dean. 458 He concluded by moving that the bill be read a second time.
The Bishop of Exetershould not oppose the second reading, but reserve the amendments which he intended to bring forward for consideration in the committee. The bill provided, that nothing should prevent the appointment of any ecclesiastical person to any vacancy amongst the prebends and canons residentiary. That, he begged to observe, was the point at issue between the chapter of Exeter and the Crown. If the bill were passed, it would be nothing less than requiring the chapter to elect a person for a certain specified purpose, while they insisted upon the perfect right of free election. He wished to know from the noble Viscount at the head of the Administration, if he would put the House in possession of the correspondence which had taken place between the Government and the chapter of Exeter upon this subject.
§ Viscount Melbournewas of opinion that that correspondence was confidential.
The Bishop of Exeterconsidering the noble Viscount to fill a higher character than that even of a Member of the House, desired to know from him if the chapter had not claimed the right of free election?
§ Viscount Melbournedeclined giving an answer.
§ Bill read a second time.