§ The Earl of Gallowaybegged to ask the noble Viscount at the head of her Majesty's Government, whether he would redeem the pledge which, though certainly not stated in words, was implied in the appointment of the commission to inquire into the state of church accommodation in Scotland, by bringing forward any proposition to meet the prayer of the numerous body of petitioners who had addressed their Lordships on this important national question.
§ Viscount MelbourneI cannot admit that any pledge was expressed.
§ The Earl of GallowayNot expressed, but implied.
§ Viscount MelbourneNor implied by the appointment of a commission; and I beg to say, that there is no intention at present, on the part of her Majesty's Government, to propose any grant upon the subject.
§ The Earl of Gallowaywas grieved to hear that answer made by the noble Viscount, and he was quite sure that the people of Scotland would greatly grieve to hear it, and that an impartial posterity would pass judgment upon the economy of the present day, which could squander thousands of the public money on useless expeditions to the coasts of Portugal and Spain, and throw millions into the laps of the agitators of Ireland, whilst the best interests of the community, their moral and religious instruction, were neglected, and left without support.
Lord BroughamAs to throwing millions into the laps of the Irish agitators, in that the noble Earl is rather premature. It is not done yet. There must be a vote of this House, as well as of the other House of Parliament, before that can be accomplished. The noble and learned Lord then presented a petition from Bridgewater, and several other places, praying for a free trade in corn. The petition from Bridgewater was signed by 1,100 persons, and coming, as it did, 323 from a purely agricultural district, he thought it might be taken as a test of the real feeling that existed upon this subject among the more intelligent portion of the agricultural population throughout the country.