The Bishop of Exeterpresented petitions from Torquay and another place, against the Clergy Reserves (Canada) Bill. The right rev. Prelate said, he should take that opportunity to correct an error which had gone forth respecting what was supposed to have been said by him when the subject was a short time since under their Lordships' consideration. It had been stated, he understood (for he had seen no report of the proceedings)—but it had been stated, he was informed, in one of the reports of the debate of that night, that he had asserted that "there was no church in Scotland," or words to that effect. When he first was told of this he treated it with ridicule, with contempt; for, not only was that which was represented not what he said, but it was directly contrary to what he really did say. If any of their Lordships recollected what he said cm that occasion, 1333 they would, he was sure, bear in mind that he spoke of "the church of Scotland" as being "a church in Scotland under the Act of Union." Had he said what had been erroneously ascribed to him, a noble Earl opposite, who took a very deep concern in everything that affected the honour add interest of the church of Scotland, Would certainly have corrected it at the time. He would ask the noble Earl whether the noble Earl did not recollect that he spoke of the church of Scotland as a church in Scotland?
The Earl of Haddingtonhad no hesitation in answering the appeal of the right rev. Prelate in the affirmative. He had heard the right rev. Prelate speak of the church of Scotland over and over again as a church in Scotland. The right rev. Prelate certainly never said what had appeared in the public prints. He was glad that the right rev. Prelate had taken that opportunity to correct the statement, because it had created unpleasant feelings elsewhere. The right rev. Prelate had said, as he understood, that the clergy of Scotland were not to be considered as a clergy in the empire, but he had spoken of the church of Scotland as a church in Scotland. His contradiction was therefore in accordance with the facts.
The Bishop of Exeterobserved, that the noble Earl had quoted very nearly what he had said. He said, on the occasion to which reference had been made, that he did not think that the clergy of Scotland were to be considered a clergy out of Scotland—that they were not to be considered a clergy in any other part of the empire than Scotland.
§ The Marquess of Lansdowneconfirmed the accuracy of the statement of the right rev. Prelate. He said his opinion was, that the clergy of the church of Scotland were not to be considered as a clergy in any other part of the empire.