The Earl of Mintowished to put a question to the noble Lord, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. A report had been pretty generally circulated, and apparently upon good authority, that one of the plans which the Government proposed to take towards the conciliation of Scotland, was to apply the free tiends towards the extension of the Church of Scotland. The report had been received in that country with very considerable alarm—perhaps the noble Earl could allay it.
§ The Earl of Aberdeenneed not inform the noble Earl that the subject did not belong to his department; therefore he was unable to give any answer to the question. He would only say, that he was not aware that any decision had yet been come to on the subject.
Lord Broughamwould tell his noble Friend, that the point could be easily settled. Her Majesty's Government had only to introduce a clause in the bill before the House, declaring—declaratory clauses were now the fashion—declaring, that all such property belonging to his noble Friend or any other person was to be the property of the church.