§ The Marquess of Breadalbane,in presenting petitions respecting the church of Scotland, said that their Lordships had with regard to the church of Scotland, acted on a policy that was inconsistent with the principles of civil and religions liberty. The people of Scotland were now taking up the question amongst themselves, as they had lost all confidence in their Lordships' wisdom, and the result had been, that an alarming secession had taken place no less than 400 ministers having seceded. Now, for his part, he placed no confidence in the Government and his noble Friend opposite (the Earl of Aberdeen) had been so tardy in bringing forward his measure, that he (the Marquess of Breadalbane) had lost all confidence in the measure, and he believed it would now be incapable of healing the wounds so deeply inflicted on the vital principles of the church. Any measure the Government might bring forward would now be too late. The conduct of the Government towards the people of Scotland had been hostile to one of the first principles of good statesmanship, which was, that there should be no interference with the religious principles of the people. He maintained 922 that the policy of the Government with respect to Scotland had been hostile to the principles of civil and religious liberty.
§ The Earl of Aberdeensaid, his noble Friend must be perfectly aware that no such event as that to which he had referred could possibly take place in Scotland, without receiving the attention of Government. He had stated before, that nothing which had occurred would have the effect of altering the intentions of her Majesty's Government upon this subject. He said so still. With respect to what the noble Lord termed the tardiness of the Government, he begged to give notice that, in consequence of what had taken place, he would, in the course of the next week, introduce a measure for regulating the settlement and admission of ministers.
§ Petition laid on the Table.