EARL POWISwished to ask the Lord Privy Seal what course it was intended to take as to the committal of Bills confirming schemes of the Charity Commissioners? The subject was one of considerable importance, as there was no doubt that within two or three years some cases connected with charities would be brought before Parliament, and the course adopted in future by the Charity Commissioners would be very much guided by that adopted by Parliament. In consequence of the 343 changes which had taken place in modern society, it was necessary to modify the constitution of many charitable institutions, to suit them to the requirements of the times (especially such as were lay-ecclesiastical foundations), without deviating any more than was absolutely necessary from the wishes of the founders, and it was necessary that the Commissioners employed to devise schemes for carrying that object into effect should have a clear course of action open before them. He would himself suggest that they should be all referred to some one Select Committee.
§ THE EARL OF HARROWBYsaid, that the noble Earl's suggestion was a very good one, but he thought it would hardly meet the evil. He thought, himself, it might be desirable for the schemes of the Commissioners to be laid upon the tables of both Houses of Parliament before they were adopted; but that the matter was one which should not be dealt with without mature consideration.
§ House adjourned till To-morrow.