VISCOUNT DUNGANNONsaid, it would be in the recollection of his noble Friend (the Lord Privy Seal) that in the debate upon the Bishops of London and Durham Bill at the close of last Session it was intimated, on the part of the Government, that a measure was in contemplation for dividing the see of London, and establishing a bishopric of Westminster. It was also stated that the late period of the Session prevented the Government from then undertaking any measure making provision for such Bishops as were desirous, owing to illness and infirmity, of resigning their sees. The question was one of great public interest, and he was desirous of having it answered. Considering the large amount of funds which must by this time have got into the hands of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, he should hope that some measure would be adopted which would obviate the necessity of mulcting the incoming Bishops of any portion of their revenues for the support of their predecessors. He was one of those who thought the incomes of the Bishops at the present moment scarcely adequate for their support, and he should be very sorry, therefore, to see those incomes diminished even temporarily. There was another subject of considerable importance to which he wished to direct attention. A large number of parishes were at present very poorly endowed, and he had that day put on the order-book a notice for a return of the number of benefices within the see of London possessing endowments under £200 a year. He hoped that some comprehensive measure would be introduced, providing, among other things, for increasing the resources of those benefices.
§ THE EARL OF HARROWBYsaid, he fully admitted the importance of the subjects to which his noble Friend had referred; and, with regard to the first question put by him, said that the Government thought the division of the see of London was a subject requiring more consideration 931 than had yet been devoted to it, and they had come to the conclusion that the better course would be to appoint a Committee to inquire into the question, connecting with the see of London the adjacent dioceses of Rochester and Winchester, with a view of examining whether there could not be some reconstruction of these three sees. With regard to the question as to whether the Government were prepared to introduce a Bill for providing for Bishops who might wish to retire on the ground of age or infirmities, he could only say, that desirable as it might be to deal with that subject, he was not able at that moment to give a definite answer to the question of the noble Viscount. As concerned increasing the resources of parishes, the Government were not at present prepared to introduce a Bill upon the subject.
§ House adjourned to Monday next.