THE EARL OF WICKLOWgave notice that in case of the Bill for the Abolition of Ministers' Money being read a second time, he should move, in accordance with the petition he had presented last night from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for 1870 Ireland, that they be heard by counsel against the Bill.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHbegged to ask whether, before Thursday next, when the Bill came on for second reading, any statement would be laid before their Lordships showing the present revenue and expenditure of the Commissioners. They had accounts upon the subject up to 1849, but it was perfectly idle to ask their Lordships to come to any decision upon the Bill before them as long as they were uninformed with reference to the funds at the disposal of the Commissioners. Upon principle he certainly had no objection to the Commissioners being charged with the payment of ministers' money. Indeed, he had always been of opinion that the tax ought to be abolished; and he saw no greater objection to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners' revenue bearing the charge than any other; but the question was, whether they had the money to pay this and also the other charges established upon the fund? All he would say was, that he considered their Lordships were without the means of determining the point.
THE EARL OF WICKLOWwished to remind their Lordships that he moved the other evening for certain returns that would give all the requisite information; but he was told that the second reading of the Bill would come on before the returns could be forthcoming. He certainly thought that the second reading of the Bill ought to have been postponed until those returns had been produced.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHquite agreed with the noble Earl that their Lordships ought not to be asked to come to a decision upon the subject in the absence of all requisite information.