THE BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER AND BRISTOLsaid, that his most rev. Friend (the Archbishop of Canterbury), who was unavoidably absent, had requested him to move the second reading of this Bill. The object was to repeal a clause in an Act of William and Mary, which provided that clergymen presented to benefices by the Universities on account of the patrons being Roman Catholics should forfeit such livings if they failed to reside during the whole year, with the exception of sixty days. The general Act of 1 & 2 Vict., c. 106, allowed other incumbents throe months' absence, the penalty of exceeding it being simply ecclesiastical censure, and this Bill proposed to bring the former class under the same rule.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a" —(The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol.)
§ LORD CAMOYSsaid, he had expected, considering the liberality of sentiment of the most rev. Prelate, that the object of the Bill was to repeal the disqualification under which Roman Catholic patrons alone laboured. Surely, there could be no greater danger to the Church of England from Roman Catholic patrons than from Jews and Dissenters, every presentation being subject to the license of the Bishop? Roman Catholics were now obliged to sell the next presentation; but, if the incumbent died before this was done, one of the Universities presented; but such patronage might be relinquished without much loss, there being but a small number of livings, held by the Duke of Norfolk, himself, and other Roman Catholic Peers.
THE BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER AND BRISTOLsaid, he could hardly undertake the responsibility of stating what the opinion of his most rev. Friend the Archbishop of Canterbury was on the subject mentioned by the noble Lord. For his own part, he had no objection to say that there was, in his opinion, a considerable amount of inconvenience in connection with the patronage as exercised by the Universities.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.
§ House adjourned at half past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.