§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ LORD LYTTELTON,in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, explained that the measure was designed to meet the case of patrons who, being unable to contribute the quota required of private patrons of small livings as a condition of augmentation by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, wished to transfer the patronage to ecclesiastical corporations, whether aggregate or sole. The patron of some poorly-endowed livings in his own neighbourhood had desired to take this course under the 3rd & 4th or 31st & 32nd of the Queen, but had been informed by the Commissioners that there was a difficulty, the latter statute, though passed for the express purpose of curing a defect recently discovered in the former Act, having accidentally introduced a new defect. The Commissioners, though not disposed themselves to introduce a Bill, had no objection to the present measure; and he believed it was approved by the Earl of Chichester, who would naturally be regarded by their Lordships as an authority on the subject. He moved that it be read a second time.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read 2a accordingly.