§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that in the year 1870, an Act was passed which empowered Her Majesty to make rules providing 1393 for leave of absence of Indian Bishops on furlough or medical certificate; but it was provided that existing Acts of Parliament should not be interfered with by such rules as regarded the present Bishop of Calcutta. The old rules did not allow a Bishop to obtain leave of absence until he had been 10 years in his diocese, but then he might have leave of absence on furlough for 18 months. The new rules provided that a Bishop might have leave of absence after being five years in his diocese, but that the absence should then be only for six months. This, it was thought, was a much more satisfactory arrangement. The Bishop of Calcutta asked to be brought within it, and the present Bill would bring about this result.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Marquess of Salisbury.)
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House, To-morrow.