The Express.
London, England, 1863-02-18 00:00:00

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF PRISONERS BILL.

Sir G. GREY moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend
the law relating to the religious instruction of prisoners in
minty and borough prisons us England and Scotland. The
right hon. baronet, after referring to the acts in tone upon
this subject, said thealteration in the law as proposed by this
bill would ptincipallyaffect the Roman cathobcprison en. The
prisoners of that persuasion were very unequally distributed
in the gaols throughout the country, and consequently there
were some prisons to which this bill would have very
little application. He thought the fact that few prisoners
of soy religion ever made any request for a minister of
their own church to visit them was an argument in
favour of an alteration of the law, in order that
all ministers of religion might, at stated Intervale,
visit the prisons and afford such religious
instruction as might appear necessary to improve
the moral and spiritual welfare of the prisoners. The right
hoe. gentleman then explained in detail the various alters•
tions which he proposed to make by this bill, and said in
conclusion that no prisoner would be compelled to attend
any religious service to which he conscientiously objected.
The practice which be proposed to carry out in civil prism
had been for a long time followed in military prisons, and
with a beneficial effect. He could not see why there should
be any objection to applying the law which was in force in
Ireland to the prisons in England. He hoped this bill would
on the second reading be discussed in a spirit of charity, and
that all persons would remember the doctrine—that they
should do unto others as they would wish to be done
by. (" Hear, hear," sod cheers.)
Mr. WHALLEY opposed the principle of paying clot,
gymca of • persuasion which was not recognised by the
state. He was not about to criticise doctrinal points, but
he contended that the political anti of the Roman catholic
priests disentitled them to the money of the state.
Mr. MAGUIRE congratulated the government on the
principle of justice and toleration which was embodied in
the bill. He should hesitate, however, in leaving too much
of its execution at the discretion of the magistrates, who, if
bigoted, might very much impair its beneficial operatioo.
I Sir GEORGE BOWYER said that the Roman catholic
clergy were willing to attend persons of their own persua-
sion in every prison in England without a farthing reran.
neration._ . . .

Mr. NEWDEGATE was not surprised at the satisfaction
which had hien expressed by Roman catholic members with
the hill of the Home Secretary, seeing that the object of
the party to which they belonged was complete religious
domination. By the admission of the right hon. gentleman
the measure was not asked for by the Roman catholic
prisoners themselves, and it would be distasteful to the
great body of the authorities who had charge of the pri-
soners. It would only be • sumo( satisfaction to those in
that house who, like the hon. baronet the member for Dun-
dalk, declared themselves the representatives of the Roman
catholic priesthood. It was his firm belief that the bill
would be received by the country as a political concession
on the part of the government, and he hoped that the house
would meet, it upon the second reading.
Mr. HEN/ :r=.4.—SY thanked the government for introduc-
ing the bill, which was similar to a measure introduced
by Load Derby with reference to the colonies.
Mr. Serjeant PIGOTT believed that tho bill would not
be satisfactory to those in whose behalf it was brought for-
ward. bat that the government would be asked to go a
great deal further than they had any idea of. If the prin-
ciple was good in this case, it was equally good with re-
gard to villages sod towns as well as prisons ; and if this
measurepassed, the protestant mind must be made up to
divide the church revenue with the Roman catholic&

Sir G. GREY stated with regard to tinware. from which
the cost should come in Scotland. it was proposed that
where there was no special fund it should come out of the
funds applicable to the expenses of the prison.
Leave was then given to introduce the bill, and Sir G.
Grey stated that he should fix the second reading for that
day fortnight.