The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-16 00:00:00

CHURCH RATES,

Colonel SAL%VEY wished to ask the Government
whether it is their intention to introduce, in the pre-
sent session of Parliament any measure for the relief
of that portion of her Majesty's subjects who con-
scientiously dissent from the rites and doctrines of
the Established Church, from payment of Church
rates ?

Lord J. RUSSELL, in reply, stated the Govern
went had no such intention.—(Hear.)
MINISTERS' MONEY.

Mr JOHN O'BRIEN wished to know from the
Right Hon. Secretary for Ireland, if it be the inten-
tion of her Majesty's Government to take into consi-
deration the expediency of relieving certain towns
and cities in Ireland from the payment of Ministers'
Money, maintaining at the same time vested rights,
and indemnifying the present incumbents.
Sir W.. SOMERVILLE said that the subject was
under the consideration of her Majesty's Government,
but he could not state what would be the result of
their deliberations upon the subject.
THE CASE OF MAJOR MAHON.

Sir B. HALL wished to ask a question relating to
a letter which had appeared in the Times newspaper of
this day, in which the Rev. Gentleman stated, " I
have now to assure the public, upon the most solemn
asseverations, that Major Mahon was never denounced
from any altar in Strokestown, or within twenty
miles of that town upon any Sunday. He (Sir B.
Hall) had received a letter this day from a friend of
his in Ireland, stating that the denunciation was not
made upon a Sunday, but upon a Monday. A letter
had appeared in the Times of this morning, signed
" An Irish Peer," and which he had reason to believe
was written by an Irish Peer. That letter stated
that " the Catholic priest was quite right with re-
spect to the Sunday; the late Major Mahon was de-
nounced from the altar upon the Monday previous to
his assassination. That Monday was a Saint's day,
a day upon which the Roman Catholic people attend
mass as regularly and in as great numbers as upon the
Sabbath. These facts were known at Dublin Castle."
It appeared that Major Mahon was denounced
upon a Saint's day on the Monday, he was shot at
half-past six on the next day (Tuesday). The ques-
tion which he had to ask was, whether any informa-
tion had been received at the Castle of any denuncia-
tion having been made against the late Major Mahon,
either upon Sunday or Monday, and, if so, whether
it was the intention of the authorities in Dublin to
take any proceedings against the reverend gentleman
in the case ?—(Cheers.)
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that it was impos-
sible for him to say what information might have been
received by the Lord-Lieutenant with respect to the
question now put to him by the Hon. Baronet.
Having made that answer to the first part of the
question, the Hon. Baronet would at once see that it
was impossible for him to give any answer to the
latter part of the question.—(oh, oh!)
Mr. J. O'CONNELL regretted that the Hon.
Baronet had not quoted the whole of the letter of
the Rev. Mr. M‘Dermott, for he would have found
further on that he denied that any denunciation
whatever took place at any time. He thought it
unfair for any Hon. Member to act in such a manner,
whatever might be the private pique which he might
entertain towards any other Hon. Member.—(Order.)
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