The Sun.
London, England, 1850-06-08 00:00:00

informed of what had come to the knowledge of her Ma-
jesty's Government.

SWITZERLAND.
Mr. B. COCHRANE said, on Monday next, he
would put a question to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs,
respecting the affairs of Switzerland.
THE CASTLEBAR UNION.
Sir L. O'BRIEN said he had received information
from the Earl of Lucan relative to the condition of the
Castlebar Union, to which the Hon. Member for Stroud
had referred a short time since, which showed that the
information of the Hon. Gentleman was entirely erro-
neous. There was a second report which completely
contradicted the statements made in Mr. Ronayne's re-
port.

Mr. P. SCROPE explained that he was not aware of
the second report, but he felt it his duty to call the at-
tention of the House to the statements made in the other
report, as being discreditable to the union, if true.
THE BISHOP OF LLANDAFF.
Mr. HORSMAN gave notice that he would on Mon-
day put a question to the Noble Lord opposite relative
to the University Commission. He found that a memo-
rial had been recently presented by the resident mem-
bers of the Senate of the University of Cambridge with
respect to the Royal Commission which the First Lord
of the Treasury had advised her Majesty to issue. He
found the first signature appended to that memorial,
which attracted the more attention from the very ad-
mirable reply of the illustrious personage who was the
Chancellor of that University—the first signature ap-
pended to that memorial was that of the Bishop of
Llandaff; Seeing that the memorial was signed
by the resident members, he thought there must
be some mistake, and that the Right Reverend
Prelate was so engaged with the affairs of his diocese
that he had not had time to read the memorial; but the
fact was entirely the reverse. He found upon inquiry
that last year, when he was appointed to the see, the
Right Rev. Prelate was not resident; that he never had
been resident, and that he was actually a resident of
Cambridge University. Further, that the Bishop of
Llandaff had never yet been a resident of Wales, and he
know not what reason could be given to justify this de-
parture from ecclesiastical usage, and this neglect of the
duties of his diocese. The second question be intended
to put was this—at the time the Right Rev. Prelate aas
appointed to the diocese, the Noble Lord had got credit
for appointing a bishop who was acquainted with the
Welsh language. Now he saw by a late paper that on
a recent occasion, on the laying the foundation-stone of
a church,
n
the Right Rev. Prelate had been presented
with
address, to which he had replied in English,
that he was not able to answer them in Welsh.
stating
ia
It appeared that he went through the form of reading a
sermon in the "Welsh language, but was unable to ad-
dress them in that language. He should ask the Noble
Lord whether he had selected the Right Rev. Prelate
for his acquaintance with the Welsh tongue, as it ap-
peared that some great deception had been practised
upon the country and the Government.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said—Sir, I think the Hon.
Gentleman might have taken the usual course of giving
notice that he meant to ask a question relative to the
Bishop of Llandaff, and have then made his statement—
(Hear, hear)—or he might have taken another course,
and, having given me notice privately that he meant to
ask the name question, he might today have made an
attack upon the conduct of the Bishcp of Llandaff—
(Hear, hear)—but to come forward to give a notice, and
Prelate,
under that Corm to make an attack upon a Right Rev.
is, I cannot say, quite in accordance with the
fairness the House was accustomed to observe.—(Loud
cries of "Hear, hear.") I am certainly unable to answer
all the Honourable Gentleman's particulars at present.
All I can say is, that I have no objection to explain my
motives for having recommended Dr. 011ivant to the
Crown for the see of Llandaff. Having heard, in com-
mon with the rest of the world,. that many complaints
were made that the Welsh bishops were unacquainted
with the Welsh language, when the see became vacant I
made inquiries, not from one or two persons, but from
many, whom I thought likely to inform me, whether
they were acquainted with a person of eminent learn-
ing, and those qualifications which we should expect
from a person holding the office of a bishop, and who
combined with those qualifications a knowledge of the
Welsh language. I considered that I was fortunate in
the result, because I found that Dr. 011ivant had
been at the head of a college in Wales for
several years, and, as principal of the college, had given
entire satisfaction to the inhabitants; he likewise acted
as parish priest in a benefice in that diocese, and in that
way also had become acquainted with the Welsh lan-
guage, and the habits of the people; joining to this
special fitness, eminent learning; and on inquiring of the
Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Winchester
who had known him, the latter more especially, when he
resided in Wales, I received from them the highest tes-
timonials in favour of Dr. 011ivant.—(Hear, hear.) But
I heard from them and from others what, in fairness,
they were bound to acquaint me with, that Dr. 011ivant
never held the political opinions to which I am attached.
—(Hear, hear.) I considered that if he possessed those
eminent qualifications it would be becoming in me to
waive any question of political opinions, and I, there-
fore, recommended him.—(Loud cheering.) I had never
seen Dr. 011ivant before, and I have not had much com-
munication with him since; and, indeed, all the commu-
nications I have had have been on the subject of obtain-
ing a residence for him in his diocese, so as to fix
him permanently in Wales. There may have been some
difficulties, with which I am unacquainted, and that
perhaps I shall be able to answer more fully on Thurs-
day than at the present moment. At the same time I
have no reason to doubt that it is the Right Reverend
Prelate'. intention to reside permanently in his diocese;
and I have every hope that all the expectations I enter-
tamed when I recommended him to the Crown will be
fulfilled.— (Cheers ) With respect to the answer the
Hon. Gentleman has seen in the newspapers, I have
seen it likewise. What I observed was, that after a
sermon preached in the Welsh language, and having ro•
ceived the address, he had replied in English, not being
so well acquainted with the Welsh language as to make
an impromptu reply to a formal address of congratula-
tion.—(Hear.) That is very possible, because the Right
Rev. Prelate is certainly not a native of Wales, and may
not be able to speak it with that ease and fluency which
he considered necessarp on such an occasion. Notwith-
standing all the Hon. Gentleman has said, I have not
the least reason to think that I have been deceived in
the information that I have received, and I have no
reason to repent of the advice I gave the Crown on be-
half of Dr. 011ivant, to appoint him to the see of Lien-
daff, and I have no doubt he will prove an ornament to
the bench of bishops, and promote the spiritual advance-
ment of his diocese.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WYNN, as a resident of the diocese of Llandaff,
expressed his cordial thanks to the Noble Lord for the
appointment he had made, and bore testimony to the
eminent attainments and high character of the Bishop of
Llandaff.
Mr. HORSMAN said he had said nothing about the
character of the Bishop; he had merely called the atten-
tion of the Noble Lord to the statements he had seen in
the public papers,
Thursday.
and would repeat his questions on
NEWHOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.
Mr. ASTAFFORD wished to know whether the
question upon the new Houses of Parliament would come
on that evening at a sufficiently early period to permit of
a discussion taking place?
Lord J. RUSSELL said there were so many clauses
in the Metropolitan Interments Bill that he doubted
whether they would be able to dispose of it early enough
to bring on the discussion respecting the new Houses of
Parliament. He should, therefore, fix it for the first
business on Monday next, and afterwards he proposed to
take the Lord-Lieutenancy Bill.
Mr. HUME hoped the Government• would be on
Monday prepared to state what they meant to do with
respect to controlling the expenditure of the new House.
In reply to Sir R. PEEL,
Lord J. RUSSELL said he should definitely fix the
discussion for Monday night to prevent disappointment,
and he should then be prepared to state the views of the
Government.
SUNDAY LABOUR IN THE POST-OFFICE.I
Mr. FORSTER wished to know what the intentions
of the Government were relative to the Post-office ques-
tion? The vote obtained on the question had been most
precipitate and incautiously come to, and he wished to
know whether a full opportunity would be afforded the
House of re-considering it?
Lord J. RUSSELL would give an answer to the Hon.
Gentleman's first question on Monday. Ile was not pre-
pared to fix any time for re-considering the question, and
was not prepared to support any motion for the reversal
of the decision the House had come to.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. G. A. HAMILTON wished to know if the Noble
Lord could fix any day for going into Supply, as he had
a motion with regard to education (Ireland), which
many Hon. Gentlemen were anxious to have considered.
Lord J. RUSSELL had hoped to have brought on the
supply that day, but there was other business so pressing
that he could not fix any day for the next fortnight.
METROPOLITAN INTERMENTS.
The House then went into Committee on the Metro-
politan Interments Bill, Mr. BERNAL in the chair.
vation.
Clauses '24, 25, and 26 were agreed to without obsers
On clause 27 being read,
Lord D. STUART admitted that it was desirable that
everything connected with funerals should be managed
as moderately as possible; but he questioned whether it
would not be better to leave the matter open to free corn.
petition than to have the Government appoint persons
to act as undertakers. The Bishop of London, in giving
evidence before the Committee on this Bill, said that a
large portion of the emoluments of the clergymen was
derived from the scarves, and fittings belonging to them,
with which they were presented at funerals. With that
the undertakers had nothing to do, as it was by the re.
quest of the friends that these, presents were made. He
feared the present clause would ruin the trade, and place
it in the hands of large contractors, destroying all com-
petition, which was the only security for moderate
charges. He suggested that the clause should bo omitted
altogether, and leave parties to make their contracts
with these undertakers as they thought proper. He
should take the sense of the Committee on the clause.
Mi'. Alderman SIDNEY also recommended the omis-
sion of the clause, as, in his opinion, it would be quite
inoperative. Funerals were now respectably performed
for 31. 10s.
Sir G. GREY said the object of the clause was to in-
vite tenders. The board would distribute its contracts
as widely as nosaible, and he had no doubt that parties
enderta'ae contracts. Tee wish was to
dieeinish the
cA snag of funerals ;13 much as poo3ibk
cerittinly at. much lower rates than there were now
charged. No man would be compelled to accept a con-
tract to conduct a funeral, and any person might employ
any undertaker he chose without consulting the Board of
Health.
Mr. WYLD objected to the clause as ambiguously
worded. The contractor might find it difficult to obtain
payment for the expenses incurred in the interment of
individuals.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL repeated the state-
raent Of the Eight Hon. Baronet (Sir G. Grey), The