The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-05 00:00:00

RAILWAY BILLS.

Earl DALHOUSIE presented reports on the Corn-
wall and Devon and other railways, which were ordered
to He on the table.
ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS' REFORM.

Lord CAMPBELL said he begged to ask the qucs
Lion of which he had given notice, as to when her
Majesty's Government proposed to bring in the Bill for
a reformation of the ecclesiastical courts? A rumour
had gone abroad that one of leer Majesty's Alinisters in
another place had stated that it was not the intention of
the Government to bring in any measure this session
upon the subject of ecclesiastical courts' reform. He
wished to ascertain what were the facts, for he thought
the matter was well worthy of attention.' When the
Ecclesiastical Commission had been appointed the judges
had sat upon it, and they were all unanimous in the
agreement of some measure being absolutely requisite.
Another Commission had been appointed, on which he
had sat. Their opinion was the same. There had been
Committees of both Houses of Parliament, which una-
nimously agreed in the same conclusion. Over one of
these Committees Sir James Graham had presided, and
he believed that there was a full impression of the ne-
cessity of such a measure as that to which ho had al-
luded. He had since made an inquiry of that Right
Hut. Gentleman.
The Duke of IVELLINGTON—But you don't know
what his answer is.
Lord CAMPBELL—That was true ; but he was
alarmed at what was rumoured to have taken place in
another place. No mention had been made of eccle-
siastical reform since its introduction into the Queen's
speech in 1843, and he therefore wished to ask when
her Majesty's Ministers intended to introduce the Eccle-
siastical Reform Bill ?

The LORD CHANCELLOR said that if the Noble
Lord would have put a short question he would have
given a short answer. It certainly was not his intention
to bring in any Bill on this subject this session.
Lord ELLENBOROU MI said that it was not the
custom of that House to make speeches upon asking
question,, unless the speeches were to be concluded by
motions.

The Earl of MINTO said that it certainly had not
been the custom of that House formerly to adopt the
practice assumed by his Noble Friend on the present
occa:ion, and to which the Noble Lord opposite ob-
jected. But he begged to assure the Noble Lord that
it had now become a habit in that House, though he
must acknowledge that the habit did grow up during
the Noble Lord's absence. It was extremely disorderly
and inconvenient, and the sooner it was put an end to
the better ; yet still, as it was the habit of the House,
he thought bis Noble Friend (Lord Campbell) was jus-
tified in the mode of proceeding he had adopted.

Lord CAMPBELI, said that ever since he had had
the honour of a seat in that House, the usual mode of
proceeding had teen to state the facts which were ne-
ces.ary to render any question or notice of motion intel-
ligible. Such was the custom in the other House of
Parliament, and he begged to refresh the memory of his
Noble Friend as to several occasions on which this prac-
tice had been observed in their Lordships' House. He
was unwilling to subject their Lordship? House to the
opprobrium of neglecting so important a business.
The Duke of WELLINGTON begged to speak to
order. The usual order of that House was to make no
speeches upon a question, without concluding it with a
motion. That when a motion was intended to be made
it was the courtesy of that House to give notice of that
motion. Having explained what was the order, and
what was the courtesy of that House, he must protest
against the Noble Lord entering so fully into a subject
of this kind, and violating both.
Lord CAMPBELL would consider the best mode of
formally bringing forward the question on an early day.
(Hear, from the Duke of Wellington.)
The House then adjourned.