Star.
London, England, 1826-04-14 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

Mr. HUME moved that there be laid before the
House a copy of the Charter of Queen Elisab-th, ton-
ferrieg the Abbey on the Dean and Chapter. The Hon.
Gentleman, in support of his motion, stated the opi.
nions genet ally entertained, that the Dean and Chapter
bad appropriated to themselves the funds originally
allocated to the support of Minor Canons, who wete
thereby deprived of their proper emoluments, and lit
consequence their remuneration defended on the door
Collections. Certain sums of mo: ey having brea regu-
larly appropriated to the Minor Canons, all he wanted
to know was the source from which those sums:were
derived, whether vested in lands, houses, or otherwise secured. h
was also stated that several sums had been left by individuals to the
Minor Canons; and if so, there could be no necessity to exact con-
tributions from the public for a purpose already served. He hoped
the House would ascertain how far that necessity did or did not exist.
Oa the motion Wing put,
. Mr. Secretat y PEEL felt obliged to oppose it. When
it wis recollected that he had offered no opposition to
the Hon. Member's former motion, he was sure the
House would be convinced that he had no wish to with-
hold any information that might be necessary; and he
could not but think that the Hon. Member made an
ungracious return for the facility with which he had
obtai..ed the documents he before requited. He now
wished the House to call upon the Dean and Chapter
or Westminster, to show the deeds by which the), held
the property that had been for so many years in their
possession. The Hon. MemSer asked also for Returns
of the Lands, Houses, &c. appropriated to the maintenance of the
minor canons—for a copy of the Grant of 1697 to the Cherie, on
condition that, receiving the benefits of the exhibition of the Monu-
ments, they should keep them clean—for an account of Allowances
and Income received by the minor Canons, Ste. and in whose pos-
session are the lands, houses, &c. from which the same are derived.
Mr. HUME said, he bad not made any such motions.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, he read from the Orders of the House.
Mr. HUME said, that he had as yet only moved for the copy of
the Charter of (been Elizabeth.

Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that the Hon. Member had torn sit
the paper which contained that motion. front another pipet, which
consisted, as he supposed, of the others.
Mr. HUME spoke to order.
The SPEAKER said that the interruption was itself disorderly:
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that if the Hon. Gentleman objected
to his reading from the printed notices, he would refer to the book
in which they were entered, and there he found them in the same
words in which he had stated them. The Hon. Gentleman bad
given no notice of his intention to withdraw any of those motions.
Mr. HUME said be had ab intention sidoing so.
Mr. Secretary PEEL.—Why then he had the autho-
rity of the Hon. Gentleman himself (if that was any
authority) for saying that these were the subjects of his
motion. He (M. Peel) had no other observation to make
upon it than those he had formerly offered,that the rights
of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster differed in no
respect from those of the Dean and Chapter of any other
place. If the Hon. Gent. doubted the right of the Dean
and Chapter to take money for admission to those mo-
numents, he could refuse to pay it, and on being pre-
vented from entering the church, he could try the ques-
tion in any way he thought proper ; but he ought not
to call upon the House to Make itself a party to any
such dispate. The notice went on to call for retorna of
the lands and tenements in the possession of the Dean
and Chapter, and the title under which they were held.
It was impossible that the House could sanction such an ihfringe-
ment of private rights, and be -did not 'Wonder that the Hon.
Member had shrunk from the readintuf Such a notice.
Mr. HUME said, the notice in the book had been
entered from an abstract which he bad handed to the
clerk at the table, and in which some alterations had
subsequently been made. He thought that no Member
in that House ought to be told by another, in the-promoting and
improper manner which the Right Honourable Gentlemashad
adopted, that he was bound by the precise terms of that notice.—
(Cries of " Order.") •
The SPEAKER-said, that it was a i*ntt* of %% tusk bet not
of strict right that notice of a motion should bells**. When
given wrong, Its elketwas to mislead *embers; sidgitee arose a
suestion as to what party was to bbnie. He meant no particular
allusion when he Wit thawnone gave mere noticosof-enotient than
the Hes. Member. and therefore he hoped••llf,WOOid sake late to
advertise the. House of any insiinsce of inaccerecy whit& snigitrocccr.
. Sir J. WROTTRELEY concurisid 'adds shr4l m Ofddesas,
and gave the Motion his cordial support.
Mr. ASHNURST spoke to the high character of the Dean sr
Westminster, who had, out of his private pew; endoetedlhree
Scholarships at Oaford. He epposedthe wades. •
Sir JOHN NEWPORT said, that the Public had Slight to
know upon what grounds tbe Dean and Chapter exercised the
right of exclusion. He complained of ibe manner is which the
returns made by the Dean and Chapter were worded..k. .I.tr
The House was then cleared for a division, wiles do Dubber,
appeared as follows:
For the Resolution, 56 I Against it.-711.
Majority against the Resolution, 16.

-.- -
On our return to the
Mr. HUMBwas aweiNghis sss lbeelletive," for a Copy of
the Grant of 1697 to the Melrose eeedideethrekea their receiving
the besefits of the ethibiden of the ineenimmesie they 'load keep
them clean."
Mr. CARTER supported the modem.
Mr. Secretary PEEL had no wish to resist any just demand.
As the Dean and Chapter alleged the condition, and said that they
had not kept them all clean, bat that a part was kept is order at
the public charge, he thought there was some ground far the Hawse
to make the proposed inquiry, declaring his intention to oppose the
twe other motions of the Henotirable Gentleman, he yeti& yet
draw a distinction and agree to this.
Mr. Secretary CANNING thought it advisable that the lion.
Member for Montrose should postpone his motion until it was as-
certained whether the House bad any jurisdiction over the coesiact
and funds of the Dean and Chapter of Westothater.
Mr. HUME could not see what the Right Hop. Gent. was at-
The objection which be (Mr. ebonies) bad raised, wee is deMplzfe
opposition to that of his Right Hon. Colleague (Mr. flearitarl
Peel.) That Right Hon. Gentleman might, however, have it m
his power to account for the slistinetidn.
Mr. Secretary PEEL said, that his objection was simply Se as-
certain whether the House had or had not any jurisdiction is the
matter at lesuc.