The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-05-09 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY

Mr. L. Fox said, in reply to a question from Mr. W. S•
o'l3ittEs, that as Mr. O'Connell had declared he would not
attend the discussion of the motion of which he had given
notice with a view to put a stop to the agitation for a repeal
of the union, ;he would not bring it on in his absence, but
would inform him what he intended to do in a letter addressed
to him publicly.

Sir R. PEEL said that no official communications had taken
place between this country and France respecting the re-
ported intention of the King of the Frencii to compel a mar-
riage between the Queen of Spain and a Bourbon prince.
It was, however, the opinion of the British Government that
Spain, as an independent state, was the exclusive judge of
any alliances which it might think proper to form.
Sir R. PEEL stated the progress which had been made to
remedy the evils arising from the population progressing in
various towns in a greater ratio than the means of providing
them with religious instruction. This evil being admitted,
the next question was as to the means of applying a remedy,
and for these it was the present intention of the government
that ecclesiastical revenues should be applied to the purpose,
but if these should hereafter prove to be insufficient it would
become his duty to apply to Parliament for assistance. The
right hon. baronet adverted to the advantages which had re-
sulted from the ecclesiastical commission appointed in 1834,
and stated that in consequence of the reduction of the num-
ber of cathedral establishments a revenue of £25,000 was
now at their disposal applicable to the augmentation of small
livings. This sum would in future years be largely increased
from the same source. He proposed to borrow £600,000
from the capital stock of £1,200,000 standing in the names
of the governors of the Queen Anne's Bounty, to be secured
on the revenues accruing hereafter to the ecclesiastical com-
missioners. He proposed that the sum borrowed should be
applied to the increase of spiritual instruction to the extent
of X 30,000 per annum, not for the building of churches, but
for the endowment of ministers in aid of local subscriptions.
If a minister were endowed in a destitute district he had no
doubt but that the erection of a church by subscription would
soon follow as a result of his labours. He believed it to be
of importance thot they should immediately proceed to action,
and as he asked for no public money he hoped the house
would unanimously agree to the proposed plan. The right
hon. baronet concluded by moving a resolution on which to
found a motion for leave to bring in a bill to carry out the
scheme he proposed.
Sir R. INGLIS could not give his approbation to the plan,
although be would not embarrass the government by any
observations which could have the effect of strengthening
the hands of those from whom the church had nothing to
expect. He confidently looked forward to the time when
the house would be asked for a grant of public money in
furtherance of the religious instruction of the people. It
was to the enlargement of the church establishment that the
country looked for the means of improving its social condi-
tion, and it was to be remembered that the greatest evils of
the late insurrection prevailed in districts insufficiently pro-
vided with pastoral care. He sincerely hoped the present
plan would prove beneficial, though it by no means came up
to his expectations.

Lord J. Russr.;r, was not prepared, so far as be under-
stood the plan, to bestow upon it his unqualified admiration,
although it certainly contained the elements of utility. It
was not, however, any defect, according to his views, that
the plan required no grant of public money in its support.
Mr. Pm) mPTitE maintained the necessity of upholding the
preaching of the pure doctrine in the church.
Mr. BORTHWICK complained of the practice of making
shows of our churches, and charging twopence for admission
to them, instead of throwing them open to all.
Lord SANDON supported the plan as likely to prove bene-
ficial to the temporal as well as spiritual welfare of the peo-
ple.
Mr. CAMPBELL, while he approved of the plan, condemn-
ed the doctrines of Puseyism, and said lie would not support
any motion calculated to promote the doctrines of a sect
opposed to the principles of the reformation.
S r R. PEEL replied, and said that the difference of opinion
expressed in the course of the debate upon the propriety of
requiring a parliamentary grant fully justified him in refrain-
ing from adopting that course. He believed the annual sum
.'lO,OOO, which he proposed, would be found adequate, with
Ii aid of voluntary subscriptions, to promote the real wel-
fa a of the church more effectually than if he had required a
la •ge grant of public money.
The resolution was then agreed to.
Lord ELIOT then moved the second reading of the Irish
Poor Law Bill, and stated the various alterations contem-
plated by its enactment.
Mr. FRENCH said that the first poor law had been founded
upon the inaccurate representations made by Mr. Nicholls.
The expense originally calculated upon had been greatly ex-
ceeded, and yet but little benefit had resulted to the poor.
The dissatisfaction amongst all classes was so great, that its
repeal was inevitable, for it could never be rendered suitable
to the people of Ireland. He concluded by moving that the
bill should be read a second time that day six months.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD seconded the motion.
Mr. SMITH (Attorney_General for Ireland) contended that
the rating to the poor-rate in many parts of Ireland was only
the fraction of a penny, while in others it did not exceed two-
pence—a burden which' it was absurd to stigmatise as an in-
sult to Ireland.
Mr. FRENCH said he would not press his amendment to a
division, and the bill was accordingly read a second time
without a division.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and
the house adjourned.