§ Sir E. B. Sugdenwished to ask a question of the noble Lord the Secretary for the Colonies, upon the subject of the discharge of Mr. Sheriff Evans. On the 21st January this House came to a resolution that the sheriff be ordered to refund the amount of 640l., levied by the sale of the property of Messrs. Hansard, to the said Messrs. Hansard. In consequence of the illness of one of the two persons, who constituted the sheriff of Middlesex, he had been discharged out of custody—a course in which he entirely concurred. He begged now to ask, whether it was the intention of the noble Lord to keep the other sheriff in custody, for the whole sum directed to be paid by the two persons, upon whom the order had been made?
§ Lord John Russellsaid, that as he understood the case, there was one sheriff of Middlesex, but two sheriffs of London, and the House committed the two latter persons, they forming or constituting the former officer. The House had since agreed that one of those persons should be released on the statement that his further confinement would endanger his life. He did not conceive that, under those circumstances, the resolution of the House was at all altered, and he still thought that these persons were bound by it.
§ Subject dropped.