The EARL of LINCOLNmoved for leave to bring in a Bill to provide that the office of Clerk of the Peace and Clerk of the Crown in Ireland be hereafter filled by the same person. On the ground of economy the Bill had its recommendations, and it would ensure to the counties of Ireland more efficient officers than obtained under the present system. The Custos Rotulorum at present appointed the clerks of the peace; the present Bill proposed that the nomination to both offices should be in the Government. He did not propose to consolidate the two offices, though he proposed that they should both be held by the same person.
SIR R. FERGUSONwished to know if 762 the Bill required that the officer to be appointed should be necessarily resident?
§ VISCOUNT CLEMENTScomplained of the whole system under which public prosecutions were carried on in Ireland. Gentlemen totally inefficient to discharge their duties were placed by the Crown in the offices, and assumed the title of Counsel for the Crown and Solicitors to the Crown.
§ Leave given.