§ MR. LALOR (Queen's Co., Leix)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he is aware that Dr. David Jacob, the late visiting physician of the Maryborough District Lunatic Asylum, resigned his position in that institution about nine months ago; if he is aware that the said Dr. David Jacob is the brother-in-law of Dr. Joseph Henry Hatchell, who was then and is now the resident medical superintendent of the said asylum; if he is aware that, after the resignation of Dr. David Jacob, the Board of Governors elected his son, Dr. William G. Jacob, to the same office of visiting physician to the said asylum; if he is aware that the said Dr. William G. Jacob is nephew to the resident medical superintendent of the said Asylum, Dr. Joseph Henry Hatchell; and, if the appointment of Dr. William G. Jacob to this office, of which his uncle is the resident medical superintendent, has been sanctioned by the Lord Lieutenant; and, if so, considering th close family relationship existing between those gentlemen, is it the intention of Her Majesty's Government to continue this appointment?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)I find that the facts are substantially as stated, with the exception of a slight inaccuracy in the degree of relationship. The Board of Governors having advertised the vacancy in the usual manner, elected Dr. W. G. Jacob, subject to the usual 351 period of probation, at the expiration of which they unanimously confirmed his appointment, and the Irish Government being of opinion that the circumstances of the case would not justify a refusal to accept the decided opinion of the Governors, have ratified the appointment.