HL Deb 09 February 1857 vol 144 cc337-8
THE EARL OF LEITRIM,

referring to a continued state of disorder which had existed in the county of Longford, moved Addresses for the following Returns:—Copy of the reports made within the last six months by the police stationed in the county of Longford relative to considerable numbers of men marching at night in that county; Copy of a letter addressed by the Earl of Leitrim on the 20th of December, 1856, to Sir Duncan MacGregor, the Inspector General of Police in Ireland, requesting information with respect to the marching of men so reported, and the cor- respondence in reply to that letter; Copy of the recommendation upon which Mr. Evers had been appointed to the commission of the peace in the county of Leitrim, a statement of his qualification, and the correspondence relative to his appointment; and Copy of a letter addressed by the Earl of Leitrim to the Earl of Carlisle, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, on the 18th of October, 1856, complaining of the conduct of Mr. Dennehy, stipendiary magistrate, and the subsequent correspondence with reference thereto. The noble Earl asked whether the Government proposed to take any and what measures for the protection of Her Majesty's peaceful subjects in Ireland from the violence and intimidation of lawless mobs?

EARL GRANVILLE

said, the Government could not consent to grant the first and third of the Returns moved for by the noble Earl; but to the second and fourth there would be no objection. As to the measures to be adopted by the Irish Government, he could only express a hope that they would persevere in those measures which had been so successful in improving the condition and advancing the prosperity of Ireland; for, according to the unanimous reports of all, nothing could be more satisfactory than the prosperous and orderly state of that country.

THE EARL OF CLANCARTY

remarked that the Lord Chancellor usually nominated magistrates on the recommendation of the lord lieutenant of the county, and if the usual course had been departed from in the case of Mr. Evers, he thought the noble Earl was justified in asking for some explanation.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

explained that all the appointments of magistrates were on the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor, whether a recommendation came from the lord lieutenant of the county or not.

First and third Motions resolved in the Negative; second and fourth agreed to.