Lord Castlereaghmoved for leave to bring in a Bill to explain and amend the Act of the 41st of his Majesty, relative to the circumstances under which persons, in official situations, could hold seats in that House. A question had arisen, as to the situation in which those persons stood, holding offices under the lord lieutenant of Ireland; and it had been doubted whether those persons appointed to fill offices by the lord lieutenant of Ireland must necessarily vacate their seats, like persons accepting situations under the crown. A question had also arisen, whether persons holding such offices under the lord lieutenant were not obliged by law to vacate their seats on a new lord lieutenant coming into power, as it was assumed that those appointed by the old lord lieutenant must go out of office with him. He apprehended that this was not necessary, any more than it was necessary that persons holding situations under the crown should resign them on the sovereignty being assumed by a regent. It might be very 157 inconvenient if this were the law, as applied to the case of the chief secretary in Ireland. The question, however, might be raised in another quarter, and the individual proceeded against by way of penalty. He thought the chief secretary ought to be protected against such a proceeding. He therefore proposed, under all the circumstances, to bring in a Bill to explain and amend the said Act—Leave was given to bring in the Bill.