§ Mr. Dohertysaid, he would take that opportunity of putting a question to the hon. and learned member for Clare, with respect to the course he intended to pursue as to the two petitions of which he had given notice on the subject of the Borrisokane trials. These petitions referred to the course which he had pursued on the trials arising out of that transaction. The hon. and learned Member's notice had stood on the books for some time, and was now further postponed. At nearly two o'clock the preceding morning, as he found from the votes, the notice for presenting the petitions was withdrawn, and no day was fixed for bringing them before the House. Under these circumstances, he should wish to know from the hon. and learned Member whether he was to understand that he was to banish the subject altogether from his mind, for it was extremely unpleasant to have a matter of this kind hanging over him. He wished to know now what course the hon. and learned Member intended to take.
§ Mr. O'Connellsaid, it was true the notice was taken out of the orders, as the hon. and learned Gentleman had stated, but the intention of presenting them was not wholly given up. His own wish on the subject was, that, under all the circumstances, the matter should not be further pressed, but it did not rest wholly with him. He had written to the parties from whom the petitions came, advising them to allow him to withdraw the petitions altogether, or to confide them to the care of some other hon. Member. To that letter he had not received a reply, and could not before Saturday; and on Monday he should be able to give the hon. and learned Gentleman a definitive answer.