The Marquis of Chandosrose to ask two questions of the hon. member for Windsor (Mr. Stanley). The first was, whether a vessel with false papers, having on board several stands of arms, had been seized in the Shannon? He wished to know if this was the fact, and if the Government had any farther information to communicate upon the subject? The second was, whether any compromise had directly or indirectly been made by Government with Mr. O'Connell, who, he understood, had pleaded Guilty?
Mr. Stanleysaid, that upon the first point he could give the noble Marquis no further information than that which he had already derived from other sources. It was true a vessel was seized in the Shannon, which professed to be bound for America, and had on board twenty cases, in which were thirty stands of arms. What the ulterior object, or what the intention of those on board the vessel was, he had not the means of informing the House. He could only say, that the vessel was then in the possession of the Preventive Service, and that the strictest inquiry should be made. He would now answer the second question, which he was extremely glad the noble Marquis had been led to ask. He had heard, with no less pain than surprise, that it was imagined by some people that the plea of guilty which had been record- 491 ed by Mr. O'Connell and the six other traversers, was owing to some intimation or communication direct or indirect with the Government. He would not say, that the friends of Mr. O'Connell, both here and at the other side of the water, had not endeavoured to make terms for him; but the uniform answer to such applications, both on this side of the water and the other, was, Mr. O'Connell's conduct had brought the country into such a state, that the Government felt, that if it regarded the maintenance of its own dignity, it could not, in this affair, recede one single inch. That Mr. O'Connell might pursue the line of conduct which might to him seem best; but that, whatever conduct he pursued, the law must take its course.