§ Sir Henry Parnellsaid, he had been accused by the hon. and learned member for Kerry, in a published letter, of having privately recommended to Government, the alteration from the English plan of registration to the old Irish method, while he appeared to assent to the introduction of the former system into the Irish Reform Bill, at a meeting of Irish Members. The fact was, about ten or eleven months ago, he communicated to the Irish Secretary his opinion, that the English plan was not suitable to the circumstances of Ireland, and, far from making a secret of his opinion, he mentioned it freely, even communicating his opinion to the Chief Secretary for Ireland through the Solicitor General. As to the meeting of Irish Members, at which the English plan was stated to have been agreed to, he had attended it in common with other Gentlemen, in the understanding that he was not to be considered as bound by everything that might pass on the occasion. However, he did not think it necessary to state his opinion on the subject of the registration at that meeting.
Lord Allhorpcould bear the right hon. Gentleman out in his statement, that there bad been nothing secret or underhand in the recommendation to the Irish Secretary as to registry.
Mr. O'Connellreiterated his published statement, and added, that the reason why he had charged the right hon. member for Queen's County with having acted secretly was, because the right hon. Member's recommendation to Mr. Stanley took 77 place in November last; and, in the following February, a resolution was unanimously agreed to at a meeting of Irish Members, of which the right hon. Gentleman was one, calling for the English in place of the Irish system of registration.
§ Sir Henry Parnellhad no recollection of any such resolution, and did not consider himself pledged to it.