§ Mr. William S. O'Brienseeing the noble Lord, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, in his place, would take that opportunity of asking a question relating to a man named John Conway, who was taken up under a writ of rebellion, and committed to the county of Limerick gaol, where he was confined for a month, and obliged to break stones like the common felons of the prison, by the governor of the prison, against whom he would not be supposed to offer any censure. He was subsequently sent to Dublin handcuffed, and under an escort; and having been brought before the Barons of the Exchequer it was decided that he had been illegally detained, and was order ed to be discharged. There were many circumstances in the case to make it one of an oppressive nature against Conway, who had not been in possession of the farm for nearly two years before; and although the sum claimed under the Tithe Com mutation Bill amounted to 10l., he offered the clergyman 9l. 10s. and costs. Now the question he had to ask was, whether Conway, who, under the existing laws was a tithe debtor, was to be treated as a felon and a criminal? and if not, whether any report had been made to the Government on the subject, or any inquiry instituted in reference to the treatment he experienced 1312 while in the gaol of the county of Limerick?
§ Lord Morpethreplied, that no official communication had been made on the subject, and all he knew of it was from what appeared in the papers. As for the con. duct of the gaoler, the Government had nothing to do with him; he was the officer of the High Sheriff of the county, and was only accountable to him.
§ Subject dropped.