HC Deb 03 March 1836 vol 31 cc1177-8

On the Report of the Committee on the Constabulary Force (Ireland) Bill having been brought up,

Sir Robert Bateson

, seeing the noble Lord, the Secretary for Ireland, in his place, wished to ask a question relating to the statement made by him (Sir Robert Bateson) on a former night, when this Bill was before the House. Hon. Members were aware, that he made an assertion to the effect that an officer in the police had communicated to him a circumstance which showed the wish of the Government to make the Police Force in Ireland a political body. But he refused, when taunted by Gentlemen opposite, to state the name of his informant, and he now wished to know if what he had heard from Ireland was true—namely that circular letters had been addressed by Government to every police officer in Ulster, requiring to know whether any of them had communicated with him (Sir Robert Bateson) on the subject.

Viscount Morpeth

could tell the hon. Baronet that no such circular letters were, so far as he knew, addressed to the police officers. With respect to the charge brought on a former evening against Sir Frederick Stoven, he could say, that Sir Frederick had been applied to, and Government had received such an answer as would enable them fully to refute the insinuations against his conduct. He was convinced that there existed no foundation whatever for the hon. Baronet's charges. He would take another opportunity of stating fully to the House what he considered a complete vindication of Sir Frederick Stoven's conduct.

Sir Robert Bateson

said, there was no need for Government to go to expense in sending those circular letters. He was willing to state the name of the gentleman upon whose authority he made the assertion, and was on the night he made it ready to do so, but he did not think it right to yield that information to the ironical cheers with which he was assailed from the other side. His informant was Mr. Somerset Curry, and he hoped this person would not have to contend with the vengeance of the Irish Government, or of the party which directed their entire proceedings.

Viscount Morpeth

would not notice the observation of the hon. Baronet respecting the vengeance of the Irish Government. All he would say was, that when the proper time arrived he could show that his charges against Sir Frederick Stoven were altogether unfounded.

Subject dropped.