§ The Speakersaid, that a question had arisen upon the cases of the petitions from the county of Sligo and from the borough of Portarlington. In all those cases the objections were the same, and on those objections he considered that the recognizances entered into were not in conformity with the directions of the Act of Parliament. In stating thus much he felt bound to add, that it appeared to him that in the cases of Sligo, Carrickfergus, and Portarlington, the same party was concerned for the petitioners. That party came to his secretary and produced two recognizances; and on being looked at they were both found to be objectionable in precisely the same respect. His (the Speaker's) secretary stated to the party that he conceived the recognizances could not be held to be sufficient, upon which the party appearing drew from his pocket other recognizances, 1332 and the whole were brought under his (the Speaker's) official cognizance. On examining them he found that the whole of these recognizances had been entered into at the same time by the same parties and before the same magistrate, whose signature was extremely remarkable. Now, these circumstances having come to his official knowledge, he (the Speaker) felt bound to communicate them to the House, to whom it was open to inquire from the party at the bar into the circumstances attending the transaction.
§ Sir H. Hardingesaid, that the House must feel deeply indebted to the right hon. Gentleman for the communication he had just made.