§ Colonel Acton,seeing the noble Lord the Secretary for Ireland in his place, wished to ask whether the Government proposed to introduce any measure for regulating or restricting the parading of vast bodies of men dressed in scarfs, and accompanied by bands of music, for the purpose of promoting teetotalism?
§ Lord Eliotsaid, that it was not the intention of the Government at present to introduce any measure for the regulation 1425 or restriction of temperance processions in Ireland. They were not conducted avowedly for any party purposes, and he should be loth to interfere with proceedings which had been beneficial to the lower order of people in Ireland.
Mr. O'Connell,as these processions had taken place for the last three years, begged to ask the noble Lord, whether any instance had been reported to the Government of any breach of the peace occurring by reason of any one of them?
§ Lord Eliotcould not answer the question decidedly; but he was not aware of any such instance having been reported.