§ MR. H. BEAMISHsaid, he wished to ask the noble Lord the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there was any truth in a rumour which had been for some time in circulation, to the effect that the clemency of the Crown was about to be extended to Mr. Smith O'Brien? He had no hesitation in saying that if that rumour were true it would give universal satisfaction in Ireland.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, in answer to the question of my hon. Friend, I have to state that the matter to which he has adverted has been under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. The facts appear to be, that while some of those persons who were transported with Mr. Smith O'Brien have thought fit to break their parole, and have escaped from 1113 the place of their destination, Mr. Smith O'Brien himself, whatever might have been his faults and guilt, has acted like a gentleman, and has not taken advantage of opportunities for escape of which, if he had been a less honourable man, he might have availed himself. It is, therefore, the intention of Her Majesty's Government to advise the Crown to extend to Mr. Smith O'Brien the means of placing himself in the same situation, by an act of clemency on the part of the Crown, in which those other persons have placed themselves by a violation of the pledges which they had given.