§ MR. T. DUNCOMBEsaid, he rose to ask the noble Lord the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to advise the Crown to grant the same amount of pardon to Frost, William, and Jones, convicted of high treason in 1839, which had been recently extended to Mr. Smith O'Brien, convicted of a similar offence in 1848? It was with much pleasure he had heard that it was Her Majesty's gracious intention to extend Her mercy to Mr. Smith O'Brien, and he wished to ask the noble Lord whether the same ground was not equally applicable for an extension of clemency to Messrs. Frost, Williams, and Jones? They were convicted of high treason in 1839, and they had therefore suffered fifteen years' banishment from their native land. During the whole of that time their conduct had been most exemplary, and had been so represented by the Governor of Van Diemen's Land. He trusted, therefore, that the same amount of mercy would be extended to them as had been properly extended to Mr. Smith O'Brien.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONSir, Her Majesty, who is always glad when She can properly find an opportunity of tempering justice with mercy, has been graciously pleased to sanction an extension of Her clemency to Messrs. Frost and Williams, 449 similar to that which she has extended to Mr. Smith O'Brien. [Mr. DUNCOMBE: And Jones?] Yes, of course, to Frost, Williams, and Jones, the three who were sentenced together. And I take this opportunity of saying that there are two other gentlemen—[a laugh]—who were transported at the same time with Mr. Smith O'Brien—Mr. Martin and Mr. Doherty—who had committed slighter offences than Mr. Smith O'Brien, and whose sentence was therefore limited for a shorter time. Her Majesty's indulgence has also been extended to them.