COLONEL DICKSONsaid, he rose to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether he has received a letter containing a Protest against any reduction in the number of Directors of Convict Prisons; if so, how long that letter has remained unanswered, and whether he has since held any communication with Captain Crofton, with a view to the reconsideration of the question?
§ MR. CARDWELLsaid, the first proposal was that Mr. Lentaigne should be a Member of the Local Board. Thereupon, communications passed with the Castle of Dublin, the result of which was that, owing to the objections taken, partly by Captain Crofton and others, it was not effect. He (Mr. Cardwell) found from the letter which he had received from the Directors, dated the 7th of May, that on the 3rd of May General Larcom wrote to them that His Excellency did not intend to fill up the vacancy until sufficient time had elapsed to afford the means of judging whether such appointment was necessary. On the 24th, a letter containing the proposal made respecting Captain Barlow, was written to him officially, and as soon as he received the sanction of the Treasary to the arrangement he wrote to the Convict Directors, expressing a wish to receive a statement of the working of the arrangements when a sufficient time had elapsed to enable them to give the results of their experience.