§ MR. MAGUIREsaid, he rose to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether Mr. Horsley, Poor Law Inspector, has made his official Reports to the Irish Poor Law Commissioners, respecting the several districts in the west of the county Cork, which he lately visited, with a view to ascertain their condition; and whether there is any objection to lay such Reports before Parliament; also, whether he would object to lay before Parliament any Reports made to him by Mr. Horsley of the same districts?
§ SIR ROBERT PEELsaid, Mr. Horsley had made the Reports which were specially desired of him; but he thought it would establish a bad precedent if the confidential communications of subordinate officers to Members of the Government were, as a general rule, submitted to Parliament. He did not wish, therefore, to lay any portion of those Reports on the table of the House.
§ MR. MAGUIREsaid, the right hon. Baronet had not answered the first part of the Question, as to Mr. Horsley's official Reports to the Commissioners.
§ SIR ROBERT PEELsaid, he should prefer not to lay them on the table of the House.