§ MR. BRUENsaid, that he had a Question on the notice paper relating to the inspection of weights and measures in Ireland; but as the noble Lord the Chief 335 Secretary was not in his place, he would defer his Question. He would, however, take that opportunity of suggesting that some Member of the Government should give the House some information respecting the very serious occurrences which have taken place in Ireland during the last few hours.
§ MR. WALPOLEI think, Sir, that on all occasions, when a Question is to be put in Parliament in reference to occurrences like this, about which there have been so many rumours throughout the metropolis to-day, the duty of the Government is to communicate to the House all such information as it properly can communicate. I will therefore briefly state what, as far as the Government know, has happened in Ireland. Early in the afternoon of yesterday we received intelligence that the wires had been cut between Mallow, Killarney, and Valentia. Later in the afternoon we received intelligence—undoubted intelligence—that the wires which had been cut had been repaired, and that some servants of the company were watching and guarding them. No further intelligence reached us till eleven o'clock yesterday evening. About that hour we received intelligence that an attack had been made upon the coastguard station, or the police-station, about eight miles from Cahirciveen, and that an orderly had been shot at. This intelligence was received late yesterday evening; and upon that intelligence being received, it was determined on the part of the Government that my noble Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland should go over to Dublin the first thing this morning. That he has done, and that will account for his absence from the House to-night. The Bills therefore of which he had given notice for to-night will be postponed to Monday next. This morning further intelligence was communicated from Dublin, to the effect that the orderly who had been shot at had not been killed, but that his horse and his arms had been taken from him. The report went on to state that armed parties were marching upon Killarney, and that one of the supposed Fenian chiefs, calling himself Captain Moriarty, had been arrested on a car as he was on his way to Cahirciveen. He had upon him, as I understand, letters which implicated him in this matter. The intelligence went on to state that troops had been sent for from Tralee, from the Curragh, and, I think, one company from Cork; and that some of them would have 336 been at Killarney early this morning, and all of them early in the day. The same telegram brought also the information that there were no reports of any movement in any other part of Ireland; and therefore there is every reason to believe that, through the precautious taken by the Government there, whatever that movement may have been, it probably has been brought to an end by the time at which I am now speaking. These are the circumstances of the case, and I have thought it right to state the facts to the House.
§ CAPTAIN ARCHDALLI should like to ask Her Majesty's Government, whether, after what has occurred during the last few days, they will be prepared to re-consider the resolution announced at the opening of Parliament, and which the Irish Attorney, General has recently stated to have been come to by his advice and upon his responsibility, respecting the discontinuance of the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland?
§ MR. BAGWELLIt has been reported also that two or more steamers have landed parties from America at Valentia, and we shall be very glad to know whether there be any truth in that report.
§ MR. WALPOLEI can only say that I have no intelligence of it, and I do not believe it. With regard to the other question, respecting the Habeas Corpus Act, the hon. Gentleman cannot expect the Government to answer it at present.