§ MR. O'REILLYsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reference to the Debate on the 22nd of March, with regard to the pension granted to the poet Young, Whether he has since ascertained that the statements concerning the political character of Mr. Young's writings are absolutely true; and whether Lord Derby has, according to his promise, reviewed the matter in order to do exactly what is proper; and, if so, what he has decided on, and whether he has decided to imitate the precedents which, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer then stated, he might follow?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI am sorry, Sir, to say that it is not in my power to make the definite communication which the hon. and gallant Gentleman wishes for, on the subject on which he has addressed this inquiry; but I would observe to him that the conditions upon which he expects the judgment of the Government to be formed are of a very severe character; he wishes that we should ascertain that the statements concerning the political character of Mr. 257 Young's writings are absolutely true. Now, that cannot well be done without a full and complete examination of the works themselves. And after the responsibility which the Government have incurred in this matter, from what we are perfectly willing to admit was some inadvertence on the part of Lord Derby and myself, it is a duty which we cannot conscientiously intrust to any third person. I hope therefore, in justice to the Government, and also to Mr. Young, the hon. and gallant Member will allow the investigation still to be further deferred.
MR. BRIGHTsaid, he wished to ask the hon. and gallant Member for Longford to be a little generous with that unfortunate Irish poet, and not ask the Government to interfere with so small a matter as £40 a year under the circumstances. He thought the persecution that Mr. Young had suffered had at any rate been sufficient, and that they might well pass to more serious subjects.
§ MR. O'REILLYsaid, that he had only brought the subject forward on public grounds, and he would beg to remind his hon. Friend that he had remarked on the former occasion that if the individual in question should suffer he would himself be ready to contribute to make amends to him. After the explanation that had been given on the part of the Government that the granting the pension was an act of inadvertence, he had not the least wish to press the personal Question, and could only say that he should make no further inquiry.