§ MR. WHALLEYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has 525 been given to a statement in The Times newspaper of the 11th of May, that six young ladies had escaped from a Convent at Glossop, and having walked to Sheffield, a distance of twenty-five miles, were there taken charge of by the police, and by them handed over to another Convent called Notre Dame at the request of the Superior of the Convent from which they had escaped; whether it is his opinion that the police at Sheffield were justified in so acting; whether any inquiry will be instituted as to the circumstances connected with this escape; and, generally, whether any, and what, means are available for affording protection to any such persons against detention in Convents against their will?
§ MR. WALPOLE, in reply, said, he had that morning directed inquiries to be made into all the circumstances of the case, and thought it would be improper for him to make any observations on the matter until he was in possession of the result of the inquiries instituted.