§ MR. STOCKsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether the Law in Ireland is the same as that in England with regard to the treatment of prisoners convicted of seditious libel?
THE EARL OF MAYOsaid, in reply, that he did not know whether this was quite a Question which he should be called upon to answer; but he might state shortly what he believed to be the difference of the Law in England and Ireland. In Ireland the Law did not provide for the classification 260 of prisoners convicted of misdemeanour; but in England the Prison Act of 1865 contained this provision—
And whenever any person convicted of misdemeanour is sentenced to imprisonment without hard labour, it shall be lawful for the Court or Judge before whom such person has been tried to order, if such Court or Judge think fit, that such person shall be treated as a misdemeanant of the first division, and a misdemeanant of the first division shall not be deemed to be a criminal prisoner within the meaning of this Act.The treatment of persons undergoing sentences for this description of offences was that of first-class misdemeanants, which was regulated by Rules made by two Justices at Quarter Sessions, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State. He would hand a copy of those Rules to the hon. Member.