§ MR. W. VERNERsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether the Government have any objection to state on whose application, and for what alleged reasons, a large extra force of Police were billeted in Caledon for the 12th of July; and, whether it is not the fact that the local magistracy had previously expressed a decided opinion that their services were not required?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEsaid, in reply, that the Government had received an application from certain Roman Catholic inhabitants of the town of Caledon, asking for an increase in the police force on the then coming 12th of July. It was impossible for the Government to comply with all such applications, and no answer was returned to this; but it was referred to the resident 449 magistrate, who was instructed to make arrangements for the preservation of the peace. The resident magistrate ordered a head constable and twenty additional constables to be sent there, and he (Mr. Chichester Fortescue) did not think the magistrate was wrong in taking that course, considering that this town contained a mixed population of 300 Roman Catholics and 800 Protestants, and that upon the 12th of July a large number of Orangemen, to the number of 3,000, marched through the town with forty drums and fifes. There was no breach, of the peace; but, in his belief, the resident magistrate used a proper discretion in increasing the police force by this small number. As to any statement made by the local magistrates on the subject, he knew nothing of it.