§ MR. NEWDEGATEsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House certain documents, being a copy of leaves from O'Farrell's diary; a Report of some conversations between the Colonial Secretary and the late prisoner; several declarations in the nature of affidavits in support of the genuineness of the Papers; and an explanatory Minute by Mr. Parkes in his then capacity as Colonial Secretary, which documents had been presented to the Legislative Assembly of Australia, and had appeared in the Australian Newspapers? He said that information had reached him in reference to the Fenian conspiracy, such as rendered it in his opinion most important that the Government should lay upon the Table the documents to which his Question referred. These documents bore directly upon the existence of the conspiracy in this country, and showed clearly that a document had been sent out to Australia which was termed a warrant for the execution of the Duke of Edinburgh, and that it was sent out by some of the co- 1791 conspirators in this country. The nature of the evidence with respect to the existence and extent of the conspiracy in this country was so important that he hoped the Colonial Secretary would consent to place the Papers before the House, and through the House before the magistracy of the country. He begged to add that when these Papers were before the House he should take an opportunity of bringing forward some further information upon the subject.
§ MR. MONSELLsaid, that he was sure that he should best consult the wishes of the House by simply informing the hon. Gentleman that he should be happy to lay the Papers on the table.