§ MR. HENRYsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, If there is any truth in the statement made by the Mayor of Cork at a banquet held in that city on the 17th of March, in honour of the released Fenian Convicts, and presided over by the Mayor, and at which meeting he was reported to have used the following words:—"That they had Mr. Gladstone on their side, who, he felt confident, would release the rest of the Fenian prisoners;" and if there was any foundation in fact for that statement?
MR. GLADSTONEAs I learn, Sir, from the Question of the hon. Member that the Mayor of Cork has said "he felt confident that Mr. Gladstone would release the rest of the Fenian prisoners," I conclude, therefore, that there is some truth in his statement, because I cannot deny that the Mayor of Cork may feel confident on that subject. With respect to the other part of the Question—whether there is any foundation, in fact, for the statement of the Mayor of Cork—I have only to say that Her Majesty's Government have formed no intention to release any more of the Fenian prisoners.