§ COLONEL WILSON-PATTENsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether there is any objection on the part of the Government to lay upon the Table of the House Copies of the Correspondence that has taken place between the Irish Government and the local authorities of the disturbed dis- 21 tricis; and more especially that entered into with the Lord Lieutenant with respect to the levying the Rates in the disturbed districts, in accordance with the 8th section of the Preservation of the Peace Act; and, also, whether the Government have received any Report of the reasons why the Rates have not been collected in some places? He should also wish to have a Return of the mode in which the Rates have been collected for several years past by successive Governments.
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEreplied, that he would be most anxious to furnish the right hon. Gentleman with all the information it was in his power to give. Speaking on the spur of the moment, he had no doubt that he could furnish him with the Return of the names, facts, and dates relating to this subject. With regard to the correspondence, however, he was not able to say whether he could produce it or not, seeing that much of it, as the right hon. Gentleman must be aware, was of a confidential character. He would see how much of it he was at liberty to produce, and if the right hon. Gentleman would come down to the Irish Office in a short time it should be at his service.
§ COLONEL WILSON-PATTENsaid, he had seen the whole of the correspondence, but was particularly anxious that the correspondence with the magistrates of the county of Tippcrary respecting the unfortunate affair in which Mr. Scully was engaged should be laid upon the table of the House.
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEsaid, there could be no difficulty whatever with regard to the production of the correspondence with these magistrates, which was, of course, not confidential.