§ Mr. EYKYNsaid, he rose to ask Her Majesty's Government, Whether the William Henry Cook, scheduled as a briber in the Report made to the House of Commons by the Commissioners to inquire into corrupt practices at Beverley, is the same person as William Henry Cook, Esquire, Q.C., now one of the Judges of the County Court for the county of Norfolk; and, if so, whether he is not, under Section 45 of 31 and 32 Vic. c. 125, rendered incapable, as being found guilty of bribery, of holding any judicial office; and if, in the judgment of Her Majesty's Government the statutable incapacity does not attach without further proceedings, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to institute such proceedings as may be necessary, in the present state of the Law, to subject the person so scheduled to the disqualification imposed in the said Act?
MR. BRUCE, in reply, said, as the evidence on that subject was delivered only that morning, the Government had not had an opportunity of considering the matter in order to see how far the description given in the hon. Gentleman's Question was accurate in its reference to Mr. Cook. But with respect to the application of the Act it appeared extremely doubtful whether the section in question had the force the hon. Member supposed.