§ LORD JOHN MANNERSsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, If it is the intention of the Government to introduce any measures for the better security of life, or for the better administration of the Law in cases of trial for murder in Ireland?
MR. GLADSTONEI think, Sir, that, if I construe rightly the intention of the noble Lord in putting this Question, it has some special reference to the recent failure at a trial in Dublin, following on a failure in the same case at Galway. Now, it is but fair to those who may be regarded as having been instrumental in that failure to observe that, in the opinion of the Advisers of the Crown, there were special circumstances, on which it is not necessary and it would not be advisable to dilate, which go far to account for the occurrence, without imputing blame to the parties, or drawing from it the conclusion that there is an indisposition to perform a public duty. With regard to the more general scope of the Question, I may refer to the intentions of the Government as declared in. The Speech from the Throne at the commencement of the Session. It is not necessary to go back on the discussions which were held on the Motion for an Address. So much I may say in reply to the noble Lord, if the changes to which he alludes in his Question would involve a departure from the principles of the Constitution; but if he alludes to changes within the principles of the Constitution, then I may reply that several changes in the law are under our consideration; but I am not at present in a position to say whether or not we shall be able to propose any definite measures on the subject. I expect, however, that within a week we shall be in a position to declare our intention in this respect.