§ MR. CHARLEYsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, What steps the Government have taken, or intend to take, for the prevention of an illegal lottery, the tickets for which are headed "St. Clare's Female Orphanage," Harold's Cross, Dublin, and the drawing of the prizes of which is announced to be held on the 17th and 18th instant?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEreplied, that he was not previously aware of the important event which was about to occur in Ireland; but since the hon. Gentleman gave notice of his Question he had ascertained what that event really was. He found that a sort of bazaar was to be held at Dublin on the 17th and 18th of the present month in behalf of a Roman Catholic charity which supported some hundred and odd orphan girls. Whether the lottery to which the question alluded was contrary to law or not he did not mean to say; but he found that the same question had been raised over and over again under successive Irish Governments, and it had 1870 been uniformly decided that it was not the duty of Government to interfere in cases of this kind. Those lotteries had no tendency to encourage gambling, and if anybody deemed them contrary to the letter of the law the courts were open and the question might be tried. He might remark that the strongest opinion on the subject was given by the legal Adviser to the late Government.