§ MR. VANCE, for Sir William VERNER, asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether a case has been reported to him where a policeman employed in collecting the Census Papers at Newtown Hamilton, in County Armagh, is accused of having destroyed the forms filled by several families, in which "Church of Ireland" was written in the column headed "Religious Profession;" and, whether in so doing the man acted under instructions; if so, from whom they emanated; and, in case he is proved to have acted on his own responsibility, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, in reply, that a charge of the kind had been made by the Rector of Newtown Hamilton, county Armagh; but on examination of the only special instance named it was found that the constable had entered the religious denomination of the person, but, owing to some irregularity, the form was destroyed, and another, properly filled up, was substituted. It was found, on investigation, that there was no foundation whatever for the charge of destroying forms.