§ MR. SMYTHasked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, If the County Westmeath be not, according to judicial testimony, in a state of perfect tranquillity; and, if it be the intention of the Government to propose the repeal of the Act of last Session?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. DOWSE), in reply, said, there had undoubtedly been a great improvement in the state of Westmeath with respect to crime during the last, as compared with the preceding year. That improvement was, he believed, partly due to the Statute in question and partly due to other causes. He trusted, therefore, that the hon. Gentleman would think the Government were not justified at present in interfering with the Act, especially as it would of itself expire in June, 1873. Four persons only had been arrested in Westmeath under its provisions, and of these three now remained in custody.