§ MR. SHERRIFFasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been directed to a case reported in the "Worcestershire Chronicle" of the 3rd instant, wherein it is stated that a farmer, charged before the magistrates at Droitwich with cruelly beating a boy in bed with a whip till it was destroyed, and afterwards attacking him with a stick, was fined 5s. and 40s. costs, 5s. of which was awarded to the complainant; whether he considers the fine inflicted a sufficient punishment for an assault so aggravated; and, whether he will take any steps in the matter?
MR. BRUCEsaid, he had received no complaint on the subject, nor had he any information, He would remind his hon. 794 Friend that the duty of the Secretary of State in such cases was confined to advising Her Majesty in the exercise of the Prerogative of mercy. If any complaint were made against a magistrate in the discharge of his duty, the proper recipient of such complaint was the Lord Chancellor.