§ MR. KAVANAGH (for Sir THOMAS BATESON)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Earl of Granard has resigned the Lord Lieutenancy of the County Leitrim, or whether he has intimated to the Government his intention of so doing?
MR. GLADSTONESir, some time ago a communication was made to my noble Friend the Viceroy of Ireland through a common friend, to the effect that the Earl of Granard was willing to resign his Lord Lieutenancy, provided the Government thought it desirable he should do so. The answer to that was, that we did not think it was the duty of the Government to take the initiative in a matter of that kind, in the way of advice. The Government might dismiss, but my noble Friend did not think it was his duty to advise. Recently, the noble Lord spontaneously tendered his resignation of the Lord Lieutenancy, and it has been accepted by my noble Friend.