§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYsaid, that as the proceedings on the Galway Election Petition had extended over many days, and the evidence taken was very voluminous, and as the judgment of Mr. Justice Keogh extended over nine hours, and contained language of an unusual nature, he hoped that, in justice to that learned Judge, the earliest opportunity would be afforded to the country of knowing what it was that Mr. Justice Keogh really did say in giving his judgment. He, therefore, wished to put to the First Lord of the Treasury the Question of which he had given Notice—namely, Whether the attention of the Government has been directed to the judgment of Mr. Justice Keogh in the Galway Election Petition case; and, whether means will be taken to place upon the Table of the House the shorthand writer's report of the exact terms and language of that judgment, without the delay that must ensue if the production of the document in question is deferred until the voluminous evidence taken in the course of the inquiry is ready for publication?
MR. GLADSTONECertainly, Sir, the attention of the Government has been called to the report of the important judgment delivered by Mr. Justice Keogh in the Galway Election Petition case. But I may observe that neither we nor the public are as yet in what may be termed authentic possession of that judgment. I have been told—I cannot say I know it, but I have been told—that Mr. Justice Keogh does not at all desire to be bound by the precise expressions of the report, and thinks that they are not in some respects likely to convey his 1026 meaning in the fullest and most satisfactory manner. But, as far as we are concerned, I do not think we have any title to interfere as an Executive Government in this matter, as the statute, I apprehend, makes full provision for dealing with it, and under the statute it will be the duty of Mr. Justice Keogh, I believe, to make a Report to the Speaker of the House of Commons. Mr. Justice Keogh has reserved a case for the Court of Common Pleas; and I believe it is not until Thursday, or some later day, that it can be dealt with; and until that has been dealt with, I do not believe that in the regular course of proceedings any further step will be taken. When that case has been disposed of, I believe that Mr. Justice Keogh will make his Report to the Speaker, and that the evidence will be forwarded to the Speaker. That will also be the time for our procuring—and it will be more consonant with precedent—a copy of his judgment. And I think in a case of this kind—where matters of very considerable consequence may be involved—it is especially requisite that we should allow the whole of the proceedings to take their own natural course, particularly as we believe that the provisions of the statute are quite sufficient for bringing the whole matter regularly before the House.