§ SIR COLMAN O'LOGHLENasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the statement in the public prints that the Petition against the Return of Mr. O'Donnell, one of the Members for the 1582 borough of Galway, has been set clown for trial at Galway on the 18th of May, before Mr. Justice Lawson, one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal in Ireland, be correct; whether the office of Lord Commissioner of the Great Seal in Great Britain and in Ireland is not an office held at the pleasure of the Crown; and, whether he considers it proper and constitutional that a Judge should act as an Election Judge while holding an office at the pleasure of the Crown, an Election Judge being empowered by statute to decide, without appeal, on the right of Members petitioned against to retain their seats in this House?
§ MR. DISRAELISir, a Lord Commissioner of the Great Seal does not cease to be a Common Law Judge because he acts in Equity; and, therefore, he is liable to perform his duties as a Common Law Judge, There is no salary whatever attaching to the office of Lord High Commissioner of the Great Seal, and therefore I do consider it proper that he should act as an Election Judge under these circumstances.
§ SIR COLMAN O'LOGHLENI beg to give Notice that on going into Committee of Supply on Thursday, I shall call the attention of the House to the right hon. Gentleman's answer, and move a Resolution.