§ MR. RICHARD SMYTHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether the condition of the rural districts of the county of Londonderry is not such as to 1667 warrant the Government in withdrawing from them the Lord Lieutenant's Proclamation under the Peace Preservation Act?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, the only rural districts of the county of Londonderry now proclaimed are the barony of Loughlinsholin, and a small district adjoining the city of Londonderry itself. Inquiries were made last autumn as to the necessity for continuing the proclamation in the former district; hut, having regard to the strong feeling on party subjects, it was not considered advisable to revoke it, and the reports from the district of the proceedings on the 17th of March last justified that decision. Fresh inquiries will in due time be made, and of course the action taken will depend on their result. I hope that the proclamation of the rural district near the city of Londonderry may before long be revoked.