§ MR. FAYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether Serjeant Armstrong, when going Judge of Assize for the North-West Circuit of Ireland, 380 at the last Spring Assizes, stated in his charge to the grand jury of Cavan that the cases for their consideration were
isolated in their character, distinct and unconnected, and they would find nothing in them to indicate the slightest combination threatening either the peace or the prosperity of their county. They would consider the bills, all of which were of a common-place description. There was no offence on the face of them that it was not natural to expect in a wide-spread community;and, if the learned Serjeant so reported as to the state of the county of Cavan, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to relieve the county from the operation of the coercion Acts so far as same are now applicable thereto?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI have not seen the statement quoted by the hon. Member, and I do not know from what source he gets it. But I gather from the public Press that some remarks have been made on the Assizes bench in Cavan by the learned Judge on the satisfactory state of the calendar. I have, however, stated before in this House that the question whether a county should or should not be relieved from the operation of the Peace Preservation Acts cannot be decided solely upon the ground of the state of the calendar. An inquiry has recently been made into the condition of the county Cavan, and we have received Reports from which I must say I fear the Government could not recommend the House to relieve it from the operation of these Acts.
§ MR. FAYI beg to give Notice that I will, on an early day, ask if the right hon. Baronet will furnish the House with the Reports he speaks of?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI can answer that Question at once, Sir. Certainly not.