§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If his attention has been drawn to a letter addressed to "Freeman's Journal" of 22nd instant, by Rev. L. Kinsella, C. C., of St. Michael's, Castlepollard, under the heading of "Writ-serving in Westmeath," in which he vouches for the 1823 accuracy of the statement that a Mr. Richard Gradwell, of Dowth Hall, near Drogheda, accompanied by his son and three hundred police, proceeded to serve writs for arrears of rent; did the son really act on the occasion as writ-server; and, does the same person, Ashurst Gradwell, hold a Commission from Her Majesty as Lieutenant in the Royal Meath Militia?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER,in reply, said, he had not seen the letter in question. He had sent for information, which had not yet arrived; but he really thought it was hardly a matter in which he ought to interfere. It was evident from the fact that 300 police accompanied Mr. Gradwell that it was considered a matter of danger to serve the writs, and he did not know that he was to blame.
§ MR. HEALYasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to a statement in the "Freeman's Journal" of the 22nd June, that Lieutenant R. A. Gradwell, of the Royal Meath Militia, had recently acted as process server near Castlepollard, county Westmeath, having gone hammer in hand and nailed up writs on the doors of some twenty people; whether Lieutenant Gradwell has recently passed an examination for the Line; and, if the Government will state what notice they will take of the matter?
§ MR. CHILDERSNO, Sir; my attention had not been called to the paragraph in question; and, if it had, I should have taken no notice of it, as the Royal Meath Militia has not been called out for training this year, and I have no power to order Militia officers not to serve processes at other times. Lieutenant Gradwell has not passed his examination for the Line.