§ MR. HEALYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that a letter, dated 21st May, written by a Member of this House to one of the gentlemen in Kilmainham, was stopped because it contained a passage reflecting on the political wisdom of one of the members of the Government connected with the affairs of Ireland; and, whether he will state shortly some of the principles of censorship on which the governors of prisons are instructed to act, for guidance of the public in their communications; and, if not, whether he will cause the letter to be handed to the gentleman to whom it was addressed, and issue suitable instructions in future?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)It is the fact 1776 that a letter, dated the 21st instant, written by the hon. Member for Wexford, and addressed to Denis Hannigan, a prisoner in Kilmainham Gaol under the Protection of Person and Property Act, was stopped by the Governor of that gaol. The hon. Member will find the rules as to the writing and receiving of letters by such prisoners among the Regulations made by the Lord Lieutenant under the Act, and which have been laid before Parliament.