§ MR. SEXTONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been drawn to a statement in the "Belfast Morning News" of the 17th ultimo, to the effect that on the 12th ultimo, an Orange aniversary, the carriage of Mr. James Macolm, J.P., High Sheriff of the County Armagh, was driven through the town of Lurgan with horses decked with orange lilies; whether Mr. Malcolm's carriage had been used on the day in question to convey the going judge of 745 assize to court; whether Mr. Malcolm is the same magistrate who, a week previously, let off without any punishment or fine, Joseph Mathers, an Orangeman, of Lurgan, who had been summoned by the police for having been drunk, and having "cursed the Pope," and who admitted his guilt; and, what action the Government propose to take on the conduct of Mr. Malcolm?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, with reference to the first part of this Question, I find that Mr. Malcolm has written a letter to The Belfast Morning News, which fully explains the circumstances under which his horses were decked with Orange lilies on the occasion. The Judges had left Armagh; Mr. Malcolm had gone home by train; the carriages were going home empty, under the care of the servants, and the act was entirely due to the thoughtless proceeding of his under-coachman and against the remonstrance of the head-coachman. With regard to the case of Joseph Mathers, Mr. Malcolm, as High Sheriff, could not and did not attend the Lurgan Sessions. The case mentioned was disposed of on the 4th July before six other local magistrates.