§ MR. SEXTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware that, on or about the 27th of January last, the Custom House officials at Folkestone seized and retained some 34,000 copies of the newspaper "United Ireland," contained in packages addressed to Messrs. Vickers and Co., of London, and other well-known newsagents; whether he is aware that another seizure of about 5,000 copies was made under similar circumstances at Dover in the following week; and, whether the Custom House officials, in making the seizures in question, acted under instructions from the Government; and, if so, by virtue of what Statute, or in the exercise of what legal authority the Government are entitled to confiscate private property, and to seize and retain an issue of a newspaper, without first having taken steps to ascertain or inquire if the issue in question contained illegal matter?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTYes, Sir; I learn that certain bales containing The United Ireland newspaper have been distrained by the Custom House officers. That was done under the authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury acted under proper legal advice; 1098 and if the legality of that is to be disputed, it must be a question in a Court of Law.