DR. CAMERONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the circumstances attending a conviction recently obtained against William Forrest, at Glasgow, for selling plate without a licence, to the admitted fact that he was seduced by the false representations of an officer of the Inland Revenue into the breach of Law of which he was convicted; that the department instituted, 1285 the prosecution in ignorance of this, and, since learning it, have reprimanded the officer; and, whether, taking these circumstances into consideration, he will recommend the Commissioners to remit the penalty imposed?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHSir, it is true that there were misrepresentations on the part of the officer of the Inland Revenue who made the detection in this case; yet, as Forrest was duly convicted by the magistrates of an offence against the Revenue laws, it would not be advisable for the Board of Inland Revenue, of its own motion, to mitigate the penalty unless recommended by the magistrates to do so. But any recommendation by the magistrates would, of course, receive the favourable consideration of the Commissioners.