§ MR. HARRINGTONasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is true that the solemn declarations made by Patrick Joyce and Patrick Casey previous to their execution in Galway Gaol, and afterwards communicated to the Lord Lieutenant, were made at the solicitation of the clergyman who attended them to prepare them for death; and, whether, having regard to the public feeling in Ireland upon this matter, he will cause copies of these declarations to be laid upon the Table of the House? The hon. Member hoped he might be permitted to explain that a portion of the Question was omitted, which the right hon. Gentleman would, no doubt, have answered had he seen it. It was, whether those declarations were made with the avowed object of saving the life of Myles Joyce? He wished to state that had received letters from several Catholic clergymen, thanking him for having asked this Question—["Order!"] He hoped also he would be permitted to say—["Order!]—that he had addressed this Question to the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury. ["Order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe Question was, in its original form, irregular, and was revised under my authority. The addition now made is not in Order.
§ MR. HARRINGTONstated that he would postpone the Question if the Prime Minister could not answer it, as he had not been satisfied with the answers of the Chief Secretary.
§ MR. TREVELYANAS the Question is on the Paper I am bound to answer the first portion of it, and my answer is, that His Excellency is not 45 aware whether the statements referred to were made upon the solicitation of any person. I have already, on a former occasion, answered, perhaps, somewhat over fully in the case of a Question of this description, and I can add nothing to what I then said.
§ MR. HARRINGTONArising out of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, may I ask whether His Excellency, not being aware of the fact, had made any inquiry regarding it?
§ [No reply was given.]