§ MR. HEALYasked Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland, By whose advice was Surgeon Wheeler's demand against the Government (for attendance on a wounded landlord) resisted; whether it was deposed in evidence that the Government were willing to pay him £700, 439 while his claim was £1,147 18s.; whether the Government employed the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, and Mr. Dodd (instructed by Mr. Lane Joynt), to resist his claim before a jury; if he can state what amount was marked on the briefs of the Government lawyers, and how much they obtained as "refreshers;" whether it is the fact that the Government ultimately admitted in Court the full claim of Surgeon Wheeler, that the case was withdrawn from the jury, and that they had to pay, in addition to their own costs, the costs of three opposing Queen's Counsel; and, if he can state what the taxed costs of the Plaintiff amounted to, and how much the suit has cost the Government altogether beyond the £1,147 18s. originally claimed, which they subsequently admitted in Court was due to Surgeon Wheeler?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER), who was very imperfectly heard, said, the demand was resisted on the advice of the then Attorney General and Solicitor General for Ireland. The Government considered the claim too large, but were willing to pay £700 on foot of it. The Government employed the counsel named in the Question. It had never been usual to state the amounts marked on the briefs of Crown lawyers, and he could not state the amounts. The Government defended the action on the faith of a memorandum of terms which had boon handed to Surgeon Wheeler by direction of the late Mr. Burke, who was afterwards assassinated. After the trial had been commenced, Mr. Wheeler stated that he had had a conversation with Mr. Hamilton, in which the amount of the fees was agreed upon. Mr. Hamilton, when appealed to, although he could not recollect the conversation, would not undertake to swear what occurred. Hence the Government admitted the claim, and, as a matter of course, had to bear the costs of both sides. The taxed costs amounted to £208 14s. 7d., and the suit would cost the Government, as he was informed, about £400, in addition to the £1,147 18s.
§ MR. HEALYgave Notice that on the Estimates he would move to reduce the salary of the hon. and learned Gentleman by £400.
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. WALKER)said, he 440 thought it right to mention that on the occasion in question he happened to be counsel for Surgeon Wheeler.