§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been officially called to the language attributed to Mr. Archdale, High Sheriff of Fermanagh, who is alleged to have, on the day after his appointment, employed the following words:—
I am appointed Sheriff. I hope I won't have a great deal to do; but if ever I get a Parnellite at the end of a rope I will give it a very heavy tug at the other end;whether Mr. Archdale will have to perform the duty of summoning juries during his term of office; whether it is not within the authority of the Lord Lieutenant or of the Lord Chancellor to remove this gentleman from office; and, if not, whether Mr. Archdale is a Justice of the Peace; and, if so, whether he will be continued in the magistracy?
§ MR. TREVELYAN, in reply, said, the Government had not read, nor seen the words mentioned in the Question. The duty of summoning jurors devolved upon Mr. Archdale, as High Sheriff; but he (Mr. Trevelyan) had no share in selecting them, nor as to the manner in which they were to be summoned. It was not intended to remove Mr. Archdale from the Bench. The High Sheriff could be removed by the Lord Lieutenant, 83 but he did not act as a magistrate during the period he was Sheriff.