§ MR. HEALYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Would there be any objection in practice to an English convict being allowed to peruse a memorial prepared on his behalf outside, with a view to his making additions or alterations therein?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT,in reply, said, it was impossible to lay down a rule applicable to all cases; but as a general principle there would be every desire to facilitate the action of a convict in bringing before the Secretary of State any facts which bore upon his innocence, or upon the grounds for mitigating the severity of his sentence, and generally on the application of the facts in any manner which might tend to elucidate his case.