§ MR. LYELL (Orkney and Shetland)asked the Lord Advocate, Whether he is aware that the clerk to the Commissioners of Supply of Orkney has refused to allow a ratepayer, the Reverend John Jamieson, to inspect the public accounts of the county, and especially the account of expenses incurred in the prosecution of the Reverend Mathew Armour, Free Church Minister, Sanday, last year; and, whether the ratepayers of the County of Orkney have not the right to examine the accounts of the Commissioners of Supply when application has been made?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)The Rev. Mr. Jamieson is not a ratepayer chargeable with the general county assessment administered by the Commissioners of Supply. Accordingly, the clerk to the Commissioners was instructed to decline to allow him to inspect the accounts.