§ MR. M'CARTAN (Down, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention had been called to the reports in the Belfast Press of the 9th instant of the evidence given by Serjeant Cummins at the trial of Vesey Fitzgerald, R.M., v. the Freeman' s Journal and Mr. Carew, M.P.; and whether Serjeant Cummins is correctly reported as having sworn, on cross-examination, that "he was asked by Mr. Brown (Mr. Carew's solicitor) to tell him what he knew about the matter, and he (the serjeant) refused. He gave his evidence on the other side;" and, if so, can he state under what authority this officer acted in declining to give evidence impartially to both parties in an action.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI understand that this action is still pending, the jury having disagreed at the recent trial. I am advised that the defendants may, if they please, subpoena the witness in question; and, pending the further trial 484 of the action, I do not think that I ought to answer any questions relating to the evidence which may be given.