§ MR. KNOX (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many Justices of the Peace were appointed in the County Cavan during the last 12 months of the term of Office of the late Administration, and how many of these were Protestants and how many Catholics; how many have been appointed in the same county during the past 12 months, and how many of these were Protestants and how many Catholics; whether he is aware that the majority of Petty Sessions districts of the county are still without a single Catholic Justice of the Peace, though the vast majority of the people are Catholics; and whether effectual steps will be taken without further delay to redress the balance?
MR. J. MORLEYFifteen Magistrates were appointed in the County Cavan during the last 12 months of Office of the late Administration, of whom one is a Roman Catholic, one a Presbyterian, and 13 are of the Church of Ireland. Six Magistrates have been appointed in the same county during the last 12 months, of whom four are Roman Catholics, one is a Methodist, and one Church of Ireland. There are 18 Petty Sessions in the county, and at 13 of these one or more Catholic Justices of the Peace attend, or are eligible to attend. The total number of Magistrates in the county is 114, of whom 29 are Roman Catholics. The Lord Chancellor assures me he is ready to consider the names of any Roman Catholic gentlemen that may be brought before him as suitable for the Commission of the Peace.