§ CAPTAIN T. HOPE (Linlithgow)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether it is the fact that, after the Sheriff had made his report, upon sworn testimony, to the Secretary for Scotland as to the proposed amalgamation of the parishes of Bo'ness and Carriden, the Secretary for Scotland, while considering that report, had a private interview on the subject with two of the witnesses who had represented one side of the Inquiry before the Sheriff, and thereupon issued his decision in favour of the views urged by those witnesses, without their opponents having any notice or any opportunity of answer.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. O. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, BridgetonI received a letter from Bo'ness asking me to give an interview to a deputation, and I replied that it was not my custom to receive deputations as to the re-arrangement of parishes. I afterwards got a letter written from London from two gentlemen asking for an interview, and I returned the same answer. They sent in cards to me into the House; and I came out and told them by word of mouth that. I must form my decision on consideration of the report and evidence, and that I could not converse with them on the matter. I may add that, my decision was in accordance with the recommendation of the Sheriff.