MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether his attention has been directed to the address of Chief Baron Pallas, at the opening of the Clare Assizes, in which his Lordship pointed out that there were only seven cases to go before the Grand Jury; that there were no offences of an agrarian character in the county, except a few threatening letters; and that the authorities were able, in consequence of the improved condition of the county, to considerably reduce the extra police force during the past year; and (2) whether, in consequence of this very satisfactory condition of the county, he will recommend His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant to reconsider the cases of the Glendree prisoners, and others who have been imprisoned for a great number of years for alleged agrarian offences, with a view to their release during Her Majesty's Jubilee Year?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI have read a newspaper report of the learned Judge's address to the Grand Jury at the opening of the Clare Assizes, in the course of which he alluded to the gradual improvement in the state of the county, and to the fact that it had been found possible in recent years to effect a reduction in the extra police establishment of the county. As regards the second paragraph, I am unable to see any reasons for dealing with the kind of crimes for which these prisoners were convicted with any peculiar leniency.