§ LORD R. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the reason why a free pardon has been granted to A. A. Lynch.
§ MR. GLADSTONEIt would be contrary to practice for me to make a statement of the reasons for the advice which I gave to the King; but I think I may say that, in view of the altered condition of affairs in South Africa, I felt I might recommend to His Majesty a special exercise of the Royal clemency in this case.
§ VISCOUNT TURNOUR (Sussex, Horsham)Will the pardon qualify for service in this House in the event of election?
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Yes, of course.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI think that would be so.