§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the proceedings on the adjourned hearing at Ballymote Petty Sessions, on the 12th instant, of summonses charging twenty-one members and officers of the United Irish League with intimidation designed to compel Protestant farmers of the Riverstown district to become members of the League, 688 and to subscribe to its funds; and whether, in view of the decision arrived at by a majority of the justices again to adjourn the cases until February next without hearing any evidence for the prosecution, it is the intention of the Crown to make immediate application to the King's Bench Division of the High Court for a writ of mandamus compelling the justices to hear and determine the cases.
§ MR. BIRRELLThis matter is at present under the consideration of the Law Officers of the Crown, and it would not be in accordance with the public interest to make any statement upon the subject.
§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGHow long does the right hon. Gentleman expect the Law Officers of the Crown to take to make up their minds on a point on which any ordinary person could make up his mind in ten minutes?
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Government have to put up with the Law Officers they have at present.