The Bishop of Exeterpresented two petitions, one from the clergy of the diocese of Dromore, the other from the clergy of the diocese of Clogher, against the national system of Education in Ireland. He should take that opportunity to advert to a statement made on a former evening by a noble and learned Lord whom he then saw in his place. The 663 statement made by the noble and learned Lord was this:—
With respect to the forgeries that had been mentioned, that had been fully contradicted. It so occurred that one of the party was a neighbour of his, of the name of Morrison, and the other, a gentleman of the name of Cockburn, whose names were said to be subscribed to a document, but without their knowledge or consent. But what was the fact? The Commissioners had ascertained that Mr. Morrison not only had given authority for his name being signed, but when the document was shown to him, he said that his name was in his own handwriting; he recollected having signed it, and also that of his son, by his authority.The right rev. Prelate then read a sentence from a letter of Mr. Morrison, setting forth that this statement was utterly contrary to the fact, and was destitute of all justification in fact.
Lord Plunkettsaid, he had no personal knowledge of the subject, and all he had stated was the fact as he had been informed, as it appeared before the Commissioners, and which he believed to be true. He had been assured that both the names of Mr. Morrison and his son were in the same handwriting.
§ Petitions laid on the table.