The Marquess of Westmeath, in reference to a question which he had put last night to the noble Secretary for the Home Department, said that, in his mind, the refusing, by the Government, the payment of a sum of money from a Roman Catholic priest, in the case to which he had adverted, for the purpose of 111 compromising a prosecution, was an-illegal act. Nay, he would go so far as to say that it was an indictable offence. He therefore gave notice, that on Thursday, July 2, he would move for a return of the party or parties to whom the sum of 50l., stated to have been paid by the Rev. Philip O'Reilley, parish priest of Ballymacue, in the county of Cavan was given, on account of the compromise of a prosecution; a return of the person or persons through whom the compromise was effected, and a copy of the receipt given for the money.
§ Viscount Melbournesaid, the noble Marquess assumed that a compromise of a prosecution had taken place, which he had no authority for doing.
The Marquess of Westmeathstated that he proceeded on the admission of the noble Marquess (Normanby) himself. The noble Marquess had admitted that the informations were not returned to a court of justice, as they ought to have been; and he also stated that 50l. had been paid by the priest.
§ Notice given.