Lord Hawardenhaving moved for the production of certain returns relative to the working of the Poor-law in Ireland,
§ The Earl of Devonwished to ask of the noble Marquess (Normanby) whether he had received any information respecting the Surveyor of the Coleraine Union, in the county of Tipperary, having entered in the book from which the official returns were made against certain erasures in the list, the word "Tory," as he (the Earl of Devon) had received information that such was the case; and he thought that if the surveyors so far forgot their duty as to indulge in this manner their political feelings, it was a practice much to be deprecated. If the noble Marquess had received no information on the subject, he requested that he would make inquiries, and if he found that it was the case, express the disapprobation of the Government at the practice.
The Marquess of Normanbysaid, the statement of the noble Earl was the first he had heard of the subject, but he would certainly make the inquiries he desired; but from his knowledge of the character of the Assistant Commissioner, he did not believe he could have acted in a manner that would be so contrary to the spirit of his instructions.
§ Returns ordered.