§ Lord Fitzgerald,in laying before their Lordships a statement of Mr. Blackbourne, the magistrate and collector of the district of Madura, in the presidency of Madras, respecting the treatment of certain Roman Catholics by that gentleman, begged to observe, that as he had been represented to have said on a former occasion that Mr. Blackbourne's statement was unsatisfactory, he felt it fair that he should now state that that observation did not apply to Mr. Blackbourne's statement, but that, on the contrary, so far as that gentleman's statement went, it ought to be considered satisfactory. The noble Lord then moved, that there be laid before the House copies of any further communications received since the 4th of October, 1841, relating to the Madura district, in the presidency of Madras, with respect to places of Roman Catholic worship.
Lord Cliffordwished that the official communication received by the Government from Lord Ellenborough upon this subject should be laid before Parliament.
§ Lord Fitzgeraldconsidered it would be a very inconvenient precedent to accede to the noble Lord's wish. He thought the noble Lord had better first peruse the papers which had been just 244 laid on the table before urging his request to have any further documents produced.
§ Papers laid on the Table.
§ Adjourned.