THE EARL OF STRADBROKErose to put a Question to the noble Earl the Secretary for the Colonies, of which he had given him private notice—namely, Whether any, and, if any, what, steps Her Majesty's Government intended to 77 take in consequence of the violent and disgusting speech lately made by the Mayor of Cork at a public dinner, at which he presided, given in honour of two convicted Fenians lately released from prison by the clemency of the Grown. It would not be necessary for him to refer to the various passages of that speech, which had excited so strong a feeling in this country and among the loyal inhabitants in Ireland, as the were so well stated last week by a noble Viscount (Viscount Lifford) on the cross-Benches: but he would mention one, where the Mayor greatly eulogized O'Farrell, who had been guilty of shooting at with intent to kill a member of our Royal Family, which sentiment was loudly cheered by the assembled company. Having for more than forty years paid annual visits to the South of Ireland, and being intimately acquainted with the feelings, character, and temper of the middle and lower orders there, he was confident that such language would greatly encourage them, or some one of them, to make a similar attempt against the brother of that Royal Prince, who at the time was travelling through the country. He should indeed regret that the Mayor of Cork should be prosecuted, unless the Law Officers of the Crown felt that a conviction was more than probable; but if this were doubtful, our course was clear: Parliament ought not to separate till a Bill had passed insuring punishment for the future to all men who might be guilty of such treasonable conduct, and to give the Crown power instantly to dismiss any public officer from his appointment.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, he had no hesitation in answering the Question, though the noble Earl had not given the usual notice of it, for it was not likely to lead to any argument. It was the intention of the Government—as he believed had already been announced in "another place"—to bring in a Bill dealing with the case of the Mayor of Cork. THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY asked whether the Bill would be of general operation, or whether it would be limited to the case of the Mayor of Cork?
§ EARL GRANVILLEreplied that the Bill would be confined to the case of the Mayor of Cork.