THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEsaid, there was a report that a considerable body of troops had been sent from Dublin into the county with which he was connected (Galway), although not into the district with which he was more immediately connected. It was said that three companies of infantry and a troop of dragoons had been sent to Tuam, with the view of their being sent further into the county. He did not know how far the report might be true; but he had it upon a very good authority. Now the sending so large a military force into that county was well calculated to raise considerable alarm throughout Ireland and in this country also. He should be glad if the Secretary of the State for the Colonies would tell him whether the Government in this country had any information of such action having been taken by the Irish Government, and if so, what were the reasons which were deemed to necessitate that step?
§ EARL GRANVILLEreplied that a telegram was received on Saturday at Dublin Castle from the resident magistrate of Tuam, stating that a large mob had assembled between Dunmore and Tuam, and were obliging the farmers to swear that they would give up their grass lands, and were also levying money and burning hay-ricks. A detachment of constabulary was thereupon ordered to proceed from Athlone to Tuam. But it turned out that the report had been much exaggerated, though it was true the county of Mayo was in a bad and disturbed state. Bands of men had been roaming about within the last few days, obliging farmers to swear that they would give up their grass lands, attacking herds' houses, and levying money. There seemed, also, to have been two cases of incendiarism. A telegram was received yesterday from the major in command of the detachment stating that nothing fresh was reported, and that everything appeared quiet. He 1960 added that that district was usually in a bad state, but that the account was exaggerated.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Five o'clock, to Thursday next, half past Ten o'clock.