§ LORD ASHBOURNEasked Her Majesty's Government whether they would lay upon the Table copies of the circulars regulating the giving of police protection to Sheriffs in Ireland in operation (1) on 22nd August 1892, (2) on 1st January 1893, and (3) at the present time? He said that, in the discussions which had taken place in that and in the other House, reference had been made to those circulars, and it had been stated by the Government that when they came into Office in August last they found in existence a circular which violated the law. Mr. J. Morley had replaced that by another circular, which undoubtedly fell into the same error, and in due time that again had been succeeded by another. If the Government had confined their statements to what they had done themselves, and what they believed to be the law, the matter might not have assumed a controversial character, but the line 1404 taken was to allege that the late Government had violated the law, he supposed in ignorance, and that during the tenure of Office by Mr. A. J. Balfour, and subsequently, there were 720 instances of police protection to illegal seizures. In answer to questions elsewhere that number had dwindled down to 66. Under those circumstances he wished to have the matter placed in a position for further discussion. He was informed by those competent to judge that the circular of the late Government was not open to the charge made against it, but was, on the contrary, entirely within the law. He wished to know whether there was any further reduction on the figures he had given, and whether the Government had decided to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal?
§ THE FIRST LORD OK THE ADMIRALTY (Earl SPENCER)My Lords, I wish the noble and learned Lord had given me notice of his later questions. I am quite unable to answer them without it. With regard to the other, the Government do not think that the mere production of those three circulars would adequately represent the state of the case in reference to recent Sheriffs' seizures; but they will be very happy to lay on the Table of the House all the circulars referring to this matter which have been issued since 1837. That would enable your Lordships to have fully before you the whole facts of the case, and will, I presume, as the Returns asked for would be included, satisfy the noble and learned Lord.
§ LORD ASHBOURNEsaid, if the noble Earl would show him the list he would say whether it would answer his purpose. Before modifying the question he was going to put, he had thought it more courteous to ask the Government to voluntarily lay on the Table the three circulars themselves, and instead of doing so, the noble Earl told him he might have a bundle of circulars stretching over half a century; but he would state from the list, if furnished, what would answer his purpose.