*VISCOUNT CLIFDENI wish to make an explanation, or rather an apology, to Her Majesty's Government. It may be in the recollection of some of your Lordships that I asked for a Paper to be printed a few days ago, which was refused to me on the score that it was too old—"antiquated" was, I think, the word I read somewhere attributed to the Government. But somebody has been kind enough to send me this Paper, printed as a Parliamentary Paper— [laughter]—in the year 1882, which, I need not remind your Lordships, was the year in which that infamous Act called the Land Act of 1881 came into operation; and, perhaps, noble Lords will be interested to know that the Paper was printed at the suggestion of the late Mr. W. H. Smith. I do not accuse the noble Lord who replied on behalf of the Government of knowing anything about this, but I think the Irish Office might have known something of this Paper, and then the noble Lord would not have given such an answer as was given to me the other night. Noble Lords on my side of the water, at all events, will be glad to know that this Paper is published. There are 74 pages of Griffith's instructions, and three of the Land Commissioners.
§ House Adjourned at Five, o'Clock, till Tomorrow, a Quarter past Ten o'Clock.