§ Lord ROBERT CECILasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has received a petition from some six or seven hundred inhabitants of South- 64W West Lancashire protesting against the action of the coroner for that district in holding an inquest upon the death of James Mellor on the 18th November last, merely because Mr. Mellor had chosen to be attended in his final illness by an unregistered practitioner, and protesting against the coroner's threat to hold inquests in all future similar cases; and whether he can now say what action he has taken or proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI have received the petition referred to. Until the coroner referred to is proved to have been guilty of misbehaviour on an indictment for misdemeanour under Section 8, Sub-section (2), of the Coroners Act, 1887, I do not intend, as at present advised, to take action in this matter.