people will do. We are compelled to pay money "Mary Hamilton. "Larigan, Ballyfarnan, County Roscommon;" Mr. Northcote (3 Hansard, [289] 1862), | stop to, I do not know what honest peaceable and by letters to the public Press (The Times, October 27, 1884). A certain proportion of clay, while not adding really to its thickness, is of importance as giving firmness and evenness, and rendering the post card fitter for writing and for printing. Early last year the attention of the Inland Revenue was called to a report that the post cards contained clay. Though this did not affect the question of bulk, a crucial examination was made, which proved that the cards were fully up to the standard of thickness, and that they completely met all the requirements of the Post Office Service. No chemical analysis has been made of the paper which is now used, which is considered to be, if anything, superior in thickness and in quality to the standard laid down; and in these circumstances it is not proposed to make any analysis. POST OFFICE-ADDRESSES OF MR. SEXTON (for Mr. DWYER GRAY) asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether, when a telegram is sent from a local post office to an address in the same town, the postal authorities insist on the name of the town being inserted in the telegram, and for what purpose such a regulation is enforced? THE SECRETARY TO THE TREA SURY (Mr. H. H. FOWLER): There is IRELAND-ALLEGED " BOYCOTTING." been called to the following Letter in ruary: "Sir, I am a widow in the County Roscommon. I have got my rent fixed, and am satisfied to pay same. I now am boycotted, and my name put up on posters all around Ballyfarnan, for no reason only that my son bought 2s. 6d. worth of timber from the Earl of Kingston. My hay has been burnt about three years ago. I know no other reason why I should be boycotted only that I am a Protestant. If this state of things is not put a and, whether he will make inquiries as to Mrs. Hamilton's position, and see that she receives the protection to which every subject of Her Majesty is entitled ? MR. W. O'BRIEN: Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will allow me to ask, at the same time, If he is aware whether this newspaper, referred to in the Question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman as an authority, The Daily Express, has been obliged within the last few days to give a public apology, under threat of an action for libel, for a communication of a similar character to this, and which it acknowledged to be false and unfounded? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): I am not aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member (Mr. W. O'Brien) refers; but I have no the hon. and gallant Member (Captain doubt about its being true. In reply to M'Calmont), I have to say that no conplaints have reached the police of Mrs. Hamilton having been Boycotted." A notice, in which she and others was described as violating the National League rules by buying timber from the Earl of Kingston, was posted on the 12th January last; but no other notices referring to her have been found by, or reported to, the police. Some hay, her property, was burned about four years ago; but it was in consequence of a personal dispute which she had with some of her neighbours. She never spoke to the police about having to pay the officer of police-she had every opmoney for collections, though-so states portunity of doing so. Her servant boy left her some time ago, owing, as she alleges, to intimidation; but the police have since closely inquired into the allegation, and find no evidence to sustain it. There are several other Protestant families living at or near Ballyfarnan; but they are not "Boycotted," or in any way interfered with. The District Inspector adds, in his to have been well aware that the Act Report to me of the matter, that the of Parliament gives them absolute conpolice patrols are frequent in the neigh-trol over the erection of labourers' bourhood, and afford her the same pro- cottages. I will only add that the case tection as is given to other members of has not yet been decided by the Board the public, which, in his opinion, is of Guardians. Therefore, the alleged sufficient security for her and her pro- intimidation has so far failed to have perty. any effect. MR. JOHNSTON: Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will state why, if there is no "Boycotting," the police patrols are necessary? MR. JOHN MORLEY: I presume it is because it is thought necessary by the authorities. LABOURERS (IRELAND) ACT-TIPPE RARY BOARD OF GUARDIANS. MAJOR SAUNDERSON asked the Chief Seretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the following Letter, published in The Daily Express of the 18th February, and addressed to the Clerk of the Tipperary Board of Guardians by the Rev. John Hennessey, Roman Catholic Curate of Hollyford : "Hollyford, Feb. 14, 1886. "Dear Sir,-In reply to your Letter of the 11th instant, I beg to inform you and the Board of Tipperary Union that I have convened a special meeting of the Irish National League this day. The unanimous vote of the Committee was for Timothy O'Brien, he being a member of the Irish National League, and Fitzgerald not. At a former meeting of our Committee, held on last August, it was unanimously passed that members of the branch should get a preference of the labourers' cottages. Yours faithfully, "John Hennessey, C.C. "W. B. Reardon, Esq., Clerk, Tipperary Union." And, whether any action will be taken by the Government to prevent the Labourers' Act, passed for the benefit of the entire labouring population, being confined to the Members of the National League ? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JoUN MORLEY): I have seen the report, from which I gather that the letter referred to by the hon. and gallant Member was addressed to the Tipperary Board of Guardians. It certainly indicates an attempt to improperly limit the sphere of their operations; but there is no reason to believe that it will have that effect, as the Board of Guardians appear to have resented the interference, and Mr. John Morley LAW AND JUSTICE (ENGLAND AND WALES)-APPOINTMENT TO THE RECORDERSHIP OF LIVERPOOL. MR. CRILLY asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether his attention has been called to the extraordinary delay in the discharge of criminal business that took place at the Liverpool City Sessions during the interval that elapsed between the death of the late Recorder, Mr. J. B. Aspinall, Q.C. and the appointment of the present Recorder, Mr. Hopwood, Q.C.; whether it is a fact that, as a deputy-recorder cannot act on the death of a recorder, the sessions in question had to be adjourned three times by the mayor, thereby causing great hardship to untried prisoners, some of whom might be innocent; and, whether, in view of this condition of affairs, if it be correctly described, it is his intention to introduce a Bill amending the Municipal Act in such a way that this anomalous state of things cannot again arise? MR. ADDISON said, that before the hon. and learned Gentleman answered the Question he wished to ask him whether he was aware that all the prisoners remaining for trial at the City Sessions at Liverpool were tried at the Assizes which only concluded a week ago, and that, as a matter of fact, there were no prisoners remaining for Mr. Hopwood to try? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Mr. CHARLES RUSSELL), in reply, said, his hon, and learned Friend opposite Mr. Addison) was substantially correct; but it was true that some delays had taken place, by reason of the fact that in the existing state of the law the Deputy Recorder could not act in the event of the death of the Recorder. As a matter of fact, there was no one single prisoner awaiting trial who was retained in custody in consequence of the delay. At the same time, he quite saw that it was very desirable that some provision should be made for meeting the case by giving the Deputy Recorder power to act on the death of the Recorder. CRIME AND OUTRAGE (IRELAND) hon. Gentleman replies to this Question, MR. PARNELL: Before the right OUTRAGE AT CLONES, CO. MR. T. M. HEALY: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Why none of those who broke the windows of the clergyman and other Catholics in Clones, county Monaghan, on the 18th December, have been apprehended or brought to justice; and, is it according to Law that the sergeant in charge of the police should be registered as a Freemason? I beg to say that the second part of the Question does not appear on the Paper as I handed it in, and I decline to be respon sible for it. THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): In reply to the hon. and learned Member, I have to say that no person has been made amenable for this offence. The police say the night was dark; that there was a large crowd in the street; and that they were not aware that the windows were broken until the crowd passed. I am not quite sure what is meant by the second paragraph; but, as a matter of fact, there are two sergeants in Clones, and neither of them is a Freemason. THE IRISH NATIONAL LEAGUE MURDER OF MR. CURTIN. MR. MACARTNEY (for Colonel WARING) asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the National League indirectly and directly prohibits the payment of rent; whether he is aware that the Rev. O'Connor, P.P., Firies, is reported, in The Kerry Sentinel of 10th November, as having said, at a meeting of the National League held on 7th November, "If any tenant went behind his neighbour's back and paid his rent, he was a traitor and a coward, and should be cast out from among them. [A voice-Shoot him' (no, no).] Father O'Connor-Don't, but put a brassil on him, and he will be known and execrated all over the Country;" 6 I would ask, Whether he is aware that have been a meeting of the National the meeting alleged by the Question to League was not a meeting of that body, but a meeting of tenants on the estate of Lord Kenmare; and, whatever else was the cause of it, whether he has reason to suppose the lamentable murder of Mr. O'Connell Curtin had nothing whatever to do with his having paid or not paid his rent? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): In reply to the two parts of the Question of the hon. Member for the City of Cork (Mr. Parnell), I believe the words quoted were used not at a he is perfectly accurate in saying that National League meeting, but at a sheriff's sale; as to whether the payment of rent had nothing to do with the death of Mr. Curtin-[An hon. MEMBER: Murder!]-murder of Mr. Curtin, I cannot tell. All I can say is that, on inquiry, I find Curtin paid his rent on the 12th of October, one month before his murder. In reply to the Question of the hon. and gallant Member (Colonel Waring), I have to say that I am not aware, so far as a matter of observation, that the National League has issued such a prohibition as that described in the first part of the Question. I am aware, of course, that, in some instances, advice has been given not to pay unless in cases where a sufficient remission was given. I say, in reference to the murder of Mr. Curtin, I do not know any justification for the statement that such events occur daily. With regard to the last paragraph of the Question, I have to say that the law of conspiracy is already broad enough to deal with cases of illegal combination which have been established, and that, of course, will be continued. INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENTLOWER DIVISION CLERKS. MR. PICKERSGILL asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether a petition was received in August whether it is true that Mr. Curtin, who had paid his rent, was shot on the Friday following; and, whether, under these and similar circumstances which last from the Lower Division Clerks of recur daily in Ireland, he will take any steps to bring the present laws of conspiracy to bear upon a combination of this character? the Inland Revenue Department praying for an extension of their present annual leave of twenty-one days to twenty-eight days after five years' approved service; METROPOLIS-ORGANIZATION OF COLONEL SANDYS asked the Secre whether the Lower Division Clerks in nearly all Public Offices are in the enjoyment of at least twenty-eight days' leave, and that even in the Inland Revenue Department a number of Officers of the Minor Establishments are already in the enjoyment of twenty-eight days' annual leave; whether the prayer of the petitioners has received the approval of the head of their Department; and, whether, in these circumstances, the Treasury will sanction the extension of leave prayed for? re tary of State for the Home Department, Whether he will be prepared shortly to recommend for the consideration of this House a complete scheme for the organization and better administering of the Metropolitan Police Force, including the building of proper police barracks at various tactical points in the Metropolis; and, whether, having in view the increasing audacity of the cri THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. H. H. FOWLER): The Peti-minal classes, he will be prepared to retion of the Lower Division Clerks of the Inland Revenue Department was ceived in the Treasury in August last. Heads of Departments fix the amount of leave to be given to clerks of the Lower Division in their offices within a maximum of 28 days; but many important Departments, including the Treasury itself, allow less than 28 days. The Commissioners of Inland Revenue advocate a uniform rate of leave to clerks of the Lower Division. The persons in the minor establishments of the Inland Revenue Department, referred to in the Question as enjoying 28 days' leave, were appointed before the establishment of the Lower Division, and new appointees do not receive more leave than is granted to Lower Division Clerks. With regard to the last paragraph of the hon. Member's Question, I beg to state that, pending the decision of the general questions raised by the Lower Division Clerks, it would, in my opinion, be inexpedient to decide this particular question. SAVINGS IN IRELAND-REPORTS. MR. MITCHELL HENRY asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether any Reports on Savings in Ireland, such as was supplied by Dr. Hancock in 1875, have been made to the Government; and, if so, whether he will lay Copies of them upon the Table of the House; or, if not, whether he will direct that such Reports be prepared by the present Registrar General? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): Yes, Sir; a Report was made on this subject so late as the 10th of last month, and I shall be happy to lay a copy of it on the Table. Mr. Pickersgill commend the formation of an efficient detective force, separate in administration from the remainder of the police, and composed of men specially qualified for the tracing and detection of crime? THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr CHILDERS): The hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that I will lose no time in forwarding the inquiry I am about to make into the organization of the police, and in communicating my action upon it to the House. A detective force, such as the hon. and gallant Member describes, is already in existence, having been constituted subsequently to the Report of a Committee appointed to inquire into the detective system in 1877. But I must dispute altogether the hon. and gallant Member's assumption that the audacity of the criminal classes is increasing. On the contrary, they are, I am glad to say, from year to year diminishing in number, and are becoming much less formidable. METROPOLIS-POLICE REGULATIONS FOR DOGS. MR. MACFARLANE asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the Police Regulation enforcing the muzzling of dogs in the Metropolis, and to the inefficacy of such a regulation while the importation of dogs into London from all parts of the Kingdom is permitted; and, if he will consider the propriety of extending the order over the whole Country, or of withdrawing it in London? THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CHILDERS): In reply to my hon. Friend, I would say that I have no means of preventing the importation of dogs into London. Of course, when they once arrive here they become subject to the | in Egypt; and, if he will state how police regulations, and have to submit much of that approximate cost has been to them. How far those regulations received from Egypt in the present year, can be relaxed will depend upon what how much is expected in the ensuing the Police Authorities report to me, and year, and how much will fall upon the what they consider to be consistent with British taxpayer in 1886-7, supposing the public safety. I have no power to the Force to be maintained at its present extend the order over the whole country; strength? but a Circular was issued by my Predecessor in December last, calling the attention of the Local Authorities to the increase of rabies, and suggesting the enforcement of the Dog Act. MR. MACFARLANE asked whether it was not the fact that dogs might go unmuzzled in the City; and, were there any means of preventing unmuzzled dogs straying from the City to the West End? MR. CHILDERS, in reply, said, the regulations applied both to the City and the West End; but there were many regulations as affecting the City and the rest of the Metropolis which it would be difficult to justify. SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS asked to what extent had there been a decrease in the number of cases of rabies and of hydrophobia since the police order had been issued? MR. CHILDERS said, he would be quite willing to give a Return of the number of dogs arrested since the order for muzzling, and also the number of cases of rabies, if it were moved for by the right hon. Gentleman. EGYPT-BRITISH FORCE IN EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN. SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL asked the Secretary of State for War, If he can state approximately the number of men now in the Military service of the British Government in Egypt and the Soudan, including both British and Native Indian Troops, Commissariat, Transport, and other employés, and Marines doing Military duty; if the cost of the 142,194 men voted in the ordinary Estimates for 1885-6 (after deducting refunds other than real cash contributions) is about £133 10s. per head, including both Effectives and Non-Effectives; if he can make a rough approximate Estimate of the additions to the cost of the Effective Force in Egypt, on account of Foreign allowances, transport, commissariat, and other expenses in excess of the ordinary average, also of the proportion of Non-Effectives belonging to Regiments in Egypt, and so roughly estimate the total cost of the Force now THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN): The approximate number of troops in Egypt and the Soudan may be taken as 17,600 British troops, 2,900 Indian troops, and 4,000 employés, for the most part Natives. These do not include the regimental Indian followers at Suakin. While giving my hon. Friend this answer as to matters of fact, I cannot undertake to follow him into his calculation of cost, or to commit myself to any rough approximate estimate of expenses connected with the occupation of Egypt. There would be many debatable items in such an estimate, and it could not be explained within the ordinary limits of an answer to a Question. MR. O'KELLY asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman would have any objection to give a Return, showing the whole cost of the occupation of Egypt since the English troops first went there? MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN, in reply, said, the Question had better be addressed to the Treasury. In answer to Mr. DILLON, MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN said, he could not now state the number of British soldiers at Suakin; but if the hon. Member moved for a Return he would be happy to give it. SEED SUPPLY (IRELAND) ACT — THE SEED RATE POSTPONEMENT OF COLONEL NOLAN asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If he can now state whether he will, in consequence of the present depression, permit such unions as may apply for delay to postpone the payment of the fourth instalment of the Seed Rate for another year? THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY): I am at present unable to answer the Question of the hon. and gallant Member. I have, however, to say that communications are now in progress between the Irish Government and |