The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-27 00:00:00

FLOGGING Oi PRISONERS IN GAOLS.

In reply to a question from Mr. lIADFIELD,
Sir G. GREY said he had seen a statement in the public
papers of two prisoners haVing been subjected to corporal
punishment. He t elieved it was strictly in accordance
with the act passed last session, which required that the
judge should specify the number of lashes, and the instru-
ment with which they were to be inflicted. He did not be-
lieve there had been any departure from the law in this
case; but of course the punishment could not be otherwise
than disagreeable. (A. laugh,)
PUBLICATION OF THE IRISH RECORDS.

In reply to Mr MONSELL,
Mr F. PEEL said it was proposed to have an inquiry
into the charges made against Mr Moran; and the Master
of the Rolls in this country had selected Mr Duffus Hardy
and Mr Brewer to conduct the inquiry. These gentlemen
were competent to perform the task with satisfaction, and
would shortly commence the inquiry.
THE CASE OF GEORGE O'MALLEY IRWIN.
Mr lIENNESSY, in moving an address to her Majesty,
to grant her fiat to the petition of right oi Mr G. O'Malley
Irwin, or to satisfy his claims without suit, characterised
the case as one of the most extraordinary that had been ever
brought before Parliament, in which a party had suffered
injustice swing to the culpable neglect of aficers of the
Crown. He gave a detailed narrative of the tacts of the
case, which has been repeatedly, in differant shapes, before
the public, the main point turning upon the proof of a letter
dated Oat. 12, 183. He roptted to the objections he ex-
pected would bo offered to the grant of the fiat, contending
that the Crown had no right to refuse a petition of right
that the question might be brought before a jury.
Mr ourAG..kN said he had taken pains to ascertain the
real facts of the case, which, if there was any truth in Mr
irwin's representation of it, involved imputations upon dis-
tinguished persons living and dead. He then proceeded to
state the real facts, supported by documents, the contents of
one of which, written by Mr Irwin himself, were incon-
sistent with the case h© now set up. The case, he ob-
served, had been investigated when persons were alive who
were cognizant of the fee's, and he cited opinions of high
legal authorities adverse to it.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL pointed out the errone-
ous views entertained by Mr Hennessy of the nature of a
petition of right, a remedy applicable to particular cases
only, which he explained, and which did not conclude such
a case as that in question. He showed the absurd cense•
quences of the doctrine that a petition of right was a matter
of pure right that could not be refused. The fiat was to be
exercised under the advice of the law r ffipera of the Crown.
Mr MALINS was bound to say, after the statement of
Mr O'Hagan, that the case of Mr O'Malley Irwin became
perfectly ridiculous.
After a few words from Mr Hadfield, and a reply by Mr.
Hennessy, followed by some remarks by Sir G. Grey, the
motion was negatived.
The house was counted out at five minutes past 9 o'clock,

The Wounded Guardsman at Wimbledon,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—As an impression might be convoyed from
reading Surgeon-Major Wyatt's letter in The Sun
of to-day that had the bullet been extracted the
recovery of the poor fellow would be less compli-
cated, may I beg the favour of your insertieg these
few remarks ?

The ball was felt wedged in between the inter-
costal space about two inches, obliquely and on the
inner side of the left nipple. I proposed at first to
cut down and extract it, but on consulting with my
brother volunteer surgeons who happened to be pre-
sent, also Staff-Assist. Surgeon Guinness, in charge
of the Guards' camp, I abandoned that in:ention•
Symptoms of internal hemorrhage were present,
emphysema had taken place, and the man seemed
to be rapidly sinking. The case, therefore, called
for prompt stimulants, &?.., and other professional
gentlemen who saw the condition of the sufferer
agreed that had the attempt been made to
extract the bullet, in all probabilty death
would then have ensued. Together with Mr.
Guinness I watched the patient day and night till
I resigned him to that gentleman's care on Sunday
last ; he was still in my tent suffering much, but a
shade better. I have the honour to remain your
obedient servant,

JOHN GUISE WESTMACOTT, M.D.,
Surgeon, N.R.A.