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

THE CASE OF GEORGE O'MALLEY IRWIN.

Mr HENNESSY, in moving an address to her Majesty,
to grant her fiat to the petition of right of Mr G. O'Malley
Irwin, or to satisfy his claims without suit, characterised
the care a s one of the most extraordinary that had been ever
brought before Parliament, in which a party had suffered
injustice owing to the culpable neglect of officers of the
Crown. He gave a detailed narrative of the facts of the
case, which has been repeatedly, in different shapes, before
the public, the main point turning upon the proof of a lettqr
dated Oct. 12, 1831. He replied to the objections he ex-
pected would be 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 O'HAGAN 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 he now set up. The case, he ob-
served, had been investigated when persons were alive who
were cognizant of the facts, 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 quebtion. He showed the absurd conse-
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 officers 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.

Sixt,—As an impression might be conveyed from
reading Surgeon-Major `Watt's letter in Me 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 inserting 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 intention.
Symptoms of internal hemorrhage were present,
emph::sema had taken place, and the man seemed
to be rapidly sinking. The case, therefore, called
for Prompt stimulants, &e., and other professional
gentlemen who saw the condition of the sufferer
arz,reed that had the attempt been made to
extract the bullet, in all probabilty death
would then have ensued. Together with Mr.
I Guinness I watched the patient day and night till
resigned him to that gentleman's care on Sunday
nde
1.!8:3 ho was still in my tent, suffering much, bat a
obedien better. I have the honour to remain your
t servant,
JOID; GUISE WESTMACOTT, M.D.,
Surgeon,