The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-28 00:00:00

THE -GRIEVANCES OF THE INDIAN ARMY.

Lord DONOUGHMORE presented petitions from seve-
ral officers in the Indian army, praying for a redress of the
grievances of which they complained.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Westminster Improvement Bill, the Waterford and
Passage Railway, and the Wexford Harbour Improvement
Bills were read a third time and passed.
CRIMINAL CONVICTION AT SLIGO.
The Marquis of WESTMEATH moved for copies of the
papers relating to the conviction of a young girl recently
tried by the magistrates of Colooney, in Sligo, named
Catherine Gaughan, on the 25th of February last
A complaint had been made by the young
female against Michael Hart, Hineford Hart, and
others, on the charge of assaulting and ill-treating
her in divers ways, and putting her; into duress and de-
taining her in confinement for some days, until she was
released by a magistrate's order ; and also of the con-
viction of Sub-Inspector Broke, and others of the
police, from having been present at that outrage
in open day and declining to interfere and rescue
Catherine Gaughan from the brutal treatment
to which she had been subjected; and for a copy of the
decision of the inspector-general of the constabulary upon
the conduct of the individuals of the force incul-
pated on that occasion. Tho noble lord entered
into a detail of the facts connected with this
case, from which it appeared that the female in
question, who had attained the years of discretion, went
to Scotland, and there seceded from the Roman Catholic
Church. On her return to Ireland, this act led to the com-
mission of the offence which he had brought under the
notice of the house, in consequence of the failure of her
friends and the Roman Catholic clergymen to coerce her to
return to the creed from which she conscientiously departed.
He was not one of those who had any bigoted feelings to-
wards members of the Roman Catholic persuasion, among
whom he had many friends. Ho had used his influence
towards the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act.
He understood that when that act was passed it was with
the distinct understanding that no attempt would be made
to undermine the Established Church, but that im-
plied promise had been broken, of which fact
this present case was an excellent illustration. Ho con-
tended that in regard to this young female the police had
acted under the direction of a Roman Catholic clergyman
in violation of justice and law, and that such a state of
things was a disgrace to the present day. He re-
gretted to say that this was not an isolated case, show-
ing the practice that prevailed in Ireland, because
from facts which had come to his knowledge ho would bo
in a position to lay before their lordships another case,
which would prove that the Irish constabulary were
merely a machine in the hands of the Roman Catholic
clergy. (A laugh.) He could asssure their lordships
that ho was quite satisfied as to the accuracy of his
statement, and he felt bound as a firm member of the Esta-
blished Church to warn theirlordships against the attempts
that were made in Ireland to subvert this Church by acts
similar to those he had brought under the notice of their
lordships, and which he feared were of too frequent
occurrence.

Earl GRANVILLE said that the Government had no
objection whatever to produce the papers referred to.
The Colonial Naval Defence Bill was, on tho motion of
the Duke of SOMERSET, read a second time.
The Private Bill Costs Bill was passed through com-
mittee.

The Affirmation (Scotland) Bill and the Perth Provi-
sional Order Confirmation Bill were read a third time and
passed.
On the report of amendments to the Bankruptcy and
Insolvency (Ireland) Act Amendment Bill,
The Earl of LONGFORD moved the re-insertion of a
clause which had been struck out by the select committee
to whom the bill had been referred, on the ground that the