The Sun.
London, England, 1835-03-23 00:00:00

COUNTY OF MEATH.

Mr. H. GRATTAI;I ;eingtheßight Hon. and Gallant
Officer, the Secretary for Ireland in his place, begged to ask
two questions; the first was respecting a grant of money, the
object of which was not heard in thcii gallery ; the second was
whether it was the intention of Government to appoint the
Noble Lord, the father of the late unsuccessful candidate for
Meath (the lion. Mr. Plunket), to the Lord Lieutenancy of
that county.
Sir H. HA RDINGE, in reply to the first question, as it
involved the rights of the Crown he could not give any decided
answer to it. As to the second question, he believed it was
the intention of the Government to appoint the Noble Lord
(Dunsaney) to the situation of Lord-Lieutenant of the county
of Meath.

A Message was received from the Lords.
CARLOW ELECTION PETITION.

The Clerk of the Crown and Hanaper Office (Ireland) was
then called in. On appearing at the bar of the House, in re-
ply to a question from the SPEAKER, he stated that his name
was John Hart, and that he had held his present situation, as
Clerk in the Irish Hanaper Office for six months. In answer
to Mr. Spring Rice, he proceeded to state that he had
received a petition on the Carlow Election from a gentleman
whom he believed to be Mr. Wallace, and that he told that
gentleman, that it was customary, according to the rules and
usage of the office to lodge a copy of every petition. It was
the chief clerk who informed him that such was the practise.
The office closes at three o'clock, but kept it open till half-past
three on the day in question to accommodate Mr. Wallace ;
did not, in fact, leave the office on that day till near five o'clock.
had heard that Mr. Wallace attempted to present his petition
at a later hour ; only knew this from a letter published by Mr.
Wallace ; that letter was true except that it did not mention
that I told Mr. Wallace that the olce closed at three o'clock;
the office was regulated in that respect by Plunkett's rules ;
has heard of the orders of the House of Commons for regu-
lating the receiving of petitions, but was not aware of them at
the time Mr. Wallace's petition was presented ; has since
seen the orders, and finds that it is the duty of the Clerk
of the Crown in Ireland to receive petitions and make a copy
of them himself, and transmit the petition to the Speaker—the
day in question was the last day for ieceiviny petitions—there
had been tea petitions presented that day—if I had been aware
of the orders of this House at the time, I should have felt it
my duty to receive the petition at the time it was tendered,
but I could not make a copy of it.
In answer to Mr. F. SHAW, W. Herl said :that it was his
duty to send the petition by that night's post.
Mr. SPRING RICE thought, under the circumstances
that had been stated, the House would think there was
no difficulty in the way of receiving the Petition.
It was, however, evident, that Mr. Wallace had
done everything- that was required of him. He (Mr. Spring
Rice) thought, therefore, that he ought not to be de-
prived of his rights in consequence of a misunderstanding by
the Office of the routine of the House. At the time he
moved that the Clerk of the Crown should attend, it was not
from any difficulty he felt that he had pursued that course,
but from a desire that the House should hear from that person
himself what he had done. If the officer had not performed
hhis duty, it would have been for the Aouse to have pursued
the matter further. But as that was not the case, he ( Mr. Rice)
was not disposed to move anything with respect to that ques-
tion. Justice would be answered, in his opinion, by merely
laving the petition upon the table.
'Mr. SHAW thought the suggestion of the Right Hon.
Gentleman perfectly reasonable.
COUNTY OF CLARE ELECTION.
The Hon. H. MAX WE L L presented a petition from Mr.
Baker, of Ennis, county of Clare, against the return of the
sitting Member for that burgh.
Mr. O'CONNELL—The House ought to be apprised of
the real facts of the case. The petition was from a Mr. Baker,
of Ennis, in the county of Clare, and vet it appeared the
party referred to, was a Mr. Maclaren of Cursitor-Street,
Chancery La'ne. .
Now he should like to know how this person
conld be interested in the city of Ennis. The sitting member
had instructed him to say, that he had caused no enquiry to
be made, and that this report was without foundation. He
thought it right the House should know something of this
inconsistency. The notice is given by this person Maclaren, who