The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-02 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

PEERAGES.-COMMITTEE AF PRIVILEGES.

The Committee resolved that thE Duke of Gloucester had
established his claim to vote at the election of Representative
Peers for Ireland, as Earl of Connaught.

THE ROSCOMMON PEERAGE.

There are two claimants for the title of Earl of Roscommon,
which has been in abeyance for several years. The competitors
are Francis Stephen Dillou, and Michael James Robert Dillon.
Their petitions have been under the consideration of the Com-
mittee of Privileges since 1824 ; and an order was made
in-the last Session, that the Attorney-General for Ireland should
institute an inquiry into the merits of their claims, and report the
result to the House. Mr. Nolan appeared this day at their Lord
ships' Bar,,on behalf of the Attorney-General for Ireland, and
stated that the Solicitor for the Treasury bad made the desired
investigation, but his report was so vague and indefinite, that it
was unfit to be laid before their Lordships ; he, therefore, on be-
half of the Attorney-General, prayed to be indulged with more
time, in order to make a more accurate report.
Lord REDESDALE observed, that such negligence on behalf of
the Law Officers of the Crown for Ireland was an insult to that
House, and should not be allowed to pass without a severe ani-
madversion from their Lordships. An order was made nine
months ago to investigate an important case, yet the Officers
whose duty it was to comply with that order had literally done
nothing. He should not wonder if the delay would be attributed
to their Lordships. It was thus that the Lord Chancellor was ac-
cused of delaying causes, when the blame rested entirely on the
Solicitors and underlings of the Court.
The LORD CHANCELLOR should not wonder if the delay would
be attributed to him ; but he felt called on in candour to state,
that though-much of the delay in his Court was caused by Soli-
citors, yet some of the blame should fall on himself. It was not
fit that the claimants to this title should suffer by the delay.
Mr. TAYLOR, who appeared as Counsel for one of the
claimants, requested that some definite time should be fixed upon
beyond which no evidence could be received. This the Commit-
tee objected to, it being a case not between subject and subject,
but between the Peerage and the Crown.
• Lord REDESDALE proposed that certain witnesses should be
brought from Ireland at the expence of the Crown, as the claim-
ants were unable to defray the expences—one of whom was in the
Marshalsea, and the other so reduced in his circumstances,: from
the expences incurred by this claim, that he could not defray any
more. His Lordship was of opinion that the administration of
justice ought in all cases to be at the expence of the public, who
in cases of importance were as much concerned in having justice done
as the parties themselves. His Lordship's proposition was agreed
to, and the further consideration of the case adjourned to the 3d
of May.
Lord CARBERRY having heard Lord Redesdale state
during the discussion, that the privilege of voting at the election of
Peers for Ireland did not establish a right to a Peerage, obserred,
‘..‘ that in that case a person might be an Irish Peer without esta-
blishing-his right to that title; it was therefore fit that some rule
should be laid down to obviate such an absurdity."
The LORD CHANCELLOR was of the same opinion.
The Committee then adjourned.