The Statesman. — 1823-05-10 (London, England)

BARKY.—He said be was a Police Magistrate in Dublin; recollected persons having been taken up for a riot at the Theatre; he did not commit them. He recollected Forbes having been apprehended at the Theatre for the riot, taken to the watch-Noose, and brought before bias the next dar. Being asked if Forbes had not been accused'of a seri• ous charge. Mr. GOULBURN said this question bad no reference to the conduct of rlrrstitseeift  Colonel BARRY conceited the question to be very material. Air. GOULBURN had no objection to a general inquiry into the conduct of the Irish Government. His object stow was to save time ; and that was his reason fur objecting to the question. Sir .1. MACKINTOSH said he wished for the utmost latitude of inquiry; but he could ant conceive how the conduct of his Plight lion. Friend (Mr. Plunkett) bore upon the case ; for that conduct had nothing to do with the conduct of the Sheriff. BE'NNET thought time question now pot to the witnessing oar which ought to he put. cohnel BAItItY askp4l what hal the evidence given as to an ex-otficio informa•inn, filed by Mr.-Saurin ele. . Ten years ago, to do with the conduct of the present Sheriff of Dublin? and yet that feet was given in evidence in the course of the present inqniry. Whatever objections tuicht be made by Hunt:wattle Gentlemen on any side of the House, lie nay determined to go on- in his own way, and would not be stopped by any man in putting a trestle-in, unless tie Committee came to a resolution that he should tint put it. Mr. PLUNKETT said that he had never introtteed into this inquiry the fact of an ex-nffu.io Infortnati.m baring been tiled by his predecessor in office. if that fact titi been given in evidence, it was not in cdosequence of any' itui-tions put •by him. All he bad done was to t mention it incidentally before the present inquiry commenced. Colonel .BARRY and another Hon. Member Tat against stopping the examination. Mr. WYNN thought it irregular, and was of opinion they were net ant' Orised to enter into it by the instructions the Committee has received. The !louse, if this had been contemplated, would have directed an inquiry into the whole of the late transactions, instead of confining the committee to an investigation of the conduct of the High Sheriff. He thought the Honourable Gentleman, Colonel Barry, had taken a higher ground than he was authorised to take, when be declared it to  be Lis resolution to persevere. He did not see how the  present examination could be made to bear on the manner in which the High Sheriff had selected the Grand Jere. fdr. BRIGHT observed that there are many other parties connect' i with this question besides the Wand Jury, and Sheriff; and as toe result of this investigation might lead to an equal administration of justice in Ire. land, he thought euery sort of inquiry ought to be permitted. Mr. GOULBURN was willing to hear the examination, If it was any way connected with the conduct of the Sheriff. The witness was called in, and Colonel BARRY pit his last question to him. The witness said the charge against the prisoner was a conspiracy to murder the Lord Lieutenant. In a state of exasperated feeling, he thought it would he difficult to find an impartial Jury. Do you think the charge then made against Forbes ' tended to create that exasperated feeling? Tbisquestion was objected to by Sir J. MACKINTOSH as being a mere question of opinion. ' • Mr. U. BENNET observed that almost all questions put to wi:nesses were questions of opinion. The witness was then called back ; and, in answer to the question he said the exasperation might he so increased. He did not sign the committal of Forbes. He had taken the information against him. Witness subscribed one information, which he believes was as se-1 riot's as any against the traverscrs. Witness would not have received a capital charge on any information sworn before him. Witness understood that three of the traverser. were committed on a capital charge. The order for committal came from the Council Chamber.-The committal of Forbes was signet). by Major Sirr in witnees'spresence. The riots took place on the 14th of December. 'f lie traversers were tineliy committed the 2:klDre•naber and the Grand Jury sat nn the Ist JannP 7. •It is nnikelv that the Sheriff would have struck a panel on the 17th becember. leedilon; examined by Col.