L30/18/18/18

From Earl de Grey at Dublin Castle to Sir James Graham:

19 Jan 1842

From: 1842 To: 1842

Encloses L30/18/18/17. Can not trust to the Magistracy "alone". Right to try and improve them but "I fear we shall never, during our time, make them so entirely trustworthy in the administration of the law, as to induce the people to put implicit confidence in them". Care in selection, is difficult with present state of law. Chancellor would naturally look to Lieutenants for true information but many Lieutenants live out of Ireland or never go near their County. "Many are bitter politicians and are regulated by those feelings only, in every recommendation." Lord Chancellor deprived of chance of the fittest men because Lieutenant will not forward their names. Lord Gosford in County Armagh and Mr Westmore in Count Monaghan, two strongest cases yet met with interviewed Lord Chancellor to urge him to deviate from his rule and appoint in special cases without the recommendation of the Lieutenants. Tho' he is a most able lawyer, his knowledge of mankind does not extend beyond his own court, and I have no great reliance on his judgement. We are excellent friends. Made 2 or 3 magistrates not of best. Newspaper accounts of appointment of 2 or 3 Repealers in Cork - hoax. Ordered a return from every Petty Sessions giving name of magistrates and number of attendances during 1841 and number of times sessions adjourned for lack of magistrates. Enclose returns made by Colonel McGregor regarding crime in Ireland. Offences up but mostly offences very person caused by "the feuds and animosities of the Elections". Decline in "aggravated assaults" including those on Bailiffs and process servers. Those from resistance to law much diminished. Cannot claim the praise. Adversaries will say they left things in such perfect order. Entitled to say "that the accession of our Government has not brought about such a revulsion in the public mind, as to make it impossible for us to govern the Country".

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Gosford,
Westmore,
McGregor

Ireland, crime