2 CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO I have directed all communications addressed to the High Sheriff of Leitrim to be returned to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, as I am resolved to allow the voices of the constituency to be recorded in my favour.
I have not received any writ, nor on my arrival this day from London was I aware that any had been issued.
To prevent any difficulty in appointing a successor to me, I have obtained the consent of Dr.
Robert Collins, of Ardsallagh Castle, Navan, or University Club, Stephen's Green, Dublin, where he now is, to act as High Sheriff, and have no doubt that he will be considered eligible in every respect, having already filled that office in the county of Fermanagh, and having been twice placed on the return for the county of Leitrim by the Judges on circuit.
I have, &c.
The Chief Secretary, (signed) W.
B.
Ormsby Gore.
Dublin Castle.
Mr.
Ormshy Gore to the Under Secretary.
Gresham's Hotel, Dublin, Sir, 26 March 1857.
Not having received any writ for holding the election of Members to serve for the county of Leitrim, and having received information that none had arrived yesterday at my address in the county, I submit that the foundation of the objection made by the Attorney-general and Solicitor-general to supersede me in the office of High Sheriff does not in substance exist, even if the writ had issued as they assume.
The writ, I presume, is directed to the High Sheriff by his name of office, and not to me as an individual.
What should be done if the Sheriff were disabled by illness or removed by death in the interval between the issuing and the delivery of the writ, may very obviously be done now, and I therefore submit that there is no substantial or just distinction between my case and the cases of the Sheriffs, who have been recently superseded in order to let them proceed with their canvass.
It is difficult to understand why the county of Leitrim should be denied the freedom of selection which has been conceded to other counties, and I therefore beg a reconsideration of my resignation, which I hereby again tender, and pray that I may be superseded.
I have, &c.
The Under Secretary, &c.
&e.
&e.
(signed) W.
B> Ormsby Gore.
Castle, Dublin.
The Under Secretary to Mr.
Ormsby Gore.
Sir, Dublin Castle, 26 March 1857-In reply to your communication of this date, I am directed by the Lord Lieutenant to inform you that inquiry having been made at the General Post Office as to the transmission of the Leitrim writ, it appears that on Monday last, the 23d instant, a letter, stated to contain " the writ of election for the county of Leitrim," and addressed to the High Sheriff of Leitrim, Carrick-on-Shannon, was received at the General Post Office from the Hanaper Office, and was duly forwarded on the same evening; that letter appears to have been re-directed from Carrick-on-Shannon to London, where it was sent by the night mail of the 25th instant.
It does not appear by whom or whose order the letter was re-directed, but his Excellency assumes that it was so directed by the authority of some person in your Sub-SherifFs office at Carrick-on-Shannon.
The Post Office authorities have sent a direction by telegraph to London, that the letter containing the writ, if not already delivered, should be re-sent to the High Sheriff of Leitrim, Sheriff's Office, Carrick-on-Shannon.
That the writ has not as yet actually reached "your hands has been occasioned by your absence from your bailiwick; and I am directed to inform you that his Excellency does not see any reason to depart from the rule communicated to you yesterday, and therefore declines to accept your resignation.
I am
