14 FEBRUARY 1891, Page 3

The returns of the prosecutions under the Irish Crimes .Act

for the year 1890 show how very mild and how very effective that much-reviled Act has been. There were in all .530 persons proceeded against, of whom 139 were discharged. Of the remaining 391 cases, 160 had only to find reeognisances .or sureties, leaving 231 who had a punishment of imprison- ment inflicted, varying from fourteen days to a maximum of six months. Only 12 received six-months sentences, and the majority (151) were sentences under two months. Appeals were allowed in 65 cases. In 33, or more than half, the sen- -tence was reversed, in 25 it was affirmed, and in 7 it was reduced. And this is the Act which is spoken of as if it were one of more than Russian severity !