The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-03 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEACE.

M. LAYARD, on Tuesday, asked whether the atten-
tion of the house would be called to the treaty of
peace in the form of an address to her Majesty ; and
whether, if such a course was adopted, the terms of
the address would be submitted to the house before
the discussion on Monday next?
Lord PALMERSTON replied that the usual course
on such occasions was that an address be moved by
some member of the house; but that he had given
notice that he should move that the treaty be taken
into consideration.
GALWAY EVICTIONS.
Mr. M‘MaxoN, on Tuesday, called attention to the
subject matter of a petition from certain inhabitants
of the parishes of Kilbegnet and Ballynakill, in the
county of Galway, presented last year, and moved for
the appointment of a select committee to investigate
its allegations. The facts were these:—

On the 28th of March last year he presented a petition
from the inhabitants of litlbegnet and Ballynakill, in the
county of Galway, signed by 1,400 persons, which stated
that a Mr. Allen Pollock and Margaret his wife had pur-
chased in the Encumbered Estates Court a property of
the extent of 7,414 statute acres, on which were 500
tenants, and about 2,500 souls ; that, although the tenants
did not owe a penny for rent, and were prepared to lodge
their rent in advance in some bans, and in conversation Mr
Pollak hail promised not to evict a single man, he had
suddenly proceeded to eject the whole 500 tenants and their
families. There was no gentleman in the west of Ireland
who did not regard with abhorrence these proceedings of
Mr. Pollock, as tending to depreciate the general character
of Irish landlords, to disturb the peace, and to depepulute
the country.
Mr. BELLEW seconded the motion, and strongly
urged the impolity, as well as cruelty, of these whole-
sale clearances, and called upon the Government, in
the name of humanity, to grant this inquiry.
Lord PALMERSTON thought that those who exer-
cise 4 the right belonging to them of clearing their
estates did not act consistently with the public in-
terests. Considering, however, that the house was
in the middle of the discussion of an important
question, he suggested that this subject should be
deferred to another opportunity, and he moved that
the house do pass to the orders of the day.
Mr. DI3RAELT concurred in the opinion expressed
by Lord Palmerston with reference to the ailknirn-
roeut of the debate. lie thought that Mr. M'Mahon
must feel satisfied at the strong expression of feeling
which his statement had called forth in the house :

The subject was one of great delicacy, but he was cm,
tain that no one, whatever might be his opinion as to the
general law, could have heard the statement of the hon.
and learned gentleman, or have listened to so painful a
history, without arriving at the opinion that the exercise
of rights under the law as described was most intolerable.
lie had always felt that upon the whole the Encumbered
E4tates Court had been beneficial, but if there was any-
thing which could raise a prejudice against that court it
would Le that it gave to strangers who might even be non-

THE PRESS.

resident tile occasion for depopulating large districts. He
observed with great pleasure that it was not by a native of
Ireland that it was alleged that these outrages upon com-
mon feeling had been committed. He did not now pre-
tend to give au• opinion as to the specific motion. Ho
had felt it hi:-.duty to make these observations, and he
hoped that Oen the opportunity was afforded for discuss-
ing the suhiect it would be approached in a calm and dis-
passionate spirit.
The amendment was agreed to.
STEM,' COMMUNICATION WITH IRELAND.

The Duke of ARGYLL. on Monday, in answer to a
question from Lord Dungannon, in reference to the
mail communication with Ireland, stated that the
arrangements for expediting the transit of the mails
would probably be carried into effect during the pre-
sent summer, the time not to exceed eleven hours
between the London and Dublin termini.