The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-08 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 8, 1848.

object were now before the house, and he thought the go-
vernment bill the worst of the three--the most calculated to
involve Ireland in the meshes of law, and to sow discord
between landlord and tenant. He should not oppose the
bill going to a select committee, provided the committee
would endeavour to incorporate the best parts of the three
bills. His definition of tenant-right was the right of an
occupier to compensation for the improvements he bad
made ; and he would auoport any measure having
this object; but no measure which went to recognise
the mere right of occupancy as occupancy. It was known
that the greatest difficulty existed in Ireland in esti-
mating the value of improvements ; opinions differed
widely as to what were improvements ; and he had heard of
a case where a man had claimed compensation for building a
mill, though there was actually not a stream of water to turn
, it. (Laughter.) Same hon. members feared that this mea-
sure would perpetuate small holdings: he was convinced
that Ireland was, a country where large farina would never
be common. The only measure which could save that
country was a measure sanctioning the free sale of land.
(Hear.) At present there were but 8,000 proprietors in
fee in Ireland, and the amount of three millions was
paid as the interest on incumbered estates. How
could such a country become rich without a mea-
-1 sure to faciiitate the transfer of entailed lands I It
was not political reform that was wanted in Ireland, but
social regeneration, and till government did away with the
law of entail they would only be rolling up the stone against

the hill.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD would not oppose the second read-
ing of this bill or the proposition of the government to refer
it to a select committee, although he believed it would not
give satisfaction to the people of Ireland, and would strike a
blow against tenant-right in Ulster. He warned the
government how they passed any bill which would base that
effect. It would create a mass of discontent out of the house,
and the government seemed not to be aware of it.
Mr. GRATTAN thought that a tenant-right bill ought
to be introduced, and he believed it would not be difficult to
bring in a good hill on this subject. lie denied the state-
ment which had been made against him by a member of
that house in another place—that be was a hard landlord.
Mr. SADLEIR defended the landlords of Ireland from
the attacks which had been made noon them. He admitted
there were some bad landlords in Ireland, but they were the
exception. The great object of any bill introduced into that
house should bo to rise the tenants leases, to which there
was a great indisposition amongst the landlords, arising from
political reasons. He wan quite opposed to the tenant-at
will system, which was so much lauded by the hon. and
learned gentleman the member for the University of Dublin.
lie hoped it would be referred to the t ommittee to consider
the whole statutory law as affecting the relations between
landlords and ten into, with a view to its amendment.
Mr. MONSELL said that the bill of the right hon. gen-
tleman had net given satisfaction to any psrties in Inland,
and the only reason why he supported the second reading,
was that he hoped it would be so altered in committee that
its parent would not he able to know it.
The Earl of LINCOLN could assure the hon. gentleman
who had just oat down, that he was too sanguine if he ex-
pected that this bill would come back to that house in the
present session, lie complained of the conduct of the
government in referring this measure to a select committee
of fifteen gentlemen, and abdicating all the functions of a
government. If the government did mean to adhere to
their bill, they ought to refer it to a committee of the whole
house, as the worst course was that of submitting the mea-
sure to a select committee. The time was come at which the
government ought either to legislate upon the subject, or
else to declero their inability to amend the law as it at
present stood.
Sir G. GREY very much doubted whether any good had
resulted from the commission appointed by the late peen,
meet on the nthject of tenant-right. The efforts made by
the government towards legislating on the matter, had been
met by the other house in a very untoward manner. The
difficulty of legislating on the question of tenant-right was
very great, and the government feeling this had resolved to
do only that which was just. With this view it was that
they had proposed to refer the bill to a select committee,
composed of gentlemen from Ireland, it being in no re-pee;
their desire to force a measure on the landlords of that coun-
try which they were hostile to.
Colonel DU NNE bore his willing testimony to the sin.
aerity of the endeavours made by the government to met t
the difficulties of the ease, and to adopt the measure to the
eraigencies of the Irish landlords.
Captain JONES was of opinion that the principle of the
bill was vend, although the machinery of it was defective.
Mr. R. M. FOX took the same view of the conduct of the
government that was expressed by the hon. member Lr
Dungarvan.
After a few words from Sir D. Nottnests in support of the
government proposal,
Sir W. VEItNER was no convinced that the bill would
saver be rendered useful or practicable, that he had no heal
trOm in moving as an amendment that it be r. ad a second
time that day six months.
Mr. KEOGH seconded the amendment, because he did
nut consider the bill to be likely to have any good effects.
When it was asserted that the Irish members had recom-
mended the bill to be referred to a se'ect committee, he
begged to say that he knew of no such recommendation, and,
moreover, he did not recognise such proceeding, nor indeed
did he think it had been resorted to ; and the cheers
of the hon. member for Limerick confirmed this opinion
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL said that compensation to the
tenant for substantial improvements, which he understood
to be the principle of this measure, would confer a substan-
tial benefit on Ireland, and he should therefore give his de-
cided support to the bill. The hon. and learned member for
Athlone had given no reason whatever against the bills
founded on its principle. The opposition of the hen. and
learned gentleman seemed, in fact, to be simply that op-
position which lawyers were extremely likely to make to it.
It would be well fir measures of this sort if there were no law-
yen at all in the house; a parliamentuns indoctunt of cow-
MOO sense landlords would he much more to the purpose.
The Earl of LINCOLN opposed the reference of the Inca.
Sure to a committee up stairs, as imposing such a delay on
its progress as would amount to a rejection of the bill
altogether.
Sir G. GREY regretted the tone in which the noble lord
the member for Nottinghamshire, had intimated his opposition
to the committee. The noble lord had given rather a party
colour to a debate which had previously only exhibited a de-
sire on the part of the house to unite cordially in promoting
the interests of Ireland.
Mr. AGLION BY would not oppose the second reading of
the bill. At the same time he feared it would prove only a
mischievous interference with matters with which that
house had no concern. (Hew, hear.) If it reached the
committee, there were only three or four clauses to which
he could give his assent. He was strongly inclined to refer
the bill to a select committee.
Mr. GROGAN opposed the bill as improperly interfering
with the relations of landlord and tenant. However, if it
obtained a second reading he should support its reference to
a select committee as a means of rendering it as little mis-
chievous as possible.
Mr. HAMILTON hoped that his honourable friend the
member for Dublin would not persevere in his opposition.
The preamble of the bill, which contained the principle,
was unobjectionable, and the clauses were open to amend.
meet. He thought that the best course would be to refer
the bill to a select committee.
Mr. CALLAGHAN supported the second reading.
Sir P. NUGENT was also in favour of permitting
the bill to go to a committee. He was anxious and willing
that the outgoing tenant should have full compensation for
all unexhausted improvements. For such portion of the bill
as secured that right he should vote in committee. At the
same time he looked upon the measure as a very import,'
piece of legislation.
Mr. REYNOLDS considered that some good might res..-
from proceeding with the bill. He hoped, however, that
the reference to a select committee would not prove a prac-
tical shelving of the question.
Sir W. VERNER said he would not press his amendment
contrary to the generally expressed wish of the house.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE vindicated the course of the go-
vernment and his own in the conduct of the bill. He denied
that it was calculated unduly to disturb the relations between
landlord and tenant.
The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
referred to a select committee.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE lIOUSE.
Onthe motion of the CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
it was ordered that the house at its rising do adjourn
till Monday.
WAYS AND MEANS.
A vote in committee of ways and means for raising a sum
of 17,fi1fi,500/., towards the supplies, on Exchequer Bills, was
, then taken ; and the house, having resumed, adjourned a: a
an quarter-past one o'clock.
ht I

ELECTION COMMITTEE.—YESTERDAY.
BODMIN.—The committee terminated their labours
by deciding that James Wyld and H. C. Lacy, Esqrs , were
duly elected. Fur particulars see parliamentary report.