The Express.
London, England, 1849-07-06 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

LETTER FROM THRE
E AND LIEUTENANT OF
I
A special court was held yesterday at the Council
Chamber, Guildhall. for the purpose of taking steps in fur.
thrranee of the resolution cows to at a recent meeting of the
members of the corporate body, held at the Mansion House,
in reference to the purchase of estates is Ireland.
The Lord Mayor presided. and, after the usual prelimina-
ries, celled on the Town Clerk to read a letter which bad
bees addressed to his lordship, hl the Lord Li. utPnent of
Ireland, on the subject of the design entertained by the cor-
porgies. The letter was as follows :
" Vice Regal Lodge, June 26.
" My Lord—As I feel the di erg anxiety respecting any
measure thin has for its object the benefit of Ireland, I boos
I may be permitted to express to your lordship the feelings
of tat sfact ion—l would almost say, of delight—with which
tread the report of a meeting held on Friday last at the
Mansion House, under the auspices of your lordship. The
speeches delivered on that (*earl sn were so excellent in their
tone, and exhibitei se much prudence as well as genuine
philanthropy, that I meet but consider the meeting as
likely to he productive of the happiest results to Ireland, and,
through Ireland, to the United Kingdom.
" I bane long been desirous that English capital should be
invested in Irish land, becamee I think that some change ha
the proprietary class is indispensable to the progress and
proaperity of thin country, and will be beneficial to those
proprietors who are now in • state of hopeless outmost&
unlit, and struggling against &fficulties which it must, I
fear, be boneless for them to overcome. However good the
intentions of • landlord may he, he cannot fulfil his duties
to himself and to these dependent on him, if, as is too often
the cam, his property be mortgaged to its full value—that
VANS being frequently calculated on the extravagant rents
that a potato cultivation and the reckless competition for
land have produced.
" In fact, the whole sexist system of Ireland has bees
base' upon the potato ; and the failure of that root has con-
sequently entailed universal distress. Hence so many lan led
proprietors are now unable to keep down the interest ow
their mortgages; tenants can no longer pay their rents; and
the peasants, for want of employment, are driven upon the
rate', of which the collection becomes daily more difficult.
Such a state of things contains ',Rein i self AO germ of ame-
lioration; it cannot even remain stationary ; it must go from
bad to worse : for the means of improviiment are altogether
wanting, and the national resources are gradually wasting.
And even if the potato was to revive (and to that all classes
ars sow clinging with desperate hope). it would only bring
beck the evils under which the country has been so long
labouring.
" It Is manifest, then, that a complete change of system,
as regards agriculture, the tenure of land, the social habits
of the people. has become indispensable ; and that change
an net be effected by the introduction of English capital.
enterprise, and skill, applied in the manner cmitemplated by
the meeting at the Mansioa-house.
"Desirous 'hough I am, however, that capital should be
!hos employed, nothing would induce me its recommead it if
I did a• ornscientiously Wien that the investment would
be remunera• Ive; as it would be worse than us less to ex-
pend large sums of money without a fair prospect of return ;
aced if than prospects were not realised, all such speculations
must cease for the future. But upon that point I entertain
so doubt. Fur if good land is to be b ught at a cheap rote,
if secure titles can be obtained at small expense, gad if capi-
tal is available for igninoving the soil and rendering it pee
ductive, suck an i nestatent ea :not fall to be profitable.
Bat it is under those circumstances, when the Encumbered
Estates Bill is passed, that purchasers may come into the
market. The moment, ton, is eminently auspicious for the
undertaking; because politial excitement is at as end,
gentian outrage, conseluent upon the competition for land,
is now very rare, and the only anxiety of the people is to
obtain employment or the means of emigrating. With
respect to the latter, encouragement should not be gives, as
a general rule—not without due inquiry; and I was glad to
observe that such appeared to Ds the opinion of the meeting
at the Mansion House. For, although there are districts
where, owing to the mien., subdivision of land and other
circumstances, the population has manifestly become re-
dundant, and cannot, in the absence of the potato. find the
means of subsistence, and where in conequence emigration
is most desireblr, yet th. re are others where emigration is at
this moment looked upon as the only remedy for existing
&strew, but in which there are actually not able-bodied
men enough for the cullivivion of the soil under a proper
e'en& of agriculture. And it is • mistake to suppose that
tie Irish people will not work ; they are both willing
and desirous to work. awl when in regular emplzseatat
are always peaceable and orderly. As they have
lest their confidence in the potato, there will not
sow be the same difficulty as in former times in inducing the
occupant of three or lour acres of land to become a labourer
for money wages punctually peel; on the contrary, there Is
every reason is think they would greatly prefer it. I may
add to eta, the tenant farmers sow no longer adhere to their
eld and vicious system of cultivation, but are eager to leant,
and ere grateful for instruction.
" In short, from a c neon eine of circumstances, I do not I
think thins is any eouutry in the world where choose could
h. an bent ficially and speedily effected es in Ireland, by the '
judicious application of capital; whilst ordinary attention
to the comfors of the people and the improvement of their
habits, would produce contentment and confidence, en I
render the Repeals of selfish gaiters innocuous.
'Of the political and social &dear tsgea that England would
derive from such an altered state of things, I need say no.
=
year lordship ; and with respect to the many con.
bustles to be looked for from the investment of
espital, I will only mention, that, fir the reining of
nettle, no coasts., con compete with Ireland, and that we
annually pay upwards of four millions sterling for foreign
En the whole of which might, with the utmost facility, be
produced is this country.
" If the corporation of London should now tun their at-
tention to Ireland, and pray* that, in the opinion of the
greatest capitalists and best men of business in the would, in.
vestments en Irish lead are considered safe and advents.
pow, their example would be generally followed ; sad the
well-being of this country, involving as it always must do
that of the United Kingdom, would then, foe the ant time,
be placed upon a solid and permanent basis.
" I must apologise to your lordship fey the length to which
this letter has extended ; and in conclusion I beg to state
that there exists here the most minute and accurate statisti-
cal information upon every matter connected with land,
population, and local expenditure, the whole of which shall
be placed at the disposal of the committee in any way
that may be thought most useful ; and I need hardly add,
that the assistance of every official person here will be freely
given, sad that no effort of my own shall be wanting in
furtherance of the project which, as I venture to hope, is
about to be realised by the corporation of Loudon.
" I have the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's most
faithful servant.

" CLAIRIND

" To the Right lion. the Lord Mayor, &e., Ate."
lir. D. W. WIRE, after reespitulatias the stops taken at
the former mooting, and referring to the highly enconraging
statements in Lord Clarendon's letter, moved
"That it be referred to a committee; to consider and re-
port to this mart on the propriety of purchasing estates and
waste lands Lt belted, with a view to cultivate and improve
the same, so mato benefit, Ireland and to give employment to
its people."
lir. DAZIN seconded the motion. _ _

Mr. Alderman SALOMONS was anxious that the gan-
tlets should be taken up by the corporation in a liberal and
patriotic spirit. He was eaculated with the destitution
that prevailed in Ireland, and hoped the corporation would
eat an example to other cooperate bodies in the kingdom.
The motion was then unanimmely agreed to.
Mr. WIRE said as the Winn was one of importance,
sew had thought it ought to be referred to a special ward
inanities sow to be appointed. (Yes, yes) Such appear.
jos se he the general wish, be would move a resolution to
dint ellen
lb. Deputy OBBARD seeciadod the revolution.
• Vb. J. T. NORRIS thought it would be better to refer
the master to • committee now existing. He would more
am an amendment, that it be referral to the oneolidated
committee.
The amendment was negatived by • consideeshie migarity,
and the original motion woo agreed to.
Mr. WIRE then nova that the Lord Maya the
aldermen should be cm the committee.
The motion being meoaded,
Mr. J. TAY.I,OR moved, m an ansalmat.iimiltslinfild
be condoed to the aldermen present and three mile were
members of parliament, urging that It would be s IMO us.'
usual course, and a ray -bad rue %hat, "to 'ept the;
wbe.le of the aldermen (twentynx in &timber) ale
committee.
After a immolation, the amendment we curled. .
Mr. WIRE next moved—" That one omsmoner froth each
ward la• appointed on the committee."—Agreed t). '
Mr. WI RE moved—" That the committee tie yip/Wend'
to confer with the ministers of the crown generally on the