The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-09 00:00:00

STATE OF IRELAND.

The Earl of I/AWN:LEV moved, that so much of his Majesty's
Speech, at the opening of the present Session of Parliament, as
related to Ireland, he read.

The Clerk read i.. tidlows

•' In Ireland, which has for some time past been the subjyet of
his Majesty's particular solicitude, there are many indications of
amendment, and his Slajesty relies upon your continued endea-
vours to secure the welfare and happiness of that part of the United
Kingdom."
The Noble Earl then proceeded, and observed, that in rising to
address their Lordships, he lilt that he was discharging a great and
paramount duty in bnnging the state of Ireland under the view of
that !louse; and he was induced to do so front the strong conviction
he felt of the necessity of bringing the whole of the circumstances

of that country under 'heir Lor7lshripts' consideration. In undertak-
ing this task he could assure their lasrdships that he was fully
aware of the difficulty, extent, and magnitude of the subject, and
he wax equally aware of his own inability to do it justice, and sin-
cerely wished that it had fallen into other hands; and he was in
hopes, at the time that he first contemplated it, the motion might
have been introduced to their hordiships' notice by some one better
qualified than I self to do it justice. Indeed he could not attempt
to do it that justice that he so earnestly wished to do it, and which
it so eminently required. If he had thought it necessary to go into
details at any great length, he would have taken the advice given to
hint by the Noble Preindent of the Council a few nights rimes, and
have put oft' his motion to later period of the Session, as many
points connected with Ireland must come immediately or inciden.
tally under the notice of the House; but they did not interfere
with the 1110(1041 that he should have the honour of submitting to
their Lordships' notice, which related to the general state of he.
land, and on that Account be did not think it advieeable to wait ;
for it was one that pressed heavily and required immediate atten-
tion ; and if their laordships were not prepared to give their Sove-
reign different advice to what they had formerly given him with re-
gard to the sister island, he was confident that they would have to
deplore their conduct at no distant period, and in putting forth this
prediction he entreated their laordships to think of the subject, and
not of the individuals who had introduced It to their notice. His
principal reason fur hinging forward this motion was the present
state of the country at large. With her agriculture reviving, her
commerce liourislung, her trade prosperous, ha distant dependen-
cies for the most part in a satisfactory condition ; with a peace now
of nine years standing--and yet tie 1111111111111 t and dearest dependency
of this country was in a state as bad, in etery point of view, as she
ever was—as she was when the war was carried to her very
doors, and the empire was pressed by misfortune on every
side. Ile was impelled to entreat their Lordship's, from the slight
glance that he had taken of the state of general prosperity,
which formed such a contrast to the condition of thst portion of the
empire winch. was the more immediately under their Irordsltips'
notice that night, to take a statesmanlike view of the question,
and not to sutler themselves to be cramped by narrow or partial
considerations, in their deliberations on this most important and in-
teresting subject. He wished to guard himself, in bringing forward
this motion, against anything like the appearance of hostility to-
wards the present government. lie,wax happy to he enabled to call
the distinguished Nobleman who was now st the head of the govern-
ment in Ireland his friend. Early associations had led him to
venerate his talents and intbrmation, for he had been early taught
to look up to that illustrious statesman as the ornament and friend
of his country. All the subsequent intercourse that he had had
with hint had only served more indelibly to affix upon his mind a
high opinion of the splendor of his talents and the excellence of
his intentions. He had listened often with delight to his eloquence,
and felt a proportionate regard fur him from the length of time
that he had known him. For these reasons it gave hint unfeigned
pain to see him at the head of the Irish government at present ; in
which situation he could not gain credit for himself or advantage
fur his country. fly accepting the government of Ireland when he
did, laordWellesley could not carry into effect those beneficial prin-
ciples which he had uniformly, advocated in that House, with re-
ference to his country, and which he (Lord Darnley) knew were
nearest his heart, because they were must likely to promote her wel-
fare. The illustrious lilarquis had entered upon office trammelled
and shackled with all the prejudices of office that hail existed for
centuries, and was compelled, if he accepted the appointnient, of
maintaining a system that had ever been ruinous to Ireland; but
even under these untoward circumstances that great man had con.
ducted himself as well as he could in the situation that he was
placed in ; and the best proof of the uprightness of Lore! %Velles-
ley's conduct wits, that he was unpopular with both the parties that
agitate Ireland. He could assure their Lordships that he did not bring
forward his motion in the spirit of opposition to the present Govern.
inent. His feelings were of a higher sort, the good of that import-
ant branch of the British empire to which it immediately referred,
and consequently the general good of the country at larFe. He was
ready to admit that the King'sgoverniiient had brought forward sere.
rap collateral measures that hail in their consequences been beneficial.
The attempt to alter the tithe system and other plant that had been in-
troduced ot late opoke in favour of 111 i n istent, alai showed a disposition I
on their part to ameliorate the condition of the people of Ireland.
But when die Noble Lord (whom he then did not see in his place,
who was nearly connected with the Noble Marquis at the haul of
the Irish (iovernment) talked of booms having been granted to Ire-
land, he should reply to that by calling to his recollection the In-
surrection Act ;—that was the constant boon that Ireland had re.
ceived. Ile requested their Lordships to look at the trial the Tithe
Composition Bill had undergone, and then say if it were not nem-
Bury for them to turn their serious attention to all the points con-
nected with that 11111. Ile did not mean to say that the Constabulary
Hill under certain regulations might not be good; hut their Lord-
ships must remember, that many of the murders of late committed
in Ireland, and the trials for winch had taken place at the /lethal,
had been committed by policemen. Ireland could not be improved
by the system that had been so long adopted towards her, although
her 'nineties might in some degree be modified by the course that
had been minimal of late. Seven millions of inhabitants close to
the shores of this country ought to partake, in some degree at least,
of the prosperity enjoyed by England ; but in consequence of the
present system that could not be done. Certain it was, that some
of the over-abundlutt capital of this country tnten find its way to
Ireland ; but still, as dunes were at present managed there, but a
very email portion of that capital could get there, awl that which
did get there would, nutiparatively speakin;:, be of little use. Ile
could state to their leirdships, without fear of contradiction, that
party animosity ran higher in Ireland at present than it had ever
done, and it must continue so long as the present system was pee.
severed in. He did not blame the present Ministers for the
course they were pursuing, more titan he did those who hail
gone before them. They had only trod in the steps of their
predecessors ; and therefore he did not complain of the rys-
tern of to-day or yesterday, but of the system of centuries;
for such &continued course of oppression on the one hand, and of suf-
tering on the other, hail never occurred in any country, as had
taken place in Ireland since the English ruled there. It had coin.
menus] with the reign of Ilenry 11., and was in full vigour in that
of George IV. The 1,1 rte system of disunion, the sane distinc-
tion between England and Ireland, between Protestant and (taut°.
lie. had always stili,isted. There never had been that impartiality
existing on these points that ought to exist, and it did not obtain at
the present moment, notwithstanding the wishes that had been
thrown out on the subject. Ile was convinced, to make Ireland
happy, the total reverse of the system of disunion that had been so
long followed up must take place. It was not his intention to
make this general review of the state of Ireland embrace what was
culled the Catholic question. The urns. probandi lay with his Ma.
jebty's Government, as to the policy of not bringing forward that
important question ; but he would take the opportunity of giving
that warning to their ionsiships, with reference to this subject, rate
the moral force of opinion mum always operate with those who took
an unprejudiced view of this question in favour of Catholics lie-
! muse the injustice of withholding from so large a portion of the
I community the eligibility of appointments to offices of high Ito-
! hour, trust, and emolument, must always be looked upon by all
I who were not warped by party. as most glaring and otrenrir?. At

this time when there was no ex.ernal danger pressing mien th •
country, he conjured their Lordships to rid themselves of the pre-
judice. that were entertained on this point, and see if it were not
possible to introluce some great comprehensive measure, and de•
vise some plan to alley the present spirit of discontent and ammo.
sit, that pervaded Ireland. Much bed been done by the Govern-
ment he was rently to admit : but they had not gone to the bottom
of the evil. The measures for the amelioration of Ireland hitherto
, had not had the effect expected from them for every measure
adopted for the good of that weeny had been rendered abortive by
the party-spirit and prejudice that existedin it. (The Noble Peer
here read an extract front the remarks of a Secretary for Intend no
long ago as the reign of Elisabeth, nearly the whole of which, as
well as a great many parts of his lerdship'sepeech, were quite in.
audible below the bar. Indeed it was with great difficulty we
could hear the Noble Earl in any port of his address to their Lord-
ships.) We understood the Sr-metal inhere min, that from the
fatal destiny of that land, nothing meant for her good had a good
effect, because it was Lever properly acted upon. His Lord-hin, in
continuation, said that the same consequences at present r aided
Many good measure, had been adopted, and failed Irma the want
of bring properly acted upon. It was no use for their Lord-
ships to lexudate for Ireland, if they were not prepared to
adopt decisive measures. If he were asked whether he thought
emancipation, as it was commonly termed, would prove a
panacea that would relieve all the ills of Ireland, he should reply,
that he no more thought so than lie thought that the foundation
stone would answer the eurpese for the superstructure of a
building ; but this he did think, that it would be laying the foun-
dation for the tranquillity, emnfiet, and prosperity of Ireland. He
should be told, he lied no doubt, that the present was rot the time
to bring forward that question, because the administration was not
agreed upon it, for the Cabinet was composed °touch heterogeneous
materials, that they had no common opinion on that vital question,
and therefore it must he put off, he supposed, tint die. Another
reason that would probably be assigned for not going iieo this sub.
eet would be, the violence of party-spirit in Ireland, and particu-
larly among the Catholics themselves. But he would ask whe-
ther the Catholics were the only party in the community which agi-
tated it ? There was an anti-Catholic party, which was at least as
ready as the other to agitate the country with their sentiments. He
had seen productions hiving the signature of a clergyman attached
to them, which would have been disgraceful for their ribaldry from
any, but more particularly from one who was a preacher of the Ons.
pal of Peace ; and the respectable corporation of Publin had ren-
dered their full share in keeping dive animosity. These had been
decried, much to his credit, by a Judge upon the Bench. I '1,(17r
these circumstances, he thought it too much to expect from the Ca-
tholics so much larger a portion of forbearance and prudence than
their anti-Catholic fellow-subjects were called upon to produce.
He saw a Right Reverend Prelate in his place that night who had
shewn mere charity and genuine spirit of Christianity towards the
Catholics than were usually exhibited ; hut he could assure their
lordships that it wax such conduct as that pursued by the Right
Reverend Prelate to whom he hail alluded, that would do much to
reconcile parties fr. Ireland, and he would call upon that excellent
Prelate to request his brethren, not only on the bench beside hitr,,
but those also who were beneath hint in rank and dignity, to put.
sue the same moderate course that he had done ; and he would he
enabled by his own experience to prove, that the adoption of that
course would he beneficial to Ireland. Ile was now about to allude
to one point of great importance and equal delicacy ; he mean. the
state of the Church Establishment in Ireland, which was certainly
very disproportionate to the duties it had to perform. He begged
to be understood, that what he was then saying did not, in the most
remote degree, apply to the Ecclesiastical establishment of Great
Britain, for lie considered that the splendor of the Hierarchy was
consistent with the splendor of the Throne; but that remark did
not hold good with regard to Ireland, whose Church establishment
was enormous, when It was considered that out of a population of
seven millions there were not half a million of the inhabitants of
the country members of the Established Church : to preside over a
flock of only half • million, there were tour Archbishops and eigh-
teen Bishops. He was not bound to propose any specific plan for
the adoption of their Lordships, but one point he thought would
be most beneficial, which was, to put upon a footing all his Ma-
jesty's subjects, and let them receive the benefits of religion without
encroaching on vested rights; a reduction of the Hierarchy would
be also a desirable measure ; and the funds that would be obtained
in consequence of that reduction might be applied in aftioding a
competent provision for the Protrude clergy in lieu of tithes ; a
fund might also be created out of that for the education of the poor,
and a provision might also be gained by this plan for the Catho-
lic clergy. Ile was anxious for the success of the Bill then in pro-
grew in the other House, for enforcing the residence of the clergy.
The next subject he would advert to wax relating to educations
which had been taken up by the other House. if that had not
been the case, he should have felt it his duty to have proposed a
Committee on the subject himself. Much depended upon tbe man-
ner of conducting the commission that was roma ca in eamegmence
of the vote of the other Ileum, and consequently much depended
on the persons who comported it. If it were embued with the strong
prejudices that prevailed in Ireland, little would be expected front
it. It was unfortunate that every system that had been adopted in
Ireland for the education of the people had proceeded on false
grounds. Their Lordships, or some of then at least, would know
that in 1733 Protestant chartered schools were first promoted, and
their object was to make proselyte., and these institutions conic-
quehtly raised a spirit of opposition instead of a spirit of conciliation.
Another species of schools, adopted in Ireland, were the diocesan
schools, which had been established so long since as the reign of
henry VIII.. but little good could be expected front these schools,
when it was recollected that every clergyman took an oath to esta-
blish a school of this description in his parish, which must consist
of Protestant children. Unless they do away the idea among the
Catholics that education was meant for proselytism, no good could
arise from the establishment of schools. No beneficial effects
could be expected from the Kildare Street Society, as it was
believed by the Catholics that the object of Its supporters was
to use it as an engine of proselytism. Such a system could
possibly produce no benefit. Education should be extended
and diffused over all Ireland. Fmm the peculiar circumstance*
of that country, he was aware of the difficulty of this general
education; but of one thing he was clear, that a system which
had proselytism for its obt, would be attended with the most me.
lanclioly consequences. When heventured to call their Lordships'
attention to the state of Ireland, there was, he knew, a most import-
ant measure to be considered ; he meant the actual situation of the
inhabitants of the country. To this topic he would most earnestly
call their Lordships consideration, and he would venture to say,
that such of their Lordships as had drawn their ideas of the state of
Irish peasants from the comparative comforts of the English, would
not have a correct opinion upon the subject. Ile would call their
Lordships' attention to that system which was so justly the cause
of complaint, by which the minority were made the privileged
class, and considered as the representatives of the English in-
terests, whilst the more numerous and less fortunate were kept
in a state of subjection. In addition to this, there were va-
rious other causes which reduced the population of that un-
fortunate
country to a state of misery and wretchedness. First,
amongst these causes lie would state that which would per-
haps create some surprise in those who heard him ; he meant the
facility of procuring that kind of food upon which the peasant lived
—the potato. The introduction of thus vegetable into that mild
climate and congenial soil was most injurious ; it was productive
of the most serious injuries to the miserable population. The pro-
duction of the potato, in the fertile soil, enabled the peasant to
raise food for his support ; and the same spot of ground which
produced his food, furnished him with fuel to boil his pot, and
gave him turf for the purpose; and thus the peasant was allowed a
wretched state of existence. This was the state of things in Ire-
land—a state into which their lordships were bound to make the
most exact imp' iry, for the purpose of affording some relief. The
devising of some plan of giving employment to the superabund-
ant population, was, in his opinion, the first remedy to be thought
of. To the cause above stated, he would add another of the mi-
sery of the populotion ; it was the great difference in that country
and here with respect to labour; in England, the tenant was al.
ways sure of a day's work ; and he was also certain of being paid,
and with his money he was able to go to market. This was not
the ease in Ireland ; it could not be on account of the total want
of capital. The peasant there could not procure employment. This
was touch aggravated by the necessity imposed upon the super-
abundant pepilletion, of procuring a small portion of land, and
thus each individual became a small farmer. There was also
another, a great aggravation, which arose from the subdivision of
land ; this subdivision was the occasion of more misery than any
Noble Lord could be aware of. It has, in a great measure, origin.
ated in what a Noble Friend of his stated on a former occasion,
to be cm's:tiered as a great indulgence, and to be conferred as a
boon—the elective franchise. This privilege appeared to him to
be any thing but a boon ; it was in fact a curse, as it led to
the great increase of the subdivion of land. It was a natural
supposition, that every country gentleman in Ireland would eo-
deavour to increase his Interest; and to effect this he would in-
crease the number of his wretched freeholders, and would thus
add to the number of the miserable tenements already too nu-
merous ; and fur this reason, the privilege granted to the
Roman Catholic population did not operate to their advantage,
as it afforded a temptation to the Irish landed proprietors to
increase their freeholders; and if at any future period their Lord-
shirt should be pleased to consider the propriety of making
concessions to the Roman Catholics, it may be worth while to take
also into consideration that whilst, upon the one hand, these ad-
vantages were offered which were hitherto withheld, it would be
also right, upon the other, to require of them to relinquish the
mischievous privilege which had bmn granted them. When he
conuunenced his address to their Lordships, lie was aware of the
imperfect manner in which he would execute his task; but from
the interest he took in the discussion, there were other topics to
which he must call attention, and to which he felt it absolutely
' necessary to advert, one other cause to which the misery of Ireland
had been attoLuted ; and he believed the cause, as the as it went,
was correct—the men-residence of landed pmpretors. lie remelt)-
, bered the Noble Viscount who seconded the Address from the
Throne had stated this to be a grievance. Ile lamented that he
did not see the Noble Viscount in his place. He had made a dis-
tinction between legitimate and illegitimate absentees—those gen-
; demen who did not possess property in any other part of the world,
' and yet who spent their entire estates out of Ireland ; these were,
he was ready to admit, in every sense of the word, illegi-
timate absentees. He thought it was indispensably neces-
sary that persons thus circumstanced should spew! their

estates in that c sentry c they shosild make mime re urns c
for the e location of the pose. and should improve their oeopeneee
by the structure of useful works; this was the peculiar duty of oh-
sentees. Resident gentry had also a ditty to perform: it was elti-
bounden ditty, by evrny means in their power, to promote industry
and edueseion, and as far as it lay within their reach, to a rolloni•.•
the general state and conditino of the peasantry ; it was also it.. I. -
diemensible duty of it n-rosidents to visit their estates oreasionLfli
and devise seine employment for the population. The t
gentry, of Ireland had also a duty to peomm, and in his optniolt
tee government of the country should rosier them; and if there err e
was a case which aflorded an exception to the general rule, and in
which the principle,. of political economy might be fairly dispenser!
with, it was at the present momeot, when the country was to
be saved, perhaps from the danger of starving. He we. led to
this observation from what he believed to be the peculiar case u:
Ireland, and he did think that enquiry wnwld he serinnely Wore'
by the observance of those getierel principle% which, thimols tigh•.
in the abstract, were emisions. when emptied to intiivietotheliowee.
The people had derived benefit from the Imenties on make hnero
Thew benefit. had just begun to be felt in the south of Ireland;
and he therefore trusted these bounties would nut be withdrawn.
Here the Noble lined read extracts from a Parliamertary Reeser!
upon the state of the peasantry of Ireland. ] This, he ea d, was
melancholy description; and he trusted it would he soffit:feat to
make Ministers pause before they applied general principles to
I Ireland; and he would venture to impress upon Ministers that it
would be an act at once of humanity and Untie* to centinue th
bounties on coarse linens, by which the south of Ireland had beet
known to prosper. There was also another duty of the iesiden;
gentry, which he feared they did not always comply with—. Le system
of public works in that country. He thought it was the peddler
• duty of every gentleman to set his face against the habit of making'
every public stork a job. This Los a general practice ; it tees tie
denied by any Noble Lord reiverrant 'id' the state Gt. ',demi.
I Here he read the statements of Mr. Gilmore, the en, r. -
sporting the mode of road-making in lieland.l Tee engineer
stated, that there were persons Who made a trade of read-making,
and who got their tenant/ to repair the reds, ard were thus
enabled to get high rents for their lands. They were also paid be
the county treasurers in advance, and afterwards they made and r..-
paired roads as they thought proper. He did not state three
practices from his own authority alone; it was clear that those who
ought to be the guardians of the public purse, acted In a
manner which ought 0,4 to be suffered to exist The Noble
Earl opposite had assented to the expediency of sending com-
missioner, to Ireland they ought to receive particular untrue-
does to investigate this nil:atter. He was must anxinus to • hr.
press upon their Lordships that, notwithstanding all their efforts,
not wit hsta.nding the adoption of all theme measures moat likely to
effect improvement;—nu general, ne v.:nineteen pond would take
place until that gnat question which agitated the land, aatt which
would continue to agitate it, we... decided. This inenetwe 1111111° el-
tititately--it must, sooner or later, crone ur.der their Lordships' dis-
cussion and consideration, and the settling of this question was most.
necessity for the peace and national prosperity of Ireland. It
should not be looked upon merely ea an individual measure, but a.
the :mum of a number that would be most beneficial ; and he
would say it with all reverence to the establishment which they
were all bound to support, that the church establiehment of Ire-
land should be inquired into. This was admitted by the Bill which
was brought in last year, and he would now call upon that r•oreh
tote. the advocate of those arrangements which were lecessery the
the education and general amelioration of the people of Ireland. He
did not wish to originate a discussion ten these subjects, as he lower
they would not come with advantage if they were not mom.
mended by his Majesty's Government lie telt corivireed this
would conic with the greatest effect from Ministers, in consequence
of time natural disposition of his Majesty, in consequence of the
gracious visit be had paid to !reified, anti the p.merig admonition
he had given. From the senthnentst uttered by hi. Majesty to the
people, for the regulation of their conduct, he was sure every hr.
pet-anent which stood in the way of the measure would be
speedily removed. He felt amvinced their Lordships would shew
by their votes, if the measure was recommended to them, if it was
considered a. the spontaneous ebullition of Its Majesty's mood. es
the grant and boon of hi. paternal feelings. If the measure war
thus recommended to the House from the Throne, their Lordship.
would hare Ito scruples whatever on the subject. This measure
would protect the Establishment, thigh they were bound taproteet
and he would maintain it would be nian.oisilly strengthen ed by the
adoption of that measure to which he was favourable. Ile would
maintain it rniuld be possible for a governme:t to be emetvi.liy
Protestant, and extend equal' laws and rights to Roman Catholic
subjects. The measure lie feared would not be utteieLd with sue-
, ems. until an address was moved to his Majesty; it would he it..
ter ded with no effect until then, and any remlution of the House
would be useless- Ile would regret the result of such a motion, as
it would be directly contrary to the object of his Majcoy'n
visit to Ireland. When he reflected upon the state of that Minn/
he was iaclined to think the forte of nature was perverted--the
connexion between cause and effect was broken—in a fertile soil and
a mild climate that miseries should he ewer increasing town the
• wretched inhabitants. Would it not be worth the while of the
House to consider the system which was pursue.' towards Ireland?
• and if it were not attended with good—if it were not the cnuse
of much and infinite mischief, ought not some other mode of
government be tried ? If the state of Ireland exhilthed prowm
of misery and degradation, was he not justified in emitting to
the House, and asking it to take under its coos (4111110 H there
subjects, and to do something for the amelioration of tile coun-
try, at that time, when the worst effects were to be spin,-
liended ? if it was said the present system was the tote ore,
he would refer to the history of Ireland, and show that tor ex
hundred years the system of government in Irclana was o e
either of blood or fraud : and when Noble Lords might alter the.
11 system, and when they had the choice of ruling by kindness, thee
preferred a government of force and oppression. He would now
consider the expense in money and men which Ireland cost Eng.
land. There was an army, at the most moderate compu•aion. of
25,000 men ; and he ventured to predict, if the system of injustice
were not altered—if sonic other mode were not remised to beside
the iron sway of the sword, fifty thousand men would nut be not-
cienL These circumstances were peculiarly worth attention at the
present period, when Spain was in the possession of France, amt
the latter country was mimesis of all the ports opposite
and when no person could be sanguine enough to expect the pence
and tranquillity of that country could be mainutinetl—hew, h.
would ask, if die present system with regard to Ireland were cee-
tinued, would it be possible to avert the danger? Seine change or
other should be made in the government of Ireland. She shout t
no longer be left to every political Sangrado, whose only tuned,
were bleeding and hot water. He believed there was no man ni
better feelings towards Ireland than his !Majesty—no Mall valued
more the warmth of Irish affection. They had contentplated with
pride and eatisfaetion, and had contributed to the glory id his arms ;
but there was reserved for his Majesty a greater glory than any
Sovereign could gain by are—the glory of gaining the hearts of
his subjects. Under the present system, it was impossible that
eel hip of mutual benevolence and attachment could exist betwet
the governors and the governed. Ireland must remain in a state id'
agitation, if justice were denied her. The feelings of that county,
would never How in a proper channel as long as she remaitied, as at
present, oppressed and degraded. If he knew the Irish well, the :•
was nothing they could bear so ill as con'umely, and the 1113,4
of that population felt itself subject and exposed to this contumels.
This country had it in its power to adopt an opposite system. It
might pursue the reverse of the present plan. By a review of the
present regulations, and the Introduction of new. the Government
would have a grateful, loyal, and powerful peatiantry, instead of
peasantry disunited, disaffected—and who, instead of being a mum::
of power, were repressed by the strong arm of force. He trusted
their Lordships would give the question the most coal and dope- -
donate consideration. England owed much to Itelsect, from to, r
first connexion to the present moment. Ile was induced to use th e
arguments, and to express the sentiments he did, fn.. a sense et'
the importance of the subject. He did not speak the language tat
systematic opposition to the Government ; he spoke teem the erw.-
viction of his heart. If Ministers did not take heed in time, thee
would be tou late to save the country. Ireland would uudoubtcdiv
be bet : if. in the state of utter anarchy to whixit she was reduce.:,
a war should unfortunately break out—if melt an event did Lase
place, then would not be time to a avert the calamity, aid ise
would therefore all upon their Lordships to take the snbject
their most serious consideration. lie concluded by movir.g ',-
as we could hear)—" That a Comniittee he appointed for the eto -
pose of taking into consideration how far the measum lamer,
adopted by his Majesty's Government, fur the purpose of retests -
ing the grievances and allaying the discontents which had lciee
existed in Ireland, had tendril, or were likely to tend. to that
object; also, for the purpose of taking into consideration whal
regulations could be devised for remedying the ini.chicta of the;
country."
The Earl of I.IVERPIIIOI, said he was uncertain whether he
should trouble their Lordahip. with any observation. nil the ru',-
, ject at that stage of the discussion. lie was rather disposed to
listen to the observations of those Noble Lords who were VOIURVItsi
with Ireland ; but he feared if he did not state Ins moment tau the
subject he might appear to be expressidg his assent so. or app ere'. bation of, theutotion made by the Noble lord. n'o this eaution
he could not possibly assent, because he was convinced no good
could result from it ; and not only that, no he.setit would be de-
rived either to Ireland or to the inspire at large. winch he was well
I aware, the Noble Mover felt a conviction would follow; but he was
I sure that all the good which might be expected linen other and din-
ferent considerations of tlw question, and from disciseeimus of ii,
conducted upon other principles. would not be prcdoent ; but he
also felt the conviction that the motion, it graated, 'would lead to
serious difficulty, mixed with considerable intuoveitietice. Before
he entered upou any part of the diecusitiou. lie Li it imperatmse
• upon him, in the outset, to perfouti an act tat ji...tPre-.40 pay a
tribute to the character and qualities of the Irish eseiple. He was
not acquainted with behind ; he lied not at any time visited that
thecou nintriy.b.
it.H.euhd
eat.
thatsun
thereforecountry
h.t.oethsvrtise of
;knowingb th
he must say, in his tinvate capacity and his pablic situation, be had
come into contact with many of them ; and when be considered the
great mass of the business and industry of this town, that de-
volved upon thrum—when he considered them in dolt stout -
dons of labourers and manufacturers—when he considered them
as servants, in which situation he himself was chiefly cqneernot,
he must bear the highest testimony to their conduct sad industry.
lie did not know what an Irishman was in his own Paltry, but