The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-17 00:00:00

cou.d not argue on it until it should be proposed to the House
w hat :hat e•taidishment was to consist of, There existed such
a spirit of political inquiry and research in this country. as
weld prevent &neer arising from any standing army that
could be kept tip by us. It was true that Napoleon was' in our
power, and his arite'es were desteoyed; yet there sti.l existed
the instruments of his power--nainely, a spirit of rapine and
disorder. among the French people. At the same time, be con.
tattered that we lead every prospect, from our alliance with the
tour crest powers, of be iei able to maintain ourselves in secu-
rity and peace. But, as to presets e ourselves in that state
was our greatest object. we ought to omit nothing which
would tend to bemire the peace and happiness of our own
country. As to Ireland, he considered the evils ender which
it laboared as originating in ignorance and poverty ; and that,
to correct them, they should begin by instruction, and not by
*anvil), to the Contaiittee proposed by the Noble Duke.
The Earl of Ltalltatell thoneht, that in discussing this sub-
ject it would be better to abstain from mentioning the state of
Iretaial; tor the treattneut of that country for centuries had re-
duced leer to a state too pailifal to he frittered suety in party
epiraions in that House. lle could not, however, agree with
the Noble Duke that Ireland bad been treated as a compered
country, , unless the protection afforded to the loyal and sober.
minded (mild be called so. A great evil under which the Irish
peasantry Widowed was, t)e,t if they were Catholic' they had
to pay two classes of Pastors, both Catholics and Protestants.
The fault was not hi die present, or the fortner, Ministry ; but '
had been increasing t ie. a emit try and inure. The evils of le e-
land had increased since the Resolution of 11188; Mier wind h,
she was governed by a set of ignorant Men, who paid no atten-
tion to her interests, and mils aished tee domineer user her.
Put after the volunteers rose for its protection, when the fleets
of France awl Spain rode triumphant in the channel, this coun-
try most liberally gave to Ireland her commerce. But since
the Union, the interest of the debt of Ireland hail exceeded the
amount of her income. I his had driven away much of the po-
iodation, and had injured that country severely, by withdraw-
Lug from it some of its most powerful landed proprietors. Let
this country not neglect Ireland; but look to her as its first
bulwark in the hour of danger and difficulty.
The Marquis of Decuiseita:st considered that the speech of
the Noble Lord who addressed them last, contained in itself
the strongest reasons fur agreeing tee go into the proposed COM-
"flitter. If after that sin ech they refused to inquire into the
state of Ireland, it would be to hold out to the population of
that country that for ever she should be kept down by the mi-
litary force of Oreat Britain. In 1782 we enti tested the pee-
tection of Ireland to her own volunteers ; and what was the
reason why we could not trust to the population of that collo-
try ? Rot the people of both countries had been insulted by
being told that the war hail ceased, but that no decrease of their
Inialietis was to be the COUSUplellee. This, and the utain-
teuauee
of a large standing army, were also sufficieut reasons
for establishing the enquiry sought fur into the state of our ex-
ternal and internal policy. He wished tee knew why slow, con-
trary to all former experience, peace should not lee the har-
binger of economy ? It was because a militaty system of des-
potism was intended to be forced upon this country. be a
work published by the Librarian to the Regent, called a life
of James 11. there was a document purporting to be the ad-
•ice of that weak Monarch to his SOH; he stated that the Ha-
beas Corpus Act was inconvenient to a Sovereign, as it obliged
biro to be at the expence of maintaining a large standing army to
keep the people in order. It was sumeahat sleepier that simi-
lar sentiments appeared to be entertained at present. The
country was told by Ministers, that we wet e now at profound
peace, why then weie we dein iced of the benefit of such a
state? He considered that the r nquiry called for by the Noble
Duke ought to be acceded to by the House.
Lord BLESSIRGTON approved of the system, not considering
it permanent—it was necessary to have a large Military Esta-
blishment in the oresent state of the Continent: to appe chola
danger o the C mstitution from having 150,000 men in arms
was throwing it scandal on the army. With respect to the
state of Ireland, lee thotight the appointment of 2:1,000 men
There was stifficiee t for its safety. He bad every reason to
hope, that when a state of profound peace should base pro-
duced a return of the blessings atteadant on it, Ireland would
experience some of those blessings, and be relieved of pint of
the borthens which at present press so heavy on the people.
Earl BATHURST could not see any practical good to be pro-
duet dby going into a Committee. As to the agricultural dis-
tress el the country, it was the same after the American war.
In proportion to the length of the war, and the exteat of our
exertions, distress of various kinds cutest press on those who
have borne largely of those burdens. But lee was convinced
that iu a short time our agricultural produce would arrive at
its fair proportion of price; and lie contended, that it was not
Hue taxes alone ye hick had brought embarrassment sail distress
on the farmer. Next year we should have to pay seven millions
and a half less than last year. Weald any one then say that
our hurthens were not decreasing? Out of those seven mil-
lions and a lu dlf three millions would be taken off the agrieul-
tarot interest.

The Egrl of CARNARVON contended, that the House should
not he led away by the specious argument that the exatninia-
tims of the cst:•rnal and internal situation of the country should
be lift to his Majesty's Ministers. Had Ministers ever applied
their attention to such a subject? Our gracious Regent had
indeed in his speech recommended economy, but had his Mi.
nisters-shew n any wi-h to adopt that recommendation? In-
•:ead of that, they had pi omised to visit our poverty with a
continuance of the Property-tax, and of a large standing 'limy.
Next to the heavy loud of toNation, he considered that the agri-
cultural distress of the country depended on the low state of
the currency, owing to the excessit e issues of private banks
throughout the country. Even that branch of the subject he
thought called loudly en the House to go into this Committee
et• Einillify. The Nobs.. Lord (Bathuist) had teemumended
our keeping op a large force for the purpose of preserving the
balance of power; but the Noble Eatl should have rceollet ted
the pm Mils of• kt 'llium and Anne, when we returind with
peace to out insular policy ; but whene% e r a new war arose v., I
were the more ready to throw our v% eight Iwo the scale of that
portion of continental Europe with which we pleased to take
Poster for repelling danger and diftieultv came front
the people and, with the return of pear,, such power ought
alwu.s to return to the people He instanced the danger of
snait,t;:uieg a staissriig arm), front the power which Croinwel:
obtaao•d through a sonilai hod). Out ancestors were jecons
of a %lauding ealo, and so out It we to be ; the more 1411, be-
'roost. 40(11 army a ere• kept Si. e years in native, it wend b.•
no mole like a I•r. i•t:u•nt) thins an arin) of Russian, wound beHe
w Ico the It. tight of so),Lug, that be beta vt'll ,lucre nee'
was an Aillililiistristion that dared to instil; the cum's.), with
pro' oring such m. 111111.1.e,:te) e•stabttrhwent anti so enurinoo•
a 11.1' a period of peace. Every tieing called loudly
for the Rowe to go tutu a Committee of En4uiry ; and it %,,t6
due to h e people to ',societal ,u a ieviute their borthens.
The Earl of 11 Esll4oliLLA%li di seined from the motion.
Eat4l)AnSLas is-.id, that their Lordships could out but CUII-,