The National Register.
London, England, 1816-04-08 00:00:00

PRIX! 9 1 ii.

blame lay iii that system of division which rendered the pay.
ment of tsthes in Ireland. From the evils 'tieing by the em-
ployment of Tythe Proctors, the interests of the Church mad
its character was injured in the opinions of the people. The,
remedy was easy in his opinion, by levy ing a rate in proportio ■
to the rent on the lands, in lien of tithe s, which ought only to
be paid by the rich landholder. Another grievance was, flat
power titan to the Grand Juries in Ireland on the presentment
of roads, which 11 as often made a private job. Any one might
swear that a road wanted repairs, and then the Grand Jon y had
the power of ordering it to be repaired, the expence being,
paid by a late ou the Barony ; and that money frequently went
to pay a tenant's rent. Another evil was, the appointment of
Hilt sheriffs in Ireland being vested in the Crown ; and these
offices were under the sole controul of the Crown. Another
evil too arose frnn the appointment of magistrates in Ireland;
tor, owing to the pressure and inquietude of the time', the office
of a magistrate had become very laborious, and, consequently,
ninny cot into the magistracy who did not deserve to be there.
The last point, but by no meanethe least, was the financial state
et' Ireland. From time to time the revenue of Ireland had sunk
below the charge due to the public creditor. He entered into
a variety or nntantrieal ittatements to prove this. In 1791. 4.9
millions of yards of linen were imported from Ireland Whiffing.
land ; and in ISIO, only to millions were so Imported. Add to
all this the increase of illicit distillation, and the picture was one
of national bankruptcy. He trusted the House would be of
opinion that he bed stated enough to lay a parliamentary ground
of enquiry. They were now charged with the protection of a
eouutry meant as a blessing to us in peace, and a source of as-
sistance in war. 1k neglecting it we might emit those blessings
far from us.—Our future rule in Ireland would consist of tim-e.
miffing exertions to keep down her generous population, if en-
quiry were not made as to the hest means of soothing and con-
ciliating that country. He concluded by moving, that a Corn-
mitten be appointed, to enquire isle the state of Ireland.
The Earl of Lie Fit POOL contended, that no practical good
could result from sending this question to a select Committee.
No case had been made out which called for enquiry; and, even
if it were referred to a select Committee, it would be next to
impossible to settle the mode of proceeding. He was ready to
admit, that the r; stern of Government for Ireland, for many
years, was radically wrong ; for it went on the principle of ad.
crificing the interests of Ireland to the supposed interests of
Great Britain. But, during the present reign, that system had
been totally changed into a system of conciliation; and he re.
membeie,l a noble Baron, in another place, had stated, there
was not a Session but what some boon was grouted to Ireland
by this country. He was tar, however, from wishing to be un-
derstood as meaning to say, that because much had been done.
more, if possible, should not be done for that country. He so-
lemnly declared, that he, and those with whom be acted, had
invariably laboured to throw every fair advantage into the scale
of Ireland. Whatever evils might formerly have existed in
Ireland, no country in Europe had made such improvement ift
power, prosperity, and wealth, during the last SO years. The
agriculture of I reland bad quadrepled during that period, while
its trade had doubled since the Union with this country. 'rho
prisaipal evils seder which Ireland laboured acre to be traced
to the lawless and dissolute manner. of many of the lower ordeals
of the people; and arose from uo religious feelings whatever.
Catholics as well as Protestants were the objects of these
tu-
mults And illegal proceedings. These were ouly to be corrected
by extending the benefits ofeetucation. He read a horrible pic-
ture of the state of the lower orders in Scotland in IGott, whea
there were 200,000 beggars in that country, living without re-
gard to the laws of God or man. How was it that the lower
orders of the people of Scotland werenow so tranquil and obe.
client to the laws? It was Out from the excellence of the consti. •
tutiou of that country ; it was faun the general extension of eda
catiois among all chases in Scotland. The Catholic thiestior
was, in his opinion, a simple question; and if it should be ci
ceded nt all, shonld be dune without qualification, except, a
had beeu already stated, to the Catholics themselves. The Bp,
tem of tsthes might become a question of fair commutation;
but he could assure the House that every attention had bee )
paid to this subject by Government, but they had found no pine
which was not liable to more blame than even the tythe eystee:t
itself. On this point, unless some plan were laid down beforer
hand, he would object to the going into the Committee. As to
the question of Grand Jury presentments, be understood a BPI
was now prepared to amend that part of the laws. The appeind.
meet of magistrates could not be better than in the heeds of th
Crown. As to the finances of Ireland, it was intended, after
the recess, to bring forward a measure for the consolidation e f
the finance, of Gnat Britain and Ireland. The greatest
of Ireland were to be ascribed (next to the want of education.)
to the want of a resident Gentry ; a circumstance which might
be lamented, but could wit be remedied. He felt It.. strongly
as the Noble Marquis to be the duty olGoverament to use every
means to make !rebind a source of strength, and not of weak nom
to this country. But each of those topics, which the Neve
Marquis had Minded to, might be separately brought belle a
Parlsameet, without referting them to a Committee.
The Earl ofitossi.ord said, that the Ndible Earl opposite would
have found that the distresses of Scotland in 1111/1J arose from*
trronnical Gov., ement endeavoaring to force than to a religidia
which they in their consciences abhorred. Had '
the history or these times, he would have also fir
evils were relieved by giving them the ebgiou '
mealy believed in, and she pastors in whom they
Similar were the evils, and similar ought to be
Were in Ireland.
The Earl of STANHOPE considered the question
ing the concession of the Veto from the Catliolica
snit to injury. For his part, he had an excellent
lieving the people futon the burden of tythea, ins
the Church, which he had learned from a shrew'
the late Mr. Dutolaiii, and that was, to leave the
own poverty.--( .4 Naga! )
The Earl kits RDE erd opposed, and the Earl
supported the motion.
I. .! it r isestietr contended, that there never had been an
effort t. Leg lac i.,:t•ple of Ireland into snivolot. to the hevie ;

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