The Sun.
London, England, 1837-11-13 00:00:00

IRELAND.

. The following letter developing a plan for the settlement
of the tithe question, appeared in the Dublin papers en
Saturday last ; we have made it the subject of some re-
marks in another part of our paper :

" TO THE MOST REVEREND, RIGHT REVEREND, AND REVE-
REND THE CLERGY OF THE ESTABLISHED PROTESTANT
CHURCH IN IRELAND. _

" Merrion-square, Nov. 9.
" Fas est et ab boste doceri.'

" M LORDS AND GENTLEMEN—Look at my motto
and reflect, that no matter from what quarter it may come,
good advice ought, not to be disregarded. The question
you should ask yourselves is, whether the advice I offer and
the plan I propose be nut in their own nature wise and use-
ful. If not, why, of course, you will reject them, and my
labour goes for nothing. If they be wise and useful in
their nature you ought to adopt them.
" I know many of you look on me as an enemy. In
truth you are mistaken. lam not your enemy, or the
enemy of any man or set of men. It would be wrong to
be so. Our divine Redeemer died for each of us individu-
ally as well as for all of us collectively ; why should we hate
one another? If I know my own heart I bear no enmity
to any man. Indeed I should be doubly wrong if I did so ;
because my belief is, that I never had a private or personal
enemy ; that is, an enemy from any other than political
motives. I may, of course, be mistaken in this ; but I
certainly think I am not.
" Besides, I have shown myself your friend, and not
your enemy. If the Tithe Bill, which was called mine—
and the principal provisions of which were introduced upon
a motion made by me—had passed in 1833, you would ever
since have received received at the Treasury 771. 10s. per
cent. of the estimated value of the tithes, without any spe-
cies of expense or trouble. You would, for the last five
years, have the most comfortably-paid income in the world.
There is not a landlord in Ireland but would rejoice to be
paid his rent in that manner.
" Besides, all the arrears up to 1833 would have been
paid you, and the repayment of the million' remitted.
"So much for the past. I repeat that I have proved
myself practically your friend.
" Now for the future. Attend to my proposal, and
weigh it well.
" Let us state the facts. The amount of tithe composi-
tion is, in round numbers, 600,0001. Six hundred thou-
sand pounds per annum.
" The amount of the expense of the peace preservation
force, the constabulary, is also, in round numbers, 600,0001.
Six hundred thousand pounds per annum—a singular coin-
cidence of, as it were, cause and effect. But let that pass.
" The next fact is—that Ireland is charged with one half
of the expenses of the constabulary—namely, 300,0001. per
annum.

" The other 300,0001. per annum is chargeable on the
consolidated fund.

" Thus Ireland is chargeable altogether with 900,0001.
per annum-600,0001. for tithes, 300,0001. for police or
constabulary force.
" The next fact is—that Lord Stanley gave the landlords
15 per cent. of the tithes—Sir Henry Hardingc gave them
25 per cent.—the Whigs first 30 per cent., and afterwards
32 per cent.

.; I propose to deduct 30 per cent. off the tithes. Both
sides of the House are so nearly agreed on this subject—
both parties are so near each other on this point—that
there would be no difficulty in taking off this per centage
if a final and satisfactory adjustment were made of the
vexatious and irritating subject—tithes.
" Take, therefore, on this ground, 30 per cent. off the
tithes—namely, off 600,0001. per annum. There will re-
main 420,0001. per annum.

" My proposal is, to have these 420,000/. per annum paid
out of the consolidated fund. Thus every Protestant cler-
gyman will in future receive 70 per cent. of his tithes, paid
at the Treasury without expense or trouble, or litigation or
vexation of any kind. You would purchase peace at the
expense of 30 per cent. of your nominal income. You
would free yourselves from the expenses of collection—from
the employment of attorneys, bailiffs, rebellion ruffians,'
ct hoc genus 071171 C. Is not that good value for your money ?
" But it may be said that it will be impossible to induce
the Treasury to take such an additional burden as 420,0001.
per annum—that the English and Scotch Members will not
consent to any such burden.
" Gently, reverend gentlemen—gently. Do not be in a
hurry. Listen to the rest of my plan. It is this :
" Next—l propose that the lands of Ireland, being dis-
charged of the tithes, shall be charged with the entire of the
expenses of the constabulary.
" Ireland will then stand thus :—She is now subject to
900,0001. per annum. Strike off the tithes, she will then
be liable to only 300,0001. per annum—for one half of the
expenses of the constabulary force. Add the other half,
and charge that also on Ireland. The case of Ireland will
then stand thus :—lreland will be relieved, say from the
gross sum of 900,000/. per annum. It will be charged
with 600,0001. per annum only. This will actually relieve
Ireland from no less than 300,0001. per annum for ever—
being the difference between the 900,000/. per annum now
chargeable, and the 600,0001. per annum which will be in
future chargeable.

" Beside; this tithes will be abolished in name—in nature
—in reality. They are gone for ever, and with them the
most fruitful source of agrarian disturbances, disquiet, and
VCxation.
" Now for the consolidated fund. That will be relieved
from the 300,000/. which it now pays, being the govern.
ment half of the expenses of the constabulary. We thus
have a fund of 300,000/. towards the payment of the tithe
revenue to the Protestant clergymen.
" There would remain 120,000/. per annum to be pro.
'tided for.

" How do I provide for this sum ? I will tell you—
thus The income arising from what are called the Irish
woods and forests' amounts to 80,0001. Eighty thousand
pounds per annum. No application of that sum would be
half so rational and useful as to terminate the tithe feud in
Ireland. Let this 80,000/. per ponnm be paid into the
Consolidated Fund, and it will thus reduce the deficiency to
40,0001. per annum.
" No rational man will object to tranquillize Ireland—to
settle the question of questions i❑ Irish policy at so small
a price as 40,0001. per annum. But even that sum will be
reduced.
" First : The increasing value of the property called
woods and forests' may be well estimated at 10,000/. per
annum. Second : Another 10,000/. or even 20,000/. 'per
annum may be obtained out of the Irish Church tempora-
lities. But this is trifling. The man is mad who could
object to the final settlement of the tithe question at so
small an expense as 40,000/. a year.
" Such is my plan—a plan simple in its details—effica-
cious in its result—giving to the Protestant clergy in Ire-
land as much of annual income as their avowed friends in
the House of Commons would give them—giving them
that income free from trouble, strife, or contention—reliev-
ing Ireland of a pecuniary burden to the extent of
300,000/. per annum, and of a religious grievance which
has produced, and is still pregnant with, the most affecting
and terrifying consequences.

" There is this additional advantage, that the charge of'
600,0001. per annum for the constabulary three need not be
permanent. The moment the country became tranquil that
force would be lessened. In proportion as the country. be-
came tranquillised the expense would be diminished. Every
cess-pryer, that is, every occupier of lands, would have a dl.
rest, immediate pecuniary interest in the preservation of the
peace. He would save money rendering a police force un-
necessary in his district or county. Can you, my Lords
and Gentlemen, calculate the extent of good which must en-
sne from making a pecuniary gain to every occupier of land
to have his neighbourhood free from crime, breaches of the
peace, and other disturbances ? Rioters at fairs would
be considered naturally in the light of plunderers of their
neighbours, and every time the county cess was called for
the payer would be emphatically reminded that he could
keep his money if the peace were kept in his district.
Every rational man in each district would thus be likely to
become a voluntary policeman, and at one and the •same
time save his money from the tax collector, and his vicinage
from the disgrace of disturbance and crime.
Reflect on these things, my lords and gentlemen—re-
fleet on these things. It is the duty of every Minister of
the meek and merciful Divine Redeemer to make every
sacrifice to promote • peace and good will amongst men,'
Your incomes will be better and more comfortably paid--
the mode of payment may, perhaps, not be so gratifying
to your pride of ascendancy as the compelling those who
differ with you in belief to contribute in spite of them to
your support. But shall that pride stand between Ireland
and pacification ? Forbid it every good feeling which should
belong to the man and the Christian.
.‘ For the present I have done. If you assist in this plan
it may be realised this session. If you raise a clamour
against it, I almost despair of being able to get such aid
from the Government as would be sufficient to carry it into
effect. I will, however, have done my duty. I propose a
plan which would injure no man, and benefit all, and which
would be full of present utility and of most cheering hope.
6, may that Divine Redeemer whom we in common adore,
the sole mediator between God and man, inspire you with
the spirit of peace and conciliation.
,4 I havo the honour to be, my Lords and Gentlemen,
" Your very humble servant,
" DANIEL O'CONNELL."

Thew are two gourds now growing on one plant in
a garden at Sprovvston, one of them measuring tire
.feet
round, weighs 721b5., the other 671b5.--Norfolk Chronicle.