The Sun.
London, England, 1837-06-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE ), 1837.

less entered into a solemn and efficient int:lair)
into the causes which were continually paring down
the iaelustry and prosperity of the country. He scarcely
agreel, however; with one of the propositions of the Hon.
Member for Birmingham. So far was he from thinking it
would be advantageous to sluice the country with Ix orth-
less paper, that lie was perfectly ccurinced of the expe-
diency of maintaining a solid metallic currency. At the
same time, he was quite aware that the maintenance of a
solid metallic currency was quite inconsistent with the pay-
ment of the interest of a debt which had been contracted
in paper.
Mr. FORSTER observed that, if the warning given to
commercial men, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in
the last Session of Parliament, bad been attended to, the
calamity of the present day would not have been so exten-
sive.—( Hear.)
Mr. O'CONNELL would vote against the amendment
of the Hon. Member for Birmingham, because it impeded
the progress of the Irish Poor Relief Bill. An Hon. Ba-
ronet had characterised the existing distress as a passing
cloud. No doubt the Hon. Baronet's opinion was founded
on details. It would be very satisfactory to have those
details communicated to the House and to the country.
For himself, however, he could not help fearing that the
Hon. Baronet's declaration proceeded from his wishes ra-
ther than from the facts of the case, for those facts all ap-
peared to lead to the same conclusion.
The House then divided—
For the Amendment 24
Against it

Majority —6l
IRISH POOR RELIEF BILL:
The Order of the Day was then read, and the House re-
solved itself into a Committee on the Irish Poor Relief
Bill.

On the 431 clause being read,
Sir R. INGLIS contrasted the provisions of this Bill
with those of the English Poor-law Bill. In the latter, no
provision was made for the religious instruction of the
poor, but that was not the case with the Bill under con-
sideration. Was that equal justice ?
Mr. LENNA RD, as we understood, supported the
clause.
Mr. Sergeant JACKSON contended that it would be
much better to allow persons of all persuasions to leave the
workhouses for two or three hours on the Sabbath, to hear
Divine service in their respective places of worship.
Lord Viscount MORPETH could not see that this
clause would have the effect which the Hon. and Learued
Gentleman anticipated.
Mr. FINN objected to the clause.
After some further discussion, in the course of which
several verbal amendments were adopted,
Mr. O'CONNELL moved the omission of the words at
the end of the clause, that " every such chaplain shall be
deemed a paid officer under this Act."
The gallery was immediately cleared for a division ; but
a discussion arising, the doors, after the lapse of some time,
were re-opened. During our exclusion we understand that
Lord Stanley objected to the clause that it sanctioned the
endowment by the State of at least 100 Roman Catholic
clergo, men, who were to be installed in the various work-
houses in Ireland, and paid by the State.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL declared that the observa-
tions of the Noble Lord tended in no degree to shake the
opinion which he (Lord John Russell) entertained of the
propriety and expediency of adopting the clause in the shape
proposed. There was no force-in the Noble Lord's objec-
tion that the appointment of Roman Catholic priests to the
different workhouses would have the effect of making the
Roman Catholic religion the State religion, because, as the
Noble Lord must himself be well -aware, Roman Catholic
priests were appointed and paid by the Government to of-
ficiate at many of the barracks and military stations in Ire-
land. For his own part he (Lord J. Russell) thought it
would be unworthy of a liberal Government not to provide
the means of religious instruction to people of every persua-
sion who were driven into the workhouses.—(Hear, h ar.)
After a few words from Mr. WOULFE,
Mr. GOULBURN expressed a wish that the Noble
Lord would consent to postpone the clause.
Mr. O'CONNELL said that the clause appeared to
him to be a very important one, and he trusted that his
Majesty's Government would Persevere with it, although
he was desirous that the latter part of it should be omitted.
Lord STANLEY observed.' that the only question was,
whether they should make a deviation from the English
Bill, which left the appointment of chaplains in work-
houses to the discretion of the Board of Guardians, and
introduce into the Irish Bill a clause making it compulsory
on the Commissioners, instead of leaving it to the discre-
tion of the Guardians, to appoint Roman Catholic chaplains,
and that without the consent of the rate payers? The
question was not whether they were going to exclude the
Roman Catholic clergy from the workhouses, but whether
they would or not follow the precedent of the English Bill?
Viscount HOWICK asked whether his Noble Friend
was not aware that the circumstances with respect to Eng-
land were very different from what they were with respect
to Ireland ? It was perfectly true, as the non. and
Learned Member for Kilkenny had stated, that the question
was, whether real religious instruction should be at all pro-
vided for in the Hall workhouses. If it were, then the
Committee must agree to this clause.
Lord STAN LEY begged to remind his Noble Friend,
that by leaving out the clause altogether, the Boards of
Guardians in Ireland would have the same power of ap-
pointing chaplains as the Boards of Guardians in England
possessed.
Viscount HOWICK admitted that ; but he would put
it to his Noble Friend, whether it would not be better that
the power of appointment should be entrusted to the Board
of Commissioners, being an impartial authority, than to a
both, liable to be influenced by party prejudices and local
predilections ? As to the proposition for the postponement
of the clause, he really could not comprehend the least
ground for such a course. It appeared to him that they
were now in a fit state to decide upon the subject, and that
it would do most serious injury to the Bill if they were to
consent to rescind the clause.
Mr. LEHI° Y was anxious to point out to the Noble
Lord that this clause differed from the English Bill, not
merely in leaving it to the discretion of the Commissioners
to appoint chaplains, instead of to the Guardians, hut by
making it imperative, upon the Commissioners to appoint
chaplains.
After a few words from Mr. D. DROWNE,
Mr. FORBES said that the question was, whether a
Protestant Parliament should make a law to pay Roman
Catholic Clergymen ? To such a clause he never could
agree. He protested against a Protestant State paying a
Roman Catholic Clergy.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw. In our ab-
sence we understood that Mr. O'Connell withdrew his
amendment, and that a division took place on the clause—
For the chaos. 12;2
Against it 36
Majority
The clause, as amended, was then ordered to stand part
of the Bill.
Clause 44 was then agreed to.
The clauses to 46 were agreed to.
On clause 47 (Commissioners may visit end regulate
hospital And other charitable institutions .not wholly sup-
ported by voluntary contributions) being put,
Mr. Sergeant JACKSON proposed, with a view of
carrying out the principle of the clause, that besides chari-
ties wholly supported by voluntary contributions, that cha-
ritable institutions supported by private bequests should
also be excepted from the controul of the Commissioners.
Lord MORPETH said that he had no objection to adopt
the suggestion of the lion. and Learned Member.
Mr. WYSE objected to the amendment.
Mr. O'CONNELL recommended that the clause should
be postponed for the present.
After some further conversation,
Mr. WAKLEY moved that the cause be pestponed.
The Committee then divided—
For the postponement
Against -
Majority -96
Mr. WAKLEY moved that the Chairman report pro.
gross, and ask leave to sit again. He wished to protect
medical men in Ireland from the operation of the clause.
Lord MORPETH observed that they had only got
through five clauses that night. The opinion of the House
had been expressed respecting the clause.
Mr. WAKLEY withdrew his motion.
Mr. WYSE stated that he should divide the House
against the amendment proposed by the Hon. and Learned
Member for Bandon.
The committee then divided—
For the amendment
Against.
Majority
The clause was then agreed to.
Clause 43 was postponed.
Upon clause 49 being proposed,
Mr. O'CONNELL moved that the Chairman repot-
progress, and ask leave to sit again.
The motion was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN reported progress, and obtained
leave to sit again this day.
The Registration and Marriages Acts Amendment Bill
was postponed till this day (Tuesday.)
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and
the House adjourned at One o'C:ock.

30
-47

rate,

We regret to announce that the Hon. Baron Sir
Patrkl: Murray, Hart., of Oebtertvre, died on Thursday-night
at his house in Walker-street. —Edinburgh Courant.
On Friday evening, the remains of the late General
the Hon. Sir Alexander Hope were brought to Leith from
London by the Royal Adelaide, steamer, from whence they
were removed on Saturday forenoon in a hearse drawn by Fix
horses, followed by a train of mourning coaches, to be depo-
sited in the family vault at Luirness,--Edinburglz Co uran t.