The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-22 00:00:00

IRISH CONSOLIDATED ANNUITIES.

Lord MONTEAGLE presented a petition from the
county of Werford with respect to the Irish Consoli-
dated Annuities, and inquired what the intentions of the
Government were with respect to them.
The Earl of ABERDEEN—I cannot deny either the
importance or the urgency of this question, and both I
most readily admit ; but my noble friend must be aware
that this is a subject necessarily connected with the finan-
cial measures for the year, and therefore, though it is
under our consideration, it would be impossible at this
time for me to pledge myself, which, accordingly, I must
decline. The subject well deserves, and is receiving, the
consideration of the Government ; and if it should be in
our power to meet the views of the noble lord it will
afford us much satisfaction. But the noble lord must
be aware that the circumstances of Ireland have altered
since last year, and that an improvement has taken place ;
and though I do not mean to say that that relieves us
from the necessity of looking at the subject in the man-
ner in which the noble lord placed it before us, it still is
an alleviation of the state of things which we must not
lose sight of. I hope my noble friend will see, connected
as this is with the financial arrangements of the year,
that it would be prematume yet to make any announce-
ment of the intention of the Government.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE thought the Go-
vernment quite right in allowing themselves some short
time to come to a determination ; but it was impossible
for him not to feel disappointed at hearing that the de-
cision of the Government coupled other questions. All
he asked was, that the matter should be considered,. not
with the inquiry, how miserable or how much better the
country might be this or that month, not even with re-
ference to the state of the imperial finances, but solely
with a view to full justice being done.
The Earl of WICKLOW said it became imperative
on the Government to bring forward some measure.

MANNING OF THE NAVY.
The Earl of EGMONT inquired whether the Govern- '
ment would have any objection to lay on the table the
report of the commission on the Manning of the navy.
The Earl of ABERDEEN—In answer to the
noble lord, I may inform him that it is our in-
tention to lay that report on the table of the house.
At the same time I must observe that the re-
port in question has only been received in the
course of last week ; that it embraces a vast number of
subjects besides the manning of the navy, and many of
them very important topics, some of which, at least, it
is quite necessary the Government should have time to
consider and form some opinion on before the report is
laid on the table ; but I can assure the noble lord there
shall be no unnecessary delay.

The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND said the report
must affect many other, questions, as the committee was
appointed to inquire into the whole state of the seaman,
with a view to its improvement, where it wanted im-
proving ; and as their inquiry embraced his entire life
from the day he entered their service as a boy, to the
time when he was received into Greenwich Hospital, it
had also investigated the condition of a very valuable
class—the warrant officers. He trusted the noble earl
would grant them the evidence as well as the report.
The Earl of ABERDEEN could easily conceive that,
though it might be expedient to publish the report, yet
in the variety of the opinions of the officers, to publish
the evidence might not.
The house then adjourned.