The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-26 00:00:00

MAYNOO'i'H COLLEGE.

Sir G. STRICKLAND presented a petition from the
Royal Burgh of Stirling against the grant to the College of
Maynooth. The Hon. Bart. also gave notice that he should
feel it his duty when the Irish Miscellaneous Estimates were
brought forward, to take the sense of the House on the grant
to that College.

TITHES--(IRELAND.)
Lord MORPETH presented petitions from the grand jurors
and land-o.vners of Mayo, from the grand jurors and landed
proprietors of Longford, and a parish in Cork, all praying for
an alteration in the tithe system.
Mr. BINGHAM BARING presented a petition to the
same effect.

TITHES (IRELAND).
That part of his Majesty's speech, with reference to the
subject of Tithes in Ireland having been read, and the
House having resolved itself into a Committee for the purpose
of taking it into consideration,
Lord MOR PETH rose, and addressed the Committee as
follows :—Mr. Bernal—lf I rise upon the present occasion with
anything short of,:the feeling of confidence and alacrity which
ought to accompany the introduction of a measure in this
House, Wiz from the circumstance that I made a similar at-
tempt last year, and now renew it, with the depressing
knowledge of a former failure. In stating that I must
be allowed to say that I have not permitted any
personal considerations to enter into my mind upon
thie ino.t impurtqnt subject -(1-lear, hear, hear)—in intro-
ducing this measure, I have no desire whatever of intruding
labour or responsibility on any one, or of exciting any disagree-
ments among any party. Ido not feel any difficulties from
that ; but that which I feel is the natural and inherent diffi-
culties of the case, which are sufficient to create anxiety in
any one. I will not attempt to say that I can surmount those
difficulties; but they join their testimony against all further de-
lay, disappointment, or doubt. lam aware that indications of a
contrary description have not been wanting; for I find, in the
course of the present Session, that a petition has been presented
either to this or the other House of Parliament, from the
diocese of Tuam, Ardagh, and Clonfert, and in that petition
it was stated that, with all due submission and deference to the
House, they desire to disabuse their Lordships' minds against
the impression that tithes could not be collected in Ireland.
They then detailed the circumstances which took place
throughout the country under the proceedings of the Lay
Association, and they then state that they have good reason to
expect that under the law as it stands at present—under the
3d and 4th William IV. they will in a short time have the un-
disturbed possession of their rights and dues—they therefore
prayed their Lordships' House not to alter the law unless
they had previously ascertained that the provisions of the
substituted one would be as efficacious as the law at
present is. Now, Sir, I certainly read this expression
of opinion with some surprise. I do not mean to convey
any censure upon the petitioners. Whatever, Sir, during
these discussions may have been my feelings—whatever may
have been the remarks made upon the part which I have felt
it my duty to take, and the principles which I have riot
hesitated to avow—from me, Sir, the Irish clergy will meet
with no slight—from me they shall meet with no disrespect ;
but I must, Sir—l am bound to dissent from the opinions con-
tained in the document now read by me.—( Hear, hear,
hear.) I admit, Sir, that a somewhat larger amount of
Tithe has been collected this year than in last year, or in
any of those preceding ; still I believe that the entire amount
collected, even during the last year, is in the first place greatly
inadequate to the dues and wants of the clergy. Above all,
Sir, at the same time, what has been collected has been by a
sort of compromise in many cases, coming from good feeling
and good will towards the clergy, in others paid .from a sense of
what was due to the law ; but in the majority of cases the parties
have been actuated by their fears. The magnificent contribution
of the British public bears upon this point, and sure I am that no
one will be found to pretend that it ought to be looked upon
as a permanent source of endowment for the Irish clergy.
Sir, whatever might be the opinions of a part of the
clergy, sure am I that these are not responded to by the
great body of that respectable class.—( Hear, hear, hear.)
Amon.. the communications' which I have received my-
self, I will merely refer to one letter which was addressed
to me when I had only given notice of my intention to
alter the day upon which I intended to bring in this Bill.
Upon that occasion I received the following 'letter :
" The clergy of Tuam have heard with dismay of the
postponement of the Irish Tithe Bill, and as Vicar-General and
ordinary of the diocese, it is my duty to give them any informa-
tion in my power ; and as I have to meet many of them next
week, and I know that they have stayed proceedings for the
recovery of their income, in the hope that the subject will be
brought on without delay, I can only say for them,
as well as myself, that I hope no longer delay will be
s'iffered to take place, as hope deferred maketh the heart
sick.' " The letter proceeded to state, that in the present state
of the country the clergy could not proceed to recover their
tithes but with the hazard of their own lives, and the persons em-
ployed by them. I must remark that this letter is at variance
with the opinions expressed by the petition I have just read.
I think, therefore, that a campliance with the advice to leave
things in their present condition would, in the first instance,
be most disastrous to the Irish Clergy, But would it be
very acceptable to the Irish landholders ?—( Hear.) On
this head, I beg to call the attention of the House to the
language of two petitions which I have already presented, and
which from the character and feelings of the persons who
signed them, must be assumed to be most unsuspicious and
pregnant documents, with a view to the elucidation of their
opinions upon this head. The Grand Jury of Mayo state that
they have viewed with alarm the unhappy state to which the
country is reduced by the present tithe system, and they are
anxious to call attention to its vexatious operation. —( Hear,
bear.) They have beard with much surprise and regret
the assertions of certain tithe proprietors, that the law, as it at
present exists, is sufficient for the recovery of tithes. Al-
though attempts have been made in many instances, they were
attended with ruinous expense to the landowners, and
in some instances with loss of life ; they, therefore,
prayed the House to take into consideration the un-
happy state of the law on this subject, so pregnant with
evil to all classes, and that they would pass such 1 egislative
enactments as would remedy the present evils, an d lead to
a general submission to the law. A petition to the same ef-
fect I have also presented this evening from the Grand Jury
of the County of Longford, signed by many of the Magistracy,
and landholders of the county, and during the limited Period
which I have been officially connected with Ireland, and
my casual intercourse with society, several instances have come
to my knowledge of gentlemen who have paid their tithes,
but who found it necessary to accompany the payment with
a caution that it was to be kept an impenetrable secret,
which is certainly a novel mode of treating a legal charge, and I
think the House had early in the present Session an came. it, in
a letter read by the Hon. and Learned Member for Tipper. ry,
which I felt at the time, and which the House felt also, wca
written in a spirit of great credit to the Honourable
arid Learned Gentleman.—(Hear.) They had in that letter