The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-26 00:00:00

DUBLIN.-SUNDAY.

(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.I
The greatest object of '
the last monfl- '
the

• t
pUOIIC curiosity in IttfAllll during
uas been Miaciation." Since
...dales of the CoMmittee originating this
Instil:Min \Vete firth published; the inajoritY of 4uid-nuncs
not only hi Dublin, but thraelai thp ciitiri r i have been
watching its 066VainAi With Cohsiderable attention and
anxiety. ,Nor were Reformers alone the observant parties
the Conservatives themselves have been looking on wild
great interest, feeling that their hopes of future domination
were'deeply involved in its success: nut curiosity in this
respect is now somewhat snspetulecl—the object in view
being nearly accomplithed, by the perfect Organization of
the Societr---"dinridium facti qui coil habet." The
vessel is fairly launched, and no doubt exists but that, in
due time, it will bring us ell safe, and arrive at its destina-
tion—the haven of political repose and prosperity for Ire-
land. For it is with the hope of attaining. such an object
that great numbers of moderate men of all persuasions
have joined in its formation.
We turn, therefore, to contemplate the operations of the
approaching Session of Parliament: •Never Was expectation
more intense than that with which the hapress edition of
The Sun will be weleomed on the sth and 6th of next
month, on this side Of that) thannel. In the mean time we
are very busy in dlonssing those topk Which are sup-
posed to have the first claim Ott the attention of Govern-
ment and the Legitinthte. And our neighbours will
not, I. an, scrts Cavil at the egotism which prompts
tO think, that the state of their country is a pa-
rialunnt case, with those who are to a certain extent re-
sponsible for the welfare of the United Kingdom. We do,
indeed, look upon this Session as the most critical and im-
portant of any that have passed since the revolution of
1688 : because, it must either confirm the principles of
that event, recently put into operation among all the sub-
jects of England--or, omitting to do so, expose Ireland to
the usual and habitual consequences of disappointment.
Should the latter alternative unfortunately take place, the
nation will be again thrown back into that state of inquie-
tude and agitation, to much censured and complained of by
the Conservati'ves during the last five years. The prevail-
ing oploion, however, is, that we will be no longer exposed
to those evils ; but that the work of Reform will be this
year accomplished—that the tithe question will be set at
rest, either by Lord Morpeth's Bill, in the form it was
submitted to the Lords last Session, or with such modifi-
cations as may obviate the objections of some reasonable
and respectable opponents, without forfeiting any of its ma-
terial provisions—that a Registration Bill like that operat-
ing in England will pass into a law—that other Bills for
the economy and better government of this country by the
Executive will receive equal consideration—and that some
relief for the suffering poor of Ireland will be brought un-
der consideration, and receive the sanction of Parliament.
The last mentioned measure is one that ought not to be
delayed ; as the misery of which it may, be the remedy is
great and urgent ; and as under its provisions may be
embodied a system of domestic police or surveillance, highly
beneficial to, and promoting the improvement of the humbler
portion of society iri this country. I have withinAhese
few days, heard frequent mention of the necessity of some
immediate attention to this subject. It has been a subject
of very general conversation among respectable coteries, in
consequence of the following circumstances,—first, the ex-
pulsion of tenantry by Tory landlords ; second, the lament-
able decrease of subscription to the Mendicity Institution
in this city, during the last year ; and third, a discovery of
funds for "charitable uses," a great part of which, it is sup-
posed, have never been properly applied either in Dublin
or other parts of Ireland. For this discovery we are
indebted to Mr. Dalton, a gentleman well known for his
publications respecting the ancient and modern statistics of
Ireland. It appears that he was examined by the Edu-
cation Committee of the House of Commons, last Session ;
and furnished, from a collection of statistical manuscripts,
and other documents in his possession, information which, I
have the authority of a Member of Parliament for stating,
was deemed of great importance to the subject of the in-
quiry. He has since reviewed those manuscripts, with a
view, as he says, of exhibiting " a wider scope of charitable
funds generally, which may be rendered more available
and beneficial to the country, than they are at present."
The result of this review is a " Digest of Funds intended for
Charitable Uses in the City of Dublin," which has been
printed, and distributed among Mr. Dalton's friends, and
some Members of Parliament. It consists of only a few
folio pages, but it is very curious and interesting ; showing,
that a sum of 31,3621., the annual produce of grants, do-
nations, and bequests, is actually available for the education
and support of the destitute poor of this city—exclusive of
all infirmaries, hospitals, asylums, the associations for discoun-
tenancing vice, the London Hibernian Society, the Kildare-
place Society, the National Board of Education, the produce
of all private subscriptions, donations, College funds, and all
casual and fluctuating funds derived from Parliamentary
grants or otherwise ! In fact this sum appears to be of
the denomination of " resources unknown" to, the public ;
and it is conjectured that a very small portion of it is really
disbursed according to the intention of the donors. Nor is
this circumstance charged as neglect or fraud upon any person
or persons ; for there are nearly 200 items in the paper, some
Of them so small as not to compensate for the trouble of an-
nual distribution to the intended objects, where no general
Board or Corporation exists, having controul over them.
When it is considered what great bnefit this city has de-
rived from the Mendicity Institution, which never had at
its disposal more than one-third of the sum pointed out by
Mr. Dalton, great advantages may be expected from a con-
solidation of such of these several small funds, as actually
pertain to the support of the poor, into one general fund,
under the control of some properly organized institution.
But his researches are not confined to the investigation of
funds for the benefit of the metropolis alone ; he gives a.
list of sums, founded on conjecture and a cursory inspection
of his manuscripts, varying from 14,0001. to 2.501., similarly
appropriated to the 32 counties of Ireland, and making alto-
gether 86,3301., which, with the 31,3621. already mentioned
for the poor of Dublin, amount to 117,6921. a-year, for the
education and support of the poor of Ireland. Now this is
but small towards the relief of the millions requiring food
for mind and body throughout the land. It would, how-
ever, if properly administered, effect an immensity of good,
as may be fairly inferred, on considering the great
advantages derived from the Board of Education
during the last two years. That Board and the Mendicity
Society have not anything like half the sum just men-
tioned ; yet they have both effected a visible and salutary
improvement in the condition of the poor that come within
the range of their limited powers of beneficence. And even
beyond the sphere of their exertions the examples of in-
dustry and knowledge established by them are'alrcady pro-
ductive of very happy results. The sum set down for the
City of Dublin is demonstrated to be at this moment
available for the purposes intended ; and though Mr. Dalton
does not pledge himself to the accuracy of the 86,0001. for
the other parts of Ireland, there is great probability, from
his character and information on such matters, that more
ample funds might be discovered, according to his sugges-
tion, if a Commission of enquiry were instituted. A similar
Commission was, I believe, appointed many years ago by.
Lord Brougham in England ; whether the result of their
labours has realised the advantages anticipated from them I
know not ; but at all events it. might be a guide to the exe-
cutive or legislature as to the kind of Commission that
ought to be appointed for the same purpose in Ireland.
Such an enquiry need not retard the immediate adoption of
Poor Laws ; because it is clear, that, whatever discoveries
or information might be elicited could at any time be made
auxiliary to the purposes of the Board of Education and
Poor Law system, if the latter, as is expected, shall be soon
established here ; or the managers of these institutions
might be made the managers of the funds for " Charitable
Uses," which such a Commission woull point out.
Another topic occupying the attention of many persons
here is the settlement of the Tithe question. The Arch-
bishop of Dublin, Doctor Whately, is getting up an Ad-
dress, already signed by many very respectable dignitaries
and clergymen of the Established Church, from which it is'
conjectured that Government have a liberal and compre-
hensive plan in contemplation, that will conciliate the preju-
dices of all reasonable men. It is thought that. the " Ap-
propriation" clause will be merged in some arrangement
equally acceptable to the Catholic portion of the commu-
nity. I have no authority for contradicting these rumours
and surmises, other than the opinions of a few friends and
my own, which amount to this,—that Lords Melbourne,
Mulgrave, and Morpeth, will never consent to surrender so
great a principle as tha"l on which the present Government
has been formed; nor could any settlement, however judi-
cious and effectual, satisfy the people of the United King-
dom, and be a compensation for such a surrender on the
part of Ministers.

MR. RUTHVEN, M.P. FOR DUBLIN.--We are
happy to learn from the following announcement that the
information which was conveyed to us a few days ago, of the
death of Mr. Ruthven, was unfounded :—" Edward South-
well Ruthven, M.P., and Mrs. Ruthven and suite, arrived
on Tuesday evening at Gresham's. The Hon. Gentleman
is perfectly recovered from his recent illness."—Dublin Post.

A RRIVAL OF ANOTHER WHALER.—The Ro-
wena, Captain Prowse, one of the whale ships recently de-
tained in Davis' Straits, has arrived at Torquay. This
vessel was singularly unfortunate, having been compelled to
bear up when within 15 miles of Newfoundland, after hav-
ing been out no less than 11 weeks.

The inhabitants of our town have already seen
enough of " the working" of the Municipal Corporation
Act, to justify the most sanguine expectation of future sub-
stantial and important advantages. That which used to be
secret, consistently with the now obsolete system of self-
election, is, under the new law, thrown open to the light of
day.— Warwick Advertiser,