The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-28 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 28, 1849.

IRISH RAILROADS.

The following deputation of Irish Members of Parlia-
ment had an interview with Lord J. Russell, the Earl of
Clarendon, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, yes-
terday, at the official residence of the First Lord of the
Treasury, in Dawning street, viz., the Earl of Glen gall,
L-)rd do Prune, Mr. Robert Ferguson' Sir Lucius
O'Brien Sir V. Verner, Sir W. Barron, Sir D. Nor-
reys, Majorf Beresford, Mr. George Alexander Hamil-
ton, Mr. Waddington, Mr. M. J. O'Connell, Mr. M. J.
Blake, Mr. Magan, Mr. J. Green, the O'Gorman Mahon,
Mr. J. Somers, Mr. John Reynolds, Mr. O'Flaherty,
Mr. C. Lawless, Mr. J. Sadlier, Mr. F. Scully, Mr. N.
Power, Mr. J. 11. Talbot, Major Blackall, Mr. F.
French, Mr. J. H. Hamilton, Mr. Thomas Meagher,
Major Macnamara, Mr. M. Sullivan, the Lord Mayor
of Dublin, Mr. James Fagan, Mr. W. Fagan, Mr. Q.
Dick, Mr. 0. Grace, Dr. Boyd, Mr. N. Alexander,
Mr. C. Forteseue, Mr. J. M'Culloch, Mr. H. Browne,
Mr. D. Browne, and Mr. Morgan.
Sir L. O'BRIEN said, that the wishes of the Irish
Members had been already made known to the Govern-
ment, in the resolutions which he had had the honour to
forward, and in the correspondence which had passed
between him, as their organ, find the Noble Lord. He
had only to say on the present occasion that, as a body,
it was their wish to apply to the Government for assist-
ance to railways in Ireland in general, without commit-
ting themselves to the recommendation of any particular
plan; this they left to the discretion of Government,
with the moans of obtaining the best assistance in com-
ing to a correct judgment. These resolutions, he might
remind the 'Noble Lord, had embodied only two sugges-
tions; one, that a guarantee might be given for the re-
payment of a moderate rate of interest loy Government
to capitalists who should advance money on their own
account, and secondly, that a direct outlay of the public
money might be safely made where the lines had been
already commenced, and on which there had been a con-
-iderable outlay from the funds of the companies. He
had only to add that it was not the wish of the Irish
Members to induce the Government to enter on any ex-
penditure of the public money for which they had not
the most ample security that there would be perftct re-
turn of both principal and interest. _ _

. .
Lord J. RUSSELL began by stating that deputations
had waited on him from English and Scotch railways
as well as Irish, to which he had replied that it was con-
trary to principles of sound policy for a Government to
interfere in enterprises of private advantage, and that it
was far better such should be conducted by the persons
having an interest in the success of the undertaking.
Though he should be of opinion that the same principles
would apply to the objects which had been pressed on
him by the Irish Members, he conceived that there was
a distinction in the present anomalous condition of that
country, and under the circumstances of the urgent dis-
tress which prevailed there, especially in the western
parts of Ireland. It was the intention of Government to
lay before Parliament a plan which was not as yet fully
developed to promote the completion of the main trunk of
railway extending to the western district; the railway
known as the Midland Great Western would occupy the first
attention of the Government, with a view to carry it out;
and they had come to the determination that public as-
sistance should be rendered to that railway, which would
open some of the districts most in need of improvement,
and to which it was most desirable to encourage the in-
flux of capital. A plan similar to this had been pursued
last year with respect to the Southern Railway with the
happiest effect, and it was shortly to be expected that
the important city of Cork would in consequence be
opened to all the advantages of railway communication.
Applications had been made from some of the northern
lines, but he considered that they came under tho prin-
ciples he had first stated, and that they were in a condi-
tion to go into the market and obtain funds on their own
credit. It was to be considered that the public re
venue was not in a condition to afford a more en.
larged extension of assistance at the present
moment. Lord John Russell proceeded further
to say that there were two other objects
which had engaged the attention of Government as equal
in importance to railways, and which, with a view to
the relief of present distress, they were disposed to pro•
secute. Ile alluded to the deepening of rivers and wa-
tercourses, commonly known as arterial drainage; and
for the second, the extension of the loans for land
improvement. For this latter object it was known that
a million and a half had already been voted by Parlia-
ment; about 500,0001. of which had been applied, but to
meet the numerous applications which the Board of
Works had been unable to satisfy, he would propose to
Parliament that a further sum should be voted.
Sir L. O'BRIEN asked if it would be within any rea-
sonable time that the matter would be brought before
Parliament ?
Lord JOHN RUssELL replied, that as soon as the
views of the Cabinet had been sufficiently matured, the
plan should be stated in the House of Commons.