The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-08 00:00:00

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice that upon this day
fortnight he would make a financial statement to the
House in the Committee of Ways and Means.

QUEEN'S LETTER.
Sir R. 11. INGLIS wished to know through what
channel it was intended to distribute the money col-
lected under the authority of the Queen's Letter?
Sir G. GREY said that it was the intention of the
Government to place the funds so collected at the dis-
posal of the committee of the British Association for
the Relief of Extreme Distress in the Highlands of Scot-
land and in Ireland. The committee of that association
consisted of persons of the highest character, and he
thought that their mode of distributing the funds placed
at their disposal was of the most superior nature.
RAILWAYS IN IRELAND.
Mr. B. OSBORNE wished to know what amount of
money had been granted to the Limerick and Waterford
Railway Company.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
no grant had at present been made to that company.
The Government were prepared to advance money for
the execution of the earth work upon Irish railways
on the security of the baronies. The Company referred
to by the Hon. Member had not yet completed their
arrangements with all their baronies, or the grant would
have been made.

POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL.
On the order of the day for going into Committee on
,his Bill being read,

Mr. DANIEL O'CONNELL (the opening part' of
whose speech was perfectly inaudible) said, that with
reference to the Labour-rate Act, which had been passed
in the last session of Parliament, a considerable amount
of unjust obloquy had been thrown upon it. He thought
that there were few measures propounded for the relief
of Ireland equal to that measure. The Labour-rate
Bill had been of much use, especially in the western
parts of Ireland, and works had been performed under
it of a really useful nature. In other parts of Ireland,
he believed, it had not operated in so beneficial a man-
ner. With respect to another Bill for the temporary
extension of the poor-law, although he opposed it on
principle, he should most certainly give fit his
support. He was ready to give his support to
any measure calculated to give an additional
meal to the people of Ireland. A third bill for the im-
mediate reilef of the people of Ireland, he though a most
unfortunate one. He was afraid the House was not suf-
ficiently aware of the extent of the distress in Ireland,
or sufficiently impressed with the horrors which the peo-
ple endured. He would boldly state, that 25 per cent.
of the people were perishing through destitution
He called upon the House, therefore, to act as the ge-
nerosity of a great nation required. The responsibility
of 25 per cent. of the people naked upon the Govern-
ment. In one single village twenty-two coroners in-
quests had been held upon the bodies of people who had
died of starvation, and that numqer was daily increasine;,
The usual result of famine was pestilence, and had there
followed in its train. Typhus fever was already ravaging
the country, and out of the number of its victims not
more than one in ten survived. It was fast spreading
through the country, it would soon reach the higher
classes, and no human being in Ireland could pos-
sibly, in a short time, escape its effects ;
two millions of human beings would perish
of the House did not come forward to relieve them.
It might be said, why did not the landlords of Ireland
not relieve them? He would tell the House, that
many of them had nobly done their duty, and
there were numerous others who had the will,
but not the means of doing so. it
was urgently necessary, therefore, fur the House
to act liberally towards Ireland. The people were
starving and perishing in shoals, in hundreds, thousands,
nay, even millions. He assured the House he was not
exaggerating the evil. He hoped, therefore, that the
House would endeavour promptly and efficiently
to meet the case, and stave off the evils
of the suffering millions of Ireland. If his
plan were adopted, and an unlimited and dictato-
rial power given to Government to disburse snch sums
as may be necessary, subject and responsible to the
House, there might be some prospect of staying the pro-
gress of the famine. But they must not be fettered by