The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-03 00:00:00

progress, and which had, during its progress, conferred great
advantages upon the people in that part of Ireland ; hut at the
same time, he could not help thinking, that there ran
through his Noble Friend's speeches, a sentiment of a
very dangerous character. He seemed to think that
Ireland was to look to England, and to the English
Government for aid, instead of muting and relying upon
her own exertions. There was no such dangerous delusion,
as he was persuaded that no country could be torced into
opulence by the assistance of another. The wealth of this
country was owing to •he economy, to the small savings,
through a vast numbar of years, of the people, which had accu-
mulated and increased from age, and not by aid from the state;
but by individual, by private enterprise. His Noble Friend
teemed to think that Ireland was a poor country, and had not
within herself the elements of her own success; but if his
Noble Friend would peruse Professor Keane's work lie would
see how great her resources were, and how much individual
enterprise might do to develope them. The improvement
of the soil was one great step in that direction. In
some places rocks had been removed, and the soil rendered
fruitful. It Scotland this had been carried to a great extent,
as great blocks of granite had been removed, and fertile crops
had been the result. Why, many parts of England were some
years ago little better than mere boas, of heaths which pro-
duced no crops, but which had, by the enterprise of the people
of this country, been rendered productive. It was for Ireland
to do the same—to depend upon herself, and not, as the burden
of his Noble Friend's speech seemed to apply, that in all cases
of difficulty she was to depend upon England.—(Hear,
hear.) It was a libel upon Ireland to say that
she had not within herself the elements of her
own prosperity. He was not insensible to the distress in I, e-
land, and was prepared to do his best to alleviate it ; but it
could not be removed at once, hut by degrees. He hoped Ire-
land would depend more upon herself, and that in the course of
time she would become a prosperous nation.—( Hear.)
Lord MONTEAG LE agreed with the Noble Eat I that Ire-
land mutt look to herself for the promotion of her own
prosperity ; but there were enterprises which could only
be effectually carried out with the aid of the State.
In Scotland, for instance, the Government, during no reriod
of famine, advanced money for the purpose of improving turn-
pike roads ; and slr. Telford, in writing on the subject, had
stated that Scotland had thereby been advanced " many gene
rations." Now, he contended that the carrying out of a similar
principle in Ireland would not fail to produce smilar results.
Ireland, in her distress, did not come for aid to England; he was
speaking in the Imperial Parliament, which was eimpowered
to dispense the revenues of the country, to which she contri-
buted her fair portion. She merely sought relief from the Im•
perial Treasury of the Imperial Government, to which she con-
tributed her fair share. But there was ono thing in which
this country stood alone. He meant the relief which England
had bountifully raised for the relief of Ireland; and
he was glad that the heavenly flame had not
been extinguished by the angry and erroneous statements
which hat been put forward for the sole purpose of
putting a stop to the collection of money for the relief of the
Irish distress. Even supposing all the measures that had been
passed with respect to Ireland were as effectual as they were
stated to be, but if they were they could not fail to have to
encounter, at the best, a season of peril. He sincerely
thought that some such scheme as that proposed by Mr.
DrummOnd and his coadjutors was most expedient for the
purpose of giving employment to the people on railways, when
the relief which was being given began to relapse. Unless
something of this kind were done they must continue to pro-
mote public works as they were compelled to do last session.
They would but add to the difficulties of their position if they
did not adopt other means to follow them. He fully con-
curred in the sentiments of the petition.
The petition was laid on the table.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Allarch 2.
The SPEAKER. took the Chair at Four o'clock.

SECOND READING.

The following Bills were read a second time and ordered to
be committed :

Cork and Bandon Railway.
Cork, Blackiock, and Passage Railway.
DUlin and Drogheda Railway (Purchase of Navan
Branch, &c).
Great Western Railway (Amendment and Extensions).
. „.

Newmarket and Chesterford Rhilway.
KILMARNOCK AND ARDROSSAN RAILWAY.

The report of Mr. Examiner Smith on this Bill, stating
that the standing orders had not been complied with, having
been read by the Clerk,
Sir W. HEAT I-ICOTE moved that the report be referred
to the Standing Orders Committee_ The motion was agreed to.