The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-09 00:00:00

POOR LAWS IN IRELAND.

The E irl of GLENGALL said he was sorry he,had
so soon to make another motion on the subject or the
Poor-law Commissioners, and the Union of Clon-
rnd. In the month of Feb., 1840, he had moved for
certain returns respecting this Union ; and in the
mont'l of May he had moved for a second re-
turn, but there was a very material difference in
the language of the two reports- He was aware
when he recd them both to their Lordships the diffe-
rence might appear to 6e httt. trang and irnmatArial :
but having upon two or three different occasions men-
tioned the subject in their Lordships' House, and
being aware that this matter would in a very
vvst:f‘th Mr. Butler for
short period be investigated, he felt it necessary t 3
have these returns accurately broutgedhtthabteftohree
writertheir
character was without
Lordships, in order that he might be able to make out
the case which he had undertaken to prove. The ex-
tract which had been returned to their Lordships'
the slightest reproach. The Noble Lord then proceeded
htl-I%av od u sbee einn
eats-seventliinet intimately
to read part of the extract, and to show that there was
a great difference as between the two returns. He would
ya on
acquainted
that February,
h.i
be able to show that there was a falsification in the re-
turn?. He believed that in consequence of a debate
having taken place in their Lordships' House, and cer-
tain papers being moved for, it was not quite convenient
to the parties concerned tnat some of the circumstances
should
appear. They ltd transposed the letters also,
as he should prove to their Lordships, in order to give a
different colouring to them. The Commissioners wished
to show they had taken the opinion of D. Phelan, Esq.,
who resided 27 years in the same town. It was stated
by him that Mr. Butler, the returning officer, had re-
sided as a private gentleman in Clonmel.. He (the Earl
that if . the
of Glengall) supposed new Bill
passed, they would have a qualification for the
private gentleman whose income
.was 5/. The salary
of the returning officer was only 10/. a-year. He
should place upon their Lordships table the two Re-
ports—it was impossible that both could be correct.
The Noble Lord concluded hy moving for copies of all
correspondence between the Poor•law Commissioners
and Denis Phelan, Esq., and other correspondence on
the subject of the appointment.
The Marquis of NORMANBY said be had no ob-
jection to the returns. It was his desire to have
the matter sifted to the bt?ttnbottom; not only in jus-
tice to the character of the individual concerned, but
for the vindication of their, Lordships' privileges. There
certainly appeared to be some alterations. He had
written to the Poor-law Commissioner, Mr. Nicholls,
stating what had occurred, and had every reason to believe
that he would be shortly in London. He would state
to their Lordships in the first instance whatever expli-

nation Mr. Nicholls might give, and if that were not con•
sidered satisfactory it would be for their Lordships
to s, e what further steps might seem desirable.
The motion for the return was then agreed to.—The
House then adjourned.