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

RAILWAYS IN IRELAND.

Earl FITZ \NTILIIA3-1 presented a petition from the
grand jurors of Wicklow, in favour of railways in Ire-
land. He was not going to enter into a long dis-
cussion, which had been decided some days ago in another
place; hut he did not think he would be doing his duty to-
wards England, if he did not offer a few observations to their
Lordships. He had often drawn the attention of their Lord-
ships to the resources cf Ireland. The effect of the present
calamity in Ireland would not be confined to the mere loss of
the article of food, but would operate most disastrously in
other ways; and it would, therefore, be necessary to provide
means of employment. Twenty-four or twenty-five millions,
more than luilf the rental of the country, had been destroyed.
The rental of this country was 62,000,0001., and if 90,000,000/.
had been des; royed, would not English gentlemen consider it
a case calling for relief of the most comprehensive character.
He did net think that the proposition which had been intro-
duced into the other House for granting money for the con-
struction of railways was an ill-advised measure, as he consi-
dered, if it had been passed, that it would have gone far to
remove the distress. lie did not think that it would have
been a substitute for the works that had been going on for the
last six months ; but still a measure of the kind to which he
had referred, would have given employmet.t to vast numbers
of the people. Certainly the measure did not deserve the
ridicule which had been cast upon it. What was wanted was
to make the land of Ireland as productive as possible, and this
would ham, been a step in the right direction. On the Con-
tinent, they would find that all great public works were car-
ried out by the Governments of the various countries People
in this country were too apt to judge Ireland by England, and
to consider that great public works could be carried out in the
ame way as here; but if they waited until private enterprise
carried out public works like railways, they must wait
for a considerable time. The state of Ireland prevented the
capitalist from embarking his money in Irish speculations.
He did not wish to undervalue the loan of one million and a-
half which had been made to the landed proprietors in Ireland,
Out he did consider that there had been a very great disposition
to over-rate its effects. He heard that all the landlords were
looking for a share of it, and he would remind the House that
if such were the case, and if it were divided, it would only
amount to nineteenpeace per statute acre. He did not deny
that there would be some lucky individuals who would be able
to improve their estates by the loan, but they would only be
ndivtduals, and it should be their desire to improve the coun-
try generally. If a proprietor of twenty thousand acres, and
with an income of .1,00,q. a year, wanted to improve his estate,
he could not burrow less than a sum of 10,0001., which would
immediately subject him to a repayment of 6501. a year.
He gave credit to Irish proprietors for a greal deal more
good sense than the English press were willing to give them,
and he believed tkat any prudent Irish gentleman w ould think
twice before he would embark in a speculation which would sub •
ject him to such a large immediate outlay, and the benefit of
which would be only prospective, after a long series of years,
and after repealed negotiations with lessees, and sub-lessees,
and occupiers. He believed that the Irish proprietors were
more prudent than they got credit for. But what was it that
[risk gentlemen themselves proposed. They proposed the
wisest thing that had been suggested for the last six months;
they proposed the substitution of re-productive tor non-produc-
tive works.—(Hear, hear.) They called aloud for the construc-
tion of railways ; and although a little jobbing
might be iutroduced in the carrying out of the sys-
tem, still the good would greatly preponderate.
He must say that the suggestions made in Ireland for the im-
provement of the country were worthy of attention. But the
House ought to remember that these improvements must be
carried on on a grand scale in order to meet a great exigency.
But it was said that these loans from the Board of Works were
not to be repaid. What did the report of the Commissioners
say? They said, " that the re-payments were in general
made with great regularity." With respect to the benefits of
some of these works. He had been told that in consequence of
the construction of roads in the county of Galway, the customs
bad increased to an extent that he was afraid to name. The
House was perhaps aware that in the eounty of Mayo there
was one of the first harbours in the world. He meant Black-
sod Bay. Well, a road was formed to this place, and whero
in 1637 there was not a single stone, and not 20 tons of corn
exported, there was at that time 1,600 tons of grain exported;
there were nine stores, and a very thiving population.
The Dean of Westminster had stated to him that the land of
Ireland, geologically regarded, was not to be compared with
the land of England.
Lord BROUGHAM—He only looked at the surface.
Earl FITZ WlLLlAM—Without going into the question of
what might be the value of a certain number of acres. Bet as
to the general value of land, there could be no comparison be-
tween the two countries. The surface of the country was
studded with rocks and encumbered with mountains.
Earl GREY—There are rocks in this country also.
Earl FITZWILLIAM said his Noble Friend must allow
him to dispute that question with bins. Speaking as a geologist,
there were rot rocks scattered over the surface of this country.
The soil was different from that in which rocks were frequent.
The question was, whether or not they were to raise Ireland to
the position of the more favoured portion of the United King-
dom. He felt perfectly satisfied that they could not get out of
the difficulty in which they were at present plunged by any
charity they might be able to afford, it could only be relieved
permanently by some otl er means.
Earl GRE said, he thought the measures which had been
proposed by the Government were calculated to benefit
Ireland. The drainage that w wouldposed would be of
the greatest advantage. He remind his Noble
Friend that there were other measures to be thought for-
ward. His Noble and Learned Friend on the Woolsack had
prepared a measure to facilitate the disposal of mortgaged
estates in Ireland. This he conceived would be most de-
sirable, for the purchaser would come into possession of an
estate which he could improve, and land was thus brought into
the market which the purchaser would buy with a view to
improvement. Notwithstanding what the Noble Lord
said, he believed there was a vast amount of capital
in Ireland, of which few were aware, and which onl
required to be developed by exertion.—(Hear, bear.
His Noble Friend had pointed out the great advantages which,
had arisen in some instances from the public works. He
(Lord Grey) never heard that these works had not conferred
advantages, and, as they were still in operation, good would
continue to accrue from them. One of the most important of
[ thew with its nwriptien of the Shannon, ti hick was atill in