The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-19 00:00:00

The Earl of CLARENDON acknowledged that the
Bugg scion of the Noble Duke was wel worthy of
attention.

Tht. Bills were then read a second time, in order to be
committed to morrow.

DRAINAGE OF LAND BILL.
On the motion of the Earl of CLARENDON this Bill
was read a first time.
Their L'irdships then adjourned.

HOUSE 01 COMMONS, March. 18.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
SECOND READINGS.
The following Bills were read a second time:—
Eastern Counties Railway (Enlargement of Stratford
stations, and Amendment of Acts).
Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway Act Amend-
ment and Branches.
South Devon Railway Extension and Amendment.
INCOME TAX.
Petitions from the collectors and assessors of the
income-tax and property•tax, complaining that their
remuneration was very inadequate, and praying the
House to take steps to remedy the grievance, were pre-
sented by the following Members:—Mr. Sheppard, Mr.
Mun.z, Mr. Kemble, Mr. Escott, and Mr. Johnstone.
Mr. HAMILTON presented a petition from the High
Sheriff and grand jury of the county of Sligo, praying
the House to take means to develop the resources of
Ireland, and entourage trade and agriculture.
HORSE•RACING IN IRELAND.
Dr. BOWRING presented a petition from Kildare
against the impropriety of allowing the public money to
be used for the purpose of encouraging horse-racing.
LAW OF MARRIAGE

Mr. 11. BERKELEY presented a petition from the
merchants and bankers:of the city of Bristol. stating that,
in their opinion, the present Jaw preventing marriage
with a deceased wife's sister might be repealed. Also
another petition signed by between thirty and forty
Dissenting ministers of Bristol to the same effect,.
Mr. BROTIIERTON presented a petition against the
use of grain in distilleries.
SMITHFIELD MARKET.
Mr. PATTISO N presented a petition against the re-
moval of Smithfield Market.
Mr. CIIRISTOPIIER presented three petitions from
the occupiers of land in the county of Lincoln, from
Sleaford, Stamford, and bincoln, praying for the re-
moval of Smithfield Market. •
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN presented a petition
from certain graziers in Northampton against the re-
moval of the market.

Mr. MACKINNON. presented three petitions from
parties in the- neighoourhood of Smithfield Market,
praying that the removal of it may be speedily effected.
POOR-LAW IN IRELAND.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from the
chairman and board- of guardians of Carriektnacross
stglinst the prese it poor-law, and praying the House to
pass the Landlord and Tenant Right Bill.
UNION SETTLEMENTS IN IRELAND.
Mr. M. J. O'CONNELL presented a petition from the
landowners and, rare-payers of Kildare, praying for an
union system of ratinff.
BLACKWALL RAILWAY.
Sir WILLIAM CLAY presented a petition from the
Tower Hamlets against the Bill of the Blackwell Rail,
way, now before the Howie.

ASSESSORS AND COLLECTORS OF T4XES.
Lord SA NDON.prosentei a petition from Broughton,
in the county of Hertford, complaining of the inadequate
remuneration now paid to the collectors and assessors of
taxes, and praying for an increase. The Noble Lord
also presented a petition from certain traders and owners
of vessels in Liverpool against th,f Birkenhead Docks.
DUNFERMLINE.
Mr. HUME presented a petition from the tradesmen
of Dunfermline against the railway which passed
through the town.
• RAILWAYS IN IRELAND.
- ' Mr. MOFFATT presented petitions from Carrick-on-
. Suir..th barOny, of Athlone, and other places, praying
the GoVernment to make advances of money on Irish
railways as a means of employing the people.
EDUCATION.
Mr. lIINDLEY presented petitions from several Bap.
list congregations against the Government scheme of
education,
,and moved that they should be printed with
the votes. •

DECCAN PRIZE MONEY.
- Sir DE LACY EVANS said, seeing the Right Hon.
Baronet, the President of the Board of Control in his
p!a* I4gged to ask the question of which he had
given notice—whether there was any likelihood of a
speedy decision in this matter, as parties who stood in
need of it were deprived of it?
Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE said he had answered the
question already, some three weeks ago, but he had
no objection to state it again to the House. He
begged now to state, that since that date there had been
an adjustment, and the. Government was now ready to
pay over to the trustees the sum of 2,2001.
SirDE LACY EVANS inquired whether the amount
of the recompense had been decided upon ?
Sir J. C. HOMIOUSE said that that question had
ken settled some time ago between the commissioners
of the Deccan prize money and the Court of Directors.
Mr. HUME asked whether the observation applied to
the 112,000/. ?

Sir J.C. HODHOUSE intimated that it did.
POOR-LAW (IRELAND).
Mr. J. O%3ONNELL presented a pinion. very nu
nitrous'y signed by the inhabitants of New Ross, com-
plaining that the present poor-law operated wry inju-
riously to them, and praying that a better system of
election for the goat-dittos of the poor might be adopted.
They prayed that out-door relief might be given to the
able-bodied poor. Th,•y stated that the poor-law, as
now administered, iliterfer.ld with the religious dif-
ferences of the country; that the greater part of the
inhabitants of Ireland were Rotnan Catholics, and that
they hud no sufficient influence in the direction of the
poor law; that this interference %%ith religious opinions
was greatly to he deplored; and that, unless a better
principle were adopted in the new poor law, it was the
impressit n of the petitioners that that !louse was totally
incompetent to [mike just and sufficient laws for Ireland.
Mr J. O'CO.NNELL also presented a petition from
the Rev. Mr. Duggan, parish priest in Ireland, com-
plaining of a misrepresentation in the reports of Captain
Lynch.

ROYAL ASSENT.
At this time Sir Augustus. Clifford, the Usher of the
Black RoA, appear d at the table, and summone,l the
House to the House of Lords, to hear the Royal Assent
given to certain Bills (for which see Lord,' report).
OPENING OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
Mr. HUME wished to ask—he did not, however, see
the First Commissioner of the Woods and Forests
in Lis place, or he would have asked—whether as the
new House of Lords was to be shortly opened, any
accommodation had been made for the Members of the
House of Commons? for he (Mr. Hume) could not see
any.

HOSPITAL AT PORT MAHON.
Sir DE LACY EVANS gave notice that on a future
day he should put a question to the Noble Lord the
Secretary for Foreign Affairs with respect to a petition
which had been presented. praying that a military hos-
pital might be ere cted at Port Mallen.
Mr. P. 13ORTH WICK informed the lion. Member that
he had already given a similar notice.
Sir DE LACY EVANS withdrew his no:ice in favour
of that of the Hon. Member.
QUARANTINE LAWS.
Dr. BOW RING rose to inovo for a continuation of
the correspondence with respect to these laws. lie
said, al:hough the subject was an uninviting one, yet
the discussions which had taken place upon it
had gone far to prevent undue espionage by the Crown.
The discussion had also done much to remove many dis-
abilities under which travellers and others laboured in
conseouence of the existence of those laws. He .was sure,
also, that every additional discussion would tend towards
the same end; and it was with that view that lie felt it his
duty to move for the continuation of the correspondence
which had taken Wan since the subject was last under
the attention of the House. The sanatory condition of
the people was intimately connec eel with those laws, and
be was not without hope that tl:e time was not far
distant when those laws would be removed altogether.
The best results had followed alterations in those
laws in the west of Europe, and in the Levant.
Plague, like all other diseases, was materially increased
when circumstances concurred to Promote its propaga-
tion. lie need not refer to any instances to illustrate
the truth of this proposition. That celebrated case in
Calcutta, where, out of 140 individuals, more than
100 perished in a single night, was a melancholy proof
of it. That fact was notorious to every reader of history,
and demonstrated the pernicious effects of unventilated
and confined places. In the last session, at-
tention was called to the great mortality on
board the Eclair, and this mortality, which was not
unfrequently to be found on board ship, was to
be attributed to the same cause, and bore evi-
dence to the truth of the facts to which he called
the attention of th House. In a dispatch which had been
sent by Lord Palmerston to Lord Ponsonby in 1839,
and which had been presented to the Turkish
Divan, these truths bad been recognised. He
considered that by the progress of the sanitary Un-
prnvements of large cities, the elements of disease would
be_gradually, removed. An improvement in this respect
was no doubt going on in Egypt, in Turkey, and
in various other pans of the world. and he believed that
a greater knowledge of the causes and character of the
Plague would tend to remove many of those appre-
hensions of groundless alarms which had been ex-
cited in the minds of the timid. In the time
of llerodotus, Egypt was considered to be a very healthy
country ; but in consequence of the inattention of the
people, the marshy nature of some parts of the soil, the
anarchy which had existed for centuries, and the
wretched character of its inhabitants, had tended to make
that country one of the most unhealthy in the world.
It was a well known fact that plague had never entered
into any of the colder latitudes. The voyage was now
made from England to India in a very kw days.
On the other aide of the Atlantic, where great attention
was paid to 'the health of this inhabitants- in the United
States. There were no quarantine laws, and vessels
crossed the Atlantic in a much shorter time than they
did heretofore; in ten or eleven days Europe
now communicated with America. These laws
were founded in ignorance, and in ignorance the y
formed their support and attachment to them ; this
was found strongest in those countries where the
knowledge of medicine least prevailed. In those parts
Alf Italy where the science of medicine was most back-
ward, such as Naples, they were most strict in the
preservation and observation of quarantine. But with
the progress of inquiry, and attention to the subject, the
alarm had become dissipated, and the previous fears
were found to be without foundation. The end of all
this had been that great changes were extorted from Go.
vernment by the might and irresistible influence of public
opinion. The quarantine laws, however, were connected
with the pecunrav interests-of a vast number of persons.
The State paid In, 90/. a year for their maintenance,
and. he found that in Liverpool there were ninety

persons dependent • upon them, while in Rochester
there were no less than seventy. If they were to be
paid for in this way, there would be always ready
advocates to support them. Persons would be found to
support witchcraft itself if it could be paid or; and the
quarantine laws would never lack support while the State
paid 15,0001. a year to those who were their advocates.
For a long titni, they had the support of medical autho-
rity in favour of these laws ; but, most honourable tie the
profession, that support was withdrawn. The soundest
evidence had issued from places where the plague was
endemic, which had thrown such a light on the subject
as to induce the introduction of considerable moditica-
tioes in the system. In 1838 Mr. Lewis, in an official
communication on the subject of these laws, writing
from Malta, where there was a great prejudice in favour
of the system, said, " It is notorious that the modes in
which plagues were communicated w r.t imperfectly
known, that many of the grounds on wh ch the conenu-
ance of these laws rests are little better than vague hypo-
theses." Again, Dr. Robinson, in speaking of Egypt
and Turkey, in an official communication in 1841,
stated that the frightful diseases prevalent in these
countries arose from local caisson and stated that the
plague ceuld not be communicated in pure atmo-
sphere, hut that he was not prepared to say that,
it could not he communicated in confine I places,
or in impure atmosphere. Mr. Grant also stated that
he was aware of thousands of cas: s where it had note An-
re unica.tud when there was proximity to diseased parties.
He had known in-iances of persons completely ex-
cluding themselves from con tacrwith others, and taking
the utmost precaution with respect to their clothing an i
food, being nevertheless attacked by the (incase, amid
becoming victims to it. But the most remarkable cir-
cumstance in connexion with the descase had been
elicited hy.a Con-mission:of Inquiry, w hick was appointed
by the Royal Academy of Medicine of France in 1844.
The Commission was appointed to inquire into the
whole subject of plague and quarantine, and consisted of
men of the very highest professional and scientific
characters. They received every assistance which the
Government could give them. They 'immediately put
themselves into communication with persons who had
frequented the Levant, Cairo, Constantinople, and
other localities in which the disease created the most
fearful ravages. After directing their attention to the
subject for two years, they published a report, to which
they appended a voluminous body of evidence
which they had collected on the subject.
They stated in their report that the
facts they had been enabled to collect extending over
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well
as up to a late period, proved incontrovertably,
that the disease had a spontaneous origin. The
conclusion come to by the Academy was that in
those countries which the plague had visited—in Egypt,
Syria, and Turkey, and in several other places in Africa,
Asia, and Europe—it was not spontaneous ; and
in those eowitries where it did originate, that
it was caused by iinimal deposits in this alluvial soils
adjoining such rivers as the Nile and the Eu-
phrates, by the action of' putrescent animal and
vegetable substances, by insufficient and unwhole-
some food, and by physical and moral wretchedness.
With regard to the transmissal of the plague by touch,
it would be in the recollection of Vie House that, three
sessions ago, he moved for a return of all the deaths
which had taken place in the lazarettos, in conse-
quence of touching the garments of those who had
died of the disease. The return was nil.' It had
been proved that after all the costly institutions they
had framed for the prevent'.on of this disease,
it could not he introduced. Clothes subjected
to a moderate heat would no longer comma-
cate it ; and the disease itself would not lie
latent for more than eight days. The most absurd
report and ideas were prevaent with regard to the
plague. Many supposed that it c nail be corn:md-
cated by clothes after the lapse of years, .and one
writer had stated that the plague had been intro-
duced from Thebes from the, unrolling of a mummy.
In many parts of the world a movtnent on tins
question was going forward. Russia was advanc-
ing, and public opinion was fast changing in
regard to these laws. Austria was also
stirring. In pl .ces where the greatest ignorance
prevailed opinion was becoming enlightened. Last year
there was a scientific congress held at Marseilles, which
though principally composed of contagionists, yet passed
resolutions that the present law required modification.
He believed that it the quarantine :laws had not
existed the unfortunate people on board the Eclair
would have been spared, and no damage what-
ever would h :ve occurred to the community
He would, therefore, move for any copies of the corre-
spondence which had taken place on the subject of the
quarantine laws:since the last session of Parliament.
Mr. HUME seconded the motion. He thought that
the most convincing argument against the entire useless-
ness of these laws was, that during the hundred years
that the quarantine laws had been in existence, at
an expense of upwards of 140,0001. a year, not one
person employed to open the bales and air the
cargo upon vessels coming to the country Ader the
most suspicous circumstances had ever been effected.
Tue sum mentioned by his Hon. and Learned Friend
was scarcely a tithe 'of the expense of the main-
tenance of the quarantine system. The commerce
of the country had been delayed and impeded
by it. Ile believed the general interest of the
community bed stiff, red from the system to an extraor-
dinary degree, and, therefore, he was happy to have the
opportunity of thanking his Hon. Friend for having
brought the subject forward.
Mr. MILNER GIBSON sail it was 'unnecessary for
him to dwelt upon the various subjects which had been
introduced irto the speech of his ll•mourable
Friend, because he was tot aware that there was the
slightest ohj,ction to the motion which the Hon.
Gentleman had made as to the production of the corres-
pondence moved for. There was not the slightest detibt
that the qiutran tine regulations in the various countries
of the world had been prejudicial to commerce, but, Its far
as England was concerned, she had reduced her regale-
buns so as in many cases to render them almost nommel.
For instance, ships from Turkey were now admitted
free of quarantine, provided they were net laden
with susceptible article, and the same regulations ap-
plied to ships from Syria and Egypt. But in a matter
like this England could not act by herself. She must
have the co perition of the other nations of Europe.
The necessity re quarantine was imposed by the opinion
which prevailed in foreign nations. He would further
say that he had every reason to believe that those who
had charge of those laws were extremely anxious to make
diem us little injurious as possible to the commerce of
the country. He, therefore, begged to say that there
be no objection to granting the returns.
Mr. I'HOBNLEY wished to impress on the Government
the necessity of an examination of these quarantine laws, fur
he believed that inquiry would lead to their being done away
with altogether.—The motion was agreed to.
ABSENTEEISM IN IRELAND.
Mr. W. S. O'BRIEN rose to twive—" That, inasmuch as
the non-residence of landed proprietors in Ireland is one of the
causes of social disorganisation in that kingdom, it is expedient
to impose a charge by way of special assessment, in aid of local
objects of an useful nature, upon the estates of absentee pro-
prietors, with a view to make some compensation for the evils
resulting from their non-residence." He was perfectly sensible
that he had imposed upon himself a task which was by no
means acceptable to the House, as so many gentlemen in
England derived a large revenue from property in Ireland.
There was no person who had visited Ireland—there was no
person who had lived there—who had not placed on record the
decision at which he had arrived, that Ireland had suffered
greatly from the draughts of property from that country.
There were persons who called themselves philosophers and
political economists, who professed that this was no injury.
He believed that Mr. Mackellar was the first person who
broached the opinion, but he believed that he had seen reason
to withdraw it. Ireland was in the sane relation to this
country as it it remitted a large tribute, for the tribute was in
fact remitted in goods er money, and could it be said that the
country would be as much benefited as if the goods
had remained in the country. It mattered not
whether the tribute was remitted in grain, in cattle,
or in money, but it was plain that if this property
had remained in Ireland, it would have contributed to increase
the earnings of labour, increase the promotion of art, and re-
ward the exertions of industry as much as it did now in this
country. It was admitted by all moral and political philoso.
phers, that the evils of absenteeism could hardly be compen-
sated. Absenteeism created the greatest evils which a country
could suffer, because the natural capital of the country—the
capital derived from the soil —was withdraen from its legiti-
mate source of circulation, On the other hand, the advantage
of the proprietors of land residing on it were great, whether for
the purpose of giving or dispensing charity, for pre-
venting agrarian outr age, and for the purpose of seeing
the law properly carried out, as magistrates or
juries, the advantage of having resident proprietors
were great ; in fact, proprietors whose ancestors had been long
connected with the soil, partook almost of a patriarchial cha-
racter. These, he knew, were all truisms, and he ought
almost to apologise to the House for dwelling upon them. He
should, therefore, proceed to illustrate the difference between
resident and non-resident landlords, by a single case which
had specially fallen under his own observation.
He wished, however, to premise that he did
not intend to mention the case in any invidious spirit.
Throughout the whole of his observations be wished to avoid
any remarks which could give offence to any one. He had
had an opportunity, by his connexion with the counties of
Clare and Limerick, of knowing that the late Lord Egremont
received 2.5,000/. a year from his property in those two
counties. That Noble Lord, he believed, never saw his
estates, and he did not believe that he expended Olson
that property, after discharging the incidental ex-
' penses more than five hundred pounds a year.
If Lord Egremont therefore resided on his estates in Ireland,
and fulfilled the duties which devolved upon him in the same
manner that he did in England, who could calculate the
amount of good which would be done to the locality. He
thought that nothing could exceed the moral heroism exhibited
by Sir Robe, t Gore Booth, and he was glad to see that the
Right lion. Gentleman the Secretary for Ireland had done
justice to it. Now, with respect to the amount of evil which
Ireland suffered from the operation of absenteeism, he would
feel a great difficulty in submitting- anything like correct in-
formation ; but, according to the best calculators, it did not
fall short of 4,000,000/. a year, being nearly one-third of the
whole rental of the country. Now he (Mr. S. O'Brien) had
taken the trouble to go through the Peerage, for, as far as in-
dividual proprietors were concerned, it would be impossible to
form an estimate of their rentals, but he had gone
through the Peerage, and he would take the liberty
of mentioning those Noble Lords who had properties in Ireland.
from which they derived enormous rentals,_ and who never
visited that country. In the first instance
he would take the
London companies, and he would refer to the Irish Society,
which drew a large revenue from Ireland, and the Hon. Mem-
ber for Southwark (Mr. Alderman Humphery), whom he saw
"in the House, could contradict him if he was in error. He
would give the names of many noblemen and gentlemen who
possessed large properties in Trebled, and who were absentees
from the country,. The Dukes of Devonshire, Buccleuch, and
Bedford ; the Marquises of Hertford, Conyngham, Lansdowne,
Anglesea, Bath, Ely, Donnegal, and Abercorn ; Earls Fitz-
william, Stradbroke, Beresford, Audley, and Albemarle;
Lords Portarlington, Clifton, Normanby, Congleton, Ashley,
Stanley, Lisle, Stanhope, Fortescue and Templemore;
Messrs. Sydney Herbert, Stafford O'Brien, Greville, Fox
Lane, and Mr. Ormsby Gore. All these gentlemen possessed
considerable property in Ireland, and he (Mr. S. O'Brien )
thought that they should have no objection to aid him in en-
deavouring to impose upon them a tax which would make some
compensation to the country for their absence from their estates.
The mode in which that was to be done appeared to him to be
perfectly simple. To impose such aIM AI would induce reei.

m,.dente-theansof
relievingsale of Ilse
distress.e estate-or ta t e o
te
was anything new in this proposition. He had to
IR'.
from a gentieman who had studied the historyi to
of absentees, and had found that, even .°
e,if
ages imposts had been placed upon the proeui
couldlse 'afford
bte°satibt.hdreolitt:
residents. During the reigns of Henry bob
Richard, and the three Edwards, veryessel
and fines were imposed upon absentees, and in one
400
was enacted that two-thirds of the land sboaki Toot
In the reign of Charles the First instructions n4re,dielit
to the Government to enact that all the nobility hel,,elo
in Ireland were not to leave the country withoeutEit7B9
of the Government, unless employed by a l
ii
abroad upon its business. He would ask the 113°,e, d
was the smallest doubt that if one- third of the re
.t;001,
country were spent in other countries Parliament peei;
once interfere to check the evil. Preperty was 0).1
the hands of any man, without bringing with it eehe etterve
Residence was one of those duties, and ought to 'reef
and every. well-minded and just man would at on .0.0
the principle, It was said by some that if theyo feel'
heavy tax upon the proprietor they would take aw Ylrel
the desire to exert himself. That was an old 0400
Ole/ beti
which had been used against the poor-law, h° esee,e
it neces,•ary to enforce those duties. It n°°l4, beg.rol
what was to be done with those propideters
perry in the two counties ? fie
said that sur:ltibreGeserel
could not possibly do their duties properly, an seats~
ment ought to facilitate the sale or exchange etheroflto
the sooner such proprietors got rid of one °re% eet!e,e
estates, the batter. It would then be asked, rheretvlo
to define residence ? and in order to determine else elfe
necessary to render persons liable to the assesseuthtostes,t
land, the Act stated that a residence of six maneelse to
country should hinder them fiepayment of ti•deete
a princ:ple. would operate well has a tett of testlioe.
such an Act as he would wish to see in opeltoideette
error should arise oi, the subject of the time o' oseo'od
would be easy to rectify it afterwards. He lest °,„dlt
ever, prepared to say
11b that this would be the ieet,'"jill
levying the tax. He invited discussion on the 41 10
thought that some such machinery as be had et' ,t „
easily applied. With regard to the adtt4io tt
old
tax he should propose that the minimum should eee
cent., and if that were not found effectual it eled fetid
wards increased. The proceeds could be aPP fled reielle
purposes, or for the general purposes of educatioribeetoste:f
distress in the country. He should, he supposed' se, Bei
stale argument which many Members of that II th,
Vs
titularly the Right Hon. Member for Tsonne°ar rit°
attacking anything that appeared in the form a. hoe
'merely because it appeared in that shape. tee 4
Mr. H. M. TUITE seconded the motion., ithtte
that something ought to be done to make the jr leg uerer
subscribe to support the poor of Ireland. It was if
ho bele
that many Irish, as well as English proprietors et_.,deruo
perty in Ireland, had totally neglected their duty,' ,"010:g
performing those services which were expecte(' oe,e,
Nothing could be more injurious to tbe 005
passed by the Government for the relief of Irish
_Adis et 7
the absenteeism practised by so many Irish landlords
difficulty especially had beers experienced in the.° teeeLo
the Labour Act from this cause. In seven or eight
tricts in the county of Longford, there were a ntunk,7-eglemer
absentee proprietors who ha not subscribed fartu-tjejie
the distress. Out of the annual rental of the e°:Sistv,e'
was 16,000/., of which litfle or nothing had been.ls
the shape of subscriptions. In the county whiracessirl
sented, and in the relief district with which he wag 004
the resident proprietors had subscribed 614'. ThejOs.
from sixteen to a hundred acres subscribed 67.•
fel.e,xo
this, 240 persons had been employed. Now there sews,.
sentee proprietors belonging to England who dreeoce,;‘
year out of the same district, and for a ilitetle
they subscribed nothing. At last, when it 0.36. bee
to expose them in the newspapers, they subsert.pe e 1
( Hear, hear.) Of these proprietors, the PriDC'eser.Sel
London company. The morgagees had not elt,telerj
farthing.-(Hear, hear.) In contrast with the P'ilertlyisl
these parties, he would name the conduct of the
Lansdowne, Lord Palraerston, and the Eat of Detlel ,
irel
done everything in their power to meet the crisitill
employment for the people. Ile must say, genera ;Ore tN
small absentee proprietors acted in a much worse teat
the large ones. He was firmly persuaded , Relsele
money which was now spent out of
absentee landlords, was expended in t"" f 1%41
there would soon be a much better state
He was glad that his Hon. Friend the Member, ft
had brought forward this motion, because he 'e-sj en'
that absenteeism had been the fruitful source of $' its
Ireland. t
Alderman HUMPHERY said that he should o°, lee„te
tempted to have risen upon that occasion, it a ehar,g-
beers made by the Hon. Member for Limerick tire;ibeeiel
companies with which he (Mr. Alderman FletnPbeeer;lile
honour to be connected. If the Hot.. Member ''nteo hid
had, in the first instance, given him notice that be ;older
bring forward these charges, he (Mr. Humphery) she felt
been prepared with papers and documents which, tbet he te
vinced, would prove to the Hon. Member himself ,at OA,
mistaken in the conclusions he had arrived at, as the
spected those companies. In the first place, them bele se•o
Member said that the whole of these cornpardesiled glee
properties in Ireland, from which they deradeelme
rentals, without giving a corresponding t1is0:0
to that country. He (Mr. Humphery) was sure ore,
companies did not spend one-tenth alone of their re
oteeto
Ireland ; hut he would venture to assert that theisr 094
fifths of their rentals in the improvement of theta° resell,
The Irish Society, over which he had the Ilona!' to seta
te
bad an income of from 9,00 W, to 10 000'. a year tr°,peei
in the neighbourhood of Londonderry. Well, they Floes
less than 7,0001. of that money in education and rel. tiee
struction. -( Hear, hear.) The directors of the 50et%1,101.-_,
refused any application made by
ment of their chapels. They never refuted grants e eierroo
for the purposes of educttion.-( Hear, hear.) Ther_ey
clergymen for the f
least sixty schools which received annual sums of Int7selei;
the society, and, therefore, when the Hon. Member boil,
the London companies did nothing with their nulteloierts.if
vite Members of that House to dinners, and other.e_ot
ments, he presumed that she lion. Gentleman had "e betirt
self been so invited-(Laughter)-or he would haet:pepele;
understood how their funds had really been toe.,
There were twenty-six mesnbers of the eociety, anumeese:„
them they had only spent in treating (as the 1-kr* ewe")
termed it) the gentl,men of that House, and in „t''e mite
management of the comp my, 4501. a year.-("ea ' 0101"
He (Mr. Hump:iery) also belenged to another
le the -neighbourhood
her eonll'aar „joe
possessed a large property
from which they derived a revenue of 7,000/. a year. 1,01
of Co etof,
the whole of the money derived from thet property, and "4001
in London, did net amount to 3,000 i., the rest had bet°, "pre'
in the improvement of their property in Coleraine, ileoff
sumed that the Hon. Member had travelled in the nos th tit the
land • if he had, he would no doubt have observed that tt
Lottion companies had progressed in improvementsporest
that moment. What would be the case if this ine°lo
were imp, sed ? They would pay the minimum tax Of
poyld
cent., or the maximum tax of 20 per cent., but they GO
spend no more. The Hon. Member had referred to thoi, pet,
Office. The Globe, he said, received a rental of Pr oiP
annum, and did not spend a farthing its the country, o°_, or
in the su 'script ions for the poor. He (Mr. Humohrexy de:
posed that the Globe had lent some money, and tha,te erele°f;
rived this amount from a mortgage upon estates in eltri
Now he did not think it was customary to ask gentra coot
lent money on mortgage to subscribe to the Po." gat cool;
Leeause that mortgage happened to be held t „emelt,
He realty thought It would be better if Hon' Genut
to plot
that House who held properties in Ireland would try to toot
the poor on these estates and in their neighbourhood, sits
of bringing charges against others, which we 0101'
unfounded. He thought it would be awh t Prtr
return to the House, if the House were to know
perties these gentlemen possessed in Ireland, and ertiePir
they had laid out in the improvement of those pr°P to so
Hear, hear.) With regard to the rentals received„t (",1 tit%
sentee landlords he (Mr. Humphery) believed that a.„-,./pej,
4,000,0001. so received, at least 2,000,0001, were re'7,) Pro
the improvement of their estates.-(Cries of " three
all he could say wes, that the seeonder of the proens"tloto t
the arguments of the Hon. Member for Limerick d gift'
shage, for he had named a number of noblemen who 1.1.„2 ate
the whole of their money derived from Ireland to the
ment of their estates in that country.
Mr. TUITE-Only one. hsj 000;
Alderman II UMPHER Y-The lion. Gentlemen, ni the
Honed snore than one who had expended the whole
money in improving their estates.
Mr. TUITE-Ne, ( Laughter.) GeerAlderman HUMPHERYS-Ile mentioned Lcr-
tenay-
Mr. TUITE -No !-(Laughter.) sib°
Alderman HUMPHERY-The Noble Lord the IVte.-
for Tiverton, then-
Mr. TU I TE- Yes.
Alderman HUMPHERY-The Marquis of Lansdo°e'
Mr. TUITE-011 ! no, no! -(Continued laughter.) 10°
Mr. HUMPHERY-Well, he had not taken ti°,lo the
they were-(Laughter)-but he certainly gathered Jrioeall
speech of the Hon. Member that many of these 11°,0. P;
spent a large amount of money in improving their 0'3;000%
should like to have a return,' stating what amount of „vb.!,
they did thus lay out. He thought that it would be ftjtri
more money was spent by absentee landlords in kaproeieroleei
estates than by many of the resident proprietors, wbo cb
spend their money so beneficially. Well then, the erit
Fo
the Hon. Member for Limerick amounted to this, that *,e
but fair that the London Companies (not -
11.1
which had a mortgage upon their properties) sha
put in comparison with those gentlemen wlSesel_i
mortgages upon their estates, because they could
„oseee
spend more money than those' who were thus embar. ofibe
He (Mr. Humphery) should like to know if two-thirdsffe
absentee landlords had mortgages upon. their propertiee't led
should say not, and therefore it was more likely tha
Aere
would prove greater benefactors than those whose estateliew
mortgaged. The London Companies and the Irish Se°ti:o;beri
indeed spend money, but not in giving dinners to the
gef
of that House, and he trusted, therefore, that the Hon. if the
ber would admit that his charges were unfounded. des:,
Hon. Member had an estate of equal magnitude, ° e
ti
pended a sum proportionably with them, in the etluettogieel
the poor-in giving religious instruction-building reved!
houses, and supporting the population of the neighboa.v
in which they received their rents-if he and other sere
landlords did all this, they would find in Ireland
rior state of society to that which now existed. tb°
Mr. LA BOUCIIERE said that the Hon. Gentlene.o4
Member for Limerick, in the commencement of a Epee: lar
the temperate and argumentative tone of which he (eelle:
bouchere) gave his mead of approbation ; the Hon. Gm OP
man, in the beginning of his speech, said that he eetteks tea
expect that the proposal which he was going to rtelie°
the House would receive the sanction of the " '5l/'
Members ; because, al bough the present state 0f yet
senteeisru was admitted to be a great calamity, this
inasmuch as the money lost by Ireland was gained b 70014
country, he could not expect that English Members the
agree to his motion. He (Mr. Labouehere) assured tes
Hon. Member that if he resisted his motion it was elftbeet
that ground, for no man was more convinced than he weewite
nothing that tended to impoverish Ireland was consistent
14 if
the interests of the United Kingdom-( Hear, hear)--act, e,
he had thought that the Hon. Gentleman had proved hi' f bra
he should at once have consented to the introduction !lob
measure, not only on the ground that it would assist 00
but because he felt that what benefited Ireland would be re'
of advantage to this country. The Hon. Gentleman ha: •e 0!
ferred to ohj ctisns that were some times made to proposl the
of this sort, because they were not brought t° oeesi,
'
shape of specific measures, but embodied in ge thst
resolutions. He (Mr. Labouchere) confessed her
he shared in the dislike that the Hon. Mentor
had attributed to the Right Hun. Baronet the Menebereesl
Tamworth, to receiving measures in the shapes of geaseoed
resolutions ; but the Hon. Gentleman who had brought ford 0
this question had done so with so much moderation, barber
fairly and so explicitly stated his views upon the subjects ,r
he had fully supplied whatever was ambigunue in the resteios
tion itself. lie told them that he wished the House to 011%00
this principle, that it would not be possible for any one to
property in England and Ireland.-(Hear, hear.) He eion
went further, he would even prevent the possibility of aPer 00
holding property in different parts of Ireland itself. ot
(Mr. Labouchere) did not believe that the Governoe;„..
of any country, in any degree forward in civilizationi
he diel not believe that any nation would adopt Pr o,
~t,
ciples and opinions so destructive of improvenae'
to the
as those of the Hon. Gentleman, With regard
question of absenteeism, he (Mr. Labouchere) was not elle f

cessary
lieving
of this
division
Sir
to bee
derive
House,
or 20
Proprif
10R tai
Gents
locate(
have 1
broug,
were
be at
there
of the
That
!end
m
could
Were
Marl
rlarry
ee,
the,
Rho
Iteel
"Pei
key
Pea
div
set
Ivo
to
lar
th;
tic
fa