The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-08 00:00:00

IRISH PAUPERS.

Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the
Lord Provost, magistrates, and town-council of Glasgow,
complaining of the influx of Irish paupers into Glasgow,
and praying for an efficient poor-law for Ireland. He
also had a statement in his hand from the magis-
trates ,of Liverpool, from which it appeared
that, on Wednesday last, 1,778 paupers arrived
in Liverpool ; on Thursday, 1,081; and on Friday,
2,o36—making, on an average, for the three days,
between 1,600 and 1,700 persons. The consequence of
this state of things was that typhus fever and disease
was rapidly spreading through that town. He also had
a statement from several persons in Ireland, complaining
of the very great misery to which the people were
reduced, and the inadequate assistance they received
from those from whom they ought to have received it.
The nen-resident landed proprietors of one parish that
gave them a rental of 25,587/. just contributed the sum
of 2081. for the relief of the distress. In a parish near
Cork three-fourths of the inhabitants were paupers, all
the landlords were non-resident, and not a farthing of
relief had the relief committee of the parish been able to
get from them. The wealthy barristers in Dublin, who
receive 5001. a-year did not even answer the application,
though some of his own tenantry were on the public
works. A high dignitary of the Church, in the receipt
of 45(1. a-year, contributed the munificent sum of 11.—
(Laughter.) And the secretary of the committee wrote
to him again, stating he must have made a mistake, but
was informed in reply that it was no such thing—
that be had made no mistake, and would give no
more.—(Laughter.) He had a statement also from
Balling, respecting which place he made some
remarks a few evenings ago, and was then told by a
Noble Earl, who he regretted to see what not in his
place, that the ejectments .to which he then referred
were only suits for rent, and not summary proceedings.
He found, however, that at the last quarter sessions in
Tyrrawley, on the 11th January there were from
1,500 to 2,000 ejectment processes entered, at the
suit of sixteen or eighteen landlords, for rent due
at November last, and for the over-due rent of 1846.
The Noble Lord further read several extracts from
documents which he had received ; one from the parish
priest of 'Tyrawly and 13allina; described the injurious
effect which processes brought for non-payment
of rent had upon the population. It stated that
out of a parish of one thousand persons,
in September last, the writer did not expect to have 200
remaining in August next. He also read several letters
describing the jobbing which had been carried on in the
appointment of officers in the Board of Works.
Lord DEVON said that as scrutineers were required,
it was therefore necessary to appoint responsible
persons.
Lord BROUGHAM said that he perfectly agreed in
the justice of the observation. The statements which
he read were more showy than satisfactory, but they
were useful, for if they did not look most carefully to
the expenditure of the public money, this demand for
it would never cease.
Lord MOUNTCASHEL said, that he objected to the
course pursued by the Noble Lord, in reading state-
ments to the House, yet refusing to give the au-
thorities substantiating them. He dd so the more
especially as they contained such serious charges.
If such an occurrence had taken place recently, there
would have been full inquiry. If it had occurred twenty
years ago, it might have been suppressed, but if it had
occurred recently it would have been published
far and near. The county of Cork was one of
the most peaceable and well-conducted counties
in Ireland. If; then, the ejection of a large body
of people should have made so great a noise, how
was it that the tjection of a larger number was
passed off so silently. Ile could say from his own know-
ledge that the gentry there had not spared themselves,
and though he regretted to find so small a subscription,
yet he was not at all surprised at it. He ascribed it to
the circumstance that the landlords were sorely pressed
by their creditors. He knew that they were in great
difficulty; and, though he lamented the smallness of this
subscription, he thought the circumstance was sufficiently
explained by the fact which he had just stated.
Lord BROUGHAM felt it hard that he should be
complained of because he had, in the first instance, refused
the names of the parties of whom he spoke :and still more
that he should have been now complained of that he did
give those names. He would now read the name of the
gentleman who had furnished him with the information
which he had used. That was Edwrad Howe
Vernon, of the Sligo Champion, and he th ught
there was ample reason to speok of the
paucity of the asssitance which had been
rendered by the Irish landlords when he found in
one district a contribution of only 2001. from proprietors
of estates which yielded an income of 28,5001. a year.
He still withheld, and as he thought advisably, the
names of the clergymen with whom he had been in
communication.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY conceived that it
was not right thus to run down the Irish landlords,
for they had under the difficult circumstances in which
they were placed done all that they could. In the
County Down there was considerable distress, and he
knew that, what from marriage settlements, mortgages,
and the various obligations to which property was
liable, but little came to the hands of the landlord. In
the town of Down—not in the district—there was ex-
cessive distress, and he had been the first to head a
subscription for the establishment of a soup kitchen,
but the clergy bad rather discountenanced the
project, from the belief that it would draw the
poor from other districts, and so increase the distress,
If the Noble Lord (Brougham) did right he should pro-
pose a select committee to inquire into how the Irish
landlords had behaved in the present state of thatcountry
Such a course would be much more proper than
to indulge in these indiscriminate tirades, the materials
of which were furnished to him by interested and evil-
disposed persons,who were quite regardless of truth in the
statements they made, and were influenced by the most
improper feelings towards those who were involved in
these statements.
After a few words in explanation from Lord BROUGHAM
and the Marquis of LONDONDERRY,
The subject dropped.
(LEFT BITTING.)