The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-26 00:00:00

I @gal bodies for the duration of these temporary measures,
administering relief throughout the electoral districts. The
rates would be levied by the board of guardians, and a cer-
tain portion of the rates so levied would be allotted to the use of
the relief committees. In answer to another question that had
been put to him, he would say that twenty-six depots had been
established in the west of Ireland, all of which had beent whyopen
the last six weeks. With reference to the: question
thesea Bills, as
s
the delay had taken place till the introl u
tilt these of
these Bills were
though the relief had been suspended
passed, he would say that such was not the case.—( Hear,
hear.) The most active measurs had been in progress
on the part of the Government
in the establishment
of food and soup kitchens, which were now becoming very
general throughout the country.
consequent upon the passing of the
.He would merely add, that
Act for the suspension of the
duties upon corn, large quantities of grain, to the extent of
500,000 quarters, would pass from the different warehouses,
and a reduction in the price of corn had already taken place in
the markets of Dublin, and in other places, and he hoped that
the present high prices would not long continue.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said that it was the intention of
her Majesty's Government to proceed with the Bill founded on
the provisions of Mr. Labouchere's letter on Monday next,
and that he would move the second reading of it on Thursday.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN thought the time mentioned by the Noble
Lord was much too early.
After a few words from Lord J. RUSSELL,
Lord G. BENTINCK said that he agreed with the greater
part of the propositions of her Majesty's Government, with the
exception of the provision for the compulsory sale of waste
lands. In his opinion the measure fell short of the necessities
of the occasion ; as, for instance, when the Noble Lord spoke
of a grant of 50,0001. to supply the wants of Ireland with seed.
That sum would be scarcely sufficient to sow five baronies—( Some
remark was here made across the table by Lord J. Russell,
which was inaudible in the gallery.) The Noble Lord then
went on to say that that sum would only be sufficient for about
2.5,000 acres of oats, or 5,000 acres of potatoes. A grant of
50,0(101. would be almost like doing nothing. With reference
to public works, he (Lord George Bentinck) was in hopes that
the Government would have brought forward some measure
by which the employment of English capital might be stimu-
lated in Ireland. There was one feature of public works in
that country, viz., the formation of railways, which he had
hoped that the Noble Lord would have come forward
with some well-digested scheme to promote, upon as great
a scale as the construction of railways in England. He knew
of no other means by which, at so short a notice, so many
persons could be brought into a profitable employment as in
the construction of railways in Ireland. He (Lord George
Bentiack) was prepared to introduce a measure upon that sub-
ject, to which he hoped the Noble Lord at the head of the
Government would give the same amount of consideration as
he-had given to the measures proposed by Government. He
entirely dissented from the opinion of the Hon. and Learned
Member for Bath, who considered it a grievous error to foster
•r assist the landlords of Ireland. He (Lord G. Bentinck)
_knew nothing that could be of greater advantage than foster-
ing to this utmost the Irish landlords in the cultivation of their
estates. A noble proprietor of that country had stated, a
short time since, that if he could have obtained an advance
from Government of 24,000'., he would be able to improve
his estate to the amount of 3,000/. a-year. He could not
conceive how England could possibly do better than lend to
the Irish landlords 24.000/., or even 24,000,000/., if they
wanted it. It appeared to him, that by so doing, the State
would be merely putting out its money at the most
profitable rate of interest, and he would be happy
to see 10,000 persons coming forward and asking each of them
24,C00/. He did not approve of a system of emigration.
He thought that it was not the way to improve a country by
transporting the best of her sons. If a system of emigration
was carried on in Ireland it would take away the bone and the
sinew of their country, with all its ewerprise, its strength, and
industry; and instead of leaving the country richer, but leaves
it poorer and weaker than before. 'The plan of facilitating the
sale of land contained' in the proposition of her Majesty's Go-
vernment he looked upon with sa'isfaction.
CRACOW:

Mr. HUME said, as he did not see the Noble Lord the
Secretary for Foreign Affairs in his ptace, he wished to inform
her Majesty's Government that they were waiting for the
papers referred to in her Majesty's speech. He was reluctant
to make a motion on the subject.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, since the House had met,
a paper relating materially to the relations between the dif-
ferent Powers had been received, and that the whole of the
papers would lbe presented with the least possible delay.
GRANTS FOR IRISH RAILWAYS.
Mr. W. R. COLLETT rose to bring under the considera-
tion of the Honse a notice of a motion which stood
in his name in the papers, and which was to the follow-
ing . effect : " That it is the opinion of this House,
no public works can be of greater importance to the future
prosperity of Ireland than railways, and that every facility for
their construction be given by her Majesty's Government ;
provided alsvat s, that proper security can he afforded for the
repayment of ary advances made by the. Treasury." He said
the intimation of the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn (Lord
G. Bentinek), would render it superfluous in him to press his
motion, but he could not forbear addressing a few observations
to the House on the subject. He deprecated the plan of spend-
ing millions of money in the cultivation of roads, whilst
the country was suffering 80 much from the want
of speedy and easy communications from place to
place. The interference of the Government was
- absolutely necessary, for the purpose of carrying out
railways throughout the country. Without such interference
on aeir part, the Dublin and Kingston Railway would not
have been constructed, and th(. Government would advance
loans on good security, capitalists would be forthcoming to invest
large sums of money, and to guarantee ample security to the
Government. if the Government would step forward in this
way, before 49 hours had pa'sed by 150,000 persons, who were
now subsisting on the charity of England, would be set to work
at profitable and useful employment. It would be unnecessary
for the. Government to advance any more money until the pro-
moters Of such Rues bad paid up 20 per cent. of the required
capital. the mom y advanced to be secured upon works.
Thus 101,000 able-bodied men, and 50,000 mechanics, would
get instant employment. When he heard that agriculture was
to be fostered, and the whole country drained and improved, he
thought that all this expenditure of money would be useless,
unless railways were constructed for the conveyance
of the commodities required for the cultivation
of the land, and for the purpose of conveying the
produce cheaply and speedily to eligible markets. Ten years
ago he urged a similar argument, believing that its adoption
would materially redound to the advantage of the country.
He did not speak solely as one connected with Irish railways,
because he was extensively c ;nnected with English lines.
When he apprehended that Ireland would he visited with
famine, he bought all the corn he-could obtain, and the re-
sult had been, that in that part of Tipperary with which he
was connected, no one bad received assistance from the relief
committees ; thus 500 men, or 1,000 people, had been sup-
ported since the calamity began. In Carlow 20,000 men
could be emp'oyed if the Government would consent to ad-
vance money for the construction of railways. After enlarg.
ing upon the advantages which would thus accrue to Ireland 1
from the adoption of this plan, and hoping that she would thus (
become an integral part of the United 'Kingdom, he eon_
eluded by e :pressing his intention of not pressing his motion,
as he was content to leave the subject in better hands—namely,
in the hands of the Noble Lord (Lord G. Bentinck ).
Lord J. RUSSELL said the question of granting money
to aid in the construction of railways in the way proposed had
received the consideration of the Government ; in fact, the
details of such a proposition were still under consideration,
but information on several points was necessary before any
measure could be brought forward on the subject. He should,
however, be very happy if the Noble Lord would introduce
the Bill of which he had given notice.
LIBRARY OF THE HOUSE.
06 the motion of Mr. PARKER, the following Select Com-
mittee was appointed to assist the Speaker in all matters relat-
ing to the printing executed by order of the House, and for
the purpose of selecting anti arranging for printing returns and
papers presented in fursuln,:e of motions made by Members,
whch might be referred to the Committee—Mr. Parker, Sir
Robert Harry Ingli,, Mr. Pusev, Mr. Vernon Smith, Mr.
John Young, Viscount Mahon, Mr. Hume, Sir. Cardwell, and
Mr. Loch.

IRISH DISTILLERIES.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN said the distillers of Ireland had taken
alarm at the proposition of the Government with respect to
rum. That morning he had received a letter, signed by seve-
ral of the distillers of Dublin, Stating that the proposed reduc-
tion would be ruinous to them. The measure partook almost
Of t free-trade character, inasmuch as the duty to be paid on
the admission of nun into Ireland was proposed to be reduced
from St. 10d. to 3s. 2d. per gallon. This would only give
them. a protection of 6d. a gallon. All he had to do was to
press upon the Right Hon. Gentleman to consider the subject
well- before he consented to the passing of a measure which
would proye so ruinous as the distillers set forth.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, un-
questionably there was a great reduction of the protection
which distillers had hitherto enjoyed in Ireland and Scotland,
but even now they would be 'placed on an equal fbuting with
the Etiglish distiller, as the duty would be 6d. a. gallon.. We
stated in the course of last session what the intentions of the
Government were upon the subject, and now such a reduction
was warranted by the circumstances of the country. He could
not Iloid-ont any hope that the distillers of Ireland would be
placed on a better footing than the distillers of this country.
In reply to an How. MEMBER, who wished to know whether
the results of certain experiments which had been made in
brewing with molasses and sugar, under the direction of the
Government, would be laid before the House, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER intimated
tathat hase dithe d not think
imen t advisable to lay their results on the
ble, experts had only been conducted on a small
scale, and as they did not partake of a conclusive character.'
Besides, he did not base any of his observations in introducing
the measure on them.
EXCISE AND CUSTOMS' DUTIES.
The report of the Committee or the whole House on those
ditties was brought up and received.
THE SUGAR BILL.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN complained that suMeient time was not
granted to afford Members a fecility of presenting petai„ns on
the subject of the distilleries as affected by this Bill.
Captain GORDON expressed a similar complaint.
The Sugar Bill was.then read a.first time.

Several—other Bills were brought up and read a first time.
The House adjoFried at Half-past Ten o'clock.

PETITIONS -ON PRIVATE BILLS.
HOUSE OF COM lIONS.
(Room 22, before Mr. Examiner Small, and ,Ir. A3sistant-
Eiaminer FRERE.)
UNOPPOSED LIST. =
The customary formal proofs were adduced in the following
unopposed cases:7—,
Glasgow, Barrliead, and Neilston Direct Railway -
Amendment Deviations and Branches to .Paisley; Bleck-
DLownsdale Bleach-works, Main street Barrhead,
an,lt to Stangh Pits, Waterloo Pit, and Speirs Bridge,
t the. Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, the
Bestrew'' asg" Str-tthaven, and Lesmahagow, and Paisley and
•1 `
al wayA
Scottish Ari.dr,'
Branch to Lawrean d Junction Railway (Amendment a:-.d
Glasgow, BarrhceaKirk).
Fouthern TerininaNtl:l and Neilston Direct and Glasgow
(Room 23, before Mr. 7,ays Amalgamation.
artn,iner -MAT. and Mr. Assistant-
tut 4,II.:ICMFILL
UNOIPPOSXD )
The customary rermal proof's viLlr7iaken in the following
ur opposed cases :
London and North-Wester, Con pan,--;
ktnere'r, tn'
Purchase of the arl of Elle • • "
chaster South Junction and Altring int,,,t in the Man,
'nun it•-• 1
Metropolitan Manure Act Amendment (tt;te;;tion in line
of works).
Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland (NeiA castle,
ILniskinnon, and Baltrasna Deviations).
London, OxfOrd, and Cheltenham Railway and BramnFhes.
(Cheltenham to Tring, with two Branches tithe Bir
Lam and Gloucester -Railway, and Branches to the Oxford
and Rugby and' Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton
Railway, and to the:Ayleabui7 Railway, and to enable the
London and North-Western Company to subscribe, or to
lease, or to purchase the same).
Preston andWyre (Extension from Lytham to Blackpool,
and additionallitierat Kirkscar Bay).
• • OPPOSED LIST.
THE CA-LEDORIAN;AND GLASGOW (PAISLEY AND
GREKKOCK) RAILWAY, COMPANY. - • -
This petition .was successfully opposed totiVlr. Pritt on be.; /
jtalf of the GlaeigaKPaisley, ha-huarnock, and Ayr Company.