The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-26 00:00:00

But he must remind their Lordships that it was not the
intention of her Majesty's Government to undertake the
duty of bringing supplies into the country. Whatever
was felt of deficiency, would be, no doubt, met by the
usual action of trade, or to bring supplies into the coun-
try. These woulddepend upon the importers, and he would
give this emphatic warning to those on whom these sup-
plies depended, that the Government would in no case
at all, except in some extreme exigency, interfere to
effect the importation. He would only say thus much,
that her Majesty's Government would feel it their duty,
in the event of any extreme distress arising, and he prayed
to God that it might not arise, but in the case of any such
extreme distress arising in any part of the country, the
place where that distress arose would be relieved by the
provision of work, by which the labourers might earn
out-door wages for those who were most distressed,
until some sufficient relief was obtained, and the necessity
for relief should cease by the generally improved
state of the country and the better circumstances
of the labourers and their families. In the event, how-
ever, of any extensive distress occurring a power was
entrusted to the Lord-Lieutenant which he should be
sorry to see entrusted to any one, however high his
character or his office, except on extraordinary occa-
sions. This power was the ability in cases of exten-
sive distress, of calling what he would call baronial
sessions, and at these sessions the means of compelling
the district where the distress: might occur to enter upon
such public works as would relieve the distress for the time.
ThesNoble Marquis then detailed the other privisions of
tho Bill, with respect to giving employment for
the people in baronies, half baronies, and parishes.
Her Majesty's Government in addition to this measure
had brought forward another to encourage public works
in Ireland, partly by way of grant, and partly by loan.
These were the outlines of the measures he had
attempted to describe to their Lordships. He
had no doubt that there would be a pres-
sure for a time, in spite of all the efforts
of Government and in spite of all the activity of
commerce, but eventually the consequences would be
beneficial to the nation, and some ultimate good would
be derived from it.

Lord MONTEAGLE would be glad if be saw his
way clearly, even after passing through great
suffering and privation, to the happy results
which his Noble Friend had pointed out. He
considered that-a-Government dispensing food to the
people, a calamity in itself great, could only be
justified by the existence of a calamity still
greater. The circumstances which had prompted
Sir Robert Peel—with great boldness and with
greater wisdom—to purchase food for the people of Ire-
land no longer existed, and, therefore, be did not see
that any necessity existed for the present Government
continuing the same principles. He said he would pro-
ceed to call the attention of the House to the second
part of the Bill, which was the question of labour. He
was sorry to discuss this question, which affected so inti-
mately the interests of Ireland, when so many of their
Lordships were absent, especially so many Irish peers.
He must say, that it was his opinion that the Govern-
ment would be disappointed of the effects which they
anticipated from this part of the Bill. He said the diffi-
culties with which they had to combat were greater this
year than those which had met the late Government.
That calamity was seen only in the month of November,
and prompt means were taken to provide against it; but
here, in the month of August, four months earlier, a
calamity was foreseen much more extensive and painful.
It would be unjust to the other Government, if it was
for a a moment attempted to underrate the importance
of this measure. A letter read to day from a magistrate,
bearing date, Aug. 3, describes the crops as being in
the worst of states. From this they might judge
of the magnitude of the coming evil. The pressure of
this falls, from the circumstances of the Irish peasantry,
in a way without example. In a case like the present
they would not be continuing the union they were so
anxious to preserve, if they were indifferent to the pre-
sent distress. Should it be said that they should come
forward and meet distress in the Scilly Islands and
elsewhere, and not feel for the sufferings of the people
of Ireland? He relied upon the law to ensure the ob-
taining of the benefits they contemplated. He confided,
too, greatly in the influence of the Board of Works, and
the selection of some of the officers was the most judi-
cious that could be made. Without the aid of private
subscriptions, the grant to the Board of Works would
be vain. He spoke the sentiments of a large and in-
fluential portion of the gentry when he said that
they did not require gratuitous assistance, and that
they considered any assistance which was not supported
by private subscription would be a very dangerous ex-
periment. But they were endeavouring to renter theird
present measure palatable by founding it on the old
poor-law valuation. Why, it was admitted on all haads
that that valuation was most notoriously unjust, and
had been made in many instances for certain purposes
which were completely outside the contemplation of
the Acts of Parliament. He considered, therefore, that
it was a most unhappy choice; but he considered that
there was a more fatal objection to it, and that was that
it would diminish the out-door relief administered in
Ireland. He put it to their Lordships, would it not be
very hard to make the expenditure of a gentleman upon
his estate the measure for his taxation, and to make the
neglect of others the standard of their more alleviated
taxation. This was the principle which the present
Bill would introduce into the operations of the system
of relief.

The Earl of WICKLOW could not allow a subject
of so much importance to pass by without saying a word
or two upon it. He thought Government had shown
much good sense in the plan they had proposed, and he
promised their Lordships to use his best endeavours to
secure its success. He regretted exceedingly that so
heavy and sudden a calamity had fallen upon the sister
kingdom, but he was sure of this, that the steps Go-
vernment were taking would insure a sufficient supply of
food and employment for the people. lle disapproved
of the plan for placing the constabulary force under the
control of the Government, because the 50,0001. which
it would remove from the burdens on land would in no
way benefit the people, while the relief itself was so
small as to be hardly porceptable to the landlords of Ire-
land.—(Hear.) There were several points to which he
had wished to refer, but at that late hour he should re-
frain from doing so, contenting himself with sincerely
thanking Hon. Gentlemen for the anxiety they had ma-
nifested to do all in their power to remove or alleviate
the prevalent disease and distress of Ireland.—(Hear.)
The Duke of GRAFTON attributed much of the dis-
tress of Ireland to the bad cultivation of the land, and
was rejoiced to see Government evince a disposition to
get rid of the evil.
After a few words from the Marquis of LANS-
DOWNE, in explanation,
The Bill passed through Committee, and was reported
with.ut amendments. It was ordered to be read a third
time to-morrow.