The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—FRIDAY. -
In. consequence of the attendance of many of their
lordships at her Majesty's State breakfast at Windsor
Castle the Lord Chancellor did not take his seat on the

woolsack until twenty minutes past seven.
ST. STEPHEN CRYPT.
The Bishop of GLOUCESTER called the attention of their
lordships to the present restored condition of the crypt,
and expressed an opinion that it was most desirable that
service at least once on Sundays should be performed
therein. The new prelate then moved that an address
be presented to her Majesty praying that she would direct
that divine service should be performed therein. Earl
Granville opposed the motion, on the ground that the ser-
vice was not required for the officers of the House, and
also because he did not think the House of Commons
would make the necessary grant. The motion was with-
drawn.
THE IRISH LAND BILL.
The House then went into committee on this bill.
Earl GRANVILLE laid on the table an amendment to
clause 3, which had been drawn up to meet the case of a
transfer of tenantry without the consent of -the landlord
in lieu of that moved by the Duke of Richmond last night.
The noble duke thought his amendment the best to meet
the case, and Earl Grey concurred in that opinion.—Vis-
count Halifax said Ireland was at present in an excep-
tional state, and that it was far better to make compen-
sation than be shot ; thereupon the Marquis of Salisbury
made some very severe comments on the remark, and
said they would now be able to understand the ground on
which the bill was founded. Wherever the Ulster custom
was in favour of the tenant it was adopted, but
where it referred to the landlord it was altogether
disregarded. The present case was a clear departure
from the custom, as by it the landlord always had a veto
in the case of a transfer of tenantry. Earl Granville de-
fended the amendment. He said it applied only to exist-
ing tenantcies, and left the power with respect to future
contracts perfectly free.—The committee then divided on
the amendment of the Duke of Richmond, which was to
the effect that if a tenant assigned his holding without
the consent of the landlord the latter should not be called
upon to compensate him unless he was evicted. The
numbers were :
Contents ... ••• ... 116
Not contents... ... •• • ... ... 82
The amendment of the Duke of Richmond was therefore
carried in preference to that of Earl Granville.—The
Duke of Richmond then moved a further amendment to
the clause, with a view of omitting the qualification enab-
ling tenants holding 25 acres of land to sublet portions of
the holding not exceeding half an acre for colleges or gardens.
—Earl Granville and the Duke of Argyle both defended
the portion of the clause objected to by the noble duke, on
the ground that if the clause was passed without the
security which had been objected to the worst results
would follow.—Lord O'Hagan was of the same opinion,
but Lord Cairns and the Earl of Clancarty supported the
proposed amendment.—Lord Athlumney explained the
present state of the law. He said the condition of the
Irish labourer was now a scandal and a disgrace, and ex-
pressed a hope that as so much was proposed to be done
for the tenants something should be done very speedily by
the Government to better the condition of the labourer.—
A long discussion follo'wed, which was terminated by
Earl Granville remarking that their lordships had, up to
that time, been engaged three hours on the bill, and they
had only got through six lines of it.—The House divided,
when there appeared—
For the amendment ... 138
Against it .. ..• 89
The amendment was carried, the Government being in a
minority of 49.—The Duke of Richmond then moved
an amendment to reduce the term from thirty-
one to twenty-one years as the length of lease
to exonerate landlords from paying compensation.—
Earl Granville strongly opposed the alteration.—
The Earl of Malmesbury, whilst condemning the excep-
tional legislation as set forth in the vote, supported the
emendment. Lord Cairns also spoke in favour of the
proposed alteration, but Lord Monck said he thought 31
years was a fair and equitable agricultural lease, and re-
ferring to the calm and conciliatory manner in which the
Duke of Richmond carried on his opposition, said he did
not wish to disturb the harmony, but he could not help
saying that it was like the leathern glove that covered
the iron hand. The Lord Chancellor strongly condemned
the constant nibbling that had been going on with respect
to the bill. First, he said, they began by lowering
the scale of compensation, and now they wished
to cut down the length of lease. He thought it
unreasonable legislation for Ireland, and a mockery to say
they were giving that country the best law possible.—Lord
Powerscourt, amidst great laughter, said the only tenants
who in his experience made no improvement at all were
those who had a3l years' lease. Those tenants who did
effect improvements were those who held simply from year
to year. Their lordships divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment ... 140
Against •• • •• • ... 111

Majority ... 29
The Marquis of SALISBURY then moved an amendment
with the view of reducing the annual value of rateable
property, held from year to year and entitling the tenant
to compensation for disturbance for £lOO to £so.—Earl
de Grey and Ripon characterised the amendment as an
unnecessary paring down of the clause, and that it would
have an operation far beyond the cause it was intended to
effect, creating an amount of dissatisfaction that would
seriously impair that which might otherwise be expected
to be the effect of the measure. The Earl of
of Bessborough thought of all the amendments that had
been made in the bill that now proposed by the noble
marquis would prove by far the most fatal and injurious to
the measure.—Lord Greville also expressed his belief that
this last amendment would render the bill worse than use-
less.—The Duke of Richmond said he was in the un-
pleasant position of not being able to vote for the pro-
posal of the noble marquis (Salisbury). The declaration
of the noble duke seemed to create some surprise.—The
Marquis of Salisbury said he felt so strong on the point
that if he went out alone he should divide the House upon
it. On a division there appeared—
For the amendment ... 119
Against ...............101•
The amendment was therefore carried by a majority of
18, notwithstanding the leader of the Opposition voted
with the Government.—Some other verbal amendments
having been made to clause 3 were then agreed to, and their
lordships adjourned at twenty minutes past one.