The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-18 00:00:00

NING, FEBRUAR I lB 1846

dians had refused to open the workhouse, but he was not aware
that they had come to a resolution to alter their determina-
tion. He should have no objection to lay on the table the
papers with respect to the subject.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.
Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE, in rising to bring in a Bill
to amend the laws relating to friendly societies, said
that differences of opinion had arisen with respect to
the provisions of the Act now in operation. The Act
to which he referred was the 10th of Geo. IV., c. 55, which
consolidated certain Acts relating to various societies which
hail been established for benevolent purposes. '1 his law was
amended by the Act of William IV., c. 40, which extended
the objects of friendly societies. Very recently a case had
arisen with respect to the South Shields Investment Friendly
Society, whose rules were certified by Mr. Tidd Pratt. A dis-
pute ensued between the parties, and an act;on was brought.
Ile case was referred to the Court of Queen's Bench, and
Mr. Justice Wightman decided that the society in question
did hot come under the provisions of the Benefit Soci, ties' Act.
If this opinion was held to be correct, he believed that two-
thirds of the friendly societies in the kingdom would
he illegal. He felt satisfied of this, and it was for
the purpose of settling the doubtful point that he wished to
introduce the present Bill. The amendments he in-
tended had received the sanction of all parties in
the country interested in friendly societies, and
had been submitted to Mr. Tidd Pratt, by whom
they had been approved. With these observations he begged
leave to bring in a Bill for the amendment of the law relating
to friendly societies.

,
Leave was tnen given to bring in the Bill, which was read
a first time, and the second reading was fixed for Wednesday
werk.

NAVIGABLE RIVERS AND CANALS.
Mr. HUME rose to propose that all Bills for the improve-
ment or formation of canals and works of every kind should be
referred to the Board of Admiralty, and also for copies of all
reports and correspondence respecting the loss of the emigrant
ship Cat arique, in Bass's Straits, in August last, having 423
emigrants on board ; also for a copy of the report of the
officer at Liverpool on the state of that vessel previous to he;
sailing. It was not his wish to attach blame to any persons,
but it was to be recollected that out of the whole 423 persons
on board, nine only were saved. Ile was anxious to know with
whom the blame rested, whether the ship was regularly built,
and whether she had proper charts on board.
The copies were ordered to be laid on the table.
Mr. HUME moved for a copy or extract of any instructions
from the Foreign-office, far the geidance of any agents de-
puted to inquire into the state of commercial negotiations with
the Zollverein at Munich, in 1836; also copies or extracts of
any letters or reports from them to the Board of Trade, or any
departrrent of this Government, respecting the conferences of
any such agents or other public functionaries with the Com-
missioners of the Zollverein for the facilitation of commerce
between Great Britain and Germany.—Areed to.
STATE OF IRELAND.
Mr. O'CONNELL, in pursuance of notice, rose to bring
under the attention of the House the state of famine and disease
in Ireland, but his opening observations were delivered in such
a low tone of voice that they were totally inaudible in the
gallery. He was understood, however, to say, that on the 3d
of February he gave notice of his intention to move for a
Committee of the whole House to take into consideration the
state of famine and disease in Ireland, with a view to some
means being devised for the relief of the suffering
people of that country. That was the motion which
he intended now to move. The importance of the subject he
was sure was fully admitted by all whom he was then address-
ing, and in making such a motion he disclaimed being actuated
by any party motive, and in return he fully expected that he
would be met by no party opposition.—(Hear, hear, and
cheers.) He trusted that the House would enter fairly into
the consideration of this question. '1 he House would have
heard already that there was a most calamitous prospect for the
people of Ireland. The extent of the calamity was not accu-
rately known in this country. He did not entertain any hope
that the bringing of his motion before the House would have
the effect of avoiding the present famine in Ireland, hut. before
he sat down he hoped to be able at least to show that the ca-
lamity was far more awful and extensive than the House was
aware. In order, however, to explain the frightful extent of
this calamity, it would be necessary to explain the previous
state of Ireland. The calamity, it would be seen by the docu-
ments which he intended bringing before the House, would
show that that calamity was not the result of
the negligence of the Irish people, or the sterility of
their soil. It was not even occasioned by a deficient
harvest; it was the dispensation of Providence, which no man
could control, and the charitable and the humane were, there-
fore, called upon to relieve a people placed in such an unfor-
tunate position; they were certainly bound to mitigate the
calamity as much as possible. The rural population of Ireland,
instead of increasing, as in all other countries, e ere fast fading
and wasting away. It had been reported in this country that
the people of Ireland were on the verge of famine. That
report wasmot precisely true, because it did not go far enough.
The agricultural population of Ireland were at the present
moment in an actual state of starvation. He proposed to prove
the truth of his assertions by quoting from indisputable documents.
He (Mr. O'Connell) asserted, and he could bear out his asser-
tion by referring to authorities of the most unquestionable
character, that the misery of the people of Ireland was in-
creasing. He held in his hand a return of the amount of
population in Ireland in the years 1621, 1831, and 1841 ; 'and
he found the matter placed beyond a doubt. The population
between the years 1821 and 1831 increased by near a million,
but between the years 1831 and 1841 it increased by only
437,950 individuals, or less by half than in the previous ten
years. That could not be accounted for by the emigration
reports ; but the House had the fact staring them in the face,
that in the course of ten years the population of the country
went back by nearly half a million ; for in 1811 there was
half a million less of human beings in Ireland than there should
be, and nothing but the distress of the country could account
for it.—( Hear, hear.) The next document to which he
begged to refer was a report of the Irish Poor-law Com-
missioners, ordered by the House, and published in 1835, in
which they declared that 2,?,00,000 of the people of Ireland
were in a constant state of destitution, and that
for several weeks in the year they were compelled
to subsist on the charity of their neighbours.—( Hear, hear. )
The next fact given by the same return is, that the civil
population are to the amount of 36 per cent. living in tingle
rooms, and in some instances, two or more families live in the
same room. The most important of all reports that have been
furnish.-c 1 is the our furnished by Lord Devon's Commission.
That Commission was formed of 400 gentlemen of rank and
experience, and, perhaps, a better corps never issued from the
hands of Government. He would wish to implore the atten-
tion of the House to the facts which they related. They re-
ported from evidence given to them, and from their own obser-
vations, and they were better able to make those observations,
as they were all landed proprietors. They state that the agri-
cultural population of Ireland suffered great privations and
hardships. They were badly fed, badly clothed, badly housed,
and badly paid for their labour. It was impossible to describe
their sufferings—their only food was the potato, their only
drink was water, and they had hardly a protection against the
weather. The larger portion of the people came under the
denomination of agriculturists, and they had to endure more
privation than the labourers in any ether country in Europe. Let
the House remember that the men who made that report were not
demagogues. They were men distinctly and emphatically be-
yond the possibility of deceit or of being deceived as to the
condition of the agricultural labourer. By the last census the
population was returned as 7,000,00, and 5,0C9,000 of them
were described as labourers. He was glad to be able to ac-
quaint the House with the details of this report, made forty-five
years after the union of Ireland with England—the richest and
the most industrious country on the face of the earth—and
this report was made by persons most competent to the task.
They proved that the labourers of Ireland were badly clothed,
housed, and fed. Their houses were pervious to the rain,
their only food was the potato, and their only drink was water.
They suffered more than any nation on the face of Europe, and
he would appeal to every gentleman whether that report did
not show a great amount of suffering ? Let theni remember
that they did not at that time govern themselves—they had no
Irish Parliament. They had been forty-five years in their hands,
and they were responsible for the state of Ireland. Let it be
remembered that this was not the year 1644 or 1845, when the
harvest was abundant. The statement made by the Commis-
sion was at a period of distress. He would refer to one of the re•
ports of the Commission under Lord Devon. The report
stated that thr. ugh the disease of the potato the people had
been brought to a state of great suffering, and that they had
exhibited the greatest patience. The report said that the state
of the people was not brought on by themselves. He trusted,
then, that this statement would be attended to. The report
further said, that any improvement which had taken place in
the condition of the people was not to be attributed to any ad-
ditional demand for labour, but to the blessings of the tern
perance movement in that ccuntry. The people then in that
country were suffering greatly, and something should be done
to alleviate that distress. The labourers were only able to have po-
tatoes—potatoes was their only food, and water their only drink.
All this has, however, failed them_ the potato, at least, their
most important —ind .ed, their only means of subsistence—had
failed them. A winter was now set in ; many of the people
had not firing, nor even a blanket to cover them.
He had other documents, which were Parliamentary docu-
ments; and lie would quote them to prove, that the wretched I
condition of the people had not been over-rated. The sum of
the statistical details of the report, which he held in his hand,
then was, that there had been imported from Ireland in the
year 1845 as much as 2,145,703 quarters of wheat, barley, and
oats, anti as much as 2,184,064 cwts. of oatmeal and flour;
showing that the crops in Ireland during the privious year had
been both abundant and valuable. It was evident, therefore,
that the inhabitants of Ireland, if they could have retained the
provisions which they themselves had produced, would
have had sufficient supply for all their wants. But in addition
to this, there had been an importation of cattle in the same
year to the number of 2,683, of sheep 2,776, and of swine
104,141. These numbers showed a singular anomaly between
the state of Ireland and the produce which it bore for the sus-
tenance of its inhabitants; when a country so blessed by Pro-
vidence, and so cursed by man' presented such a contradiction,
he really, thought it presented a paradox which loudly called
for inquiry. Others might account for it if they could; but he
thought it was requisite that some measure should be immediately
taken to ascertain the cause. He would only observe that the
mildest features of want in Ireland were equal to the worst
famine of other countries. It was necessary to state these facts
with regard to Ireland in order to show the formidable nature
of the evil with which the country was threatened, and he
thought it was unnecessary to make any further comments to
bring it under the notice of Government. Some of the Ministry
were acquainted with the facts which he had detailed, but he
had felt it his duty to bring the case of Ireland as near as
possible before the House, and he hoped, therefore, he
should he excused fur any prolixity which he might have evinced
in making these statements respecting Ireland. All these docu-
ments showed that one-half of the potato crop was re-
ported to have been destroyed so long ago as November
last—( Hear, hear )-- anti it was not to he denied that
more authentic documents could be laid upon the table
These documents showed that the disease had deprived fami-
lies of their food. They presented additional evidence to that
furnished by the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir Robert Peel) last
night, and showed the unmitigatiug misery and poverty which
existed in Ireland at the present moment. A Committee was
appointed last year to inquire into the state of the disease in
the potato crop. They sat at the Mansion House, Dublin,
and issued 983 letters to various parties throughout Ireland,
requesting information as to the failure of the potato crop, and
the consequent condition of the people. The replies which
they received from clergymen of the Established Church, from
Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, and poor-law guardians,
showed that the potato disease was almost universal throughout
Ireland, and that the people were undergoing the most unmi-
tigated sufferings. The Hon. Gentleman then referred to
other documents, but owing to the low tone in which he spoke,
their purport could not be heard in the gallery. The Hon.
Gentleman next referred to a document which he held in his
hand, from a county in the south of Ireland, the name of which
we did not learn, from the low torte in which he spoke. It con-
tamed the attestations of clergymen belonging to the Established
Church, and the ministers of the various Roman Catholic and
Dissenting congregations, showing the great prevalence of the
potato disease. He had in his possession the Government
returns obtained from every part of Ireland, detailing the state
of the disease. He would have felt hardly justified in bringing
them before the House, had it not been that some of the leading
journals here had during the last ten days denied that the
evil iu the north of Ireland was so great as represented,
or that there was any danger of an insufficiency of food. He
did not accuse them of acting from party motives, but lee
believed they were acting under a delusion, and were deluding
.others.--,( Hear.) The evil was not confined to one locality or
wt of the country, but was spread throughout the land.
Everywhere the cry way of the comiog famine. A letter ill his

hand showed that in Tralee the labourers were only receiving
2! d. per day, and the tradesmen were paid even lees ; and
here the potato disease prevailed to a great extent. The Hon.
Gentleman here read an extract from the letter in support of
this statement, at,d to the effect that as a result fever prevailed,
and was geatly on the increase both there and at Killarney.
Leaving these, he would go to Londont!erry, in the north of
Ireland. He had before him a report of the Derry Agricul-
tural Society, from which he would read an extract. The
Honourable Gentleman here quoted a passage, showing that
the evil of the potato disease existed in a very
aegravated form throughout the north of Ireland.
He would next produce a return from Castletownroach, in
tlze county of Cork. The respected clergyman of that parish
states that the disease is progressing. The next returns he
would produce were from Down, Armagh, Antrim, and
Monaghan, where the disease was unchecked, although every
method was adopted that was suggested for their preservation.
In Donoughmore the poverty was increasing with the disease,
and want. of employment would add more to the impending
ruin. From the documents he had received from the county
of Clare and Galway, he found that famine and dis-
ease were no less prevalent in those place!, than
in the other parts of Ireland he had already mentioned.
He wished to be understood that whenever there was a scarcity
of provisions in Ireland, it was accompanied by disease, princi-
pally typhus fever ; and that disease continued, no matter what
might be the season or the temperature of the air— it was not
affected by the atmosphere. It always ceased when provisions
became abundant. The House was now aware of the cause,
and it had in its hands the cure of the evil—via., the produc-
tion of a sufficiency of food to the people of Ireland. The dis-
ease always ceased the moment an abundant harvest arrived.
In the year 1734, the summer was cold and wet accompanied by
a scarcity of provisions. The summer oft he next year, 35, wzs also
cold and wet, and provisions were not more plentiful than they
had been in the preceeding}ear. 1736 was an extremely hot
summer. In 34 the disease was prevalent, it continued through
35. In 36, when provisions began to be more plentiful, it be-
gan to abate ; and in 1737, when Providence blessed the country
with a most abundant harvest, the disease disappeared alto-
gether. During the years of scarcity the disease was always
most prevalent, and in times of plenty it disappeared totally.
In the year 1740 the spring was dry and cold—the autumn and
winter were frosty—a great dearth of provision occurred which
towards the latter end of the year increased almost to a famine.
In that year 80,000 persons perished from this disease. The
Honourable and Learned Member then went on to compare
from the report the state of society with the state of
the tillage and consequent want in the years 1798, 1800,
1801, 1817, 1841, 1842, and 1843 with the experience
of 1793. This, he said, sufficiently showed the con-
nexion between want and misery, starvation and disease;
and these facts showed that the connexion was the same in
1843 and 1845 as it was in 1793, the year of national excite-
ment, and in 1798, the year of the great rebellion. This was
the cause of the deaths of the 80,C00 individuals of whom he
had previously spoken. He had shown the House that there
was no peasantry so badly off as the peasantry of Ireland: He
had shown them that There were nearly five millions of the
peasantry of that country on the point of starvation. He had
shown the House all this from the report of Lord Devon's
Commission, and it was theduty of the House to propose some-
thing to alleviate the distress. Lett him tell them what he pro-
posed. He prnpo,ed that the House should join him in the
most strenuous application of some remedy for those evils. He
was there to show that Ireland had all the resources in
their own power. He proposed that House should take
front the landlords of that country means of remedying the
evils. That they should tax the absentee landlords or that
country 30 or 40 per cent., and the resident landlords who
did their duty to their country, a comparatively smaller one of
10 per cent. That would make a fund, which would assist
the people of that country in a very material degree, and re-
move much of the distress which affected her. The poor •laws
of Ireland were not adequate to the present state of the coun.
try. The poor-law unions would make very good hospitals in
cases of sickness, and there was no doubt that there would be
many claims upon them rising out of the present distressed
state of the people. The lanes in Dublin are full of fever.
Fever is abroad over the whole land. It had pleased Provi-
dence to inflict a great calamity. It was the business of that
House to abate it as soon and as well as they could. There
were the railroads. Why should they not take some
strong measure with respect to railroads ?_( Hear, hear.) He
hoped to see the railways placed in the bends of the Govern-
ment. He hoped to see a Board au horised by Government
to see what railways were most fitted to give employment in
Ireland ; and he trusted that the House would sanction any
motion for that purpose. Famine was coming on—fever was
coming on—and this House should place in the hands of the
Government power to meet the evil. If they had that autho-
rity they would know what railroads were required for Ireland,
so as to give the most extensive employment to the people.
The decisions of such a board he believed would be received
with more attention than the decisions of the House itself, for
it was a general impression, and he coincided in the opinion,
that there was no worse tribunal to decide on the merits of
those lines than the Committees originated by the House.
His had attended one of the Committees himself,
and he really did not know very well how he was voting.
( Laughter.) He thought that if 100,000/. were subscribed for
a railway, the Government ought to advance 100,000/. more ;
thus enabling the capitalist in Ireland to meet his monthly
payments. This money might be lent at the rate of perhaps
1 per cent., which might be increased to 4, ac in the circum-
stances they might think fit. This suggestion was merely
thrown out for the consideration of the Elouse, for his plan was
yet undigested. It might be said that the measures now before
the House would be sufficient to alleviate the distress in ire
land. Great evils, however, they knew required great reme-
dies. He new spoke, not from party views: but from the very
depth of his conscience. Death had already followed—further
death would follow the neglect of the House. The Hon.
Member then concluded by moving the motion of which he had
given notice.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM—I am sure that I express the
general sentiments of the House, when I assure the Hon. and
Learned Gentleman who has brought forward this subject, that
he is entitled to the respect and attention of every Member of
this House ; for it is not to be dissembled that the state of
Ireland, at the present moment, does deserve the serious at-
tention of Parliament. I agree with the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman, that the importance of this subject can hardly be
overrated. I also agree with the Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man in the persuasion, which he expressed at the commence-
ment of his speech, that whatever diversity of opinion may
exist in various qnarters of this House upon various topics, the
subject now under discussion is one which will receive from
all parties the most patient and anxious consideration. It is
my painful duty to state, that having taken the utmost pains to
Inform myself accurately on the facts of this case, I cannot
state that in any important particular the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman has exaggerated them. What are the striking
facts ? He has stated to us that a very large proportion of
the potato crop of Ireland for the present year has failed.
Before we consider the effect of that statement, it is necessary
to remember how very hrge a proportion of the populatian of
Ireland is dependent upon the potato, which is almost exclu-
sively their daily food. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman
has estimated that; seven-eighths of the whole population are
dependent upon the potato. I should perhaps place it at some-
thing lower, but clearly, I believe it is admitted on all hands,
that at least one-half are so dependent. Now consider this
matter. One-half of the whole population of Ireland are de-
pendent for their daily fond upon the potato, which by a visita-
tion of Providence is this year a signal failure. It is very diffi-
cult to ascertain by any computation which we can make the
exact proportion or extent of that failure. Professor Playfair
and Mr. Lindley-estimated the loss at an early period of the
year at half the entire crop. Admitting, for one moment, that
there is some exaggeration in that estimate, I will now state to
the House what is the result of the most accurate inquiries which
the Government, with all their appliances, have been enabled to
make. They had instituted aCommission, at the head of Vi hich they
placed Mr. Lucas, Under Secretary of Ireland ; Colonel Jones
and Mr. M'Gregor, who was at the head of the Irish Consta-
bulary ; the Poor-law Commissioner, Mr. Taylor, and Profes-
Kane ; and the result of the inquiry had been stated to the
House last night by the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the
Government, in some of its most striking features. Reports
were read from the different electoral districts of Ireland, the
larger number of which, so far from proving that the report of
Professor Playfair and Mr. Lindley had been exaggerated,
showed, on the contrary, that the evil was not sufficiently told.
In ordinary years the great majority of the pople of Ireland
are compelled to subsist for a period of six weeks upon more
expensive articles of food than potatoes, in consequence of the
crop of the preceding year not keeping until the crop of the
ensuing year was ready for food. To show the present condi-
tion and prospects of Ireland, let us suppose that the danger be
less than *tee-half- I will take one-fourth. Suppose then the
failure of the potato crop this year be equal to one-fourth of an
average crop. You have then, in addition to the six weeks'
scarcity of other years, to add one-faurth part of 101
months, that the population will be without their general sub-
sistance. By this calculation it appears that for four months
the people of Ireland must be fed upon food of a higher and
more expensive class. A more difficult and alarmin, case
could hardly be brought under the consideration of Parlia-
ment. It is not only the imperative duty of the Gevernment,
but there is also a natur impulse in the breasts of Hen.
Members of this House, under such circumstances as these,
which calls forth their sympathy, and urges upon them the ne-
cessity of adopting some speedy measures to remedy this evil.
The information to which I have alluded does not extend to
a later period than the Bth of January. Further statements
have been made since that date, which prove that the disease,
so far from being arrestsd, is still progressing ; that the pots.
toes are decaying, and that there is a great and increasing dan-
ger of want, unless some precaution be used to prevent this
evil These further statements also went to prove that, in
consequence of the disease, the seed could not be preserved for
the ensuing year. The effect of such a state of things I can-
not and dare not contemplate without feelings of the greatest
distress. He must also state that, from the accounts which heel
arrived respecting the state of the country, 190 labourers had
recently come before a board of guardians compleining that
they had no employment, that no wages were offered to them,
and that they , were suffering under extreme destittr ion, lie
thought that that was a sight which was enough to excite the
pity of all who witnessed it. The Hon. and Learned Gentle-
man (Mr. O'Conntll) had stated the facts to which ho had
called the attention of the House with considerable accuracy.
He (Sir James Graham) considered that the redundancy of the
population was, to a certain extent, the cause of a great portion
of the evils under which that country laboured. He
considered this also the more strange, as the principal
towns of England and Scotland took off a great deal of
that redundancy. In Manchester, Glasgow, and Liverpool,
immense numbers of the Irish were very laudably exercis-
ing their industry. The Right Hon. Gentleman proceeded to
say, `• The Hon.
,Gentleman (Mr. O'Connell), I think, also
observed that the imports into England were increasing." I think
I have now glanced at the principal points in reference to this
subject; I now, therefore, wish to put the House in possession
of the steps which the Government had thought fit to take to
meet the present emergency. I think it necessary to state to
the House what has already been done, short as the session has
been, to meet the emergencies of the present moment.. There
has already been given for the Public Works' Bill 50,000/. , there
is a grant of 50,0001. in the Drainage Bill, and it is the
intention of her Majesty's Government to insert a clause in that
hill for the purpose of improving the inland navigation of Ire-
land, by joining the northern locks of the Shannon with the
southern ; the whole amount of money proposed to be advanced
for the carrying out of public works in Ireland, amounted to
468,0001: He wished to call to the recollection of the house
the fact, that in the last session of Parliament railway bills
were passed authorising an outlay of capital of nine millions. In
this country it was generally assumed that the whole outlay re-
quired for the construction of a railway, would extend over a
period of three years. The case, however, was different with
regard to Ireland, as the railways in that country required a
longer time to construct. At any rate, he could not divest
himself of the fact, that 2,00 ,QOO/. of money had already been
expended in the construction of railways in that country; and
from the reports he had received, it appeared that able-bodied
men had gone a considerable distance, leaving their families be-
hind, in. order that they might obtain employment on
these works. It appeared, as the Hon. and Learned
Member had stated, by the reports which had been laid on
the table of the House, that the potato crop had failed through-
out a great portion of Ireland. Then with respect to the poor..
law. He admitted that that law was insufficient, and he quite
agreed with the Hon. Gentleman that the number of poor-law
unions were insufficient to afford relief to the great numbers
who required it. Me (Sir James Graham) had stated the
nature of the measures which the Government considered
ought to be employed with respect to Ireland, and he was sure
the House would give her Majesty's Government credit for not
having neglected the adoption of measures which might
alleviate the sufferings of the people of Ireland.—(Hear.)
At any rate, what Over Alight he the result of the potato ort<p,

the Government could not be taken by surprise.--(147„,;I,
The Hon. Gentleman has observed the prevalence of.',en'tbs
and the amount of destitution arising from it. I acnril'orts
Hon. Gentleman the fatal consequences that have '`'.inoo
femn this scourge but on this point I will call his atte!tis,..rot
the fact that in ;his respect the poor-law of Ireland
_ra.vly
important relief.--( Hear, hear. ) In the existing P"°_„se
there are four modes in which relief in cases of diseaseuo_S4
given. Patients can be received either into the worktbtie;s
or be removed from the workhouses into hospitals, if,..rento
any objection to their remaining there for fear of, Judso $0
spreading among the rest of the inmates. I,_, thee
place much confidence in these two provisions,
of
kind
are two other provisions where importance in cases Or. Li; istbe
are to be highly estima'ed. The first of these provisioo„..o
providing of temporary fever hospitals in the vicinity °f 'bile
workhouses. Out of 110 unions in which workhooseerseetei,
been built, 42 have already had temporary hospital. mite
and measures are being taken to provide such area TY
dation for the remaining workhouses.—(Hear,, “ea-r)
oicf
remaining provision is one which empowers thetoPtstsP sls
guardians, in cases where no hospital is erected, inGil',
empty house and use it temporily for such a purpose. ore
way, in 1844; a malignant typhus fever prevailed, and bos
1,100 persons had been received into a temporary fever_o dli..
tel, and of these from 900 to 1,000 were in a shart „woos://
charged cured..—('Hear, hear.) But with these ...A
thud
is impossible to meet the case, and therefore, 0 suedes '
the Government, I propose to give notice for the introu oaf
a Bill with the object of amending this state of things. if ad
the precedent of 1632 in relation to bosPhat prey
fever spreads, it will be impossible to meet it by tu:,., cog
means. It is not my intention on the present °calor; 01,1
at greater length late the circumstances of Irelais„ sle
must say that 1 am most unwilling that this disculrtlist'ft
be Prolonged, so as to interfere with the progress i
ee to sat
percent debate going forward on the measures prolesiaaresra
the present critical state of the country. Ever sinceiregos
last, when the full extent of the potato disease svas, 1 031)8
itself, my opinion has been, that to meet the evil it
duty of the House and of the Legislature to reno!:titlet,
bargoes or restrictions on the free importation of ;Is!,
food. This was and is my candid opinion—that !nor+,
ren.edy is secondary and trifling when viewed in liiiiefor
with this. Notwithstanding the measure of berL4 •
Government, if famine should proceed (and I veep!?,
it will) 1 apprehend that a generous exercise of tnlsalr
tion on corn will be necessary, arid a relaxation of
must take place. Oil?
Mr. SHAW said he would not say one •
would have a tendency to check any messare.of ;$
would have for their effect the arnelioraliaalit Ai
distressed people of Ireland. At the same r,,
thought it his duty to state to the House the,'
state of the destitute in Ireland. The Poor-law Cam
hers
in the year 1835, stated in their sport that 140
2,300,000 people without the means of providing, 004
greater part of the year. And he felt bound to ators,
would be considerable distress unless provision sqs""ksti7;o,
-However, he thought very great exaggeration haoistiresi
and that statements had been put fortn for interestisl
He had every respect for the high character of 0,141,
gentlemen who were directed by Government to eatel,„,e
the cause and the extent of the potato disease in
,fieual,"
Pla)fair and Lindley ; but he (Mr. Shaw) censiv,e,isieltilt
withstanding, that their report was exaggerated.--k asio.
from the Opposition. ) He admitted that &etc lielos
more or less in every part of Ireland, but
yelled very recently through the counties 0f
noel
perary, Kilkenny, and Carlow, and very many t
pot,
bed,
of Ireland, and he found that there was considerable
sa,
sion, but that there was more than an average COP
7l 41 rotNow,
dig Now, with regard to the let.ers which the i:' )if de
Baronet read last night in reference to this subjet_dele
quite aware that great distress did exist in those yle ,t
country where the Government communication
,c0";,00 is
Generally speaking distress was prevalent in ,Ispstteisilsolt
Ireland, and such places as Mayo, Clanmel, and ti" eird
the south of Ireland, too, the distress was no leltstsfoi,V
and in Kerry, Clare, and Waterfowl, he might he
suffering would be found. On the whole, howeveriorerl
or
the extent of the deficiency of the potato crop had, to De 0
exaggerated, but he did not wish for a moment befitP
posed as blaming the Government for what theYniese 0
discovering the extent of the potato disease, and,. t 004
the best means for devising a remedy for it. 1-(); 00,
poi
weeks in every season a deficit ncy of potatoes was sward
but in the present season the deficiency had been wood
ever it had been known before. But it must be fedisOlg
that ample substitutes for the potato had been fclaeff
latterly there had been a more than ordinary 4'019
labour. He could not help thinking, therefore, fapfodo
tent of the misery in Ireland had been greatly 's
eesl(
and he thought further that a very unfair use ha sissy
of the subject. However, this branch of the arg-ye
longed to another debate, and what he had to sajorfte4
should reserve until the other debate came on.--( seil e
SirJAM ES GRAHAM suggested to the Hon. „ape
Member for Cork, that as the Government well, el
do all in their power to mitigate the sufferings of w die/
Ireland,:occasoned by the failure in the potato ell'eser
hardly any necessity for the Hon. and Learned Ale
o,oo'
ing his motion.
. of et
Mr. JOHN O'CONNELL saidthat in offering
,di' et
tions which he was about to make, he had no infel°,
peding the repeal of the corn.laws. He was prePb tit"
his suppprt to that measure, because he believed t $0,404
be beneficial to the people of the United Kingdorn. ki,
was no d übt that the repeal of the corn-laws libel,
beneficial to the people of England than it d'u'lll:l4,
people of Ireland, who were without money and w' „eh
If any of the evil effects which were depicted iisieKiiil
upon the repeal of the corn-laws, by Hon. Gent eel
sire, would ensue to the agriculturists, there was e°,, doot
Ireland, that had hitherto had a monopoly Zooid
market for food, would be the country that Wool" t Kit'
—(clear.) But he would repeat that he did '1,('14
any evil results from the repeal of the corn-I 0 utbo,
He was determined to offer a few observations:id, 5,',00
meats which had been produced on his held t°
Ileuse—( Hear, hear)— even at the risk of ~,,, ~
dered as offering impediments to the discussi
corn-laws. The distress in' Ireland at the Pacbsve '
he would assert, was of the most frightful and fearliglifj,
—!Hear.) With regard to the arguments of thepeprief,
, Gentleman the Secretary of State for the H0me,..„,,, lit",
! without attributing to him arty discreditable Mutivsii ii)..fr
say they were not in consonance with the fact. 2%,i1 Ott
argument of the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite (16r.iesr or
to the exaggeration of the statements which had befei,b, 00e
night with respect to the present distress in Irelanltiotrloo?
shortly dispose of it by saying that he left the qt 000'
settled between him and the Government, who „seel I's
from their own Commissioners accounts of the Pifer° i'
precisely similar to those which had been brough,,,,e)llool
his (Mr. O'Connell's) side of the House.---tP de 'lo'
Right Hon. Baronet the Secretary of State ftir f MOO '
Department, had received official documents.da tbstSr
sent famine in Ireland, and lie had not Sal file"
statements were exaggerations..—(Hear, hear.)
~ srsi;
Hon. Gentleman had, however, said that there** fp;i
dancy of the population in Ireland of 2,000.000%4, 0!
O'Connell) believed that Ireland could maintain_pbf lf,'
times her present population—(Hear, hear)-3ue of,r
country was capable of doing so, he could not .$OOO
fideri
fact of her having at present a numerous popul3ool4 pi i
considered an evil. The reason why Ireland c° oil 1.1,,tit
port her present population was, because ahnostpin 9/
was taken from her people.—( Hear, hear.) rcattlj
Ireland were in a position similar to that of eine allvre
had she a full command of all her resources—°„„.retbers ol
nies spent at home—were she allowed fair Play yep cslo,ll
be no reason for her people to complain that e 0' tip'
quantity of food was sent forth from this country 00.1 for
present exported, if they were also assured that.txtegsfl
have food for themselves. But the anomaly of asessiale,
pie sending forth immense quantities of her produu ,C,s;i'ir
was one that was most startling and most shockin,g; 007
He (Mr. J. O'Connell) had but risen to attest the trifloi
racy of the statements made, and to go furtheor'oo. ,
that, from all the accounts he had heard, and fc°„,,eleisys.
he possessed of judging of them, the statements.iiit talsiSs
of being exaggerated, fell infinitely short of
theseirieta
( Hear, hear.) He willingly bore testimony to 0 tr'
uti4,loll tension which the House had evinced that evenifooe,6 0
question was under discussion—( Hear)—and be Out ''''ol
adverting to the feeling he had witnessed through. 00- VI
session exhibited by Hon. Gentlemen, and the'', ff°"oltisl
diseover some remedy.—(Cries of " Hear, liesa erieelictib
sides of the House.) It might be said that fn ,0, erti
selfish one. And decidedly there could not occe,flitiVe
a calamity as famine in Ireland, without its :ILO /el
being felt in Englanti:—(Hear, hear.) Should stielsi:s4„s‘l
occur in any other country, the consequences cc° sso!s
little short of a dissolution o! society. But iniorii.oBl
efforts of the people were so broken into by scifers sociaise/
could almost endure anything ; and, further, ts'iellir,elf"l,o
not disturbed, it would be owing to the admirt thetaiogie
mind and soul which the Irish people had tangs'', to iiiippli
( Hear, hear.) He implored of the House n°,,,ore,„ 0,
that, in what they had done, or in what theYsioni'lliftst
dined to do, they hod met the terrible danger 014'neeifteipss
over Ire land. He implored of them not t° usl.,, oof
selves with the idea that the Irish people lall ad l' 11( si
had been given them as a' boon, or rldliessgyi;(S
favour. They would acknowledge the ,r,s, liknor latie.
intention of her Maest's Government—( "-"at I'a 0
thief
they would lea acknowledge it in the lights-0001f tiLtf
favour, for they looked on such applications °„l.fuods,'d 09
rally nothing more than so many restitutions e'. ,nou„ esroS'
they had been most unjustly deprived. They
the course of their policy towards Ireland, in aril
the phenomena of everrecurring famine, pestileniegeisof 001
There must be something bad in the system of i setboll te
the administration of affairs in that country fetch-yr' tha,001,7
mities. Their attention had been awaken r ihels'ilirlist
and certain increase of evils in Ireland, an°,:faid 1)0%0',
view their policy they would find that they " of pu,,eoo f
He was not going to touch upon mere matters, °footle's°
upon all matters of commerce, and upon all maths tee so%
cal policy that had reference to Ireland. Let 'stee; bt.o
collect the words of English writers upon thisel 01017,0
fifty or sixty years ago England stood ehacgd toe el if
systematically sacrificed the interest of Irelan__ cbsr!,.o° j
that time considered her own interest. She We'bh of riofti'ir
having systematically interfered with the Envy pgel'..oo°,to
turing prosperity ; and, by the same authorities, ofb 5,,,0000,
charged with having denied to Ireland the °„'oistetbe 'be,
sources. Let the House look at its policy as it De Wee eat leoel
if something was act remaining calculated too., it,
,snyito
rest of Ireland; and if there was, let them reni
.., berivo„r
lay the axe to the root of the evil as they 1Z colnuearite
that this system would not do any longer. -........,,—, 01.„.14,0f
on the plan of giving relief to Ireland on n''''; 'it o'. clise;sl
gency and afterwards forgetting it altog!tt`d."-Thytseefer
ciple unworthy of such a nation as '
Engllllr. rit"li 0 fio
which he had mentioned had been made by d, net °thet° otet
1765 and 1799 and they were not contrachctce.bar;e3
the $lO
trary, were admitted to be true. He lay °fees.
site'
having systematically impeded the profit': 'ye iss i.v-nortis,
country and Mr. Huskisson repeated the e° sr;itlesi' et.
_ate'
words that he used were, " You have alwa)ss!, had
a 11ne-di
geccy of the moment that which you deeMS ho be' tbeitToe
(Mr. J. O'Connell) felt sure that that which
to viz' 'to lite stie.
was nothing more than Ireland was entitled
?bad
up ti tel 0
bee dstera,
of trade with foreign countries. From that_ ?had oi
of the union no further concessim2see faqts sfinuses_ro
He had felt it necessary to refer to,rioun be,_•`; penis.
order to impress the question more I'm Ye._rer auetilaser's 00
had said that in 1780 the undesirablen -s sgba_ corker
t twos ..•.. te s
this had been made evident for the fir 2 „,,e seetsy_t of Defy
rights of which they were deprived -:' .;-::' d the D7be ern of
1 otlptepiorrtlotoomitetestrtandteheanfdoretthgeo
pies on which they founded their osv_.,loo, were who; n'iosg
righttr ade.°f AnmaTawihnila t lehrre!rt"rhile'liff°P terri ?
greater necessity and equal claim. Y
.e.' bengfit,_b ig
__ jet,
Why, that this country should eni°rYcsianrse 111* ii IVli°
Iron 0. 0
land is deprived, by the int", upon eu settee
tained; the high duties imposed duties duties
nepaen_tipot
were continued, while the
3_, the .11; just' pile
roduce remained unaltered, ut; was luirleiaost owes
lalleviation was reit That ,ial t_
in exacted from rosnehetoo
whichy fierce had t been v expressedtg
I nothing was returned. Tee l the oniooolo.3s for, ,`.O JO °
they desired to carry the scheme of b
nut nec..l.2_,,,f„be,dst tde:'
say. If be that measure of the unite
have still re
Se °fie
benefit to Ireland, it was their duty
was carried, but by what means itvv,tsthey sttiiihnotainzegeujlisa,
had been inWn 0011 d sve "
manufactures
and it ive bedhe n the,' ..4
ountry. . for or- i.
n the c oya sAti se AO
that the benefits conferred e
formerly elq
al ge'--
ti
°n.
But
duce whic : s
imposed duties on Irish Fe .
_olio on
an equivalentto the advantages . h efficien I-411.0.
wth:
sldourctiiens
am 0 whichoo
tI7 5 no
010._
find:
es 4 alias duties; and Oasts *Pi

n
surprise.—(uea)
ttr,r,
P
revalence of f
it. I adroit t'Pj
that have (it
call his attenti_n,',l
r of Ireland eel,
existing P` 0r 'be
es of disease ntaYi,
into the svorkhou.
hospitals, if the!'..o
sr fear of infel4
I "
sates. wri
.ovisiong, but
in cases of,thiS,.,e
ese provision! ui
he vicinitY et pre
h workhoweiec,
ry hospitals (lin':
le such acco ;
Hear, hear.) frill(
veers the tapeit
erected, t°
In
purpose. _rds f
fled, and 1/1";15,,r,
iporary fec,'L„ die
in a short tie;
these preci9,,,,ot
he
.ore, en t
los
r the introdcer4
e of things. f for
hospitals, if
it by the, „P to.
esrnt
of Ireland' ;101,
is discustionLat is:
)regress of
til'tuo tor
•es prer'evea,te,
ver since t•
-C. was der
'a oio
the evil it scilletri
e to ronocicie, 0
ation of
that eve , otV
j,
owed In -°,,fri
aestf'
eof her 0.1
d 1 verytu'",,ohir
cise of t.h,e,toPsllso
.ation of
r one
A 10,
p,‘""
ir
y measure
.f
telioratlpOe
sametirpte
e:
blouse the •,,ioge',e
.law Cereiuke
'n(
t that ,00i
rovidin
nd to ea 'hat
500itte",
ision veer ken
ion hail 9,sou
interested
eter of theorsem.it'
.en•t to eile%oJ,rot,
ase in ''
c) coon.°
•ated•--( watt',
at distress
, but he„i;, 1,0
es of L:1411'
y inanY
siclerable
ge crops. tlt
O.PO
, the
subjett%isot
n those Pale Ul
i cat ion
bee nelr:°
it in ;„,3egay.
and , 's vri°,4l
3 no le' ,tl,
might st:e
owevers 13.0 r,„
d h" to 14
01) ha to „°
lornentVi
,t they neti;2
and P'vesrJ'
it. F°rrit
es 'wag Ortel:
been gr _,°,otej
,ust be re sod
ud
een fou,
losj f
.linarY 0 t t1162J,
gore, tbasieje
ready eilb:eio:
use ban ~,eol!v
the arglldel
ad to ss,
nt.—(ll,e,l*,
Hon•
nt wereiero #
igs Of b
theer,
ate Cror.
led pled'
tenr
Tering
let,"ed 11 :on° itt
no n
• t lo
as ref,* at it ,kii4
ieved tb gitc,
vdool. tie 0
!a-v.5 ou t°44.
1011"
it c" .00 11
and 'l'l coos 6,
ed 05 0 'ol'
Gentleo ell
.g
was to thiloif,
poly
uld ntat,i,ter,tl
did ne'''Por'
Tri-13'"' titer tY
ation3 t"
his
of he„ OPL,OI.
liscw,Sut ,
the Pr'rebews,
fearf flight
dei
of the „orrs Is,e
come Cleite 04
mutiv 0),11
:t. AndSllol
°
iad be' be ,",
Ire lallU,tiop
the ret4,ol
ho b' tto
who
Preseslivo
roughs f:re),
..—(the
Lte f tbi,V4
Lents e bit .0
r said tt
s'•ir
o
,ar. )
here ws e vott
),000.,ree 0, 't)c
stainthe
,L 14,1
'not 6eesVotir,
tioo ot
)Ul3 ~1101
id cou'o li°;01
most„,o
) i.codt'te
other lite',
..wer,..e tore olt:,
PiaY n $
tee
ater on „jo:
untrY the! Fe
that eri4,rl
of a lye",
Lking•leict •rie
it thean
rther, 1
from e,
.101,/
!nu.° edi '551.
of the erteli3O
to th"oltiniettil
,eniPPIJ o.,oti',
he en?, fre.
vihoutosPbal;
the'r,
ear,,,elinff 411,0
i` yolretfeL,t
)cenr
,011°is is
MT.1.00010
XI sncA sai° tr
iog,A 0,0
711 I"tbi:
Terifik •etl,•„e'
if. °c' c ./
dis
able . :04.1
oa
jit Oto
not re tbendrl
,!eirnct,eo;
vblc 010'
deer
tst, $
roili•t
as the
,sro 110'
floe:
ofy
,art boiP
of ey hio°
oil 4 'fcr,t°
eoVisi
f unO
.130°n1d d'
•Aer °died
~._
rid
Ice , aio tale
leg° 400
rdia
ause e r!'
by t ocu
thei iv 0!)
beelitic°'noll'
of
- eef, re:
en'000";,0,-
them
, 'ei
ith
1 cc lotV et
to 0' ed fo'
ch'f,gotop, o 4 4og 000 f Tod sal re
r.i?
herof otv,
,r,
roist'oe Ted
„jure Let !0,,41
it. c 0011,,,, go
t b!ould
u‘dcl a 5 ell
!it filorr,
The ethB 0,0
t'iY
tt a 0 °
itb
at
ed hem der
filio
of be r
emetic
t°}l:- 1 r"
br ge
ife sr I,
et
ii•
11, to tom,
apo ihe
bat `to
rt!to oithey
r
jest
she r je
, theY yr
schic' 30-
tt
isPredlicsl3
?Prey sidle
Oland o oh'
evetlet,,sl.
hat 5 1.`,1(0
for $
be c
t°
• eJ 1.
Lai gIP
sag
vier toer,
jeion vb3d
r thelooo
'O3 Y 6,1
1131