The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-16 00:00:00

received a report from the board of guardians, and
during the last few days he had been so occupied that he
had not been able to look over the papers respecting the
union -of Kilrush. He could, however, say that the best
measures that could be adopted for the cure of disease
' and the prevention of this frightful mortality should be
adopted.
Mr. MONSELL begged to read a few extracts from
the returns, in order to show that during two weeks the
L deaths in Kilrush Workhouse had been on the average of
170 of the inmates.
Lard J. RUSSELL would certainly inquire into the
matter, but his impression was that the dietary was greater
than that considered necessary by their medical attendants
' for any person's support.
Lord MAHON trusted that the whole subject would
be inquired into.
Mr. P. SCROPE conceived that the law had not been
duly enforced, and that there had been no proper pro-
vision made by the guardians. He wanted to know
from the Noble Lord whether he intended to inquire
into the matter; for, in his opinion, it had a vast
deal better be referred to a Select Committee, but
should it not be, then he thought that the presentmatter
ought to be left to the consideration of the board of
guardians, or at least to the Poor-law Commissioners.
Colonel DUNNE said that the facts as stated wore
quite expressive of the nature of the administration of
the poor-laws in Ireland. What he wanted to
learn was, whether there was any truth in the
statements of Sir Lucius O'Brien with respect
to the statements of the Hon. Member for Stroud. He
thought that the better plan for that Hon. Member to
pursue would be to contribute from his own property the
necessary means for relieving the distress in Kilrush Union.
In fact the whole system of the poor-law in Ireland was
altogether defective.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the case of Kilrush was
peculiar, and stood on its own merits. The Hon. and
GailantMembez who had last spoken had opened up a large
subject, but it was not proper to entertain it now. If
he wished to bring it forward he was quite ready
to enter into a full discussion of the subject. With
respect to the question of reference to the Poor-law
Commissioners, he believed that to be a matter of doubt,
but the fullest inquiry should be made into the facts of
the case, and the necessary alteration would be adopted
for rettiedying the evils of the case.
Mr. W. GOOLD hoped this important matter would
not be, shelved in its preliminary stage.
Sir L. O'BRIEN said the great difficulty in this ques-
tion was want of money. The famine had been nar-
rowed into the limits of a few distreesed unions, and
though he readily allowed that the House had been
liberal in the extreme in the assistance it had afforded
Ireland of late, yet he thought it was the duty of Go-
vernment to do something for these still suffering dis-
tricts. It would only be an act of humanity to render
them some assistance.
Mr. MOORE said the poor—which meant the whole
population—of some districts were dying at the rate of
one hundred per cent., at least so it had been stated—
that was, that according to the rate of mortality now
going on, the whole of the population was liable to be
swept away in less than a year, and yet all the hope
that .the Noble Lord held out to them was that
he would cause an inquiry to be made into
the facts, but that he saw no means by
which' the mortality could be met. Such an answer was
unworthy of the Minister, and all he could say was that
if the House allowed it to pass by a great responsibility
would rest upon them.
Lord J. RUSSELL had heard no such statement as
that referred to by the Hon. Member and therefore ho
could have made no reply to it.'
SCHOOL BOOKS.
Lord MAHON had another subject connected with
Ireland to call the Noble Lord's attention to. It was to
the practice of issuing school books in Ireland at the
public expense, which interfered most unjustly with pri-
veto Competition. Was it the intention of Government
to do away with it?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the subject was one
which could only be dealt with by the Education Com-
mittee of the Privy Council.
Sir R. H. INGLIS thought that Hon. Gentlemen op-
posite who were Free-traders and opposed to all mono-
polies, ought to take up this question.
Mr. HUME was glad to find that the Right Hon. Ba-
ronet was coming over to the ranks of free trade.—
(Laughter.) He seemed, however, to forget that there
existed in this country a still greater mono•
poly than the one at present complained
of, the monopoly of printing Bibles. He also wished,
before he sat down, to call the attention of the
Noble Lord to the length of time that had elapsed
since the first commencement of the movement
to open Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's
Cathedral to the public free of expense, and the final
accomplishment of these two objects; and also to thank
the Noble Lord for his efforts in the attainment of these
objects.
ColOnel RAWDON hoped the Government would
take into consideration also the propriety of opening the
National Gallery and Kow Gardens on Sunday.
Sir R. INGLIS explained that he had not said he was
a Free-trader, but the reverse. Neither had he defended
a monopoly of printing school books, but he had pro.
tested.against it.
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.

Sir G. CLERK hoped the Noble Lord at the head of
the Government would mention what days he meant to
take particular Bills when stating the course of the
public business to be pursued after Easter.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the Government pro-
posed to take the second reading of the Income-tax
Bill the first thing on Monday, the 28th of April.
He intended to give notice that the second reading
of the Jew Bill should be taken before
any other business on the following Thursday.
He also intended to give notice that the navy estimates
should be brought on on that day, after the Jew
Bill has' been disposed of. On Friday the
Income-tax Bill would be proceeded with, and the
Ecclesiastical Titles Bill would be fixed for Monday.
With respect to the questions of the Hon. Member for
Montrose, in reference to Westminster Abbey, he would
inquire whether anything could be done in that matter.
ADDRESSES TO HER MAJESTY.
Mr. DUNCO ABE wished to know whether the Noble
Lord (Lord J. Russell) intended to renew his motion
respecting addresses to her Majesty by the House?
It would be recollected that in consequence of an
absurd and hasty vote which the House came to last

year, the whole country was thrown into confusion, the
practice of delivering letters on a Sunday having been
summarily stopped.

Lord J: RUSSELL replied that the subject was stil
under his consideration.