The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-11 00:00:00

INDIAN FINANCE.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE hoped that the Go-
vernment, so soon as possible, would present their lordships
with copies of the minute issued by the Geveruor
of Madras with reference to the new scheme of
Indian finance. The minute had been published in many
of the Indian newspapers, and there could not be any ob-
jection to furnishing the paper.
The Duke pf ARGYLL said there would be no objec-
tion to produce the minute alluded to by the noble marquis.

He had also received letters from the MarquisTr DonegLall
and 12 magistrates of the county to the same effect, and
only from three persons in favour of the projea, He re-
gretted extremely that the noble earl (the
was not then in his place, as he then woullent)
duty to express himself more strongly with r and to the
matter. But he would at least say this, that nobody con-
nected with an English county would endu e ihe treatment
which those in the county of Donegal ha 1 eceived at the
hands of the Irish Government.

Earl GRANVILLE expressed his regret that the noble
earl (Earl of Carlisle) was not in his place. In the absence
of the noble lord he could not undertake to pronounce an
opinion on the merits of the question, but there would be
no objection on the part of the Government to the produc-
tion of the papers, and their lordships would then be in a
position to decide upon it.
The LORD CHANCELLOR having put the question,
The Earl of LEITRIM said he was not surprised at the
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland being absent, and he thought
the noble lord acted very prudently in toying away.
Earl GRANVILLE said that theenoble earl the Lord-
Lieutenant of Ireland was not in London at the present
time. If the noble earl opposite wished to make an attack
upon his noble friend, he would suggest that due notice
should be given to him. At that moment there was no
question, he believed, before their lordships, for he under-
stood the motion had been agreed to.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that the question had
been put, but he did not think it had been carried.
The Earl of LEITRIM said that his noble friend near
him had called their lordships' attention to a very serious
question connected with the proposed trigonometrical posi-
tion of the lunatic asylum for the county of Donegal. That
was the decision of the Irish Government, and he strongly
objected to the mode in which that Government was con-
ducted, by being made entirely subservient to electioneer-
ing purposes. He objected to the humbug of her Majesty's
Government bringing a Reform Bill into the House of Com-
mons to reform that house whilst the Lord-Lieutenant of
Ireland was corrupting that country in its highest source.
Even in the matter of a lunatic asylum the Lord-Lieutenant
could not act without an eye to electioneering interest.
There was no excuse for the Lord-Lieutenant. It had been
a thousand times said in the other House of Parliament
that Ireland was safe with a lord-lieutenant to prevent jobs,
and that, as he was responsible to Parliament, property and
public security might be safely entrusted to him. He (the
noble earl) held diametrically opposite opinions, and that
the present Lord-Lieutenant in particular was one of the
greatest mischief makers in the whole of that country. The
whole Government was unsafe. The gentry were set aside,
the Government was in the hands of stipendiaries, from the
Lord-Lieutenant downwards, and consequently these jobs
took place. Here was a very gross instance, and a gross
job. Within the last five years there had been expended,
and very properly, no less than £306,114 on lunatic asy-
lums in different parts of Ireland. Within a few miles of
this very town where it was proposed to build an asylum
there had been expended during the last five years £41,451,
and in Derry since 1856, £1,425. About fifteen years ago a
rule was laid down that all lunatic asylums in Ireland
should be erected in assize towns only, and he should like
to ha informed on what principle that rule was now to be
departed from. It was of the utmost importance that per-
sons improperly confined in lunatic asylums should have
an opportunity of being released ; but if those asylums were
built in remote places it would be difficult for them to have
that opp rtunity. There could be no good object in laying
out several thousands pounds in erecting a lunatic asylum in
that part of Donegal; it would be far easier and better to
make some addition to the asylum already existing. He
found, however, from the report of last year, that there was
at this moment no excess of lunacy in that part of Ireland,
but rather a diminution. In Derry and Donegal together
there wore only 214 cases in the asylums, six in the prisons,
and very few in the poorhouses. This asylum, therefore,
was not wanted, and the project was altogether objection-
able. He did not think it satisfactory that when a matter
of this kind was brought forward by the Government on its
own responsibility no explanation should be offered to their
lordships. Why should not the Lord-Lieutenant be present
to answer for his own jobs, or, at any rate, some one been
sent down to Bath in order to ascertain from the noble earl
how this question was to be answered in his absence ? Why
did not the noble earl, who was said to be responsible, come
down to that house when notice of a question had been given,
and make some of those pretty speeches he made in Dublin?
(A laugh.) On one occasion when he (the Earl of Leitrim)
made a motion respecting Ireland, he found by the Dublin
newspapers that his speech was answered by the noble earl
the Lord-Lieutenant at a public meeting in Dublin. He
thought that was highly improper, and not respectful to
their lordships' house. The general feeling of the country
was exactly such as he had expressed—that the Government
did everything in Ireland with reference to electioneering
jobs. They had lately seen how the lord-lieutenancy of
Londonderry had been given away, and also the lord-lieu-
tenancy of Roscommon. He would only add that through-
out Ireland the lord-lieutenancy was held in the most
thorough contempt, and that with respect to the Earl of
Carlisle in particular, the feeling prevailed that the Govern-
ment had sent him to Ireland on purpose to disgust the
Irish people still further with the ogee of lord-lieutenant.
The Earl of EGLINT ON said that during the absence of
the noble earl the Lord-Lieutenant it would be wrong in him
to attempt to pronounce an opinion on the question to which
the noble earl near him had alluded. He quite acquitted
his noble friend the Lord-Lieutenant of all the charges of
jobbery or corruption brought against him. Though the
question of lunatic asylums was not brought before him
(the Earl of Eglinton) when he was lord-lieutenant, he
knew how such questions came before the lord-lieutenant.
They went before a committee of the Privy Council, and the

lord-lieutenant, who signed the decision of that committee,
was as innocent of all blame in the matter as any of their
lordships. But while he acquitted the noble earl, he did not
acquit the system, which he considered entirely erroneous.
He entirely acquitted the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland of all
blame in this matter, but he thought it would be much bet-
ter for Ireland if the system were changed. Although it
was impossible for the Lord Lieutenant to be away from his
duty, still he (the Earl of Eglinton) thought some member
of the Government might have been prepared to answer for
him.

Earl GRANVILLE was understood to say that he was
not in possession of the information required.
After a few words from the Earl of DESA.RT,
The Earl of CLANCARTY was of opinion that the insti-
tution of viceroyalty, with the office filled by a nobleman
who was a stranger to the country, was one of great value
to Ireland. So far, therefore, he dissented from the opinions
which had been expressed by his noble friend (the Earl of
Leitrim.)

The Earl of LEITRIM disclaimed having said anything
against the office of Lord Lieutenant in Ireland. His com-
plaint was against the noble lord who at present filled the
office.

The motion was agreed to, and their lordships adjourned,

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took tho chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Lords' amendments to the Manchester Improvement
Bill were considered and agreed to, and the bill was ordered
for third reading.
The following private bills were read a third time :

Belfast and Ballymena Railway; Bucks County Rate;
Great Northern and Western (of Ireland) Railway, and
Limerick and Ennis Railway.

The Abergavenny Improvement, and Leeds Township
Bills were considered, and ordered for third reading.

PETITIONS.

Several petitions were presented against the Wine
Licenses Bill, the Registration Bill, the Medical Relief Bill,
the Census Bill, &c.

NATIONAL DEFENCES.

Mr. F. SMITH gave notice that on the motion for the
adjournment of the house to-morrow evening, he would ask
the Secretary for War certain questions relative to the na-
tional defences.
SCOTCH AND IRISH REFORM BILLS.

Mr. BAXTER asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs whether, in consideration of the committee on the
Reform Bill for England and Wales having been deferred
till June, and. with, a view to expedite the passing of that
measure, he would agree to postpone the Scotch and Irish
Reform Bills till the next session of Parliament ?

Mr. SCULLY asked the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, whether he weuld agree to postpone going into
committee on the Representation of the People Bill until
after the second reading of the Representation of the People
(Ireland) Bill ; or whether, with a view to uniformity of
legislation, he would introduce provisions applicable to Ire-
land into the Representation of the People Bill, so that
parliamentary Reform fcr both countries may proceed pari
passu ?

Lord J. RUSSELL said that it would be most intone •
nient to proceed further with the Irish Reform Bill until
after the English Reform Bill had been into committee.
It was then propo-sed to proceed with the second reading of
the bill. As regarded the Scottish Bill ho could not say
when it would be brought forward again, but he would in..
form the house previous to going into committee on the
English Reform Bill.
HYDE PARK.

• Sir M. PETO asked the First Commissionei. of Works
whether, in the event of the Government entertaining the
proposition of connecting the north and south sides of Hyde
Park by a road, he would lay plans, sections, and estimates
of such proposed, road upon the table of the house prior to
any vote being taken to carry the same into effect ?
Mr. COWPER said that the subject was receiving the
most careful consideration from the Board of Works, and
before asking for a vote in reference to a matter of sueh
importance he would lay the estimate for the works before
the house.