The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-23 00:00:00

THE TENURE OF LAND IN IRELAND.

con.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the second
reading of a bill relative to the tenure of land in Ireland.
He said that, in spite of the agitation that was going
on there, and the rumours of further violence that
might be apprehended, that the landlords and tenants
of Ireland had always been on friendly terms.
The tenure of land as it now stood was most unjust,
and it was not to be wondered at that, while such ab-
surd theories existed in that country, there should
be rebellions and outbreaks. There was, be (the noble
marquis) was convinced, not a single landlord in
Ireland who would not be pleased to see the settle-
ment of this question. Ile had read a letter in which
it had been stated that if it were not for the British
soldiery the holders of land in Ireland would be utterly
exterminated. A calumny more utterly untrue, more
basely unfounded, he had never read. It was not the
British soldiers that protected the landlords, nor, if they
were determined to do so, it would not be the British who
would prevent them. It appeared, from the suggestions
that had been made by many learned and eminent men,
that they rather wished •to go back to the feudal system
than to take advantage of the benefits conferred by the in
crease of capital. It had been stated that the tenant had
neglected his land and ruined his landlord's farm. He had
never heard any landlord, great or small, express any
opinion adverse to the tenant having compensation for
any improvement which he might have made to his farm
during his occupation of it. The bad tenants in Ire-
land would be the very persons who would be allowed
to hold no farm there if they were recognised
to be bad, and were the class that would be equally
rejected in England. This bill would tend to sim-
plify and to settle the question of land in Ire-
land. It was not original, but had been drawn up
upon the provisions of a bill which had been proposed
during the Government of the noble lord sitting above him,
and during that former Government of the noble earl some of
the most useful bills had been passed.rhere was the Fra-
nchise Bill and several others. On that occasion he brought
in the bill that was now under discussion, and now he en-
treated their lordships to leave a free dealing between
man and man on the question of the tenure of land in
Ireland. (Hear, hear.)
Lord ATHLUMNEY said that in all its attempts to deal
with the subject Parliament had committed the great mis-
take of departing from the sound principle of leaving land-
lords and tenants to make their own contracts. Referring
especially to the scheme of the late Government, he con-
demned it as based upon principles which their lordships
never would have sanctioned, and contended that if it had
become law it would have inflicted an injury upon tho very
class it was intended to benefit.
The Earl of KIMBERLEY defended the bill of the late
Ministry,and urged that the plan now propounded byLord
Clauricarde would by no means meet the necessity of the
case or the aspirations of tho people of Ireland.
Lord DUNSANY feared it was impossible by any legis-
lation to satisfy the wishes of the Irish people, for what
they wanted was in reality confiscation of the rights of the
owners.

Earl GREY observed that the speech of Lord Kimber-
ley amounted to an admission that the agitation in Ireland
could only be settled by the bill of last year, which sought
to transfer the rights of ownership to the tenant.
After some remarks from the Duke of ARGYLL and Lord
Lirrouu, the bill was read a first time.
On the order for committing the Confederation of North
American Provinces Bill,
The Earl of S HAFT ESBURY presented a petition from
English Protestants in Lower Canada, complaining that
their interests were Wing swamped in the arrangements
under the measure, and
The Earl of CABNARVON promised that the case of
the petitioners should bo inquired into.
The bill was then passed through committee.
The Earl of DERBY intimated that he would have to
ask their lordships to meet this day for the purpose of
reading the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act Continuance
(Ireland) Bill a first time, with the view of passing it
through its remaining stages on Monday.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
NEW WRIT.

On the motion of Colonel TAYLOR, a new writ was
ordered to be issued for the election of a member, in the
room of the Hon. W. Duncombe, elevated to the House
of Peers.