The Sun.
London, England, 1832-07-06 00:00:00

tiler, he observed, bad introduced into the Irish Parlia-
ment a measure similar to the present, and one which it,
-hose times, might have sufficed ; hut for these times
vould never do. The most competent witnesses had de

•lared before the C mmittee that composition would never
to, that a transfer of the burden 'mom the small farmer to
.he Greater, would never aff ird the people satisfaction.

the Police Afalistrate, the military Officer, the Dissent_
;no Minister, and the Catholic Priest, were unanimous in
the opinion that composition could not he enforced. A•
o the power of periodical revision, it was, in his opinion.
,old f r nothing. He was anxious to see something like
he Scotch system established fir the present. Certaio,
the incomes of the prescnt incumbents ought to be as-
sessed to them, but with respcct to tithes in future.
t•hey ()wilt to be regarded Es the property of the
state, disposable at the discretion of that House. The
slovenly manner in which the averages were taken in Ile-
'and would render it exceedingly difficult to pot in execu-
tioa the Right Hon. Gentleman's plan of taking the ave-
rages from 18'23 to 1830. So miny objections also 'ay to
the composition of tithes in Ireland, that it would be im-
possible to render it compulsory. As to the church cess,
he wished to hear that it was entirely extinguished. The
Hon. Member concluded by moving an amendment to the
motion of the Right Hon. Gentleman's resolution to the
(ollnwing effect :
" That it is essential to the peace of Ireland that the pre-
sent system of tithes in that country should cease and determine.

" That in coming to this resolution, the House recognises
the right of persons holding vested interests, and the duty of
the Legislature to provide compensation.
" That it also recognises the liability of landed property in
Ireland to contribute to a fund for religion and charity ; but
that fund ought to be differently collected from what it is at
present, and should be lighter in amount.
" That the mode of levying and of distributing the said
fund ought to be left to the decision of a Reformed Parliament.'
Mr. BEAUMONT seconded the amendment.

Mr. SHEIL said that the Secretary for Ireland bad
recently olij,2cted to a motion relative to poor law-, be-
cause Parliament was on the eve of dissolution. He then
felt that a Reforming Parliament was in a great measure
diveired of its Legislative functions, and that when it had
only a few weeks to five, it should not in articulo mortis
engage in any great enarment.—(Hear, hear.) Where-
fore does he not apply that sentiment to the present
proceedings? Wherefore, at the close of this self-con-
demned House of Commons, did he bring forward a
measure by which the permanent interests of Ireland
might be affected—and which, according to the evi-
dence of the Archbishop of Dublin, was to be ulti-
mately extended to this country ? Nothing but absolute
necessity could justify this course. But would this measure
give food to the clergy or arrest that spirit of insubordina-
tion which was traversing Ireland with such gigantic
strides ? When the clergyman stretches out his hands for
bread, would they give him this hard, this barren, this
petrified piece of legislation ?—(Hear, hear.) Ace rding
to the statement of the Right Gentleman, it would take a
year to bring the Bill into operation. In the interval,
the clergy were to perish, and the hundreds of thousands
were to continue to assemble. Did the Right Hon. Gen •
tlernan think that gathering the people in churches to ap-
point commissioners would tend to produce a v-'ry con-
ciliatory disposition ? On the contrary, by collecting the
people in enormous masses of inflatnniahle emotion, the
Right Hon. Gentleman would but exasperate them, and
increa-e the dangers of the country. But who were
the witnesses that recommend the extension of the

tithe cotnpasition ? The Secretary for Ireland has not
appealed to the evWenc- of one. He begged the Home
to examine the testimony given before the Committee.
The fist person that objected to this measure was
the Protestant Arclibish,,p of Dublin. He says, in his
evidence before the Dirtbi—,4 The account general!), given

is in the first pl.ce, as I have already said, that univer-
sally the pposi,ion is quite as strong to composition-rent
as to tithe, and, generally, the clergy have given as their
opinion, that if had been introduced perhaps earlier, and
had been made compulsory and universal, it might have
produced gods effects ; hut I have met with very few, if
any, who think that it cap he of any benefit now the sys-
tem of opposition to it is as fully organized as against
tales. TI en your Grace is not of opinion that the reg.
dering it compulsory now would be a sufficient remedy
for the present evil? I am inclined to think that it i• too
late.—Dies not your Grace believe that the mere circum
-tatters of a composition would b- so great a relief to the
majority of small farmers, that it would tend considerahly
to allay the present excitement? I rather doubt
that; because I have found +he opposition now prevail-
ing to he as strong against composition as against tithe. I

•
formerly stated that I had inquired particularly upon that
point." The next witness is Mr. Dunn —,• Are you also
acquainted with the tithe Computaiti,,n Act? Very well.
—How do you consider it to have worked ? The tithe
Composition Act has every where disappointed the expec-
tations raised when it was first introduced. There can be
no question that it has afforded great relief to the small
farmers, while it has thrown increased burdens upon those
t rmers holding large tracts; and it had t' e complete
effect of bringing under payment for tiOes a great port on
of the country that lieretwore wls exempt under the cus-

torn and the law of agistment in Ireland." Mr. James
,ys--‘• I consider that the Composition Act is another
cause of the opposition of tithes, for that has raised cry
wainst tithes from parties who did nor object before. D
you object to the principle or to the details of that Act ?
—To both, paricularly to the principle." How does the
Hon. Gentleman get over the difficulties of the tithe com-
position ? 11.- says that he will require the landlord on
11 new leases to pay the tithe. How is.he to manage in
the interval? A generation must he in the grave before
his Act comes into operation If so, why precipitate
the measure. when its application must be so slow ?
And wb .t will be do if the landlord 'foes not pay?
ble says lie will put a receiver on his estate. What,
if the landlord does not himself get his rents ? No
matter ;—a receiver still ;—( Hear, hear, hear)—a
receiver with all the costs and ruin that accompany thst
incubus on property. He says, too, he will allow tenants
for life to mortgage, to cut off remainder men, and to

give security to the mortgagee over all rrediiors. Thu 4 be
'hakes and disturbs the whole frame of property in Ire-
land, and overthrows ad the fixed rules and canons of the
kw, to consummate his favourite project. He slys

professional men have given their opinions in favour of
,his scheme. 'Who are they? He has not mentioned one.
_ _

What barrister of eminence was examined ? What tnan

of great talent at the bar, who enjoys the confidence of the
country, has approved of this sttange speculation ?
(Hear,: hear, hear.) Is he aware that, by taking him
course, be is likely to put all the gentry of Ireland at the
Istad of the population, and to array and marshal them
against tithes ? Look to the evidence of the Archbiahop
of Dublin. He says in answer to the questi•tn :—' Have
you ever considered any advantage that might arise from
substituting a corn rent, charged upon the proprietor, in-
stead of the investment in land ? I have considered that
vlan, and I think it would be an improvement upon the
present system. Do not you think it would he an im-
drovement even upon the plan of investment of land ? I
think it would be acceptable for a few years, and then I
have not the least doubt that the next generation, at

'he latest, will raise a complaint saying, 'lt is very hard
that the landlords are alone to pay the cleigy ; they
ought, if they are allowed to hear this burden, to be al-
lowed such and such privileges and advantages, in
the shape of corn laws or bounties; or the burden ought
to he in part taken from them and laid u 1 on other classes
fso iety.' It would lie quite forgotten in the course of
one or two generations, that they had in fact rec,ived
an equivalent; that their lands had been disburdened of
the onus of tithe; and it would be represented, perhaps,
before the middle of this century, hut certainly betnre the
end of it, that the I %milord. were unjustly burdened by
,done paying the clergy, who were of equal b-refit to all
classes; and I think the Church revenues would, in con-
sequence, be in ereat danger." So much for the tithe
composition. Let us next come to the dionesan Cor-
porations. The Archbishop of Dublin says that he
denied the plan with a view to England, n..t having Ireland
in contemplation, arid di ew it from the model afforded him
hy the management of the funds of the Cntver•i'.y. It is
easier to transfer a professor of an Irish Archbishopric
than to apt)), the fiscal system of a College to a turbulent
and distracted country.—(Hear.) Good Gal! have not
tt.e Government enough to do—have they not sufficient
difficulties to contend with, without craning these sacer-
doti-s in Corporations in every district of the county.
English metaphysicians and political economists might in-
dulge in these reveries ; hut who was there that had •e•m
Ireland—not with a hasty and rapid glance of mere mi-
gratory curiosity—but with the eyes of close and intim ire
observation? Who was there that had read those events
which supply the best commentary on the moral condition
of the people ?—w ho was there that was acquainted w th
the feelings of Ireland, and in unison with them, who
would not concur in denouncing this wild and monstrous
scheme? It is next proposed to expend 9.500,0001., the
produce of the sale of tidies, for the benefit of toe chu co.
This is the recommendatio❑ of the Committee, adopted
by the Secretary tut Ireland, 9,500,000/. ! The Church
have now a million of statute acres. Was not this sutli
cient? But what say the witnesses to this plan? Listen
to Mr. Delaconi, the treasurer of the county of Cork ; he
says, " I conceive it would be a eery impracticable 111,1-
sure. I shou d think, in the first place, it would be a
very d,fficult thing to procure land ; I think it must be a
necessary- consequence of tlnit arrangement that land would
be procured in very distant and remote places, and I think