The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-02 00:00:00

sent:d their feAings and their wishes. lie thought the
12/. franchise which he had proposed would give a
proper constituwxy to Ireland. But he considered the
adoption of the propo,ition of his Noble Friend would
he fatal to the Bill. A compromise might uow be ad-
mitted, which would not perhaps hereafter be agreed to;
but he fared the rejection of the measure would have
the effect of creating fresh agitation in Ireland. If a
dirholution toulc plico at the present moment
the Irish county Members would be chosen by a con-
stituency not exceeding 27.000, a propor:lon which
made them less than many cf the small borough towns
in England.

El.rl FITZ WILLIAM said the present measure had
been described as a new reform Bill for Ireland.
He had been rather surprised to hear his Noble and
Learned Friend (Lord Brougham) recommend their
Lordships net to listen to the voice of the people.
Lord BROUGHAM—No, no.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM—His Noble and Learned
Friend had said something'very like it. Now, he re-
membered when a Ri form Bill was being discussed fir
England, though n it for Ireland, his Noble anA Learned
Friend had called upon them most emphatically to at-
tend more to the voice of the people. His Noble and
Learned Friend had sail there were two minima of
paupers in Ireland.

Lord BROUGLIAIf —By the last accounts.
Earl FlrzwlLList,..ll said there were many parishes
in Ireland in which there were no persons receiving
out-door relief ; and, therefore, he thought the argu-
ment about paupers fell to the ground. With respect
,t 3 tle amendment moved by the Noble Earl on the
cross benches (E ,r 1 St. Germans), although he would
have prel'erred the Bill as it stood, yet sooner than risk
its passing he would vote for the proposition. The
question they had to consider was, whether there should
or not be a franchise existing in Ireland.
After a few words from Lord BROUGHAM, who
said the Notde E irl had misunderstood what had fallen
from him,
The Nlarquis of LANSDOWNE said it was his inten-
tion to vote for the omission of the words " eight
pounds."—(Hear, hear.) He had stated that he thought
it was the duty of their Lordships to give the point their
attentive consideration, and to state the amount of quali-
fication they were disposed to affirm. After what had
fallen from Noble Lords ea both sides, be could not dis-
guise from himself that in the opinion of a considerable
majority of their Lordships 8/. was too low a sum. In
execution, therefore, of what he believed to be his duty,
that of adapting the feeling of that House as much as
possible to the feeling of the other House, and he
might add to the feeling of the people of Ireland, he
thought it most desirable that the question should be
put directly whether 15/. be, or be not, the amount of
qualification which their Lordships thought bear. He
disliked the improper influence of the priests—he
disliked the improper influence of the landlords ;
but there was an influence he disliked still more than
that—cof persons who obtained an uncontrolled influence
over an unrepresented population, leading them oc-
casionally to disturbances, sometimes to rebellion,
by representing to them that they had not their fair
share of constitutional power. He believed, if they
attempted to Casey the principle of the franchise to a
higher amount, they would fail to give satisfaction, and
that the Bill would cease to he what it was intended to
be—a welcome boon to the people of Ireland.
Their Lordships then divided, when there appeared—
For Lord Desert's amendment ... 72
Against it ... 50

Majority against the Government —22
Lord S rANLEY said, with the view of bringing the
subjt-ct of registration conveniently before their Lord-
ships, he would propo::o the insertion of words affirming
the principle of leaving it to the option of the voter
whether he would place himself on the register or not.
For that purpose ho prep.:sect to insert, af.er the words
" duly registered," the words " on his own request."
Toe Marquis of LANSDOWNE thought it would be
better now io rep art p-ogress and ask leave to sit again.
Earl GREY suggested to the Noble Lord opposite
the propriety of printing the consequential amendments.
After a few words from the Earl of ST. GERMANS,
the House reported progress, and obtained leave to sit
again on Friday next.
Their Lordships then adjourned.