The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-02 00:00:00

EDUCATION IN IRELAND.

Mr. HAMILTON presented petitions from various
parts of Ireland against the system of national education.
THE LAND SCHEME.

Sir B. HALL presented two petitions from certain
allottees of the National Land Company, complaining
of the conduct of the chief promoter of that company,
and praying the House to take their case into considera-
tion. The lion. Baronet said he had given notice of
these petitions to the Hon. Gentleman the Member for
Nottingham, and ho should now put them into the hands
of the Clerk that they might be read.
The petitions, after stating the circumstances of the
formation of the Land Society, which are already
before the public, proceeded to complain that
whereas it had been stated that 1,4001. had been
paid for aid-money, and they had inquired from
house to house in the different allocations, and could
not ascertain that more than 835/. had been paid; that
they, the petitioners, were in a very deplorable state, and
concluded by praying the House to take the case into
their immediate consideration to release the petitioners
from the consequences of belonging to an illegal society.
Sir B. HALL said he had given notice to the Hon.
Member of two questions which be would put to him—
whether it was his intention to take any steps to wind
up the society, and what share in the profits each allottee
would got If the affairs were wound up.
Mr. O'CONNOR rose to reply, but was interrupted by
Mr. HUME, who rose to order. He wished to ask
the Speaker if the House were a competent tribunal to
enter into this question?
The SPEAKER said that it certainly was customary,
if any allegations were brought against a Member of
that House, to allow him an opportunity of replying to
them, and therefore it was competent for the
Honourable Gentleman on this occasion to reply; but
he had great doubts if the questions put were regular.
Mr. O'CONNOR said that with regard to the state-
ment of the petition, he could only say, that since the
Committee of 1848 had sat he had spent great sums of
money in endeavouring to get the society registered.
The land was purchased at 501. and 461. an acre, the
houses were built of the best materials, and
the slate had cost eight pounds a thousand.
The auditor, who had examined the accounts of the
company, reported that it owed him 3,4001., and the
committee of management had stated that it was in-
debted to him in the additional sum of 1,2004 so that
0
he was 4,04 fact,
it of pocket altogether. In act
jour-
ney in visiting as many as ono hundred it had cost, in some instances,
estates in various parts of the country, and
ad niffderyenett
he had never charged a sir gle fraction
i for his
expenses.
He never gave a bill for tt.e company n all his life, nor
present from any tradesman,
consented to accept a
though he had paid
1,
to some, on
com-
pany, as much as h o behalf
imoaf thenof the
Committee had tried to cook up the report, but the Com-
mittee had unanimously refused to accept it. His con-
duct during the five years that ho was con-
nected with the Land. Company was open to
the fullest investigation, and if the truth were
known, it would be found that in one way
or another he had lost nearly 8,000/. by the company.
Ho denied that any man is the world could accuse him
of having been guilty of c no mean or insignificant act
throughout the whole court .e of his life. But it was not to
be wondered at that those who were desirous of keeping
down and oppressing the working classes, should look
upon him with hatred and disgust, and call him the re-
viled of all revilers. Gros s charges were made against
him in the Committee, ant I every gentleman who went
into the Committee went tt .ere with the strongest pi e-
judices against him ; but, thank God, they left the

Committee with those prejudices removed. Strang. NI
it might seem, he could assure the House that it was
nevertheless a fact, that not a fraction of the 18(1,0004
ever came into his bands, it all passed through the direc-
tors into the banker's possession, and every voucher and
every book relating to it was prcducel before the Com-
mittee, but still he was prepared to give a more
exti,nded explanation of his conduct in the
affair did the rules of the House admit of
his going into it. He had now made his statement, and
given a distinct refutation to the charge preferred
against him, and ho had only to add that if the Noble
Lord at the head of the Government would bring in
Bill to authorise it, the Noble Lord should have the
appointment of the future trustees. Thank God, he had
not been guilty of any dishonourable act, nor had
he wheedled the public out of their money in the manner
that two Hon. Members whom he could name had done.
—(Order, order.)
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etht
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But the Hon. Baronet asked whether he intended to
repay those who were not located?—(Order, order.)
Sir B. lIALL said the question he asked was *he.
tier the Hon. Member (Mr. O'Connor) intended
to introduce a Bill in the present session of Parliament
for the purpose of winding up the company ?
Mr. F. O'CONNOR did intend to wind up the con-
cern, and if the Noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) would
e'(rere him an early day, be (Mr. O'Connor) would take
the first opportunity of bringing in a Bill to wind up
the company, and so wash his hands of the matter alto-
gether.—(Laughter.)
Mr. HUME considered the question which had been
submitted to the House by the Hon. Baronet a very im-
proper one to be put to an Hon. Member of that Home.
Here the matter dropped.
MARRIAGES BILL.
Mr. WALPOLE presented a petition from Midherst
(as we understood), against legalising marriage with s
deceased wife's sister.
MERCANTILE MARINE BILL.

Mr. HUME presented a petition from the shipowners
of Arbroath against the Mercantile Marine Bill.