The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAZIENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—Tins EVENING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack
at five o'clock.

PETITION.
The Duke of ARGYLE presented a petition from the
inhabitants of Cheltenham against the Promissory Oaths
Bill.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
Th 3 Shropshire Union Railway and Canal Bill was read
a second time.

LAND TENURE (IRELAND) BILL.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE (who was nearly in-
audible) in moving the second reading of this bill said that
he did not wish to enter into any long discussion
upon the bill, but after the remarks of the noble and
learned lord he must enter into a slight review of the
evils which necessitated a change in the land tenure of
Ireland. He would assert that they had one distinctive
vice in Ireland, which was that the holdings were not
secured by written documents, and this vice he considered
ought to be abolished, and that every agreement ought to
be in writing. Ho complained of the law now in exist-
ence, not only as a vicious one, but as such that
on it the judges could not do otherwise than
condemn it. Every Government since the passing of the
last Act had contemplated some alteration. The late Go-
yea meat did so, and likewise the present one. Every
great law officer of the Crown contemplated some altera-
tion in the existing law. It had been urged that such a bill
as lie was about moving would affect the position of landlord
and tenant, but he did not know what bill could be brought
affecting laud-tenure, which did not interfere with the
position of tenant and landlord. This bill, which he
was about to introduce, was no longer his own ; it
had been stolen bodily by the Government; and he
had heard the noble lord the Secretary for Ireland
declare that ho intended to bring in a measure
similar to that which he now proposed. The noble mar-
quis then entered into a detail of the reservations
and obligations which the measure imposed upon
both landlord and tenant. He condemned the idea
that all these measures should be contained ,in
four-. bills when they might be embodied in one.
He had no sort of pride that the Government had taken
up his bill, he had been for years convinced that the
clauses and enactments of the bill contained an equitable
adjustment of the differences bAween landlord and
tenant. But he had heard with great regret that
the Government were about to issuo another
Commission to investigate into the di erences
between landlord and tenant, and what earthly use itcould
be he could not conceive. It would spread dissatisfaction
amongst the people and would induce them to believe that
the Government of the Crown listened to all those absurd
suggestions which were continually made to them
with regard to the Irish tenantry. He re-
ferred to Mr. Mill's proposition, which he stated
if carried out would pauperise the Irish landlord. He as-
serted that if a roving commission was sent through the
country the only use would be to excite delusive hopes.
(Hear.) There was nothing in Ireland which required
any violent measure of reform. All they wanted was a tem-
porary measure to protect loyal and honest subjects in that
country. The state of Ireland as far as landlord and
tenant was quite satisfactory, The noble lord then
quoted from the speech of Grattan, which condemned the
motion that any great evil existed in Ireland.
Lord St. LEONARDS said that he thought that the
noble marquis in deference to the Government would have
postponed his motion until he know what course would be
pursued by the Government. So many facts of a conflict-
ing nature had come out relative to the position of land-
lord and tenant, that it was absolutely necessary that they
should have positive evidence of what the position of
landlord and tenant really was. It appeared that the pay-
ment of the rents was perfectly regular in Ireland, and
they could not wish for anything better in this country.
With regard to evictions, it seemed that they only took
place when a large amount of rent had accrued.
['LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS-THIS EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
OLIVER CROIIWELL.

In reply to Mr. CANDLISII,
Lord J. MANNERS said it was not his intention to
propose n vote of public money for the purpose of erecting
a statue of Oliver Cromwell bct wean those of Charles I.
and 11. in Westminster Hall.
THE VAGRANT LAW.

Mr. WALDEGRAVEIESLIE asked the Secretary of
State for the Home Department whether the Government
proposed to bring forward any m3a,sure for the purpose
of giving greater power to magi-trates or poor-law guar-
dians in dealing with those vagrants who are habitual
tramps, so as to chock the growing increase of vagrancy ?
Mr. HARDY said the matter was under consideration,
but ho could not say at the present time that he intended
to propose any legislation ou the subject.

THE NEW ROYAL ACADEMY.
Mr. LAYARD asked the First Commissioner of Works
whether the works undertaken on the Piccadilly side of
the Burlington-house site had been stopped on account of
an alleged interference with the rights of the Albany ; and
whether, if that was the case, the Royal Academy would
be able to complete the building which they had com-
menced, so as to hold their annual exhibition in it next
year ?
Lord J. MANNERS said that it was quite true that the
works had been impeded by the alleged interference of
certain rights, but he had the satisfaction of stating that
the matter had been arranged, and the works were now
progressing. With respect t 3 whether the Royal Aca-
demy would be enabled to hold its exhibition next year
iu the building was a circumstance altogether beyond his
control.

IRISH UNIVERSITIES.
Mr. FAWCETT asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether he would promise that the Government would
not advise her Majesty to grant a charter to the proposed
Catholic University in Ireland until Parliament had an
opportunity of expressing its approval or disapproval of
the scheme, by either granting or refusing the public
money, which the establishment of such an university
would require ?
The Earl of MAYO said it was the groat desire of the
Government to act in concert with the Parliament, and
therefore the matter would be so conducted that Parlia-
ment would have full notice of anything proposed.