The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-16 00:00:00

Ob-,eartiniia 11,111;

LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1850.

The statement made last night, in the House of
Commons, by Lord JOHN RUSSELL reepecting the
present condition and future prospects of Ireland, and
the liberal and judicious propositions respecting the
advances made to that unhappy land, and now due
and owing to the Imperial Exchequer, will be re-
ceived with the utmost satisfaction on the other side
of St. George's Channel. It was eminently prac-
tical, and well deserved the warm commendations
and all but unanimous approbation which it received
from Irish representatives_on every side of:the House.
Members from the four provinces of Ireland, from
Ulster, Munster, Leinster, and Connaught, tendered
their warmest thanks to the Noble Premier for
bringing forward a measure at once so comprehensive
and so useful. There was one exception, and one
only to the general rule. The Honourable Member
for Meath, who has recently abandoned the glorious
standard of free trade, and arrayed himself under the
flaunting rag of protection, took exception to the
views so ably put forward. The Honourable Gen-
tleman appears to have decided on adopting the course
followed by a place-bunter of the last century, viz.,
" to take all he can get and keep grumbling." Nothing
thatcould be suggested would satisfy his desires. Indeed
we entertain but little doubt that if a carte blanche
were placed before him, and he were asked to specify
his own demands, he would subsequently find some-
thing objectionable in the arrangement, and give ex-
pression to the most bitter complaints at the ill-treat-
ment of his injured country. With the utmost indig-
nation he repudiated the idea that Ireland was a
beggar, " a situation he despised," and in the very
same breath he declared, that "he was unable to see
sny means at all of returning the loans she had
contracted." We shall not, however, dwell on the
inconsistencies of the Protectionist son of
the mighty GRATTAN. We gladly turn to a more
congenial theme—the views and suggestions of her
MAARSTT'S Government enunciated by the First
Lord of the Treasury.
The resolutions proposed by the Noble Lord, and
Unanimously adopted by the House, were of a two-
fold character. First, with respect to the repay-
ment of the advances already made, and, secondly, to
the further advances to be made during the present
year for the relief of the divisions which may be
termed, par excellence, "the distressed unions." And
the reasons adduced on both points were such as to
convince the mind of every unprejudiced person on
the propriety and wisdom of the course suggested.
On ate first point, it was shown that the entire
sum now due by Irish unions to the National Ex-
chequer was 4,483,000/., which entire amount was
made up of the following items, viz.: —For balance
of loans advanced in the years 1839 and 1840, when a
poor-law was first introduced into that country,
1,130,0007., to which is to be added 100,0001., which
is intended to be advanced for the same purpose, of
providing adequate workhouse accommodation in
those districts V. here it is still defective ; then,
fat the amount remaining unpaid under the 9th
Victoria, cap. 107, of tl e sums advanced for labour
works in the spring of 184 G, 158,0001.; the sum
lent during the famine year 1846-7, for which re-
payment was required, 2,305,0001., and advances,
the;temporary Relief Act, 790,0001.—making a
/ Ouse Wald 4,483,0001. In addition to the above, it
":;-; initinde.a to advance a further sum of 300,0001.
during the present year, for the purpose of liquidst-

;
I

~~
i