The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-17 00:00:00

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN IRELAND.

Earl FITZWILLIAM said he had moved for a return of
the number of troops in Ireland, and he understood that those
returns had not been laid on the table of the House.—( The
Lord Chancellor here intimated that they had been given out. )
—lt was important that the people should know a little about
the expensive mode by which it was necessary to govern, or
rather to occupy, Ireland. Their Lordships and the public at
large would soon have very good reason to consider that sub-
ject. However distasteful it might be to the public at large—
however peculiarly distasteful to their Lordships—however
distasteful it might be to the other House of Parliament—it
was a subject wlsich must, at no very distant period,
force itself on their Lordships' attention. His Noble
Friend the President of the Ciuncil had long ago dis-
cussed this subject in that House, and with reference to
the modes proposed for the settlement of the question, stated
his objections to one mode, his objections to a second, and his
objections to a third mode. From this he (Earl Fitzwilliam)
concluded that the Government was in difficulty with respect
to every mode proposed. The conclusion he always came to
when lie found persons striving to discover great difficulties in
the accomplishment of any object, was, that they were deter-
mined that such object should not be accomplished. One of
the first objects that must press upon their consideration with
respect to Ireland, must to the want of spiritual comfort for
the people of Ireland. No person could deny that the first
duty of Parliament was to provide for the administration of
spiritual comfort to the people of that country. The Govern-
ment of England did not provide spiritual instruction for the
people of Ireland. The Government, it was true, provided
instruction for a small portion ; they provided instruction for the
Noble Marquis opposite (Westmeath), but they did not provide
instruction for the people of Ireland. It was his (Earl Fitz-
william's) conviction that the time had arrived when the con-
sideration of the public of this country should be turned to the
provision of spiritual comfort to the people of Ireland. As long
as there was ecclesiastical property in that country, out of that
ecclesiastical property ought to corn() the fund to provide that
spiritual instruction for the people. That was his belief ; and
he also believed that it would be necessary for the Govern-
ment ere long to consider this question.
The Earl of DEVON presented a petition from a poor-law
union in the county of Cevon, praying for alteration in the
bastardy clauses of the New Poor-law Bill.

LAWS RELATING TO GAMING.
The Duke of RICHMOND said that the Committee ap-
pointed to inquire into this subject had found that they could
not proceed with their investigation, in consequence of its being
necessary to warn the witnesses that they were not bound to
criminate themselves. To obviate this difficulty he had now
to submit to their Lordships a Bill to indemnify any witnesses
who might be examined, against the consequences of the evi-
dence which they gave.
Lord CA NIPBELL concurred in the object of the measure,
and said he anticipated great public benefit would result from
the inquiries of the Committee.
The Bill was then read a first time, and ordered to be read
a second time on Monday next.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.
• • -

The Duke of BUCCLEUCH brought in a Bill, the object of
which was, he said, to carry into effect certain projected im-
provements in the city of London.
Lord MONTEAGLE said that though he objected to the
principle involved in the Bill, of allowing the Bank of Eng-
land to grant money on mortgage, as being a dangerous one,
the object of the measure was so good, and the amount re-
quired so small, that he would waive his objection.
He proposed that the Commissioners of Woods and Forests
should annually lay before Parliament an account of the sums
advanced. He had drawn up a clause to that effect, which he
would hand to the Noble Duke, as he wished it should be in-
troduced into the Bill. .

The Duke of BUCCLEUCH believed that the Commis-
sioners already made returns to Parliament, which would fur-
nish the information which the Noble Lord was desirous of ob-
taining. If there were no technical objections to the clause,
he would have it introduced on the third reading of the Bill.
The Bill then passed through Committee, and their Lord-
ships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. IC.
The SPEAKER took the chair at Four o'Clock.
POOR-LAW RETURNS.

A clerk from the office of the Poor-law Commissioners pre.
seated certain returns.

COMMITTEE ON STANDING ORDERS.
Mr. ESTCOURT moved the appointment of the Select
Committee on Standing Orders :—Mr. Estcourt, Mr. Wilson
Patten, Mr. Pendarves, Mr. William Miles, Mr. Cumming
Bruce, Sir Robert Ferguson, Mr. Ord, and the Chairmen of
the Committee and of the Sub-Committees on Petitions for
Private Bills.—Agreed to.
REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE.

Mr. W. WILLIAMS presented a petition from Bridgewater,
praying the House not to consent to any increase in the mili-
tary establishment until the people should be fully represented.
Mr. SCEIOLEFIELD presented a petition from Birming-
ham with a similar prayer.
LIN ERPOOL GAS BILL.

Leave was given to introduce the Liverpool Gas Bill.
STOPPING THE SUPPLIES.

Dr. BOWING presented a petition, signed by 2,300 of
the inhabitants of Bolton, complaining of the state of the re-
presentation, and prayin,, that the supplies might not b
voted till the grievances of people were redressed.
Mr. STANSFIELD presented a petition with a similar
prayer.
Lord NIMISHANI presented petitions from places in Kent,
praying that publicans might be placed on the same footing
with shopkeepers with regard to the window duty.
Mr. WALLACE presented a petition from Mr. Cadogan
Williams, complaining that Railroad Companies acted upon a
system which deprived the working classes of those benefits
which railroads ought to cpnfer upon the public generally, and
that the proprietors acted exclusively for their own benefit
without reference to the public. The petitioner expressed his
opinion that the poorer classes were stowed away in third class
carriages, with straw, canvass, and leather, which were thought
of equal value.—( Laughter. )