The Sun.
London, England, 1819-04-07 00:00:00

FEVER IN IRELAND.

Sir J. NEwpotsr rose, pursuant to his notice, to
move for the revival of the Committee appointed
last year to inquire into the state of Disease
in Ireland, and the best means of removing,
or at least mitigating it. The lion. Baronet stated
that the Bill, which had been-introduced at the
recommendation of the Copunittee, had produced
the toast beneficial consequences in many parts of
that country ; yet he conceived that many of its
ilenvisions might be so amended as to render it
still more effective. Fle then took a view of the
state of disease in Ireland, which was now rather
on the decline, whilst during the lost fifteen
months tarty-three thotisand ever patients had
been admitted into the hospitals of Dublin, Lime-
rick, and Cork. He wished the Committee,
whose al.pointinent he was about to propose,
should consider how the provisions of the exist-
ine Act conlii be emended, and should direct its
roost
_particular attention to the removal of the
legai restrictions which prevented the application
of tie fonds of private individuals and associations
to the employment at td.e poor. 'l' here was
another great object which he had in view, and
hopei! the lion. Serretaty for Ireland would
give hint his powerful assistance. It was to order
a survey and examination of the vast parts of
occupied by hogs and morasses. By a former
stnary 'boy were touud•to amount to 2,830,000
Leglis 'Jere% Of these 1.576,000 hail been re.
nrtsented as fit for the purposes of husbandry,
and tht, re.inatuintr, 1,254.000, as likely to yield
g rid-pas inc. One million had since been sur-
veyed And levelled by the Commissioners, but
it was divided between many proprietors. He
thottOit :n.,1 great het,efit might result were the
otter etnplaved in the cultivation of those lands.
1, ...a; a fact, that in districts containing
3.840 000 inhabitants, the number of families
eaottov,ai in manufactures and handicrafts
amounted to 485,000, whilst those who applied,
to agricultural pursuits were only 164,000 ; heirg
directly the reverse of the proportion in
where the former did not exceed 770,000, whilst
the latter rose to 959,000. He conceived that the
prevalence al the manufacturing .over the egticul-
tural population was a great cause of disease, the
progress of which mild not be more effectually
arrested than by restoring the pre7entimenceof the
latter. He then moved, that it he refet red to a
Select Committee to enquire into the state of It-C-
-laud, with respect to disease, to ascertain how
far the measures adopted last year for its removal
or mitigation had proved effectual; and also to
enquire into the condition of the labouring poor,
with a view to facilitate the application of the
funds of private individuals and associations to the
employment of ille poor it. useful and productive
labour, and with power to report from time to
time to the House.
Mr. C. GRANT confirmed the statement of the
Hon. Baronet, that the fever had generally abat-
ed in Ireland. Its present state formed a pleas-
ing contrast with what it, had been when the
Act of the last Session had been introduced. The
disorder had then begun to decline, but it still
maintained its ground, whilst now its abatement
was visible throughout Ireland, with a few excel),
tions. The best criterion of its decrease would
he the average number of patients admitted into
the hospitals for a certain period. It) December
last, 90 typhus cases had beet) received with %,
the Dublin hospital ; in the foilowing' Januaty
77, and in February last only 60. In March last
it had further decreased to 58. He was aware
that some cases of great malignity had occurred,
but as the number of patients had diminished.
some wards had already been closed, and it was
hoped that the Richmond Penitentiary, which had
.been tuinedinto-alever hospital, would soon be re-

stored to its former object. The Government of Ire-
land, being desirous of ascertaining the real state o
the country as to disease, had about 2 months since
appointed a commission of 4 eminent physicians,
who were now travelling through all the Irish
Counties, to make the necessary inquiries. Nu
report had yet been received from them ; but,
according to private accounts, it was likely to
prove highly satisfactory. Yet the fever was so
capricious, and so sudden in its appearance, that
even it the improvement were greater than it was,
he should still think it incumbent on the Howe
to appoint a Committee, .During the last two
years the people of Ireland had ex pet kneed the
deepest sufferings. The climate of 1816 and 1817.
had entirely deprired them of fuel and provisions,
and the poor were obliged to feed on the esculent
plants they cookd find, and to live on bviltd net-
tles, mustard seed, and potato stocks. Such was
their condition before the fever broke out amongst
them. It haul therefore chiefly arisen from debi-
lity of body, and an hopeless state of mind.—
The amiable peculiarities of that nation had also
mainly contributed to enhance their sufferings.
Their unbounded hospitality, which nevsr, under
any circumstances, closes the door to a stranger--
their affection for the dead—all tended to open
every access to infection. Yet some advantage-
ous results might proceed from the awful calamity
by which they had been sisited. If ever threateued
with a remit) of the danger, it would enable the
Government to meet it with effec!ive prepara-
, tions, whilst the lower classes would learn from
it the necessity of stopping it at its earliest stage,
of adopting habits of cleanliness, and resorting to
the'tumigation of their houses, the separation of in-
dividuals, and the changeofbe,!diug. Let the House
look at the manner in which the Irish people had
borne their distresses and sofferiogto lc wast rue t hat
nothing could exceed those sot-ft-rings, and equally
true, that in the records of 'moist' virtue nothing
could be found more edratruble titan their patience
and resignation. They were placed under circum-
stances in which, as in the case of the plague of
• Athens, related by an ancient historian, ail sub-
ordination is generally lost, the principles of right
and wrong shaken, Religion forgotten, and the
frame of society almost destroyed. They were
placed under these circumstances : they pined
with hunger, they withered with disease, they
saw their families, dying around them, they were
collected by thousands to receive the alms of cha-
rity ; and what acts, what crimes had resulted
from the extremity of their sufferings ? None.
They had borne every affliction which had befal-
len them in the most admirable manner. They
had exhibited the most pious submission to the
decreeS of Providence, the most sincere gt a-
diode to their humane benefactors, and the
most al ectiog kindness to their fellow-suf-
ferers.—(Hear, hear, bear!)—Those who h
come to their relief bad al;o displayed a degree of
self-devotion which had never been surpassed._
The Clergy of Ireland of ail persuasions had
borne a distinguished part in its exert ions to alle-
viase the calamity. With exultation did he. pro.
claim that the Protestant Clergy had come tor-
'ward in all the fervour of benevolence, bad raised
subscriptions and visited the sick ,without any
distinction of creed. The Catholic Clergy •had
been 'equally enthusiastic in its .zeal, and in no
respect inferior to its Protestant brethren. The
Catholic 'Religion called its Ministers to- the
closest contact v. ith disease in its most pestilen-
tial forms, and never had they shrunk from such
perils.—(Hear !)---It was, no scarce instance to
see a Catholic Priest in a miserable hovel, amidst
five or six individuals, perishing with the typhus,
throw himself on the pallet by the side of some
expiring .victim, and reccivine his last communi-
cation front the source of contagion itself I---
(Hear, hear, hear !)—Frequently wele Catholic
and Protestant Ministers united in the same work
of benevolence and danger. Associations were
formed of Members of both Churches, and all reli-
gious daft renCeS were forgotten in their common
exec dons for the relief of the sufferers.—(Hear,
hear!)—Other classes displayed similar zeal and
humanity. Medical men also dared the extremity
of danger. Many who were rapidly rising in their
profession, and in the highest practice, voluntarily
gave up the profitable a7tendance on the rich, and
devoted themselves to the gratuitous service of
the poor. There were many instances of men of
great opitlence, and on whom no particular claim
could be urged, descending spontaneously to the
attendance of the sick. Amongst numbers he
should only mention the benevolent Mr. Maho-
ney, who at Cork supplied the poor out of his
own fortune with lodging, bedding, and food ;
watched by their bedside day by day, and Ire;
quently passed the night in the hospitals, when
he feared the nurses were not sufficiently atten-
tive. What more powerful appeal could he made to
those landed proprietors,who voluntarily absented
themselves fruits Ireland ? What an opportunity had
they not lost of rooting-themselves in the affections,
of their tenants !----(Hear!)—lle trusted, and, in
fact, he would express his
_conviction that they
would find the Irish Government had not beet;
slow in adopting tire measures calculated to yield
relief to the people. With respect to the plan of
the lion. Baronet for procuring employment for
the poor, he should object to the' establishment
of any system which would attempt to procure
permanent employment, which the resources of the
country would not allow, as such a system would
be a mere delusion ; he did not state this in op-
position to the Hon. Baronet, whose proposal was
of a totally different nature, but because some
individuals •bad formed plans, which had not,
however, yet assioned the ominous name of Poor
Laws--those laws which had produced that op-
pressive system under which this country at pre-
sent suffered. He thought the measure could not
be in better hands than in those of the Hon. Ba
ronet, whom he begged to assure, that the sub•
ject had. attracted the attention of Government.
Wherever any artificial obstructions existed to the
Spplication of the foods of private individuals or
associations, it could not be improper in the Le-
gislature to .interfere for their removal.
Mr, WILLIAM PARNP,LL contended !bat the Go-
vernutent had been too economical. on the sub
feet. Humanity would have been the best eco-
noruys and, haul a great effort been made at first,
the whole calamity would have been conquered at
once.

Lord JOCELYN ;rusted that the Committee

►could not merely inquire into the state of the
ref in Ireland, but into the causes of the eoa•

otoon.
Mr. 1-11YrentNsos thanked the Hon. Secretary
,n Ireland (Mr. C Grant) for the able and states.,
man-like ispeeeh which he had made, and which
did the greatest liodour to his head and to his
:eats. lle ltitstt.d that Ireland-would long
he benefit of his services.
After a fe..v observations from Mr. STaveitvr,-
Mr. VALENTINE IiLAKEI, and Mr. Alderman Wood,
Sir .). NE:: POE r urged the ropriety of MA
levying the Stamp Duty on the Advertisements
announcing toe benefactions of individuals, as
hey had occasioned very great deductions frail'
the ?.nms receiveci for the relief of the people.
The motion was then agreed to, and the Cora"
mittee appointed.
SCOTCH BURGHS.
The LORD ADVOCATE brought in 'a Bill for the better
regnlation of the Revenues of the Scotch Burghs; whic4
after a few words from Mr. HUME, was read a first
CLAIMS ON FRANCE BILL.
Mr. S. BOUPNE brought up the Report.of the Committee!
on the Claims on France BM; the further-consideration gr.
which was Exed for Thursday, the 22d inst. ' -
POOR LAWS AMENOMENT BILL.
Mr. LUS!-ANGToti brought up the Report of the rr.:
Laws Amendment Bill, the further consideration of whi‘""
to.stponed until 'Monday, the :Gth instant ;- also the Rt''
port of the Committee on the Felonies on Canals Bill, to
forth, r coosi,lered to-morrow; the Report on the Excise P▪ F-
ccoses Bilt. uhith was passed; and the Mediterranean Trail*
hill, also passed.
CLERGY FIRE-ACT BILL.
Mr. WM. SMITH presented a Petition from the Inhebl• ;
tants of St. Andrews, Holborn, against the Clergy Fire-I%
RM.—Ordered to lie on the table. •
Mr. CALLAGHAN moved for certain papers relative,..;
to
the system and operations of the Judicature of Ireland "
twee n the years MG and ism—Ordered. e
h
t
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of,stus- - --
House adjourned.

SURREY LENT ASSIZBS.—KINGSTON.
Thomas Osborne w3s put to the bar,.ohargel,
with the wiltoi :wader at Ely Cox, a v,omekeere?
to Mr. 1 essier, of Bosom —The whole Of II".
charge rested on circunastanoial evidence, whiCt:ln°
though very strong as against !lie prisoner, if.;
many of its parts, watt not sufficiently so tg
a verdict of Guilty. Accordiuglyhe was acquitted'

Stricurs:.—d-A lamentable case of this nature °r
curred in Hill rove-street, Bristol, on Th""dar
last. 'The mother of a little boy, abate 9 Yel
of age, had been relating the circumstance °
some person basing been sent to Newgate, add-
ing, that unless he (the boy) behaved better, 51
would send him there also. The child, terrified
by the threat, shortly,afterwards went up stair"
sod put a period to his existence by, hangitig'
himself. The poor :wither is in a distracted I °e.
FATAL. ACCI F. NIT.—On Monday of erne'"•:
groom belonging to Mr. Frames, of
place, being in a state at intoxication, and ti.diZt,
a spirited horse of his master's at toll ga";:,,_,
is
Sloane street, fell off, and h.is foot
the stirrup, he was diaivged sevtral bundreo 7"-t.
Ishii his head against the grmuud, brfote the ail•
coal c,,uld he stopped. His heal was &ea°,
Lolly lacerated ; tsss conveyed to St. George
Hospitai, he expired yesterday morning-
Yesterday sfternoon, atter Lord lisationl".
got out of his eurrick at the House of Lords, his
Lordship's groom gut in, and 01 turning the
horses round, came in contact 'a itlt a post, whicli
upset the corride. The groom was thrown 01
on the pavement, and the horses set at 101!
speed, but were stopped at Whitehall, The carte
rick was dashed to pieces, the horses dill not re;
c,ise much injury, and the groom escaped roVith
slight bruise.

- --
COURSE OF EXCHANGE, TUESDAY, Arnt4 e•
Amster darn
Ditto, at, Sight
Rotterdam
Antwerp
Hamburg's 1313114 98
5:: ji
111:11:
Altotia
Paris, 3 Day's sight, - • -
Ditto
Bout Beaux, ditto '
701`i • ie
Frank forton the Main
Madrid
F • Cadiz f*
Bilboa ' 3B '
Seville

Gibraltar
Barcelona
Leghorn • ••
Genoa... 474-Venice, Ital. Lie 25 ,
Malta... .. 50 -Naples 4ll , .. at„;
Palermo
Lisbon .... 57
Oporto
ltio Janeiro
Dub1in......... 124..... C0rk..... 124 per Cent.
Agio of the Bank on Holland.... 2 per Cent.
BULLION. , • 0#
0 licr
Portugal Gold, in Coin I .ll 0
New Dollar; 0 5 ! ,
Silver, in Bars - 0 5 u
_„•••-t

-
BIRTH. A ran°
On the 6th inst. the Lady of W. Yatman, Esq. -
street, of a son.

MARRIED. Ogg"
On the :id inst. at Croydon, Mr. Thomas 47. -
-street, to Miss havary. of the lormer place.

lyc,N,:lcict Sir
s:i,
ti
iLdy
Ladeotßii)l iirße'el:orhf7,l-.,,,,,,ku.,iiigoa;Rt:ivißi:A:dß:ealEl:stE:viar3wN:o,..:Devil::;:4..,..
announced
D<S'Bn7i ReATI " .
illito)(r)nkii.srltliiiilve,ex,2,tioontfdhaetrislomt
.ii.
,airt:aryrilas'ell;an;saorn
in:itoorh)tueestirlhe 31st,ult: at BrightpuilitU,kiii. ill
cua3proAtin, gss
more), of as daughter.
....._
MA RBI ED.
Lately, at Wakefield, Edwin Smith, Esq. of Rwilldh3i'tol
Eliairna„ third daughter of the late Edward Ridsdale, Est'
‘Tv keneld.
Lately, James Purr, Esq. of Old Newton, to Sophia Alic-enj
the widuw of Thomas B. Fiske Fs . late of Stosvoiarke ri„,
daughter of the VA v.John Cast“:rn'e,4late Vicar of Old IOW"' I
Boatstsillicotia,tteh.ue
aLiaidoyfoofort"
_........-- .
DIED. ilii t
Lately, at Halesworth, thti Rev. Thomas BarkeV 11)
years Curate of Gislingliam and Rishan,,,,les, in P"' • c+.l g- • '
Lately, at his house in Silettisbano, Norfolk, `Henry ''''e
man, Esq. He died in his chair about hailpast eleven io to
inornin;, without a struggle
glea?
Lately, the Rev. ThoMits Moutv,ey, Vicar of BrdYt"'
Selby, Yg,rlishire. v.
Of
9..
Lately, at Anlally, near Hull, George Bodlel, ,-'
Loinhard-stieet, London.
--- - areas
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. thimuta.str.vt, Q,ueen-squitre; and published bY ",cori
SCRIPPS, of No. 7, Swab Molton-street, at TH,!
~' 0
Other, No. I i 9., Strand ; where Advettisements, vr'e
Letters, &c, (post--Fiaid) must be aldressed.