The Sun.
London, England, 1818-05-07 00:00:00

OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr. LAMBToN, seeing a Nobfe Lord in his place, wished
to know whether he wouht have any ob.; :aim) to produce co-
pies or extracts of all emu-es:violence that had passed between
his Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and
his Majesty's Ambassador in the Netherlands, since the 2tltli
Nov. 1815, and the 20th Nor. 1311 i, relative to passports
granted to persons who were nut su!jects of either CuUnify ?
Lord CASTLEREAGH requested the Hon. Gentlernan
would turn his question into a notice.
IRISH GRAND JURY PRE'. ZNTMENTS.

Mr. VESEY FITZGERALD said, that in tie mea-
sure which lie was then about to move for leave
to bring before the House, it was not his inten-
tion to repeat the provisions of th,, Bill of last
year, which provided, that all presetittrients shoulti
be made at the Summer Assizes only, making also
certain restrictions with regard to county sur-
veyors. These two provisions were then thought
objectionable, and he should now leave them .out
entirkly. He should propose to give the power of
making pregentments at all the Assizes in the
year, but with the condition that they should be
laid before the Quartet Sessions previously, which
wool] give a cheek to the abuses now existing,—
In Ireland every application to the Grand Jury
lin money was merely accompanied by an affidavit
swum by a single individual, that the repairs of the
104 d or place were necessary. This was often done
when the person knew nothing of the matter, and
perjury to a great extent was the consequence.—
The oath was at in csent taken before a Barrister,
and he should propose to abolish it, and send the
persOn who professed to know` that repairs were
necessaty before the Quarter Sessions, where
the Magistrates could examine him fully on the
subject, and decide accordingly. Thus every pre-
sentment would go before the Grand Jury with
the recorded opinion of the Local Magistrates as
to the necessity and importance of the work in
question. In the next place, it was desirable that
the accounts of the application of money voted
for public works should be strictly investigated,
which was not the case at present. He should
therefore propose that a judicial inquiry should be
enforced, where the charges for materials or for
labour catne to be suspected, from their amount.
The Hon. Member having experienced several in-
terruptions, begged that the Hou,e would not
deny him this opportunity of explaining a measure
which affected the whole internal legislation of
Ireland. He proceeded to observe, that every
power possible should be given to Grand Jures
to enforce economy, because the noose must teel
that the opportunity of presenting to the amount
of 'half a million annually, which was at present
possessed, might be made a great additional bur-
den on the people of that country. lie did not
intend to cast any reflection on the Irish Gentry ;
lie only wished to put those restraints upon them
which were not incompatible with the character
of honourable men, and would save them from
again becoming the victims of artful misrepresen-
thtions. If the interest of a single individoal in
Ireland was protected by this measure, be shOuld
conceive that his efforts had been usefully em-
ployed. He concluded with moving that leave
be given to bring in a Bill for the more deliberate
investigation of Presentments for roads and public
works by Grand Juries, in Ireland; and for the
better accounting for public money raised by such
presentments.
Sir Gsolioe Hue concurred in the motion of
the,ltight lion. Member, and expressed his wish,
that although he had but slightly hinted to the
necessity of requiring sufficient security from the
Treasurers of the Counties in Ireland, that this
important matter n mild not be forgotten.

Mr. D. BaoiNN F. 1110117 lit the Bill contained no-
thing whial was not in the law as it now stood ;
he should, however, have no objection to it it it
illustrated. the several clauses which were .alteady
at large amid the laws relating to Irisb Grand
,Tories.

Sir H. PARNELL regretted that the system of
appointing county surveyors should he omitted in
in the proposed Bill. lie thougl►t the having re-
gular and skilful engineers to survey the roads and
bridges wowld be attended with very beneficial re-
sults.

Mr. PEEL observed, that last year he was fa-
volrra►l)le to the appnintpient of Surveyors of
Counties; but it Was found upon the exatnitia-
tiuti by the Commissioners, that few of those who

had been 'mentioned for such situations were will
qualified to till them. Independently of this, there
was anwher reason which had induced him to
change his opinion with respect to the appoint-
ment •of Surveyors. lie thought the situation
was one which, in the course of a short time,
would lead to great abuses. If the person ap-
pointed had 'connections in the county where he
was to act, he thought it would be difficult to find
a person filling the situation without abusing the
trust in some degree.
Sii• H. PARNELL, Mr. PEEL, and Mr. D.
BROWNE severally explained.
Mr. V. FritGERALo replied, and expressed his
thanks for the manner in which the House had
received the ontlirie of the gill.
The motion for leave to bring it in was then
put and carried.