Star.
London, England, 1830-02-09 00:00:00

LOUTH CLUB DINNER.

The public have a right to expect the introduction of
some plan for the amelioration of the state of Ireland, in
the present session of parliament. The speech of Mr.
Dawson, one of the representatives for t 4 county of
Louth, at the late Louth Club Dinner at Dundalk,
turns entirely upon this important subject. We, there-
fore, give a report of it at considerable length. The
Louth Free Press, from which it is an extract, has only
just come to band, which will account for its not having
obtained an earlier insertion.

The CMAIILMANr—" I have now the pleasure to announce the
health of one whose name is peculiarly identified with this Club ;
you all remember well the memorable period of 1826, when the
freeholders of Louth, resolviog to shake off the thraldom to which
they had so long submitted, looked around them fur a man In
whose person they might vindicate their rights. They were not
slow in making their selection ; they called on him whose conduct
u an impartial magistrate, kind landlord, and the poor man's friend,
gave earnest of how be would act when appointed to the duties of
a more cashed station ; they called on Alexander Dawson—he an-
swered to their call—he stood forward for your suffrages end was
returned by an overwhelming majority—you reposed in him your

confidence—he hes proved himself deservlog of the trust—he has
not—he never will deceive you.

" Alexander Dawson, Esq. M.P. and may the county of Loath
always select as its representatives men who will make his fidelity
to the popular interests the object of their Imitation."—(Nine times
aloe, with loud and continued cheering.)
After which, Mr. Dawson rose and said, he returned his warm-
est thanks for the cordial manner in which his health had been
drank—lt was the highest gratification to him to meet his consti-
tuents, and to participate in their elusions of patriotism and li-
berality of sentiment. He had now been three years their repre-
sentative, and every time he met them, his gratification and pies..
sure increased, and he thought, or at least fondly hoped, theirs had
also been increased, and that to the end of his parliamentary life,
their reciprocal gratification with each other would continue.
With respect to the past, it was unnecessary for him to say mesh ;
it was clear that the election of Louth, by proving to the Catholic
forty-shiWog freeholders the decisive power they possessed, led to
the election for Clare, and to the Inevitable necessity of concesska,
it also showed to Great Britain as well as Ireland a bright example
of the propriety and practicability of returning a representative
free of expense to himself. who had no other recommendation than
the soundness of his principles. The honour of being their repre-
sentative, was no doubt. a distinguished one, but be valued it most.
because it gave him the power of freely expressing the opinions of
the liberal and enlightened freeholders whom be now addressed.
In the regain Rats of the Parliamentary representation, and of
the establishments of the country, it was cot reasonable to expect
mach decided improvements. but still it was sans consolation, that
we can state our grievances boidlyand freelyandlitat we can expose
abuses, although we have not full power to remove them. As to
the future, be said the Act of Catholic relief had removed all sec-
tarian and religious animosities, and that henceforth, there would
and should, be no other struggle amongst all the dames of hie Ma-
jesty's subjects than how and in what manner they could best peo-
mote the good government of the country. and Increase the pros-
perity and strength of the Empire. We are therefore called upon
to enquire what are the best practicable means of giving employ-
ment to she unemployed labourers in Ireland, and in my opiolon
there are two—first, the drainage and reclamation of the bogs of
Ireland ; secant!, the application of public money by way of leans
upon liberal terms without interest for ten years ; for the extension
of canals, the making of roads through the mining and cultivated
ditulets of Ireland, and the construction of piers for merchant and
fishery vessels in our numerous creeks sad harbours. As to the
hogs. it is deplorable to consider that there are two undone of that
description nearly unprofitable in this small island, and that one
million of acres of beg have been actually lurveyed and reported
upon by the bog commissioners, so long ago as the years 1810.
lilt. and 1811. By thtir excellent reports it appeare that these.
• bogs are at present nearly, if not wholly improbable, andatat let
. _

twine, if put up for ale, they would net be enabidespi math fee
the ho simple inns thee aispictee an taw per annum. It alio "-
I
peen that leas than La per sere would egret their *abuse, and
that lees tan' ill per ant valid at the enter aye years Owl
their reclamation, and leaeo Ibis is inab a condition as would in

duce farmers to take them by has, at upwards of .111 per atm
so that after adding £2 per acre for the probable expenses of
Commissioners of management and their Engineers, the
drainage and reclamation of each acre of bog would be less
than 410 an acre, and as each acre in Its improved; condition
world be worth at least 41, and the fee simple value thereof
would be, at twenty years purchaie, 420, there would be a gain
of ten pounds upon an expenditure of 410. ID other words, there
would at the end of five years be a pin of cent. per cent. upon
public money advanced for the purchase of bogs, these and as such
advances might be made progressively, not more than one or two
advances would be necessary, for the profit of the reclamation of
one district might be applied without further assistance to the re-
dominion of another, and If the sales were compulsory open the
value returned by an Inquisition Jury being paid or tendered to
the proprietors. There might be (to render the measure palatable
to the proprietors) an option given to them to purchase back their
respective bogs upon their paying the fuU expenses of the recksna.
tion. By these or some other means, this great national measure
might be carried into effect, not may without loss to the Govern-
ment. but With a great and decided profit. With respect to the
second class of useful measures. namely, annual grants of public
money for public works, we have, in the first piece, the example
of the two enlightened nations of France and America, in thi
respect, to encourage us ;and still more, we have the important
political results of publicmoney expended on public works in Scot.
land and in Ireland darks the last ten or fifteen years. The re-
ports on the Caledonia Canal, which cost ore million of money,
and the Parliamentary roads and bridges in Scotland, which cost
half a million, and of the Irish 0,11 Engineers, as to Kingstown:
Harbour, the &Masao' Canal, the* Montmeffick Canal, and the
Roads in the Western parte of Ireland, afford ample evidence of

the vast public benefits resulting from such applications of Ohne
motley. This was in his opinion, together with the drainage and

reclamation of the bop, the best antidote to the evils of absenteeism.
and the best mode of providing for the distressed labourers in Ire•
land and preventing the necessity of their emigrating to England
in search of employment and subsistence. These were the leading

measures be would recommend for the amelioration of this country I
but if there were other subjects, upon which any of his consti-
tuents wished for his opinion, he would endeavour to give it with
brevity and clearness. (Some of the meeting said Grand Jury
Jobbing.) He assured them, that the evils of our Grand Jury system
had not escaped his attention. Grand Juries were originally con-
stituted for purely judicial purposes, namely, to enquire and decide
whether a party accused of a crime should be put upon his trial
before a Petit Jury and it was very properly regulated, that
their sittings for such purpose should be private, and their
proceedings secret. Afterwards, about forty or fifty years ago,tbe
Irish Parliament thought proper to give Grand Juries a power of
ordering the making of new reads, and the repairing of old ones,
and of laying on an unable taxation for that purpose. The great
constitutional principle which forbids taxation to be impelled unites
by representatives freely chosen by, and responsible to the people,
was thus violated. Their sittings for these fiscal purposes continued
private, and their proceedings secret. The consequence, have been
such as might have been expected—extravagance and misapplication

of the public money. The remedy of these evils is simple and obviates
Let the .€lO Freeholders of the Baronies elect, every three or bee
gentlemen from each Barony, each gentleman possessing a qua&
intim of .1300 a year ; and let them form a Board, sad bald a
liseiting a fortnight before each Assizes. Let that sewing
public ; and the presentments for new works, and the applications
of public money for work executed, be discussed and determined
with the assistance of a County Engineer ; and let the promotions,
of this Board for Roads be traversable at the next Assizes, and If
not traversed, be flatted, by the Judge in the usual manner.
—Thus all matters relative to roads would be deliberately dis-
cussed, and the Grand Jury be enabled to devote their whole
time to judicial and criminal busluess.—(Here some of the
Meeting having called for an opinion on the state of the
Mazistrsey.)—Mr. Dawson said, that certainly the. Lord Chan-
cellar, who had exclusively the appointment of Magistrates, must,
from his being usually an Englishman, and nearly unacquainted
with the local circumstances of each county, be placed in a site
• extremely unfavourable to a judicious selection ; and he
thought a very simple remedy might be applied. Let every gen-
tleman possessing a qualification of £3OO a year, and willing to
become a Magistrate, attend at a January Quarter Sodom, and
Me an affidavit. stating the barony be resides in, and the amount
of his freehold property, as not less than £5OO a year, and let the
Clerk of the Peace make a return to the Lord Chancellor In the
month of January in every year, of the number of Courts of Petit
Sessions held in each barony of the county, and the number and
names of the Magistrate* resident in each barony, and in the habit
of attending each Petit Sessions; the Chancellor will then be able,
from the last return, to perceive where and in what Petit Sessions
there is any deficiency of Magistrates, and from the former re-
turns he will be able to select Gentlemen of the vicinity, to be ap-
pointed by him to supply such deficiency. His Lordship may, at
the same time, pay such attention as he may think proper to
respectable recominendations—(Some Gentlemen in a distant part
asked about the Church.) Mr. Dawson said, be was fully con.
vinced that an inquiry should be made by a Parliamentary Commit:
tee into the state of the different corporations of the united kingdom,
their past and present state, as to property, revenue, powers, and
privileges, and whether any and what improvements were now ex-
pedient and advisable ; in this inquiry the Church, as oar principal
corporation, would be included. He bad no doubt that all ourCor.
porations, lay and ecclesiastical, were at, and long after their esta-
blishment, conducive to the public good, under the then dram•
stances of society. but in progress of time abuses bad crept 10, and
DOW circumstance* had &slam, which now render very important
changes necessary for the public good, which was undeniably the
legitimate and proper objects of such constitutional institutions.
He was sincerely attached to the doctrine of the Established
Church, but to the present mode, amount. and regeletiens of Iva
payment and maintenance. tbere were what. be conaidered wan-
ewenble objections, and be said he should be always reedy bassist
Y any alteration in the state and regulation of • lay Corporations,
mews to their original intent--namely, the benefit end puttee-
Ilmi of the middling classes of society or lo the vegetation of the
seems and property of Bcckalastical Corporatioakee as to provide
for the respectable support of the Clergy, the building and repair
of Churches, and' the support of the poor—purmant the or glans!
intent of the grants of tithes. glebes, and .f.singt. a4e Clergy.
And It was curious and important for the bilowbort_ cosoiket,
that in the early Infancy of Christianity in Ragland, mires In the
year 601, St. Augustine wrote te the Pope to Mei, into boiffr
many portions the offerings at the altar Ambits dielderi t The
Pope answered—That it was the custom of the Church to diuleg
the offerings into four parts—one for the Bishop—another for *WI
Clergy—a third for the poor—meths fourth far the repairs of
Churches. And as tithes Were net introduced until.7lls, Whippet
reasonable to determine that they sboold be regulated illta .she
Church offerings, unless some direct authority to the osoloorp Ip,
introduced. We regret our limits prevent us. front **bp isinno
than the above outline of Mr. Dawsoe's answers to the froihrt
his constituents, who frequently evinced their.ipprobatiesi bp

sied A very learned and • y lady, conversing with &friend
on the late extreme y of the weather • with gueUt
naivete said, she ",au the North P;le had come
to return Captain Parry's visit." .
Cov Z?I T.GA It VVW TH 1 ATIt E.—We had not an oppor-
tunity of noticing kh'inetta, ,or thetailaielof•Paluisaam,
,on its Slit fiednOtiOn on Anralin,Y*lt• • ,It Will ins 4001
on Satat4ay ereakig, ',Sweat off
.w044144c., ,cfcl stplinvii
Mies PATO if (for aceordinjuo her own antnomy, MO lit
still so in thelbiatle soli 'Comet., Room) was hi list
iiihtful voice, and tool Waite isiesileili.ell thee II&
longed to her part of the heroine.

. .

PRICES or HAY min STRAW YESTERDAY.
sr. 'AMU's. worricrary..
Hay 41 Oos Od to St 00s Od Hay 51 Os to 41 104 Csl
Corer 3110 s Od to SI Ss Od Covet 51 5, to 51 10' Od
S I `Straw 21 4s Od to 21 Os od Straw 11 les to 21 2s Od