Star.
London, England, 1824-05-20 00:00:00

IRISH FRANCHISE.

Mr. CROKER said, it was his intention to move for
a Return which he felt was of very great importance,
in order to understand the state of Ireland. It was for
an account of the number of each class of freeholders in
each town or county of Ireland, and also of the number
of resident registered householders in each county and
city; distinguishing the 40s. 201. and other classes of
freeholders, from each other. The Honourable Mem-
ber having made the motion,
Sir G. HILL hoped that the motion would meet with

general support. He felt it would be likely to prove
the first step towards putting the right of voting on a
different footing ih Irehind, moieespeciallY with respect
to the limitation of the lower class of freeholds.
' Mr. CROKEIt said he wished it to be distinctly un-
derstood, that in making this motion he had no inten-
tion of connecting it with such a purpose as that alluded
to by the Honourable Baronet.

Lord MILTON strongly remonstrated against die
representation made by the Honourable Baronet, of the
objects which might be attempted to be accomplished
through the instrumentality of these returns. Already
there was sufficient reason to believe that the reviewer.-
tation in Ireland was far too limited, and the eleciire
franchise confined. It WAS high time to info. e some
share of liberality into the representation of
The state of Irish repreientation called loudly for
form. With a view to give general efficacy to the ihn.,
tion of the Honourable Secretary of the Admiralty, Le
should move as an amendment, that the same return
should be made relative to the borough towns in Irela:ld.
Mr. CROKEIt begged the Nnble Lord wo::ld a low

him his support to the nultion hotine the House, the
simple dupe it siood at present. Ile might afterwar,4
add any motion ot his own tshich he thought proper.
Lord MILTON justified his intention by referring to
the necessity there existed in the populous borough
Belfast for some alteration in the Mate of the repie•eu-
tation. In that town, consisting of above VAX) vet-
sons, the whole representation or franchise WaS confi:led
to thirteen persons or burgesses.
Mr. M. FITZ(iERALD thought it would have Ola
very worst temiency if the report went abroad to lie-
hind that the rnotion for fee returns wet e couple.l
with any intimation of such a project ai that alludtl
to by the Right I lon. Baronet.—Motion agreed to.
Lord MILTON then moved fur a return of the num.
ber of freemen admitted and sworn since the year 1793,
up to the present time, in any city or borough town in
Ireland, together with the number of resident house.
holders therein.

Mr. CROKER said he was sorry that his motion,
the only object of which was to call for information laid
before the Grand Julies of Ireland eve: y year, should
have suggested an opinicn that he meant to foliow it
up by any ulterior measure. In considering t:.e gate
of Ireland generally, the registry of freeholders wai an
important document. It was impossible not to see
effect produced by the present system in increasinl; th.
population. He, however, disclaimed All ulterior
Mr. S. RICE said he was aware that the only objet
of his Honourable Friend (Mr. Croker) was to king an
important document before the House. If an olani:,n
went abroad that the object was to disfranchise the great
mass of the population, nothing, in the present state of
Ireland, could tend more to produce mischief. The ef•
fect of forty shilling freeholJers in increasing the l'opu-
lation was sufficiently apparent, from the circumstance

that in College lands, and those belonging to the Church,
where the system could not be acted upon, the pnpult-
tion had not at all increased in the same ratio as in
other parts of the country. They would not act fai!ly
it they did not look into the corporate francni,e as Well
as the fre(-hold. The whole system of the former Lad
been altered with respect to the Catholics. If they re-
ferred back to one, they ought to the other.
Mr. L. FosTEit said the te,tilt r-f the inquiry wonll be
to prove that the popolatizin I ad ircreased, arterh port.
bus, as much on Coliege and Ecclesiastical lands, as in
any other parts of the coni,t, y. He regretted the rois-
coi.ception into which his Ho', Friend (Sir J.
11111) had fallen. The doing a ....Ay with the forty
slt 1.-
ling freeholders would. be more injurious to the aristo-
cratical than to the democratical part of the populatioa.
Sir G. HILL said he merely meant to express a:;
individual opinion ; he was sorry that what had fallen
from him gave rise to an idea that any ulterior measure
was in contemplation.
A message was brought from the Lords, announcing their Lord-
ships' assent to various Bills.
The returns moved for both by 'Mr. COLOUR and Lord Mu.lott
were then agreed to.
The Transport of Offenders Bin was read a first time, and or-
dered to be read a second time on Monday neat.
The Irish Impounding Bin was read a first time, and ordered to
be read a second time on Monday.
'The Report on the Parochial Stipends in Scotland Bill %Val re-
ceived, the Resolutions agreed to, and a Bin ordered accordingly.
The Report on the Warehousing Charges in Ireland was received,
the Resolutions agreed to, and a 13111 ordered.