Society For Improving The...
The Times, 1824-05-17T00:00:00

This Institution met on Saturday last at the Horticultural Society's rooms, to receive the report of the committee. The business commenced bv the secretary reading a letter from Sir Herbert Taylor, containing the information that the Poke of York, who was to have taken the chair, was detained at his otiicc by public business which admitted of no delav. Sir JoTsr DOYLE was then unanimou'sly voted the chairman on this occasion. MIr. MrICHEL.L, the secretarv, read the report, which stated that the exertions of the committee had been attended with greater suc- cess than they could have expected, and had, so far as they had ex- tended, materially benefitted the condition of the peasantrv. The means of thc Saciety to effect this object had been materially in- creasetl by the generositv of the city of London Committee, who, having terminated their labours on behalf of the distressed Irish, had transferred the whole of the fund which remnained in their hands to this institution. The london Committee had accompanied their liberal tlonation by recommending to the attentien of the committee two subjects. .as -f the areatest importance to the amelioration of the condition of the Irish peasantry. The one was the establishment of agricultural schoo's, and the other the extension of schools for the purposc of teaching the fenale peasantry useful and domestic em. ployments. The advantages of the latter had also been stronglv enforced by Lady O'Brien, whose exertions in behalf of the poor of that countv (Clare) in whicil she lived, entitled her to the admira- tion ascd implicit confidence of the Societv. To both subjects the comfiittee had directed their earnest consideration. A large propor- tion of the funds of the Society had been employed in furnishing small loans (under the management of 60 local associations) to the peasantry, by which they were enabled to purchase materials and tools, for the want of whicb their industrv had often hitherto remain- ed unexerted, and their distresses haa increased to a painful anti alarming extent. The most beneficial results had been found to follow this me;asure. The noor were enabled in almost all instances to procure employment as soon as the means of woriAing were afforded to them, and their circum- stances were improved immediately bv this plan alone. The committee had the greatest satisfaction insadding, that the sums lent had alwavs been repaid with the utmost punctualitv by instalmients, or in such other way as had been stipulated at the time of borrowing, and concluded thev had a right to infer, that habits of honesty and regularity required only to be excited,not to beimplanted,amongthe Trish peasantrv. (Applause.) The attention of the committee had heen 'eduloumvy directed to the diffusion of habits of cleanliness in the dwellings of the peasantry, and by means ot' premiums and other mnethods of excouiragement they had succeeled to a great extent. The manufacture of coarse flannel had also been encouraged,as well as the distribution of bee-hives and the growth of flax, from the latter of which they anticipated a source of employment would be afforded to the poor, easily procured, and highly advantageous. An appendix to the report stated the actual amount of the seciety's funds to be Old 4 (now 3A)per Cent.s. . X000 3 per Cent. Coneols. ),o0 Fxclhequer Bills .,000 In the hands of the Treasurer, about . 40 ?X11,040 It has been discovered that the New Zealand flax (plwrmium tf- pac) grows in the open air, in the south of Ireland; and the So- ciety hias sent an agent to iHtroduce ansI superintend the growtlh of this plant, with seeds of which they have been furnished by the Horticultural Society. One of these plan ts,togetlier with some spun threads of difFerent fineness, and some specimens of coarse manu- factured linen cloth, were Iying on the table for the inspection of the meeting. Mr. R.ELL.ESI.E Y, the chairman of the committee, moved the confirmation of the report. He regretted the absence of the Duke of York, whose attention on all occasions to the interests of Ireland entitled him to universal gratitude and respect. He congratulated the Society upon the good which had been already done bv their efforts in removing in a small degree that whici was agreed to he the great cause of distress in Ireland-the want of employment for a redundant population. They tad done, perhaps, more in exciting the gratitude of Irishmen towards the people of England by convincing them that their welfare was an object of deep interest here.. The motion was seconded by Nlr. Stirling. and carried. MIr. J. SMiITH complimented MIr. IYVellesley upon his zealous exertions, to which this Society, as well as the London Comnmittee, had been mainly indebted for their success. He moved that Mr. Wellesley be appointed chairman for the ensuing year. This mo- tion was seconded, and carried. Lord CARsERY moved that a meeting or the Societv be held on the frtt Tuesday in every month in the city of London. Hle ex- pressed the sense he entertained of the generosity and benevolence of the London (,ommittee, whichi he hoped would have the effect of rousing the feelings of Irishmen, andS awakening them from that scandalouis apathy with which they had regarded their countrymen's suffe~rings. Colonel TRENCII seconded the motion, and concurred with the noble mover. The Bishop of l,sdgEitrcr; attribiited to the assistance and exer- tions of the London C(ommittec,thc first real prospect which had been gcesented of permanent relief to the distressed neasantry of Ireland. I raving been appointed one of the distributors of their bountr, he had becone personallyacquaintedl with itseffects; and although he re- grettemh that in ability and energy he might have been deficient, he assured the Society that he had supplied that deficiency, as far as he was able, by the warmest zeal. The generous aid of the Society had been productive, not only of immediate relief to those wh,o were the objects of it, but had filled them with the deepest gra- titude, in which latter feelinz he entirely participated. The rev. prelate's emotion prevented him from proceeding ; he sat down, and soon after rising, he moved that the commnittee for tbe last year be continued for the ensuing one. Sir;1IATTHEw Ti rRNEr seconded the mnotion,which wascarried. Mr. .J. SrtrTit bore testimnony to the Christian zeal which the Reverend Bislhop of Limerick had evinced on all occasions in pro- noting the welfare of those who most wanted liis aid-tbe poor of Tre1anti. Sir .Jott DOYLE, in a neat complimentary speech, mloved the thanks ot the Society to the Duke of York. The motion, being seconded by Lord DUNALLY, Was carried by acclamation. General Brown, Mir. Bushe, the Bishop of Limerick, and some othler gentlemern present, iequested that their names might be added as subscribers to the institution. Sir Jost{r DOYLE said, he did not pride himself much upon his qualifications as a chairman, but he was very well satisfied with his succeSq as a recruiting-officer; and turning to the Bishop, lie said, " MAy Lord, none of ny recruits will be better able to pass muster than yourself." (Laughter.) Mr: R. VELLES r.Y then moved thc thanks of the meeting to the Chairnan, and the motion being unanimously adoptedl, Sir Jo71N DOYLE returned thanks; after which the meeting broke up. SOCIETY E1OR IMPROVING TYIR COVDITIOV Op I 2THE IRIS)? PRASAIVTRY.