The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1846-03-03 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAY  The Earl of ST. GERMAIN moved the second reading of the bill for the protection of life in Ireland, and dwelt on the necessity of investing the government of Ireland with the extraordinary powers which would be granted by the proposed measure. It was notorious that the crimes of murder and outrageous assault had become of late alarmingly prevalent in Ireland. He held in his hand official returns of all the offences against the person, property, and the public peace which had been committed in Ireland during the last two years ; from which it appeared that the number of homicides perpetrated in Ireland in 1844 amounted to 144; and in 1845 to 136. In 1844 the number of cases of tiring was 104 ; and 1845, 138. In 1844, the number of aggravated assaults was 504 ; and in 1845, 544. In 1841, the number of eas, sof common assaults was 251 ; and in 1845, 242. The crimes of robbery and arson had also increased to a fearful extent. In 1844 the number of cases of robbery of arms was 159; and in 1845, 551. The instances of administering unlawful oaths bad also increased during the years in question from 59 to 223; of issuing threatening notices from 462 to 1341 ; of attacks on houses from 254 to 483 ; of firing into dwelling houses from 77 to 128. The total number of offences against person and property in 1844 was 1195, and in 1815, 3462. The number of offences against the public peace in 1844 was 3102, and in 1845, 5281. In 18 coon• ties crime had diminished ; in 4 it had remained stationary ; but in 10 it had largely increased. His lordship then entered into further details with regard to the state of crime in these peccant districts, and related several remarkable cases of homicide and outrage, for the purpose of justifying the introduction of the proposed bill. These cases were of as unusually appalling character. The rich man, said his lordship, was comparatively safe; but the poor man was absolutely without protection. The police and stipendiary magistrates had been increased in vain, and nothing short of extraordinary measures could meet the exigency of the case. The first clause empowered the Lord Lieutenant to declare by proclamation that any district in which outrages of the description referred to are on the increase should be burdened with additional police and a stipendiary magistrate. The second clause empowered the Lord Lieutenant to warn the inhabitants of any disturbed district to remain at home between sunset and sunrise; the third clause authorised the Lord Lieutenant to award compensation to the family of the murdered man, to be paid out of the assessment on the district in which the murder may have been perpetrated. The noble earl, in conclusion, deprecated any attempt to give the question a portical complexion. During the last session £414,000 had been voted for the purpose of improving Ireland, and no fewer than thirteen railroads, involving an expenditure of £9,000,000 had passed the legislature. These measures could not bear fruit unless a greater security for life and property were provided. His lordship trusted that the time would arrive when the bill he proposed might be repealed. Lord FARNHAM spoke as a resident in one of the most disorganised parts. His lordship alluded to the murder of Mr. Bell Booth, which showed the fearful state to which the district in which he had resided had been reduced. He dwelt on the refusal of the parties who witnessed the murder to assist in identifying or apprehending the murderers. His lordship spoke of the efforts of the ribbon agents as most ii.jurious to the peace of the country, and called upon their lordships to shape their measure so as to put down those dangerous societies.  After a few words from Lord WESTMEATH, and other peers, the bill was read a second time.