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 rending of the hill for the projection of life in Ireland, and (la tilt 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 offickl 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 1841 amounted to 144 ; and in 1845 to 136. In 1841 the number of eases of tiring was 104 ; and, 1845, 138. In 1844, the number of aggravated assaults was 504 ; and in 1845, 541. In 1811, the number of casts of common assaults was 251 ; and in 1845, 242. The crimes of robbery and arson had also increased to a fearful extent. In 1814 the number of cases of robbery of arms was 159 ; and in 1815, D5l. The instances of administering unlawful oaths had 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. 3402. The number of offences against the public peace in 1844 was 3102, and in 1845, 5281. In IS counties 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 an 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 pro. clamation 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 borne bet wren 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 dt'trict in which the murder may have been perpetrated. The noble earl, in conclusion, deprecated any attempt to give the question a political 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. Its lordship trusted that the time would arrive when the bill he proposed might be repealed. Lord FA.RNIIAM 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 bad resided had been reduced. tie dwelt on the refusal of the patties who witnessed the murder to assist in identifying or apprehending the murderers. His lordship spoke of the efforts of the ribbon agents as most injurious 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 Mi ESTMEATII, and other peers, the bill was read a second time.