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tress of the sister island. As to the complaint that the Government had given no security that the Bill would not be extended, there were, first, the terms of the Bill itself, which showed it to be entirely of a temporary character; then there were the declarations of his noble friend at the head of the Government in the other House of Parliament; and now he (Lord Lansdowne) announced that it was the unanimous intention of the Government, under no circumstances, to ask for its extension when its proposed limit had expired.

The House then divided, when there were

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iterating the objections already urged against the measure, moved that it be read a third time that day six months. Lord Cremorne supported the Bill, and Lord Desart spoke in favour of the amendment. The Earl of Mountcashel also renewed his opposition, and was followed on the same side by the Earl of Wicklow and Lord De Ros.

After some observations from the Earl of Carlisle, in defence of the ministerial policy in introducing this measure, Earl Fitzwilliam expressed his decided disapprobation of the Bill. Their Lordships then divided, when the numbers were

For the Third Reading. 37
Against it

Majority

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29

The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

CHAPTER IV.

Affairs of Ireland continued-Advance of 100,000l. in anticipation of the Rate-in-Aid Bill proposed by the Government-Debate on that Proposition-Speeches of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lord John Russell-Mr. H. Herbert moves an Amendment in favour of adopting a Property and Income Tax for Ireland in lieu of the Rate in Aid-Long Discussion upon this Amendment-Speeches of Mr. F. French, Mr. J. O'Connell, Mr. Disraeli, Lord John Russell, and other Members-The Amendment is ultimately negatived by 194 to 146, and the original Proposition is carried.-THE ENCUMBERED ESTATES BILL-Reasons on which that Measure was founded-Extreme Embarrassment of the Irish Landowners, and the Causes of their Difficulties-The Bill is brought in by the Solicitor-General for England, Sir John Romilly-His Speech in Explanation of the Plan- It is favourably received by the House-The Second Reading is carried without Division-Discussions in Committee-The Bill passed—In the House of Lords it is introduced by Lord Campbell-Lords Brougham, Monteagle, and Stanley express some objections to the Bill, and propose to refer it to a Select Committee, which is acceded to-Some Modifications are made in the Bill in Committee, and it finally becomes Law.-ALTERATION OF THE IRISH POOR LAW— Extreme Difficulties with which the Law had to contend, and necessity for amending it-Lord John Russell proposes a Bill containing several remedial Provisions · He states the leading Features of his Scheme on the 26th of April-Proposition for limiting the Maximum of Rates leviable on the Land to Five Shillings in the Pound-Various Comments on the Measure from English and Irish Members-Expla nation of Sir Robert Peel-Debate on the Second Reading of the Government Bill-Speeches of Mr. P. Scrope, Mr. H. Herbert, Sir W. Somerville, Mr. B. Osborne, Lord Claud Hamilton, Mr. Napier, Mr. Vernon Smith, Lord John Russell, and other Members-The Bill is read a Second Time in the House of Lords on the 13th of July, but is severely criticized by Lord Monteagle-On the 16th it is committed, when Lord Stanley states his Objections to it at length-He is answered by the Marquis of Lansdowne-The Clause fixing the Maximum Rate is opposed by the Earl of Wicklow, and, after an animated Debate, is rejected by 35 to 26-Other Clauses are struck out on the Motion of Lord Monteagle-Debate in the House of Commons on the Amendments of the Lords affecting the Rating Clauses-Question of Privilege-The Amendments are ultimately agreed to, and the Bill is passed.-ADVANCES FOR LAND IMPROVEMENTS AND DRAINAGE VOL. XCI. [G]

-Speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on moving the Vote, which is carried-Motion of Mr. Monsell for promoting Emigration in Ireland-His Speech-Mr. J. O'Connell moves an Amendment, which is negatived by a large Majority, and Mr. Monsell's Motion is carried.

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The

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Mr. Hume wished to know whether any portion of the advance, if voted, would be paid until the final passing of the Rate-in-Aid Bill.

URING the interval between result from postponing such sucthe passing of the Rate-inAid Bill in the House of Commons and its appearance in the House of Lords, and while much uncertainty still hung over the fate of that measure, intelligence was received from Ireland which showed the destitution prevailing in some districts of that country to be so extreme as to admit of no delay in the application of pecuniary assistance. 50,000l. granted at the commencement of the session for the relief of distressed Unions being well nigh exhausted, it was found in some localities utterly impossible to raise the sums necessary to afford a bare subsistence to the paupers. Under these circumstances the Government determined on proposing to anticipate the supplies to be derived under the Rate-in-Aid Bill by making an advance from the Consolidated Fund upon the credit of that measure. On the 19th of April, accordingly, the Chancellor of the Exchequer brought forward a resolution by which it was proposed to authorize Her Majesty's Treasury to advance a sum of 100,000l. for affording relief to certain distressed Unions in Ireland, the same to be charged on any rate to be levied in each Union under any measure to be passed during the present session. In making this proposition, the right honourable Gentleman confined himself to a very brief statement, showing the urgent necessity which existed for immediate pecuniary aid and the terrible consequences which might

Lord John Russell observed that if the vote passed and were reported to the House, it would then be proposed that it should be inserted into the Rate-in-Aid Bill, which it was the intention of the Government to press through Parliament, so that it might receive the Royal Assent. Only 60007. of the 50,0001. already advanced remained unexpended, and should that sum be expended before the passing of the Bill, he would not pledge himself to allow any interval to pass without making some payments from the advance, provided the condition of the distressed districts should require such payments to be made. The Rate-in-Aid Bill would be pushed forward with all celerity, and he thought that, at the furthest, the interval elapsing between the expenditure of the remainder of the 50,000l. and the passing of the Bill would be so short that only a few thousand pounds would be required to be paid out of the proposed advance in anticipation of the ratification by Parliament of the security on which the advance was to be made. Should Parliament not sanction the Rate-in-Aid Bill, it would then be the duty of the Government to propose that such payments as might be made in anticipation should be converted into a grant. He would further say that, should the Rate-in-Aid Bill

be thrown out, the Government would propose no further grant from the Consolidated Fund, and those parties would be responsible for the consequences who refused the rate in aid.

an

Mr. H. Herbert moved Amendment, the effect of which was to substitute for the proposed rate in aid, an Income and Property Tax on incomes and property in Ireland, not liable to Property and Income Tax under the Act 11th and 12th Vic., c. 8. In support of this amendment the honourable Gentleman made a lengthened speech, the main purport of which was to show that the proposal of the Government would create more destitution than it would relieve; that it would press most grievously on those least able to bear the burden; and that it fulfilled none of the conditions of just and equitable taxation. Objection was made to an Income Tax for Ireland, because no machinery existed for its collection. But if they extended the Income Tax to Ireland, instead of this rate in aid, the machinery for its collection could easily be created. The plan proposed by Sir R. Peel for the regeneration of Ireland had excited great hope in that country. But what a bitter commentary was that gigantic proposal, on the part of the right honourable Gentleman, on the miserable and petty policy of Her Majesty's Government. Recent events had placed him in a different position with regard to his motion from that which he formerly occupied. It was still his intention to press it, unless the noble Lord at the head of the Government, treating the House with more confidence than he had treated the Irish Members, should that night make such ex

planations as would justify him in withdrawing it.

Mr. French regretted that the honourable Gentleman persisted in his amendment against the sense of the majority of the Irish Members. He did not think that in rejecting the rate in aid, it was incumbent on private Members to propose a substitute for it, that being the duty of the Government. As to the plan proposed by Sir R. Peel, he was inclined to believe that some honourable Gentlemen had shown too great haste in committing themselves to it. There was capital enough in Ireland herself to work out her redemption if she were only properly managed.

Speeches were made by Mr. J. O'Connell, in opposition to the amendment, during which he expressed his determination to vote for the rate in aid, although he would do so with a sad foreboding; by Captain Jones in favour of the amendment; by Mr. R. Fox, who preferred the Income Tax to the rate in aid, because, were the latter adopted, the former would also be enacted at the end of two years, whereas if Ireland now excepted the Income Tax, she would not be saddled with the rate in aid; and by Colonel Rawdon, who would vote for neither proposition.

Mr. Horsman, objecting to the amendment for reasons which he detailed, took exception to the proposed advance on the ground of the inadequacy of the security. He also opposed the rate in aid, because it was not only bad in itself, but stood in the way of something better. He thought it high time that the Government of makeshifts should be brought to an end, and a permanent policy

established in Ireland. The plan proposed by Sir R. Peel gave omen that such a policy would, ere long, be adopted.

Major Blackall followed with a brief speech in support of the amendment.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer regretted, although he wished to cast no reproach upon the Irish Members, that the course pursued by some of them had tended to aggravate the difficulties of the present exigency. He then reviewed the grounds on which the rate in aid had been proposed, citing precedents in its favour, as well as the different propositions against it which had been submitted to the House by several Irish Members; after which he came directly to the consideration of the proposal submitted by Mr. Herbert. To that proposal he was compelled to object; thinking, as he did, that an Income Tax would not yield the sum necessary to meet the exigency of the case, and that if that tax were preferred to the rate in aid, other taxes leviable in England might also have to be extended to Ireland. Besides, an Income Tax could not be collected in that country without the creation of new, complex, and expensive machinery for the purpose. He then vindicated the course now pursued by the Government in reference to the rate in aid, and the advance proposed to be made upon its credit. During his speech, the right honourable Gentleman vindicated the step taken in consulting the Irish Members in reference to the policy to be pursued towards Ireland in the present emergency.

Mr. Disraeli, on rising, recapitulated the grounds on which he and

others had opposed, since the commencement of the session, the Irish policy of the Government. The Opposition were not callous to the sufferings of Ireland, nor were they indisposed to make such advances as were absolutely necessary for their alleviation. What they had all along demanded was, that, together with propositions for temporary relief, other propositions, of a comprehensive remedial character, should have been proposed, which would in future obviate the necessity of coming to Parliament for a repetition of advances for relief. After replying to some of the statements of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, particularly such as had reference to precedents which the right honourable Gentleman had raked up for a rate in aid, Mr. Disraeli, intimated his intention of voting for the amendment, being called upon, as he was, to decide between the two propositions before the House. He would support the amendment mainly, if not entirely, because he felt that an Income Tax would not press upon the small farmers, whilst the rate in aid would do so. He would also support it because it would embrace in its operation every species of property, instead of throwing the burden peculiarly upon the land. He was opposed to the advance now proposed, because he had no confidence in the security on which it was based. He had no confidence in the rate in aid, for this reason, above all others, that it was evident that the Government had no confidence in it themselves. The honourable Gentleman then reviewed, step by step, the Irish policy of the Government since February, severely criticizing those features of it which showed that the object

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