tion of certain Bridges in Ireland, ordered to be | Judges should have the power of making brought in by Mr. SOLICITOR GENERAL for IRELAND rules and regulations for the purpose of and Lord NAAS. transferring to the Masters such of the business of Chambers as they might think desirable. The noble and learned Lord concluded by moving the first reading of the Bill.

pension of moderate amount might be man, stating that he was originally in granted to Mr. Young, so as to keep him very humble life, and that he had made a out of the poorhouse. It had been said valuable contribution to the literature of that unless a person felt himself justified the North of Ireland. I found that he in contributing individually to the assist- was in pecuniary difficulties, and I had ance of an indigent man, he had no right recommendations from both Roman Cathoto recommend that the State should do so. lics and Protestants stating that the tenHe, however, was perfectly convinced in dency of his works was to inculcate obehis own mind that Mr. Young had in his dience to the law and good feeling behumble sphere made a very tangible and tween all classes of the community, and valuable addition to the literature of the that there was considerable merit in many North of Ireland, and it was this ground of his productions. Indeed, there could that disposed him to accede to the request not have been a stronger testimonial. I which was made to him. That disposition, may here take the opportunity of stating moreover, was confirmed by the fact that that the amount of the fund at the disthe memorial contained the signatures not posal of the Crown has been rather exonly of Protestant magistrates and citizens aggerated in the discussion which has of Derry, but of the Roman Catholic taken place elsewhere, inasmuch as the Bishop of Derry, and of a great number of whole sum which can be granted in any Roman Catholic magistrates and citizens one year is not £1,500, but £1,200; and of the district. Anyone acquainted with I can assure your Lordships that there is the North of Ireland must be aware that no more painful task than to have to deit was not a common occurrence for those cide on the various claims which are two classes to act in concert ; and the na- made, it being in many cases impossible tural inference would be that works which to make an adequate grant. No doubt, had obtained the commendation of both of claims are occasionally made in which the them must possess considerable merit. It persons concerned have not sufficient was on that account, as well as on account merit to deserve a pension; but in the of the personal consideration in which he present case I cannot accuse myself of any was held by his fellow-citizens, and of the want of caution. Considering the recom literary character of the book, that he had mendations which were given by the felt himself justified in recommending Mr. Roman Catholic Bishop, the Protestant Young for a pension. He should be in- Bishop, and by gentlemen of the highest clined to urge upon the noble Earl (the character of every party and persuasion, Earl of Derby) the propriety of persisting I cannot think that I acted incautiously in the course which, as he understood, had in assigning him the small pension of £40 been adopted, were it not for a circum- to save him from the workhouse. It has stance which, he was sorry to say, had been said, indeed, elsewhere that those been brought under the notice of the other who have to dispense these pensions ought House, but which had not come within to make themselves personally acquainted his own knowledge-namely, that imme- with the works on behalf of which they diately after the pension was granted Mr. are claimed. I can only say that such Young's friends adopted the extraordinary an examination of works by various proceeding of destroying his works. If authors on various subjects-philosophithat were true, it was a very ill-advised cal, chymical, historical, political, and act, and reflected great discredit on those literary-would occupy very much more who advised it; but if it were not true, it time than, in the situation which I have certainly ought to be contradicted. the honour to hold, I have to dispose of; and, if I did not grant a pension without making myself personally acquainted with the works of the claimants, the result would be to leave a considerable surplus even in the small sum of £1,200 which is at my disposal. I can only do the best in my power, by acting on what appears to be the trustworthy evidence of persons who have the means of knowing the character and merits of those whose cases are recommended to my consideration.

THE EARL OF DERBY: The noble Lord opposite has an advantage, if it be so considered, over me, inasmuch as he is acquainted with Mr. Young's works, whereas I have not read a single line of them, with the exception of some quotations which have been read elsewhere, and which have certainly not impressed me with a very high opinion of his poetical genius. It is perfectly true, as has been stated by the noble Lord, that I received various memorials in favour of this gentle

EARL STANHOPE did not think the

noble Earl open to censure, considering | Law Officers of the Crown. The Instructhe strong terms of the memorials which tions which were in preparation would not he received from persons of various per- be confined to the Volunteer Force-what suasions and parties; but he could not was required was the preparation of Inhelp thinking that those who signed the structions which should be clearly undermemorial were not wholly free from blame, stood by the Volunteers, the civil authoriand the noble Lord opposite (Lord Duf- ties, and the public, and which should be ferin) would excuse him if he did not re- in exact accordance with the law. Great gard his explanation as on all points satis- care was therefore necessary; but he factory. The noble Lord had stated that hoped that the circular would be issued the volume which he read was not written, in a few days. but simply edited and annotated by Mr. Young, and he could not think that such a volume was sufficient to entitle him to a pension. It must be remembered that only a limited amount was available, so that if grants were improperly made, an injustice was inflicted on those whose claims were well founded. He thought the signatures to the memorial had been attached without sufficient consideration, and such a laxity was neither just to the Government nor to the public.

LORD DUFFERIN, in explanation, said, that Mr. Young's labours had not been confined to the particular volume alluded to by the noble Earl. That volume, however, contained some of the most spirited ballads he had ever read, which otherwise might have perished or would not have been accessible to the public; and very often a greater service was rendered by such labours than by the publication of original works. He quite agreed that great care ought to be exercised in signing memorials, for not a week elapsed without his being asked to affix his name to such documents; but he had been careful not to mislead the Government or to overstate Mr. Young's merits, and in the letter which he wrote he simply stated that he thought Mr. Young deserving of a small pension, having always understood him to be a very respectable person, and that he had conducted himself in a highly creditable manner.

EMPLOYMENT OF VOLUNTEERS IN

CIVIL DISTURBANCES.

THE INSTRUCTIONS.

THE EARL OF CARDIGAN said, that when this question was raised in the House on a former occasion it was distinctly laid down that the Volunteers could be called out only in one case, and that was when an invasion of the country took place. Then arose another question, which was whether, as the Volunteers, like other citizens, might aid in the suppression of civil disturbance, they might make use of their military arms, taken out of the magazine in which they were placed. Now, that was a point which ought to be clearly and positively determined. In his opinion nothing could be more dangerous or objectionable than at a time of civil disturbance the Volunteers, not called out under their officers or acting under military command, should be permitted to go to the store and make use of the arms which they had taken thence. He trusted that the law on this point would be clearly and unmistakably laid down.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD said, that he hoped that the Instructions on the subject would be very clear, so that the Volunteers might be freed from their present state of uncertainty.

THE EARL OF HARDWICKE considered that, under any circumstances, the Volunteers should be empowered to defend their arms.

CONSTABULARY (IRELAND).

MOTION FOR RETURNS.

VISCOUNT LIFFORD, in moving for Returns relating to the conduct of the Constabulary during the recent disturbances in Ireland, said, that his object was not LORD VIVIAN said, that a short time only to obtain information which ought to ago Her Majesty's Government promised be in the hands of every Irishman, but that Instructions should be issued relative also to have some record of the curious cirto the employment of the Volunteer Force, cumstances of the late attempt at insurand he wished to know when they would rection in Ireland. These circumstances be presented. possessed a significance beyond the mere THE EARL OF LONGFORD regretted facts. Any one who had observed this that some delay had occurred, in conse-Fenian movement for the last five years, quence of the necessity of consulting the who had watched the bragging boasts

most part proved it. They were accustomed to hear statements from the Continent and from America magnifying the grievances and the wrongs of Ireland, and the usual strain of a popular orator in addressing Irishmen was

"Hereditary bondsmen, know ye not

Who would be free themselves must strike the blow."

Well, but how had the "hereditary bondsmen "struck the blow this time? Why, with the exception of a few of the worst characters-and setting aside a few miserable shopboys-the whole rural population remained quiet in their houses. Even the boys employed in farm service, who were, he firmly believed, members of the conspiracy, slept out in the hedges, lest they should be taken out by their Fenian commanders; and one unfortunate youth, who naturally preferred his breakfast to a campaign in the field, was actually shot through the leg by one of those commanders, he supposed pour encourager les autres. That was the way the Irish people had behaved. But how about the Irish police

which had been uttered, the absurdity of the objects aimed at, the dishonesty which had accompanied the handling of money, the peculation which had almost universally existed-as was proved not only by the statements of persons in America, but also by the miserable arms provided for the dupes of the late attempt-and, above all, how hundreds ran away like sheep before a few policemen, must be ashamed almost of the very name of Irishman, were it not for two circumstances connected with the affair. In the first place, there was an extraordinary absence of personal outrage-a thing unparalleled in any popular rising and he trusted that circumstance would be taken into account by-and-by, except where murder or an attempt at murder had taken place; and he feared there would be quite enough of instances of parties being accomplices in these crimes to make the punishment that would be inflicted sufficiently exemplary. The other most remarkable circumstance was the conduct of the police. The Irish police might be taken as a type of the Irish people. They were not sprung from the six-feet high men-the sons of the the middle class; but were chiefly the sons Irish small farmers-of whom he rememof the small farmers-by far the most nu- bered the late Duke of Norfolk, who had merous class in Ireland and had been seen all the best troops of Europe, saying brought up with all the feelings and prepos- that they were the finest troops he had seen sessions of that class. During the late in- in Europe? Well, as for these men, stasurrection, however, they had behaved tioned at outposts, scattered here and there, with a gallant loyalty which had co- few in number, often apart from their vered them with honour, and which, in officers, how did they behave? Why, the his opinion, could not be surpassed. Now, blow they struck, which was for the United looking at these people as a fair type of Kingdom as well as for Ireland itself, they their fellow-countrymen, what was the in- struck in such a way as to cover themference? It was this, that though there selves with glory, and to do honour to the might be disloyalty in Ireland, it could country which they protected. In one not be very deep when a few years of case, the wives of the policemen supplied discipline and generous treatment had them with ammunition, and cheered at effectually eradicated it; and, at the same every volley they fired at the hundreds time, that the grievances could not be who attacked them. There was a great very sore which could be so easily borne. lesson to be elicited from this affair, and He was one of those who maintained that it was this. He quite agreed with the Ireland had no real grievances; but she noble Earl opposite (the Earl of Kimberley) has many sores sores kept open for in the remarks which he had made on this the basest and most selfish objects. He subject. He believed that the entire popuwas one of those who approved the lation sympathized with the Fenians, and policy of Mr. Pitt, and would put the that the small farmers, who had always churches in Ireland on an equality. He been taught for political purposes that they would also allow to the tenant farmer in had a right to the fee simple of their land, Ireland security in the enjoyment of all would not object to take possession of it that he had invested in improvements un- if offered to them by a successful Fenian dertaken with the landlord's consent. But commander, if that commander should although Ireland had sores which were continually kept open by persons whose interest it was to do so, she had no deep grievances, and the late events for the

be so unwise as to give it to them instead of his own followers. But when the time for action came, and they saw what little chance of success there was, they then de