§ Mr. Shaw,in moving for certain papers relating to the building of St. George's Church, Dublin, begged to be permitted to remark that, several most respectable persons were, by an Act passed in 1806, appointed trustees for that purpose, but their conduct had been impugned during the last Session of Parliament by the right hon. member for Waterford, who had accused them of extravagance, misapplication of the funds, and oppression towards the rate-payers. These charges, he believed, were wholly unfounded. First, as to the charge of extravagance. The Church cost 39,000l., and it was erected in the richest parish of Dublin. The contract was made, and the Estimates agreed to before the trustees received their powers. As to the charge of misapplication, it would be found equally groundless for the sum which it was said the Church cost, included interest for money borrowed to erect it, before the rates could be got in. With respect to the charge of oppression, the persons complaining were those who were endeavouring to evade the payment of their rates. He had no doubt he should fully establish these facts, and he, therefore, begged leave to move for a copy of a circular letter addressed by the trustees for the building of the parish Church of St. George, in the county of 416 Dublin, to the Committee of the said parish, in the month of January, 1813. Also, such extracts from the Vestry book of the said parish as relate to the application to Parliament for a further sum of 8,500l. towards the building of the said Church in the year 1813.
§ Mr. Cramptonregretted the Motion should have been brought forward in the absence of the right hon. member for Waterford, who had taken so much interest in the subject. He had not understood that right hon. Gentleman had made any other charge against the trustees than that he was of opinion the public money had been wastefully expended. The allegations of the two parties appeared to be directly at variance. He could give no decisive opinion on the subject, and had no objection to the production of the papers.
Mr. O'Connelltrusted the right hon. member for Waterford would move for the appointment of a Select Committee, to examine the papers, and, he had no doubt, that the result would prove that there had been a gross job in the erection of this Church. Independent of the parishioners being called upon to pay more than was necessary, it must also be remembered that many of them were of a different persuasion which much aggravated the grievance.
§ Mr. Henry Grattansaid, among the expenses would be found 800 guineas for an organ, and to shew the feeling of the Catholics where the clergy did their duty he wished to mention, that as the curate of the Church, in question, received from his rector only 100 guineas a year, the parishioners including Catholics, agreed to pay him another 100.
§ Mr. Shawsaid, he could affirm that no clergyman could be more respected than the rector of St. George's, and that the insinuation intended to be cast against him by the hon. Gentleman of not sufficiently paying his curates was unfounded.
§ Motion agreed to.