HC Deb 04 May 1848 vol 98 cc670-1

House in Committee on the Evicted Destitute Poor (Ireland) Bill.

On Clause 1,

MR. F. FRENCH begged to ask a question of the right hon. Baronet at the head of the Home Office in reference to certain proceedings connected with the eviction of certain tenants in the county of Galway that had been the subject of discussion in that House, and to which much weight had been attached in consequence of the remarks that had fallen from the right hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth upon them. An hon. Member of that House (Mr. St. George), whose name had been mixed up with those transactions, had triumphantly vindicated himself from the charges brought against him; but on the part of Mr. Blake, the other gentleman accused, no defence had been made. He had been recently informed by persons connected with the county of Galway, that the question was not in any way a landlord question, and that the proceedings had taken place without the knowledge, or sanction, or approval of Mr. Blake; that the persons whose houses had been torn down were a nest of robbers who had settled themselves without authority within the district, and who were plundering the industrious tenants; and that the tenants in consequence of these plunderings had taken upon themselves to tear down the houses. The question which he wished to ask was, whether the right hon. Baronet had heard this statement, and whether he had any reason to believe it was correct?

SIR GEORGE GREY said, that all he knew of the matter was, that Mr. Blake had communicated a statement with regard to the transaction to the Lord Lieutenant, on being called upon to do so, and that the Lord Lieutenant did not consider it satisfactory.

Bill went through Committee.

House resumed, and adjourned at half-past One o'clock.