§ MR. MAGUIREsaid, he wished to avail himself of the Motion for adjournment to bring a matter of great importance before the House. The authorities of the city of Cork had been in communication with the Irish Government as to placing an old man of war in that harbour as a floating hospital. That recommendation was made some weeks since, and he had during the last three or four days been in communication with the Secretary for Ireland on the subject. He had just received the following telegram, which induced him to make an appeal to Her Majesty's Government:—"Cholera 359 is on board an emigrant ship which has arrived in Cork harbour. There are two deaths among the passengers. There is no convenience for quarantine. I have ordered her back to Liverpool." He appealed to the Government to take prompt measures for meeting the emergency. There was a large garrison in Cork, there was a fleet in the harbour, and great numbers of emigrants were constantly assembling at that port; so that the breaking out of cholera there could not fail to be a most calamitous occurrence. In 1833 application was made to the Government and they placed at the disposal of the authorities in Cork an old man of war, the Inconstant, which proved to be of great service in preventing the spread of the disease. He hoped, as the danger was now so imminent, he should receive something more from the Government than general and vague assurance.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, he wished that the Mayor of Cork had telegraphed to Her Majesty's Government as well as to the hon. Gentleman who had brought this subject under the notice of the House. The Government had heard nothing from Cork; but about an hour before they had received a telegram from the Mayor of Liverpool, stating that a ship on its way to that port had touched at Queenstown with cholera on board, and pointing out the dangers which might arise if that ship entered the Mersey. On receipt of the telegram, which was to be followed by a letter, he at once communicated with his right hon. Friend the Vice President of the Privy Council, who immediately saw the President, and directions would be given forthwith for the adoption of such precautions at Liverpool as it might be advisable to take under the circumstances. Had the authorities at Cork communicated with the Government similar steps might have been taken as regarded that port at even an earlier period; but he had no doubt that since it was now known to the Government by means of the communication from Liverpool, and the statement of the hon. Gentleman that a vessel with cholera on board had touched at Queenstown, the Privy Council would give such directions as might be desirable in the case of that port also.
§ MR. MAGUIREsaid, that for the last week the authorities at Cork had been in communication with the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on the subject of cholera, and he himself had been in communication 360 with the Chief Secretary for Ireland on the same topic for the last three days.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, the Government had received no information of the cholera on board a ship at Queenstown, except that which had been received from Liverpool.
§ SIR FREDERICK HEYGATEsaid, he would beg to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman had received any information on the subject of cholera from Londonderry. There was considerable alarm there.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYNo information whatever.
§ MR. AYRTONsaid, he must express his opinion that it was outrageous cruelty to put cholera patients into a ship or to keep them in one.