The Earl of Radnorpresented Petitions from the Tobacco Pipe makers of Dublin, and from a parish in Queen's County, praying for a Repeal of the Union. The noble Earl, in presenting these petitions, expressed his regret that the people should have such ideas. He could not conceive how any persons could suppose any advantages would result to either England or Ireland from the Repeal; but as these people had such opinions, and chose to make him the organ of presenting their petitions—though he did not know why—he could not do otherwise than present them. He repeated, however, that it appeared to him unaccountable how any persons could expect any good from such a measure as the Repeal of the Union. In his opinion, the Repeal would lead to the most serious calamities. He had done his duty in presenting the petitions, but he could not avoid regretting that petitions of that nature were presented.
The Marquis of Londonderrycongratulated the country and himself on hearing the sentiments of the noble Earl, which, he was sure, were common to the great body of intelligent people in Ireland. He relied on the good sense of the middle 350 classes, and of the large resident land-proprietors,—who were really looked up to, and who, alone, possessed good sense to form a sound judgment on this subject,— to bring back tranquility to Ireland. He heartily rejoiced at the vigorous measures of his Majesty's Government, and praised that act. of the late Ministers which enabled the Government to act as it had clone. He was sure that the people of Ireland could not approve of the monstrous and atrocious proceedings of some persons in Ireland.
§ The Duke of Buckingham, in order to illustrate how these petitions were got up, remarked, that all the signatures to the first of them were the same, except the two first.
§ The Earl of Radnor, after examining the petition, expressed a different opinion from the noble Duke. The hand-writings were very various. The noble Earl also read a passage of the petition, which spoke of Ireland being the bulwark of the Constitution, the rendezvous of Great Britain, and the granary of the world, while Ireland was very miserable, to show that the petition was not the work of any very well-informed men, and most likely proceeded from those who signed it.