The Marquess of Londonderryrose to present a Petition from certain inhabitants of Belfast, in Ireland, praying the House to take into their consideration the penal laws of the realm, with a view to the speedy abolition of the punishment of death, except in cases of murder. The petition was signed by several very respectable inhabitants of Belfast, but certainly did not contain the sentiments of the majority of that body. As, however, the noble Earl at the head of the Irish Government had very lately sojourned for a time among the petitioners, perhaps he would be able to give the House some more information respecting them. He confessed it appeared to him most extraordinary that, being aware it was that noble Lord's intention to abandon for a time his duties in Ireland for the purpose of attending those attached to his Parliamentary capacity, the petitioners had not intrusted him with their petition for presentation. Indeed, it so happened (and the circumstance tended in no small degree to increase his surprise) that one of the most prominent of the petitioners was an individual named Finley, the editor of the Northern Whig newspaper, who was reported to have been on terms of most familiar intercourse with the noble Earl during his northern tour, and to have supplied him with a great portion of the in- 954 formation he derived as to the state of parties in that district of the country. Whether this was the case or not, he, of course, did not mean to inquire; but there was a matter in connexion with this Mr. Finley upon which he was desirous of obtaining some intelligence. It was very generally reported that this gentleman, who, as well in his capacity of private individual as in that of editor of the Northern Whig, had done more to keep up excitement and political agitation in the north of Ireland than any thousand other individuals in the kingdom, was about to reap the reward of his labour in an appointment to the Stamp-office, on the direct nomination of the noble Earl. This report he gave as he heard it, and he should feel much obliged by the noble Earl's informing him as to its correctness.
Earl Mulgravehad been for some time past waiting for an opportunity of asking the noble Marquess who had just addressed the House for an explanation of some statements he had thought proper to make in his absence respecting his conduct while representing his Majesty in Ireland. That opportunity he expected to meet with in the discussion which was likely to ensue upon the presentation of the petition announced by the noble Earl (Winchilsea) for that evening; and until the proper time arrived, he would content himself with replying to the question now put to him respecting Mr. Finley- He certainly could not compliment the noble Marquess on the important nature of his first accusation against him, if the present was to be so considered. Mr. Finley he might have seen during his visits to the north of Ireland, but most certainly he had not the honour of being an intimate acquaintance of his Of course, in saying this, he did not mean to express the smallest doubt as to Mr. Finley's being a most respectable individual. Then, as to the peculiar question which the noble Marquess had put to him, he had only to say that he was not going to give Mr. Finley the place alluded to. He was not going to give him the place for this reason—it was a sufficient reason he was sure the House would agree with him in thinking, though if others were necessary he doubted not they could be given—the place was not in his gift.
The Marquess of Londonderrywould undoubtedly avail himself of the opportunity that would be afforded by his noble Friend's presenting the petition of which he had given notice, to state what were the grounds on which he arrived at the conclusion that 955 no confidence could be placed in the noble Earl's administration. He might not be able to prove specific charges of maladministration at the Bar of the House; but to: do that was not necessary to justify his assertion. From first to last, the conduct of the noble Earl and his associates in the Irish Government was calculated to turn against them the opinions of the most orderly and well-conducted of his Majesty's subjects. In the statement, however, which; he should have to make, he begged it might be understood that it should be to the noble Earl's public character and conduct alone he should address himself, and that nothing could be further from his wish or intentions than to state anything which might appear offensive to him in his private and individual; capacity.
Earl Mulgravewould be quite ready, at any time the noble Marquess might call upon him, with perfect temper, and with a due recollection of the ancient intimacy which had subsisted between them, to defend his conduct from any charge that should be brought forward. He had some reason to complain of a want of courtesy on the part of the noble Marquess, in not giving him any intimation of the general attack which it appeared was to be made upon his administration; but as he was perfectly ready, on even the shortest notice, to explain the nature of the policy he had pursued during his sojourn in Ireland, he should not think of doing so. The noble Marquess brought forward as a prominent charge the case of Mr. Gore Jones, and put a question to his noble Friend, the noble Viscount, at the head of his Majesty's Government on that subject. His noble Friend stated he had no knowledge of the facts of the case of Mr. Gore Jones, and the noble Marquess then withdrew the notice he had given. He thought, in common courtesy, the noble Marquess ought not to have brought forward that subject as a matter of charge against him, without giving him notice of his intention to do so.
The Marquess of Londonderrybegged leave to say with regard to the case of Mr. Gore Jones, that when he withdrew his notice of motion upon it, he stated his reason for that course to be, because it was about to be brought forward more efficiently in another place. That gentleman had grossly insulted the magistrates of Londonderry, and yet he had seen a letter in the handwriting of Mr. Drummond, the Lord Lieutenant's Secretary appointing Mr. Gore Jones a magistrate in another county.
§ Petition to lie on the Table.