§ Sir John Newport offered to the house some observations on the motion of which he had given notice respecting two boards of commissioners at present sitting 433 in Ireland; the one appointed by the acts of the 38th, 39th, and 40th of his majesty, for examining the claims of the loyalists who suffered during the rebellion of 1798, and the other for investigating the cases of those who claimed compensation in consequence of the union. With respect to the former commission, he contended, that the object for which they were appointed had been completed; the claims of those who suffered had been investigated and decided upon, and therefore the public ought to be relieved from the expense of paying the commissioners. He should therefore submit a resolution to that effect. The other board, for investigating the claims of those who had suffered by the union, had also had ample time to finish their labours; they had so little business before them for some time past, that they only sat on Saturdays, instead of sitting from day to day. It was true, that great numbers of claims had been laid before them for their consideration, but some of them were of so ridiculous a nature as not to have deserved attention; such, for instance, as that of Mr. Fox, ratcatcher to the board of ordnance, who claimed to be indemnified for lossess sustained by the union. He would not, however, at present propose to put an end to that commission, but he thought some time should be fixed within which they ought to decide upon all the claims before them. He concluded with moving, with respect to the former board, "That it is the opinion of this house, that the objects for which a board of commissioners in Ireland were constituted by the 38th, the 39th, and the 40th of his majesty, that is to say, to hear and determine the claims of compensation due to loyalists suffering in the rebellion of 1798, under a final provision that no claim for compensation should be received after the first day of November 1800, are or ought to have been long since effected, and that the longer continuance of that board, by rendering a further provision for their salaries necessary, would occasion a considerable and useless expenditure of public money."
§ Mr. Vansitlart said, he unfortunately was not in the house when the hon. baronet gave notice of his motion, and therefore did not know the day on which it was to be brought forward. He begged leave to state a few circumstances, which, he had no doubt, would convince the house that the Irish government were not inattentive to economy, nor desirous to continue these boards after their labours were completed. 434 With respect to the board for compensating loyalists, he must entirely exculpate the Irish government, and take whatever blame belonged to it on himself, because his predecessor had prepared a bill to put an end to that board before he went out of office. The right hon. gent. said, that his attention having been called to other objects, he had not yet brought it in; but it would speedily be submitted to the house; and he trusted this would be satisfactory to the hon. baronet. With respect to the other board, it appeared that there were claims now before them, some of which were of a recent date, there-for he was not prepared at present to fix the time of their duration; but he admitted that a time ought to be fixed, beyond which no further claims ought to be admitted, and that the board ought to report as soon as possible, and be put an end to. If the hon. baronet would renew his motion on a future day, he hoped that the hon. baronet would find every thing had been done that he could require. Having said thus much, he was anxious that a motion which implied a censure upon the Irish government should not pass. He therefore moved the previous question.
§ Mr. Ponsonby expressed his satisfaction at what had fallen from the right hon. gent., but hoped that the commissioners would in future sit from day to day.
§ Sir J. Newport said, after what had fallen from the right hon. gent. he would not press his first motion. With respect to the other board, he thought they ought now to limit the time within which they ought to report upon all the claims, and he hoped that the right hon. gent. would not think six months too short a period.
§ Mr. Vansittart said, that he had already stated that with respect to the commissioners for suffering loyalists, he meant immediately to submit a motion to the house. With regard to the board he hoped in a short time to receive orders from Ireland which would enable him to lay some proposition before the house.—The previous question was then agreed to.
§ Sir John Newport then moved his second resolution, viz.: "That it is the opinion of this house, that the board of commissioners in Ireland, constituted by the 40th of his majesty, for granting allowances to bodies corporate, and individuals, in respect to representative franchises extinguished by the union, and to make compensation to those persons whose offices may thereby be discontinued or diminished in value, ought 435 within the space of six months from this period, finally to adjudge and determine all such claims as now remain not disposed of, and should be then dissolved, as their longer continuance beyond such period, by rendering necessary a further provision for their salaries and expenses, would occasion a useless expenditure of public money.
§ Mr. Corry defended the conduct of the Irish government, but at the same time expressed his opinion that these boards ought to cease. With regard to the absurdity of some claims, that was not the fault of the commissioners: they were bound to investigate every claim that was brought before them.—The previous question was moved and carried upon this resolution.