Mr. Maurice Fitzgeraldseeing the secretary for Ireland in his place, took that opportunity of moving for a return of the quantity of grain consumed by the distillers of Ireland since the last commencement of distillation, and also for an account of the quantity of grain exported from Ireland since the 1st of September last. He stated, that in consequence of the late rigorous season, the poor of Ireland were reduced to extreme distress for want of food; that the crop of potatoes, their usual means of subsistence, had in general been very deficient; and that as oats were the only substitute to which they could look, the consumption of them in distillation and their free exportation were attended with very injurious consequences. The subject therefore became one of vital importance, and the House should turn a vigilant and cautious eye to its results. He should be very unwilling on other occasions to interrupt the distillation from grain, as it afforded a great and beneficial assistance to the farmers; but, under existing circumstances, it was attended with dangerous consequences to the well-being of the people, and no partial considerations should stand in opposition to their means of existence. This principle of benevolence was more imperatively demanded from the House in respect to Ireland, as the poor of that country were not entitled, by law, to call for parochial assistance. The distresses of the lower classes in that country could look for consolation only to the sympathy of the higher, and it must be known to the House how very limited that source of relief had become, by the very general absence of the great landed proprietors of that country.
Mr. Peelexpressed his willingness to afford every information in his power to the right hon. gentleman, but he feared that the returns must, from their nature, be extremely defective, and therefore unsatisfactory. It would, however, be seen from them, that the consumption of grain by distillation was far from being as great as was generally imagined; and he assured the right hon. gentleman, that after all the inquiries he was enabled to make into the state of the late harvest, he was deeply impressed with the impolicy of suspending the distillation from grain in Ireland. It should be remembered, that when, on a former occasion, it had been deemed expedient to suspend distillation in Ireland, the circumstances of the two countries were widely different from what they 310 were at present; but if distillation were now suspended in Ireland, while it was permitted in England, the English distiller would have the command of the Irish market, and thereby enjoy an unfair advantage. He touched slightly on the serious injury that would result to the revenue if such a measure were adopted; but laying aside that consideration, he contended that the suspension of legal distillation would not prevent the consumption of grain, as the illegal traffic would again, commence, bringing with it its long train of moral evils, while the superior expertness of the legal distiller would produce more spirit and consume less grain than the others.
§ The motion was then agreed to.