Sir J. New port, in rising to call the attention of the House to the necessity of an inquiry into the state of Ireland, lamented the evident indifference that appeared to prevail among the members towards that subject, by the very thin attendance then present. His sole wish was to compel ministers to give some pledge, that during the ensuing prorogation, they would cause a revision of the state of that interesting portion of the empire. Since the Union sixteen years had elapsed, and Ireland had a right to have its affairs fully and impartially examined. He had early in the session drawn the attention of the House to the state of the finances of that country, but this consideration was waived by a motion for the previous question, on the pretence that it came more immediately within the purview of the finance committee. The report of that committee had been brought in, and fully confirmed the distressing statement he had made of the revenues of Ireland. This should be inquired into, and the House might be assured, that if it were not fairly taken up, Ireland would force herself on their attention. 1077 Since the Union this country had been engaged in a tremendous conflict, which had in some degree warranted the unwillingness of the House to enter into the inquiry; but if on the recurrence of peace, the House were not prepared to enter upon the question, he could not conceive when they would be disposed to consider it. To obtain this object, he should move, "That an humble address be presented to his royal highness the Prince Regent, praying that his Royal Highness will be pleased to direct such deliberate and accurate inquiry to be made, during the prorogation of parliament, into the state and condition of the people of Ireland, as may enable this House, at the commencement of the ensuing session, to enter with vigour and effect into a complete investigation of the causes, nature, and extent, of the evils which afflict that part of the United Kingdom; and to devise such salutary and efficacious remedies, framed in the spirit of British constitutional legislation, as may appear to our dispassionate judgment most adequate to effect their complete and permanent removal; and in the impressive terms of the act for the Union of the two Kingdoms, 'to promote and secure the essential interests of Great Britain and Ireland, and to consolidate the strength, power, and resources of the British empire.'"
§ Sir G. Hillcontended, that if the House should consent to go into the inquiry, it would kindle the animosities subsisting between the two parties in Ireland. He moved as an amendment that the other orders of the day be now read.
§ Sir N. Colthurst, in dissenting from the motion, did not mean to deny that many grievances existed in Ireland, which ought to be redressed; but it implied a want of confidence in the government, which he, for one, did not feel.
§ The House divided on the Amendment: Ayes, 59; Noes, 10.
| List of the Minority. | |
| Atherley, Arthur | Tierney, rt. hon. G. |
| Barham, J. | Waldegrave, H. W. |
| Browne, D. | Wood, Matthew |
| Duncannon, visc. | TELLERS. |
| Newman, R. W. | Gordon, Robert |
| Parnell, sir Henry | Newport, sir John |
| Ponsonby, rt. hon. G. |