MR. O'CONNELL.]Colonel Perceval begged to call the attention of the House to the conduct pursued by the hon. and learned member for Dublin with respect to the Burning of Lands (Ireland) Bill. The hon. and learned Gentleman was well aware, that he (Colonel Perceval) intended that night to move the second reading of the above-mentioned Bill; and yet in a moment, without any consideration or notice, profiting by his temporary absence, the hon. and learned Member rose and moved, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. There was in this transaction a want of courtesy and liberality on the part of the hon. and learned Member. But it was not the first time the hon. and learned Member comported himself in a discourteous and ungenerous manner. The Bill in question had passed the Lords; and when it was arrived at another stage, he (Colonel Perceval) had waited several nights till past two o'clock to advance it. At last he found that the Bill had been passed over in consequence of the hon. and learned Member going, in an ungenerous manner, to the Clerk of the House, and telling him the Bill had been given up. He was then obliged to refer to the Speaker, and, in consequence of the interference of the right hon. Gentleman, the Bill was again placed on the Orders of the House. He mentioned these facts to show the uncourteous and ungenerous conduct pursued by the hon. and learned member for Dublin. He believed that, out of the 658 Members of that House, there was not one, except the hon. and learned member for Dublin, that would have acted as he had done. Just now, supposing that the question before the House would occupy some time, he was talking to two hon. Members in the lobby, when the hon. and learned Member, taking advantage of his absence, moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, and succeeded in his Motion. He left it to the House to judge of conduct fraught with so much ungenerosity. The Bill was one intended for the benefit of the poor in Ireland; and he thought he had a right to complain of the conduct of the hon. and learned Member, since he could now obtain no other redress; and he was the very last man who would have acted in so unhandsome a manner towards the hon. and learned Member.
§ Mr. Maurice O'Connellregretted the 777 absence of the hon. and learned member for Dublin, against whom such a tirade had been directed. He was sure the hon. and learned Member meant nothing uncourteous towards any man, and least of all towards the hon. member for Sligo. When the hon. and learned Member came next into the House, he would undoubtedly make a fair answer to the charge. The Bill was not one that would benefit the poor of Ireland.
§ The subject was dropped.