Mr. S. O'Brienbegged to inquire of the noble Lord whether it were true, that serious disturbances had recently taken place in Tipperary, and what were the measures which had been in consequence adopted by Government.
§ Lord Eliotsaid, that it was unhappily true that serious outrages had beer, committed in the north riding of the county of Tipperary, but he apprehended that some of the accounts in circulation were exaggerated. The hon. Member had given him notice of his intention to ask the question, and he had prepared a comparative statement of outrages in the first four months of 1841,and in the first four months of 1842. In 1841 there were 305 outrages. In 1842 there were 327 outrages, showing a small increase; but in the higher class of crimes, such as homicide and wrong to the person, the number had decreased from nine to four, and from twelve to five. In the districts of Nenagh and Borrisokane, the numbers, in the first four months of 1841 and 1842, had been the following:— In 1841 there were 118 outrages; in 1842, 108 outrages, showing an actual diminution of ten. The House would not under stand that he was anxious to establish that the disturbed district was not in an unsatisfactory state; on the contrary, it unquestionably required the prompt attention of the Irish government; but that attention had been given, and he would mention the present amount of police force. There were no fewer than 800 constables already in Tipperary and an additional reinforcement of 100 men had also been dispatched to that county. 566 There were seven stipendiary magistrates, and four others had been stationed on the borders of the adjacent counties. The whole force was under the orders of Captain Hastie, an able and distinguished officer who had hitherto been provincial inspector in Connaught. No more competent person could well have been selected, and if further reinforcements were required, they would be immediately sent to the spot. He trusted that enough had been done to restore and preserve tranquillity, and that it would not be necessary for Government to apply to Parliament for any powers beyond those which the law at present afforded. He might be allowed to add his belief that the more atrocious crimes were to be traced to the facility of procuring and using fire-arms. It had been represented to him that the law upon this subject as it stood was sufficient, but if any alteration should be required, it would be in this respect. He meant to pronounce no opinion, but merely to state that it might hereafter be found necessary to legislate upon this point. Perhaps, before he sat down, he might be permitted to bear testimony to the praiseworthy conduct of the Roman Catholic clergy. They had denounced the outrages in the strongest manner, as well as all illegal associations out of which they arose, and they had zealously exhorted their flocks to abstain from violence, to respect the law, and to aid in bringing criminals to justice. He trusted that their continued exertions would be attended with the success they deserved, and that the disturbed districts of Tipperary would no longer furnish a painful contrast to the peaceful state of the rest of Ireland.