§ MR. GREGORYSeeing my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Ireland in his place, I wish to ask him a question; and as it is a matter of personal interest to myself, I shall explain in very few words lay object in putting the question. My right hon. Friend in a speech the other night, quoted a letter from me to the effect that I had written to him to say that, as far as I could learn, there was an ample supply of food in Ireland. Now, sir, I have been over in Ireland and have made inquiries, and it is my duty to say that there is a great deal of distress in that country. And as that letter might appear to have been written at the present time, I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman, If it was not dated the 12th of November last, whether it did not refer to my own immediate locality, and whether in that letter I did not mention that there would be considerable distress in Ireland arising from want of fuel?
§ SIR ROBERT PEELIn reply to my hon. Friend I beg to say that I had u desire to state anything but that which i strictly correct. It is true I wrote to my hon. friend, as I knew at the time that he was going to Africa, and on his way through Dublin he wrote to me a letter which I received on my return from my prolonged absence in the West. That letter is dated the 12th November. But it contained the words which I quoted, and which were—
I have taken some pains to ascertain how things stand in my part of the world, and, as far as I can ascertain the real state of the case, I think there will be a sufficient supply of food.I read that to the House. It is perfectly true he did say he apprehended a scarcity of fuel in the country. The House will recollect that on the first night of the Session I referred particularly to my hon. Friend as regards the deficiency of fuel, and as to his opening his property for the purpose of affording relief to the people.