§ MR. W. J. CORBETasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that the labouring classes in the town of Wick- 1026 low are in great distress for want of employment; whether he is aware that in 1796 a benevolent lady, Miss Eaton, left by will a sum of money for establishing a woollen factory in the place, which money is still locked up in the Court of Chancery; and, whether any steps can be taken to apply it for the relief of the existing distress in the manner intended by the testatrix?
THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY)No report has been made to Government as to the existence of distress among the labouring classes in the town of Wicklow. The sum of money to which my hon. Friend refers was left to a family in Cheshire named Gardiner, the testatrix bequeathing the residue of her estate for the establishment of a woollen factory in Wicklow. The particular sum cannot become residue until the rights of the claimants, of whom there are 36, have been disposed of; and the late Attorney General gave directions for the institution of a Chancery suit with that object. I believe there is also a further legal difficulty as to whether the gift for a woollen manufactory can be regarded as a charitable gift in any circumstances.