HL Deb 23 July 1807 vol 9 cc906-7

On the order of the day being moved for the second reading of this bill,

The Earl of Hardwicke

rose to state his promised objections to it, which he pronounced to be perfectly inadequate to its purposes, and indeed wholly useless. The urgent and notorious want of parsonages in Ireland, must have been felt by every friend to the Protestant establishment in that country, and he was sorry to see no grounds whatever urged for the necessity of the present measure, by which it did not appear that any sums necessary for carrying into effect the object of the bill were at all provided for, or were certain to be forthcoming.

Lord Redesdale

contended, that, however deficient the bill might be in many respects, yet it was absolutely necessary, and would, he trusted, be attended with very essential advantages. It made it imperative on the Irish treasury to advance the money, and so far the main object of the noble earl's objections was removed.

The Archbishop of Dublin

concurred in the observations made by the noble and learned lord, and contended, that there was no comparison between the advantages and disadvantages of the measure. Indeed, he felt it to be of the utmost importance, and the most urgent necessity.— The bill was then read a second time.