Lord King, in presenting a Petition from Donegore and neighbouring parishes, for a Reform in Parliament, and for the Abolition of Tithes and Grand Jury Presentments, said, he had great pleasure in presenting it, because it did not, like some other petitions intrusted to his care, pray for a Repeal of the Union. With regard to that measure, the noble Baron said, he could not conceive how any person in his senses could imagine that Ireland would derive benefit from a dissolution of the Union. In his opinion, its certain effect would be, to make those in Ireland, who were now rich, poor; while it could not possibly make those who were poor rich.
The Earl of Shrewsbury, in presenting several petitions from various parts of Ireland, for a Repeal of the Union, observed, that the petitioners were very earnest in their prayers. For his part, he had great confidence in his Majesty's Government, 550 and hoped that it would take the prayers and the wishes of the people of Ireland into consideration.
The Marquis of Londonderrybegged to ask the noble Earl, whether he was prepared to support the prayer of the petitioners, for a Repeal of the Union?
The Earl of Shrewsburysaid, that though he had been intrusted with the petitions, and requested to support them, he had informed the persons who sent them, that under present circumstances, he was not prepared to make up his mind on the subject, and he had recommended those persons to abstain from agitation, as an Administration avowedly hostile to the interests of Ireland had ceased to exist. He had advised the petitioners to remain tranquil, and to place their trust in the good intentions of the present advisers of the Crown, who had always shown themselves to be the true friends to that country, and who had already forfeited every thing but honour and popularity in its behalf.
§ The Duke of Wellington.—I have no objection to the noble Earl paying any compliment he thinks proper to his Majesty's present. Government, but I must protest against his saying, that the late Administration were avowedly hostile to that part of the United Kingdom. I think that the measure which I had the honour to propose, in conjunction with other measures which the late Government of Ireland brought forward, and with others which it had prepared, and which are now to be introduced by the present Government, might have shown the noble Earl, that the late Ministers were not avowedly hostile to Ireland. I think that even the measures lately adopted to preserve the peace and tranquillity of the country, might have convinced the noble Earl, that we were not mistaken in our views, and that we were not avowedly hostile to the interests of that part of the United Kingdom. The Earl of Shrewsbury said, that when the question was put by the noble Marquis, he had answered it with too much precipitation. He did not mean to use the word "avowedly," and he used the word "hostile" in this sense, that the late Administration, when granting the great measure of relief, had declared that they did not bring it forward from any desire to conciliate the people of Ireland, but solely on the ground that the time was come when they could resist it no longer.
The Marquis of Londonderrysaid, that when he asked the question, he intended to give the noble Earl, who presented so many petitions from Ireland for a Repeal of the Union, an opportunity of declaring whether he could boldly stand forward in his place and support that measure or not. He wished that the course pursued by a noble Earl, on a late occasion, in presenting petitions on the same subject, had been adopted on this. He would only say, for his own part, as an Irishman, that a Repeal of the Union could do no possible good, but only cause a dismemberment of the empire.