§ Lord Dacrepresented a Petition from Erris, in the County Mayo, setting forth the great Distress which prevailed in that part of the County, and calling for immediate relief.
Lord Teynhamcalled the attention of Government to the state of misery, and of almost starvation, which prevailed in a part of Mayo and Galway; and said, that it was the duty of the Government to afford some immediate relief.
§ Earl Greysaid, the Irish Government was already informed on the subject, and had given notice of its intention to afford relief, and no doubt could be entertained of its anxiety to do so.
Lord Teynhamrepeated, that immediate attention was necessary; for, though the noblemen and gentlemen of Mayo had exerted themselves as much as possible, all they could do was insufficient without the aid of the Government.
The Marquis of Lansdownassured the noble Lord, that the distress of the part of the country alluded to had not escaped the attention of the Irish Government; and those who knew the character of the noble Marquis at the head of it, could rely on the promptitude and benevolence of his exertions. He had only further to say, that it would be well if public attention was less forcibly drawn to the means which Government was disposed to employ to afford relief in cases like the present, for it was evident that, if expectations were 1001 too highly raised, its views might, in some degree, be counteracted, and the suffering of the people extended.