The Marquess of Clanricardewished to put a question to his noble Friend. He wished to know what were the intentions of Government as to the Bills which had been introduced relating to Ireland. One of them, the Irish Municipal Corporation Bill, stood for Monday. There were also the Irish Tithe Bill, and the Irish Poor-law Bill. These, he supposed, would not be proceeded with; but he wished to know what was intended with respect to the public works (Ireland) Bill. That he thought a most useful measure. If that were not to be proceeded with, he wished to know whether it were intended to bring in 'any measure relating to public works in Ireland? There was likewise the medical charities (Ireland) Bill, and also the county treasurers Bill. He hoped that those two last-named Bills would be carried in the present Session.
§ Viscount Melbournesaid, that his noble Friend had put a question which he himself had answered. As to the bills to which his noble Friend had alluded, he would say first, with respect to the Irish Municipal Corporation Bill, he saw no reason why that Bill should not go on. Considering its great importance, and the earnest anxiety with which it was looked to in Ireland, he thought it ought to be carried out; but when he recollected the opposition offered to that Bill in an earlier period of the Session, in the unusually large assemblages of their lordships, when, he repeated, he recollected that opposition, he had no hope of carrying the Bill in the present Session. He therefore had no intention of pressing it further. He might give the same answer with respect to the Irish Tithe Bill, and the Irish Poor-law Bill, for the due consideration of which he did not think the remaining portion of the Session would afford sufficient time. As to the Public Works Bill, his noble Friend must be aware that it had already passed that House, and was now waiting in the other House. With respect to the County Treasurers Bill, he hoped they would be able to go on with it, and to pass it in the present Session.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid it was not his intention to enter into any argument with respect to the Irish Municipal Corporations Bill. In former discussions with respect to that Bill, he had stated his objections to it, not as to itself alone, but as connected with other Irish measures, he still retained the same objections. At the same time he must say, that it was his anxious wish to put an end to the discussion of all those Bills by bringing them to an amicable ter- 1683 mination. He earnestly wished to put an end to the Tithe question which was introduced seven years ago. It was also his wish that some arrangement should be made for a provision for the poor in Ireland. It was his wish to see the corporation question settled, when arrangements could be made for carrying out the other questions connected with it. He was most anxious that the Parliamentary discussions that now occurred on those questions from year to year should be brought to a close; and he could assure the noble Viscount, that if in the next Parliament they should meet in the same relative positions, he should be prepared to concur with the noble Viscount on all those subjects in any reasonable measures he might introduce for their final and satisfactory settlement.