§ The Earl of Charlevillebegged to remind the noble Marquess, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the question he had asked on the 30th of last month— whether the Government had received any information respecting the disturbed state of the county of Limerick, and particularly the outrages which had been committed on the farm of Mr. Hill? He wished to know whether any information had been received as to the state of the district, and what steps had been taken for the restoration of the tranquillity of the county.
The Marquess of Normanbysaid, that having perused all the accounts which had been published respecting the occurrences to which the noble Earl had drawn his attention, and having compared them with the constabulary reports— making allowance for some degree of exaggeration — he must say, that the statements of the noble Earl were in the main well founded. Some outrages, of an agrarian character (he did not mean by that expression to qualify this violence) had taken place in two parishes of the county of Limerick— land had been turned up— and a threatening letter of a very atrocious character had been sent to Mr. Hill, reminding him of the death of Mr. Fox. But as the event which was so alluded to by way of threat had taken place four years ago, he (the Marquess of Normanby) was inclined to believe that the county had been in a comparatively peaceable state since that time. As soon as the reports of the outrages in January last reached the Irish Government, rewards were offered and an increased constabulary force, amounting to sixty, was sent to Limerick from Longford, where they were unnecessary, and peace had since been effectually maintained in Limerick, 1083 He had come down to the House several evenings, with the intention of giving the noble Earl that explanation, but he was prevented from doing so by the whole of the early part of the evening being occupied by the discussions introduced by the noble Marquess opposite (Westmeath). When ever similar accounts reached the Irish government, every exertion would promptly be made in all cases to repress disorder, and bring the delinquents to punishment.
§ The Earl of Charlevillehad received last night a letter from Mr. Hill, in which, after describing the alarming state of the district, he said he had been offered the assistance of some police; but the authorities refused to give him less than four or five, and insisted on his paying a certain sum daily for each of the men. Until the noble Marquess became Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, such a demand had never been made. The order then given called forth the strong reprobation of all the magistrates; and in a case which occurred in the county with which he was connected, where a person having had the assistance of the constabulary, refused to pay the sum required, he had not heard that the Government had been enabled to enforce the claim. The first duty of the Government and of the police was undoubtedly to give protection to the loyal and peaceable inhabitants, and to preserve, if possible, the peace of the country. But it was at once grievous and insulting, to tell a farmer, "We know your life is in danger, and your property insecure, but if you have the protection of the police force, you must pay 5s. a-day for it." If it was the opinion of the authorities, that the protection of the police was necessary, it should be given without payment.
The Marquess of Normanbysaid, that the noble Earl spoke under a misapprehension. The general rule was, that persons could not claim the exclusive service of the police, without remunerating them for the period in which they were at their command, though if the Government, on inquiry, saw reason for their being sent to protect any particular person, no charge was made. The mere fancy of an individual was not deemed a sufficient ground for transferring them to his disposal.