§ The Earl of Charlevillerose to state, that he had received intelligence from the county of Limerick with respect to some recent transactions there, which would serve as a comment upon the actual state of that part of the country. It appeared that a body of men, most of whom were armed, to the number of two hundred, had called 228 at a farm of a Mr. Arundell Hill, within eight miles of the city of Limerick, and after inquiring concerning who was on the farm, they proceeded to turn up his meadow land to the extent of eight or nine acres. They concluded by firing about fifty shots in order to testify their triumph, and strike terror into any persons attempting to oppose them. This was followed by subsequent outrage by armed persons, and threats to prevent Mr. Hill's labouring men from replacing or turning down the sods or green turfs, intimating, that if they could catch Mr. Hill, they would serve him in the same way as they had served Dawson, if he refused to give out the land to them as con-acre for sowing potatoes. Now he would assure their Lordships, that this Gentleman, Mr. Hill, was a person bearing an excellent character in the county, and a tenant of his; and the only reason for this outrage was, that, being bound by the terms of his lease under his Lordship not to sub-let without his Lordship's consent, Mr. Hill was prevented from letting the land in the manner required by these persons so congregated together for outrage upon persons and property. He wished to inquire whether these facts had been communicated to the Government, for it was a state of things which ought not to be suffered to exist for a moment under any Government.
The Marquess of Normanbyreplied, that he was not aware officially of these occurrences, but he should make the necessary inquiries respecting the complaints made by the noble Lord.
§ Subject at an end.