The Marquess of Clanricardewished to put a question to the noble Duke relative to the Report of Mr. Pennethorne on the State of Workhouses in Ireland. Their Lordships were aware that a Report had been drawn up by Mr. Pennethorne as to the State of the Workhouses in Ireland. That Report did certainly show a leaning to the Irish Poor Law Commissioners; but it was impossible to read it attentively without seeing that great zeal and ability had been bestowed in the inquiries of which it was the result. The Report had two letters appended to it, which were rather inconsistent with parts of itself, and a Committee was appointed in the other House to inquire into the Report, and discrepancies with the letters appended to it, this seemed as if the Government was not satisfied with the Report, and wished to have it revised. Now, this was a course which was highly objectionable, because it conveyed an intimation to Commissioners and others appointed to investigate as to particular public subjects, that their Reports would not give satisfaction unless they were drawn up in a certain tone and spirit. The question which he would ask of the noble Duke was, whether the Government intended to take any, and what steps for the purpose of remedying the grievances noticed in that Report?
§ The Duke of Wellingtonsaid, it was perfectly true that Mr. Pennethorne had drawn up a most able Report as to the State of the Workhouses in Ireland. To that Report the Irish Poor Law Commissioners had appended two letters, contradicting some parts which they deemed incorrect, and alluding to others which 986 were not quite germane to the subject of the inquiry. The Report and the letters had been referred to a Select Committee, which had them now under consideration, and as soon as the Report of that Committee should be printed he would state what the Government intended to do with respect to it.
§ House adjourned.