§ The Earl of Devonpresented two petitions from Ennis and a district in the county of Antrim, expressing the anxiety of the petitioners that the measures recommended by the Land Commissioners would be speedily brought under the consideration of Parliament. He must also express the hope that no great delay would be allowed to occur before some of these measures were introduced into Parliament, for he was quite sure that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to 226 carry out the recommendations contained in that Report. These petitions referred particularly to two subjects—to some improvement in the Grand Jury Laws, and to some arrangement of the expenses of the Constabulary. Both these measures would require the greatest consideration, and therefore it would not be expected that Her Majesty's Government would legislate on such subjects without some necessary delay for previous consideration. He thought that some new arrangement of the expenses of the Constabulary might be made which would greatly relieve the more peaceable parts of the country. Both these petitions, and in fact every communication that the Commissioners had received, pointed particularly at one measure as of paramount importance—that was some measure which should secure to industrious tenants the benefit which was desired for the improvement which they made on the land which they occupied. If some measure of this kind were introduced, it would do much to strengthen the industry of the people of Ireland. He, however, had no doubt that in a short space of time some measure would be introduced by the Government on the subject. He knew that Her Majesty's Ministers had paid great attention to the subject, and he believed that some measure relating to it would be introduced at no distant day.
Lord Stanleysaid, he was sure that any one who looked at the Report drawn up by his noble Friend and his brother Commissioners, must admire the diligence and ability displayed by them in the performance of their duties, and must feel the importance of the recommendation contained in the Report. At the same time their Lordships and his noble Friend must be aware that those recommendations embraced subjects of the greatest possible difficulty, requiring the most attentive and close consideration, dealing with the most important interests, and upon which hasty legislation would be more detrimental than no legislation at all. His noble Friend must recollect also that the Report, and the evidence upon which it was founded, had not reached the hands of Government till near the Easter recess, and that was not the most favourable opportunity for considering it. He could assure his noble Friend, however, that all the recommendations of the Report would meet with the most respectful and atten- 227 tive consideration from the Government. They had not been idle in availing themselves of the short opportunity that had presented itself in taking up and preparing to act upon the most urgent of the recommendations of the Commissioners, as he concurred with his noble Friend in thinking that none of those recommendations went so much to the root of the social condition of the people of Ireland as the providing greater security for the industrious tenant of some compensation for the permanent, or almost permanent, improvement effected by him, whether in possession of a lease, or as tenant at will, during his occupation of the land. The Government had turned their attention to this subject first, thinking it of the most vital importance. There was more than one Bill embodying the suggestions of the Commissioners under their consideration; and a Bill providing compensation for permanent improvements was in a state of great forwardness, and he was at liberty to state, on behalf of the Government, that he should introduce a Bill on that subject immediately after the Whitsuntide recess.