LORD BROUGHAMwished to direct the attention of Her Majesty's Government to a subject connected with the present state of matters in Ireland; and, in doing so, he hoped it would be understood that he was not asking for information. He alluded to the organisation of secret clubs of a dangerous character in that country. The well-known existence of these clubs was causing the greatest alarm even among persons of firm minds, as the system of organisation by which they were formed and sustained was very much calculated to lead away the ignorant and unwary. He hoped, therefore, that the attention of Her Majesty's Government was directed to this subject, and to the adoption of means for obviating the dangerous consequences of that kind of agitation in Ireland which had ever been the pest and curse of that unhappy country. He was sure that if the Government wished any means taken to strengthen their hands in this matter, they would find no difficulty 305 either in that or in the other House of Parliament with regard to the passing of any I measures that might be deemed necessary to put an end to such a perilous state of things.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEthought it necessary only to say, that the attention of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as well as of Her Majesty's Government had been directed to this subject. With respect to the perils of those clubs the existence of which had been referred to by the noble and learned Lord, he believed there could be no difference of opinion.