The MARQUESS of WESTMEATHpresented a petition from the board of guardians of a union in Ireland, complaining of arbitrary conduct on the part of the Poor Law Commissioners. The petitioners stated that the Roman Catholic clergyman had applied to the Commissioners for an increase of salary, and several communications had passed between them and the guardians; the latter body remonstrating against the advance of salary, and representing that it was against the will of the ratepayers. The Commissioners, however, issued what was called a "sealed order," which compelled the guardians to increase the salary, no reason having been given for such increase, except the allegation of the clergyman himself, that he was not sufficiently paid for the work he did. The 1132 noble Marquess observed, that it appeared from these circumstances, that the effect of these "sealed orders" was to surrender the purses of the ratepayers to a couple of hooded serpents concealed in Dublin. He bad a great respect for the constitution; but he would rather live under a despotism than in a country where a set of Poor Law Commissioners were invested with an irresponsible power, which enabled them to pick the pockets of Her Majesty's subjects. He moved for the production of the correspondence between the board of guardians and the Poor Law Commissioners.
§ House adjourned to Monday next.