§ Amendments reported (according to Order): (The Viscount Lifford.)
THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEpresented Petitions in favour of the Bill as it had been originally presented to their Lordships' House. For himself, he had very little objection to the measure in its present shape; but he was informed that it would never work.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, that the Secretary of the Treasury had communicated with the Irish Board of Works with reference to advances to be made to that Board. The question was a very difficult one, and no decision had yet been come to,
VISCOUNT LIFFORDsaid, that in striking out the first part of the Bill, the Committee had occasioned great disappointment in Ireland. In moving that the Report be received, he greatly regretted the alterations that had taken place in the first clause. He was, however, still in hopes, that when the Bill went back to the House of Commons, the measure would undergo such an improvement as to render it acceptable to the people of Ireland.
THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEsaid, he trusted his noble Friend (Viscount Lifford) would consent to postpone the 379 third reading of the Bill for a short time until the effect of the alterations made by the Committee could be more fully considered.
THE EARL OF BELMOREsaid, that the difficulties which induced the Select Committee to reject the first part of this Bill were of a legal nature. He thought that some of the noble Lords who served on that Committee had no objection to the proposed scheme itself; and if his noble Friend would postpone the third reading of the Bill, some fresh clauses might be introduced which would enable that scheme to work.
VISCOUNT LIFFORD, in reply, was understood to state that the difficulties alluded to were three, one related to the proposed award. He thought the Bill had better go back as it stood to the House of Commons.
§ Bill to be read 3a on Thursday next.