WHAT IRELAND NEED& TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
Dublin, 30th October 1843.
Srn—A subscriber to your talented journal, I admire your general good sense and fairness. I am glad to observe .occasional articles upon the sugges- tion of the late Mr. CRESSET PELHAM, of an Imperial Parliament in Dublin every third Tear. The present Lord PLUERET (a distinguished supporter of the Union) is said to have expressed himself friendly to it in 1832; and it is rumeured that the Marquis WELLESLY was also favourable to it. Unless Sir ROBERT PEEL bring in ample measures of amelioration,—such as railways and public works judiciously advanced by the fostering aid of Government, con- nected with well-regulated bodies; a thorough revision of the law of landlord and tenant (I do not mean "fixity of tenure "); a well-considered and humane amendment of the poor-law ; a liberal provision for the Roman Chatholic clews, (not lower than 80/. per annum to curates of that persuasion,) all in the Continental states; a rational modification of the temporalities of the Protes- tant Church, making the allowance ample, but not more than commensurate with the numbers to be provided with religious instruction ; a fair extension of the patronage of the Crown to the Roman Catholics, where 9nalified for office,—I greatly fear he must give way. I must deeply regret this, because I believe Sir ROBERT to be a man of much ability, determined impartiality, and good disposition. The misery of the Irish people is really appalling, and Increasing rapidly. It is vain for us, "supporters of union," to deny it : there must be misgovernment somewhere. Then, Sir, the poor people are literally goaded by all manner of collections and exactions—the Repeal Rent, the Proclamation Rent, the Defence Fund, and now again the O'Connell Tribute, or as it is termed by its paid managers, "The National Debt "—see the enclosed well-penned appeal; * and when coupled with tithes, taxes, and landlord's rent, can we wonder at "Irish * Our correspondent alludes to the subjoined advertisement, which appears in the Irish Repeal papers-
" NOTIFICATION TO IRELAND.
" The general collection for the 0' CoraigLi COMPENSATION Trump, for 1843, is to be effected in all the parishes of the kingdom, on Sunday the 19th of November Existing circumstances of commanding and momentous interest, while they secure to this imperative measure now the support of every district without exception, render, at the same time, the enforcement of the various and powerful considerations on which the tribute is based altogether superfluous. •• Default, then, Ileing in no case to be apprehended, delay itt making up the present instalment for this acknowledged NATIONAL DEBT should be equally rare. It is, there- fore. respectfully hoped that the day fixed for the simultaneous collection will be made convenient for its accomplishment—according to local capability—in every parish of Ireland.
" JOHN Pownn. Bart, CORNELIVS MACLOOTILTN, }Trustees. P. VINCENT FITZPATRICK. Secretary. " Office, 44 Dame Street. Dublin."
Mr. O'Connell is reckoned to have received, since 1829, the sum of 230,000i.
Previous page
