My lords, it certainly is true that there is in Ireland a vast number of poor.  I have been sorry to see that it is stated in some returns on the table, that there are as many as 2,000,000 of poor in Ireland.  My lords, it happens unfortunately, that in all parts of the empire there are poor; but I will beg to observe, that it is not in the power of this government, nor of any government, nor of any parliament, in the course of a few weeks, or a few months, or, I may say, a few years, to relieve the poverty of a great country like that, extending as it does to such a portion of the population.  But, my lords, I beg to know whether poverty can be relieved by this description of agitation for the repeal of the union?  Is poverty relieved by marches of twenty-five and thirty Irish miles a-day, during the period of spring and summer, to hear seditious speeches?  Is poverty relieved by subscriptions of thousands of pounds to the repeal rent, and the O’Connell rent, and other funds of that description?  No, my lords, that poverty must be relieved by a perseverance in industry and sobriety; not taken up by fits and starts for the sake of a more orderly appearance at seditious meetings, where the people are marshalled by bands of music and flying colours.  The evils, whence that poverty proceeds, are not to be cured in a day.  The remedies must be some time in operation; and all I can say is, that the government are sincerely desirous to avail themselves of every opportunity that may tend to benefit the people of Ireland, and to relieve that poverty of which the noble lord so eloquently complains.

July 14, 1843.

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Assistance of Foreigners to the Repeal Agitation.—­Their Anti-English Motives.

My lords, I do not dispute the extent of the conspiracy—­I do not dispute the dangers resulting from organization in Ireland—­I have stated it publicly on more than one occasion—­I do not deny it—­it is notorious, it is avowed, it is published in every paper all over the world.  I do not deny the assistance received from foreigners, not from foreign governments,—­I have no right to say so,—­but from foreigners of nearly all nations; for there are disturbed and disturbing spirits everywhere, who are anxious to have an opportunity of injuring and deteriorating the great prosperity of this country.

August 8, 1843.

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The Military in readiness to preserve the Peace in Ireland.

I, whose duty it is to superintend one of those offices on which the execution of the measures of the government depends, feel confident that everything that can be done has been done, in order to enable the government to preserve the peace of the country, and to meet all misfortunes and consequences which may result from the violence of the passions of those men who unfortunately guide the multitude in Ireland.