The debate in the Lords on Monday night on the
Bill for re- newing the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland was chiefly remarkable for the declarations elicited from two Tory Peers and one Cabinet Minister as to their Irish policy. Lord Russell, while agreeing to the necessity of the mea- sure, gravely regretted that it should not be accompanied by any concession of justice,—referring chiefly to the Protestant Establishment. Lord Hardwicke (formerly in Lord Derby's Ministry) replied with general taunts ; but added, "It might be perfectly right and proper, and he thought it would be, to place the Roman Catholic Church in an independent position, and in a position of equality with the Church of England," and to this view Lord Ellenborough (also a former colleague of Lord Derby) gave• in his adhesion. The most striking thing, however, was the Duke of Richmond's pointed declaration on the part of his colleagues that their Irish policy would not be, and ought not to be, a do-nothing policy. It would be formally announced, lie said, by the Irish Secretary (the Earl of Mayo) in the debate on Mr. Maguire's motion the following night (Tuesday), and the Duke of Richmond explicitly said that their policy would then be declared in reference to the Irish Church. The following night, as our readers know, Lord Derby's resignation was announced, and the Irish debate postponed. But the continued delay in meeting Parliament suggests possible difficulty as to the policy to be adopted. If any great measure of ecclesiastical equality is to be announced, Lord Cairns' acceptance of office and the Duke of Marlborough's non-resignation are alike remarkable.
