The Earl of Clarendon was a guest at the Lord
Mayor of Dublin's in- augural banquet on Wednesday ; where he delivered one of his well-timed speeches on the mode of restoring Ireland to safety.
He declared, that by men of all parties in England the welfare of Ireland is deemed the first consideration. Since he came to Ireland he had endeavoured to pursue "an Irish policy "; and be rejoiced at the opportunity now offered of pub- licly and gratefully thanking all for the amount of support which they had ren- dered him in his arduous task. He could not disguise from himself that difficul- ties even still more appalling than what had been encountered would yet have to be met. England was now less able to assist, and Ireland would therefore be thrown more entirely on her own resources. England had suffered to so great an extent, that it would not be possible for Parliament to take largely from the dis- tress of England to give to that of Ireland. Amongst other resources was the Poor-law, which, he believed, under a new system of vigilant inspection that would be carried out, would be found to work far more efficiently than could at first be expected. At the present moment, 70,000 poor children are clothed and fed daily, and he had every reason to believe that the number would shortly be in- creased to 120,000. The duty of all classes was to combine for the development of the resources of the country; and happier days were in store, if all recognized the great truth, that he who labours is a better man and citizen than he who is indolent, and that industry is not only indispensable but honourable.
Previous page
