The Irish debate commenced by Mr. Hennessy on Friday, too
late for our last impression, terminated on Monday. Mr. Hennessy had moved that "This House observes with regret the
decline of the population of Ireland, and will readily support Her Majesty's Government in any well-devised measure to stimulate the profitable employment of the people," and pressed his motion to a division, but he was defeated by 107 to 31. The best speech on the mover's side was Lord Robert Cecil's, the best against it Mr. Lowe's, which we have noticed in another place. Very few new arguments were produced, but there was much less bitterness than usual except on the part of Mr. Roebuck, who managed to tell the Catholics that their priests were "blind leaders of the blind," Sir Hugh Cairns that he represented the "dirty little boys of Bel- fast," and the Fenians that he should shoot them, which, considering that Catholics, Orangemen, and Fenians make up Ireland, was not exactly conciliatory. The debate was remarkable for spirit, every man answering some one who had spoken before, instead of letting off a prepared harangue, but nobody lost temper, except perhaps Sir Hugh Cairns, who was decidedly angry at the hit about the "dirty little boys."
