I see by the papers that I owe you sixteen shillings and
eight pence on the Greek account, which you can either receive from Val. or
hold over in terrorem against me.
Your observations on the Poor Laws, and the prospect of introducing them into
Ireland, are founded on the best principles of human political philosophy, and
I would only act in opposition to them from a feeling of the utter hopelessness
of our situation, and from the idea that they may ultimately be one means of
bringing about that change which all parties allow to be necessary. The case of
Ireland is so different from that of any other country, that as a mere Irishman
I think quite differently from what I would as a citizen of the world. What
could be more silly or atrocious than the Corn Laws? An Englishman voting for
them should have been sent only to Bethlehem or the hulks, yet I voted for
them, as I knew my countrymen never taste bread, and the same, bad as it was,
gave us much English money. Now the Poor Laws will not, I think, ruin the price
of land as you expect, but will lower it, and perhaps cost me twelve or fifteen
hundred per annum; but as no tenant can pay more than he already does, the
landlords must be answerable, as in the case of tithes—thus the Poor Laws
will be an indirect absentee tax—the desire to abolish it will join the
upper
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I am truly sorry Lady Morgan should feel one moment’s illness. I am interested for her as an Irishman as well as a sincere and grateful friend. We have got a capital house here, and the place is beautiful and pleasant; if you could come to us for a couple of months we could make you and your dear lady very comfortable.
I want to consult you as to an application from Staunton for an advance of one hundred pounds on his security, for the purpose of re-establishing the Morning Herald. I would most willingly give one or two hundred pounds for a clever, thorough-going Irish paper, to be managed by a committee; but though I always take the Evening Herald, it is too polemical and too personal, and too full of long, drawling, priest-written stuff to do any real good. I have no objection to aid Staunton with fifteen or twenty pounds; but for any farther advance I should like the security of a committee. I wish you and Curran would turn this in your minds, and see whether we could not establish what is so much wanted.
PS. Our M.D. here is an Irish Papist, brother to Councillor Scully. Balls and cards here every week, to the great comfort of Miss Bryan.
