rose to put a question to the right hon. gent. opposite, on a subject which he conceived to be at this moment of the most vital import to the British monarchy. The subject to which he alluded, was the state of Ireland, and the matter to which he wished more immediately to call the attention of the House, was a paper purporting to be a Letter from the Chief Secretary of Ireland to the sheriffs and chief magistrates of that part of the kingdom, elative to the meeting or calling together of the people of that country. The question which he wished to put to the right hon. gent. on this subject, was, if whether, before the step alluded to in that Letter had been resorted to, the pleasure of the Prince Regent had been taken on the subject; and if the documents had been communicated to the Prince Regent, which, in the opinion of ministers, justified them in resorting to such a step? He did not wish to press the business, at present, and should not now urge it beyond the explanation he had applied for.

said, he could have no difficulty, nor even the slightest objection to give the answer demanded of him by the right hon. gent. The Letter alluded to by the right hon. gent. was as new to him on Thursday last, as it could have been to the right hon. gent. on Friday. Not only was such a step on the part of the Irish government perfectly unknown to him and his colleagues on this side of the water, but they were, till Thursday last, entirely ignorant that the meeting referred to in the Letter had assumed such a character or appearance as to render it necessary to resort to such a step. Having said so much, it was not necessary for him to go farther, than simply to state, that though the government of Ireland had thought it necessary to proceed under the authority of the Convention Act, he and his colleagues in England, had no doubt that they had acted with a wise and prudent discretion. Having said this, it would be superfluous to add, that no knowledge or concurrence of the Prince Regent could have been had on the subject; nor had any previous consent been given by him to the issuing of the Letter in question.

asked, if it was the intention of ministers to lay before the House any document to satisfy them of the propriety of the conduct adopted by the Irish government in this emergency? Was it their intention, for instance, to submit to the consideration of the House the Letter of Mr. W. Pole on this subject?

had no such immediate intention, but declared that he had no objection whatever to the production of any papers of the nature alluded to, that could with propriety be produced. Of course he should reserve to himself the right of judging of that propriety, should the hon. gent. think fit to make any motion on the occasion.

then gave notice that on Friday he would move that there be laid before the House the circular letter of the Chief Secretary for Ireland, together with any other papers that might tend to elucidate this important subject.

expressed his hope, that, as soon as ministers became acquainted with the recent transactions of Ireland, they had issued directions to the Irish government to take such measures as would avert misconception, and would prevent the Irish people from imagining that it was intended to disturb them in the exercise of their undoubted right of petitioning parliament against any grievance by which they might be affected. He had come down on Saturday with the view of expressing this expectation, but was disappointed by the failure in making a House. At that time, it was also his intention to give notice, that on Friday he would move for the repeal of the Convention Act, the execution of which intention, however, he would postpone for a day or two, until more accurate and detailed information should be received.

, after a variety of observations on the benefits which had resulted, both in a financial and in a military point of view, from the last measure of a similar nature, moved, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill for taking an account of the population of Great Britain, and of the increase or diminution thereof."—After a few remarks by Mr. D. Giddy and sir J. Newport, the motion was agreed to; and Mr. Rose brought in the Bill: which was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.