Report addressed to the Marquess Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland / by Elizabeth Fry and Joseph John Gurney, respecting their late visit to that country.

  • Elizabeth Fry
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report addressed to the Marquess Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland / by Elizabeth Fry and Joseph John Gurney, respecting their late visit to that country. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    S3 portance; but in touching on that lively sense of wrong which distinguishes her population, our object was rather to advert to a subject which we know has already claimed the attention of Government—we mean the local administration of justice. If partiality and corruption in magistrates are dangerous every- where, we are persuaded they are doubly dangerous in Ireland ; and we have no doubt that the notorious existence of these evils, in some parts of the island, has been one of the most fruitful sources of disaffec- tion and disturbance. Nothing indeed can be con- ceived more calculated than a partial and corrupt ex- ecution of the law, to inflame the passions of a most acute and sensitive people. We hope we may take the liberty of congratulating the Lord Lieutenant on the improvement which is universally allowed to have taken place, in this respect, within the last few years ; nor ought it to be forgotten, that while the character and conduct of the local magistracy, where they have hitherto been defective, has been undergoing, we trust, an essential reform, the higher judicial offices are now generally filled with men whose humane and enlightened views are singularly well adapted to the state of the country. But it is not justice and impartiality alone, that the Irish people require at our hands. If we would con- ciliate their good will towards Great Britain and her government; if we would render them a satisfied and contented people ; if we would turn their lively emo- tions of mind into the channel of love and gratitude, we must treat them with kindness and tenderness; we must be actuated in all our transactions with them, by the most 'patient mA persevering benevolence. Their wounds are too deep, and their irritation too much g 2
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