In that
document the Irish public are told that the Lord Lieutenant has had
under his consideration the various representations which had been made
to him of the operation of the poor employment Act, and the difficulty
of finding "public works" upon which it would be expedient or beneficial
to expend money to the extent requisite for affording employment to the
people during the existence of distress; and to obviate the bad effects
of a great expenditure of money in the execution of works _comparatively
unproductive_, he desires that the Commissioners of Public Works would
direct their officers, in the respective counties, to consider and
report upon such works of a _reproductive character and permanent
utility_, as might be presented at any Sessions held under the above
Act; and his Excellency would be prepared to sanction and approve of
such of those works as might be recommended by the Board, and so
presented, _in the same manner_ as if they had been strictly "public
works," and presented as such in the manner required by the Act.[138]
Never did any Government pronounce against itself a more complete
verdict of ignorance and incapacity. The Government had framed the Act;
every clause of it was its own handiwork; it was passed through
Parliament without being modified, amended, or in the slightest degree
opposed, and yet, before it was brought into practical operation--for a
single work had not been commenced under it at the date of the
Proclamation--that same Government virtually repeal it, well knowing
that for such proceeding it must come before Parliament for an Act of
Indemnity.
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