Lord John Russell's last toudh atlibelrish Poor-law, the rate in
aid, promises to be a rate in aid of Repeal ; for Ulster is, figu- ratively, "up in arms" against it, and displays many a titlectemu- lator of the bold-spoken Confederates. It is true that Ministers are not likely to be very much alarmed at any exhibition of violence in Ireland, seeing how easily it has been put down, and how com- pletely that perverse country is still possessed by the spirit of beg- gary. This week deputations have waited on Ministers, to ask for a law empowering the Bank of Ireland to make "large advances" to landowners, and to ask for a Select Committee to devise a 'mode of helping the completion of Irish railways ; and, having before him the soft appeal of those deferential gentlemen Lord John is not likely to make much account of the bluster in which their fellows indulge at a distance. Yet the agitation in Ulster assumes an ugly look, when Peers avow at coun- ty meetings that they mean to adopt at least the Qua- ker style of rebellion—passive resistance to the impost. Lord Roden, Lord Downshire, Lord Bangor, Lord Massareene, and other notables both of the "Conservative" and " Liberal " orders, testify- that Lord John 'Russell's rate is not ale collected in Ulster. Then, what is the use of enacting it ?—unless, indeed, Lord John means to enforce its collection with some Crom- wellian stroke of vigour. Even in that unlikely case, such a dis-
play of energy might be bestowed on a worthier object. -
