19 SEPTEMBER 1846, Page 1

The actual state of Ireland exhibits a conflict of influences,

old and new, happy and unhappy ; but it is consolatory to obser‘e, that the novelties'are, upon 'tie whole, on the favourable side. it is no novelty to see the several sections of the Irish people trading on the exigencies of their country—Repealers, on political ditscue. tent ; landlords, on the money which is to be given on account of distress ; farmers, on the pretexts of the moment for not paying rents, or labourers on the opportunity to obtain maintenance without working for it. In no country is an excuse current at so great an exchangeable . value as in Ireland. But amid the turmoil of old political disorder and present social difficulty we would fain believe that a better spirit is beginning to be felt. Government pursues its modestly conciliatory course,—con- dilatory towards all parties,—with the best effect. The dismissed Magistrates of the 'Orange party are offered by the Liberal Millili- ters reinstatement in the county offices ; and the replies evince very good feeling.

Further, the Lord-Lieutenant is approached in congratulatory addresses by all parties, political and religious, united in a manner unprecedented.

Among the more equivocal attempts to make profit by the measures Of relief, are meetings which appear to be held really for the purpose of taking counsel ; and when one sees such men as Mr. Naper of Loughcrew insisting upon a modification of the Ministerial plan, the representations of the landlords obviously demand respectful attention. They would have received it at once, but for the fact that the Irish landlords have fallen into deep arrears with the performance of their duties. Their arett.• ment now amounts to this; the present distress arises from tail. ure in the produce of the lurid; to remedy it., the land ought to be improved, which would be the best kind of employment for the poor; but as the landlords lark ready money, a Juan is needed ; to be repaid, say the resolutions adopted at Kells, hy a rate upon the land ; the surpla.1 !Amur to be employed upon use- ful public works. A well-censidered plan of trunk railway lines is the public work generally favoured, in preference to purely local works. Such seem to be the opinions of the most intelogeot. At many meetings, the views expressed may have been neither

so well defined nor so enlarged, but more grasping—after the fashion of a sturdy beggar. Some call upon Government to re- Mime the giving of food; and some of the labouring ring class ex- pressly threaten violence f they be not helped. But still delibe- ration in good faith seems to be extending.

One writer observes, that the Kells plan would ultimately result in a confiscation of insolvent estates. It does seem capable of being converted to such a vigorous purpose, which the des- perate circumstances of the country would amply justify. No

doubt, much of Ireland's weakness can be to divided ownership and usurious burdens, which rack the land while they prevent improvement. A simple, merciful, and obviously just pro- cess of confiscation would be a real blessing for the country : it Would be well if the conversion of her labouring classes from pau- per to industrious workmen at wages were accompanied by a change of the insolvent and absentee proprietors into a sub- etantial class of true landowners.